Author Topic: Jennie has been diagnosed with carcinoma (cancer)  (Read 40633 times)

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Offline ThreeStep

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Re: Jennie has been diagnosed with carcinoma (cancer)
« Reply #90 on: November 16, 2018, 07:23:26 AM »
Keep it up, keep it up!!!!

Offline Lola

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Re: Jennie has been diagnosed with carcinoma (cancer)
« Reply #91 on: November 16, 2018, 12:44:03 PM »
Everything you NEED to know about caring for your feline. www.catinfo.org

Offline Pookie

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Re: Jennie has been diagnosed with carcinoma (cancer)
« Reply #92 on: November 16, 2018, 01:01:59 PM »
2-4-6-8  Please don't over-vaccinate!
"Pass on what you have learned."  -- Yoda, Star Wars:  Return of the Jedi

Offline Middle Child

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Re: Jennie has been diagnosed with carcinoma (cancer)
« Reply #93 on: November 17, 2018, 08:58:40 AM »
Aw thanks you guys.  Jennie gained another ounce this week so I am feeling less anxious about when she refuses a meal. She is at her normal weight now.

Queen Eva is doing much much better about harassing her and I know, even when I am not here, because Jennie has gone back to swearing at her and giving a little dash at her instead of flinching away. When Jennie does the dash-and-swear Queen Eva does her usual little brrrrpp and goes into a flop and roll.  I am happy to see that dynamic return to normal!

Pictures all from the last few days.  Wish her fur would grow faster.

Offline Middle Child

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Re: Jennie has been diagnosed with carcinoma (cancer)
« Reply #94 on: November 17, 2018, 11:15:38 AM »
Jennie just had a vestibular episode. I knew what it was of course, almost instantly though when I heard the thud my first thought was seizure.

She had been sleeping peacefully on the kitchen chair and just suddenly tumbled off it to the floor with a thud. Then began staggering across the floor. I snatched her up and flipped her over so she was lying in my arms belly up and saw the nystagmus of her eyes. (I remembered how flipping her over had stopped it last time)

She struggled out of my arms and staggered into the bedroom where she attempted to jump on the bed.  I scooped her up and again flipped her over before putting her on the bed (upright) and looked at her eyes again, they were still jittering but not quite as fast.  She talked to me while I petted her and fussed over her, then checked her eyes again and they had stopped.

You may or may not remember this happened to her once before (that I know of):

http://parenting-furkids.com/index.php?topic=4370.msg31764#msg31764

Anyway I tried to call my vet clinic but they had already closed up and sending people to the answering service who sent me to the on call vet. I've been to them a number of times for emergencies over the years.

I called and spoke to ..don't know if she was a receptionist or a vet tech.  I wish I thought to ask, next time I will.  I wasn't sure if Jennie needed to be seen and wanted to speak to a vet.  After explaining the situation this person said to keep an eye on her and if it happened again call back.  They were there until 5:00. 

She seemed focusing on saving me the $100 emergency fee.  I said impatiently that I didn't care about that but I wanted to speak to the vet if possible.  The vets were all busy with emergencies, and I left my # for a vet to call me back.  If it happens again I will bring her in, but she is all back to normal now.

I am actually glad now that this happened once before to her.  Because otherwise I'd be blaming the meds and freaking out wondering if it was a seizure.  But I am positive it was a vestibular episode.

Edit - to make sure she was alright I got some poached chicken out of the freezer, thawed it in hot water, then went into the bedroom to give her a whiff, then came back in the kitchen and called to her to make sure she could jump down off the bed and run into the kitchen okay.  She did, and she and Queen Eva enjoyed a nice hand fed treat of poached chicken breast. Mazy cat didn't want any.

Offline Pookie

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Re: Jennie has been diagnosed with carcinoma (cancer)
« Reply #95 on: November 17, 2018, 01:59:36 PM »
grouphug grouphug grouphug grouphug grouphug

Thanks for posting the link to that other thread -- I'd forgotten about the first episode.  No advice, just lots of hugs and purrs.  I'm glad it stopped!

