Booger has been sick

Cassie · Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2009 1:22 am Post subject: Booger has been sick

My kitty Booger has been sick the past few days again. Her temp got to well over 104 (high for a kitty), she's been lethargic, sleeping all the time, moving/walking slowly (tail and head down), not eating, not pooping or peeing much, but been drinking water like CRAZY (she's only peed a 2inch square clump in her litter box in the past 12 hours).

She's had kidney problems in the past and it looks like it's a chronic thing. We took her to the vet today and they still need to do further tests to decide if it's just a kidney infection or a kidney condition but we already know the answer.

She's home now and resting. I had the pleasure of administering her first pill which basically means that I had to shove a pill down her throat. That was a hoot (NOT). But I finally found a way to do it. She growled at me for the first time but I got the job done. And then I had to give her mouth a squirt of liquid antibiotic. That went much easier.

Mary_NH · Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2009 12:19 pm Post subject:

hope Booger improves. Have you tried Pill Pockets? They don't work for my cats but I know people who swear by them

Cassie · Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2009 1:12 pm Post subject:

I was going to pick some up today and give it a try but I doubt it will work because Booger is such a fussy eater. I have tried tons of different treats on her and there is only one that she likes. But I'll give it a try.

vene · Super Senior Member Plus Joined: 25 Mar 2004 Posts: 4381

Hope Booger will feel better soon. Big hugs.

sunset05 · Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2009 2:35 pm Post subject:

Poor Booger. I hope she feels better, too. My daughter swears by the pill pocket but I've never tried them.

Chessmind · Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2009 2:41 pm Post subject:

That's a great picture of her. I hope she gets well soon. Keep us posted. How old is she again?

halaroo · Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2009 4:10 pm Post subject:

Just reading this now. Hope she's better soon. It's no fun giving pills to cats.

Cassie · Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2009 1:49 am Post subject:

She's 5 years old. And on the upside, I no longer have to shove pills down her throat. The vet put her on a liquid med (thank heavens!)

Her vet visit went well today. Although she's improved, she is still quite sick and she's suffered some permanent kidney damage. Her kidneys were only functioning at about 10% last week. The vet put her on a kidney-friendly diet and said that since she's improved over the past few days (she's even gained a pound!), we'll wait until she's been on the diet for a week before running more tests. We discussed subq therapy and the vet assured me that it's not painful but she understands that it's more of a mental thing for the pet owner at first but she will guide me through it if it comes to that. But we won't know until next week.

Thanks for the well wishes everybody. Smile

HDrydr · Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2009 3:59 pm Post subject:

Hugs to you!! hang in there. I had to do some subq fluids on Patches off and on for her kidneys and it is quite easy. Glad to hear that she is on the upward climb!! Adorable girl.

Cassie · Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2009 1:31 am Post subject:

Well, she had more blood work and tests done yesterday. She's improved some but her levels are still not good. The vet gave her a powerful antibiotic shot and wants to see her in a month. The vet also said that Booger is anemic and wants me to feed her chicken livers as an occasional treat.

I got some livers today and attempted to cook them. I brought them to a boil in a mix of water and chicken stock, then simmered them for 30 min. Then I put them in the oven at 350 for 10 min, turning them once.

Well...Booger won't touch them. AARRGGHH

Does anyone have any other cooking suggestions? I'm at a loss here.

vene · Super Senior Member Plus Joined: 25 Mar 2004 Posts: 4381

I wonder if Booger would eat foods added with Pet Tinic vitamin suppliment.

http://www.petplace.com/cats/anemic-senior-cat/page1.aspx

Also Pro Plan makes chicken and liver canned food that Milo loves. Maybe it can be used as a treat for Booger. Petsmart usually have some good sales on Pro Plan every now and then.

http://www.proplan.com/products/ChickenLiver_WetCat.html

Natural Balance and Eukanuba may have higher quality chicken and liver entrees/canned foods than Pro Plan.

You may have overcooked the liver. Videos on how to cook livers for kitty:

http://www.ehow.com/video_2349423_cook-liver-kitty-heaven-cat.html

Hope this helps.

Cassie · Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2009 4:33 pm Post subject:

When the vet started telling me to feed her occasional 'good' protein foods, my eyes glazed over. I said "please, just tell me a brand name food" and she said that Booger needed a special type of protein and then pushed the chicken livers on me. She said to just broil them.

When I got home, I got confused, did she say broil or boil? And she didn't say how long. Arrghhh...this is killing me. Not to mention how freaking gross handling and cooking the liver was. It smelled so bad! Well, to me. I'm not a liver fan at all.

Well since yesterday, Booger began gagging/trying to throw up. She's done it 6 times since yesterday. 4 of the times, it was a clear/foamy consistency and two of the times, it was pretty respectful sized hair balls. She's also become a bit sleepy and sluggish but she has times when she walks around with her tail up in the air.

I will phone the vet today but in the mean time I did some online research and vomiting can be a side effect of either the antibiotic they gave her (Convenia), Chronic Renal Disease, or just hairballs. I add hairballs because she's always had a problem with them so we kept her on Purina One Hairball Remedy food. Anytime we had to switch her off it, she would start hocking. Well, the Vet put her on a kidney friendly food so she's been off the hairball remedy food.

It's a crapshoot at the moment. It could be any of the three. But she is definitely nauseous. She was hard-core going after my window herb garden last night. She ate a little parsley. I doubt it helped her stomach much but at least it's packed with vitamins. But she seemed more focused on getting at my strawberry plant and lucky bamboo though.

And please don't worry, I am very careful about what plants I keep in the house. I always make sure they're kitty safe.

halaroo · Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 1:33 am Post subject:

I'm sorry you and Booger are going through this. Please stop blaming yourself though - it doesn't do anyone any good, and I'm sure Booger doesn't blame you for any of it! Give her a hug for me.

sunset05 · Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 2:09 pm Post subject:

How is Booger doing, halaroo? I hope she is feeling better. (((hugs))).

Cassie · Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2009 9:08 pm Post subject:

Booger seems fine but she's anemic and the Vet wants me to buy/cook chicken livers for her to eat. "All cats love chicken livers". NOT

Booger won't eat them.

She get's a bit sluggish now and then but still likes to play. She goes back to the vet in about 2 weeks.

Thanks for the well wishes. I really appreciate them.

Hugs!