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Offline Lola

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Re: Jennie has been diagnosed with carcinoma (cancer)
« Reply #96 on: November 17, 2018, 06:46:12 PM »
What would be the difference between a seizure and a vestibular episode?
Either way... glad it stopped!
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Offline Middle Child

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Re: Jennie has been diagnosed with carcinoma (cancer)
« Reply #97 on: November 17, 2018, 07:15:24 PM »
What would be the difference between a seizure and a vestibular episode?
Either way... glad it stopped!

Well.... the vestibular episode is caused by an inner ear disturbance, the crystals in the ear fluid cross from where they belong to where they don't is my vague understanding of it. The nystagmus is the telltale symptom. It's unmistakable.

  A seizure is a neurological issue. It can present in any number of ways including a cat suddenly falling off a chair and staggering, but she was fully alert, and there was the nystagmus.

Offline Middle Child

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Re: Jennie has been diagnosed with carcinoma (cancer)
« Reply #98 on: November 18, 2018, 08:37:08 AM »
Jennie is completely transitioned to the new suspension gabapentin now. It doesn't seem to be helping as much as the solution gabapentin medicine I got from the specialist vet. :(

I still have some of the other left in the fridge.  A few days worth anyway..  So I'm going to continue with the suspension med for a few more days, then switch back to the solution for a few days to see if my observation is accurate.

Offline ThreeStep

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Re: Jennie has been diagnosed with carcinoma (cancer)
« Reply #99 on: November 18, 2018, 10:04:10 AM »
She gave you on h.... of a scare! Your vet does not give you his cell for acute emergencies?

Offline Middle Child

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Re: Jennie has been diagnosed with carcinoma (cancer)
« Reply #100 on: November 18, 2018, 11:07:12 AM »
She gave you on h.... of a scare! Your vet does not give you his cell for acute emergencies?

Heck no, those vets have made themselves almost completely un-accessible now.  It didn't used to be that way.  They have no private voicemail and no private e mail, let alone cell number.  If you want to ask a question or talk to a vert during hours you have to talk to a receptionist first and hope the vet calls you back.If you have an emergency after hours you call the line and get the exchange and the exchange tells you what clinic is on call (there are a couple who rotate).

They are really the only decent clinic in town (the other is a kitty toe chop shop) so maybe they just got too busy and are trying to protect their staff vets from burn out I don't know. I've complained a number of times about the new practice but no one cares.

A vet tech I used to know and love long long ago who actually worked for the kitty toe chop shop left there (shortly before I did when I found out about their eagerness to chop off kitty toes) and went to vet school. 

I only just learned on Friday that he recently set up his own practice a few miles away.  I have e mailed him to ask him about his policies on raw feeding and declawing.  I may be  switching, at least Jennie and Queen Eva, if he shares my views. I won't change Mazy cat it would be just too difficult for her.

Offline Middle Child

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Re: Jennie has been diagnosed with carcinoma (cancer)
« Reply #101 on: November 18, 2018, 01:39:40 PM »
I really think this  new gabapentin is not helping her as much, even though she does seem to tolerate the taste better.  I don't know what to do. I can't drive to the specialty clinic every month to pick up a bottle can I?  It's 100 miles one way! I wonder if they'd double or triple the prescription for me, so I'd only have to go up once every 3 months. I think I'll call them tomorrow and ask.

I just can't STAND to think of her in any pain.  And it is clear by her behavior today that now, after 36 hours totally on the new med, that it is not helping her. At least not as much. I feel so frantic.  I do have a little left of the other and will be returning to that tonight, and maybe it will last until I can get more from the clinic.  If I HAVE to drive up there every month I will, but maybe they'll have a heart for my situation.

Edit again. Also I think I mentioned early on that I thght it was upsetting her stomach a bit (the other does not) and now I am sure of it.  She's started to go off her food a bit, and just now vomited her lunch. What little lunch I had managed to coax her to eat  Jennie NEVER vomits.

I am glad I am on vacation this week.  I hope I can drive up there on Wednesday and get a refill.  Mazy cat will be at the vet. Her appointment is in the morning, 8:10, but since she's going to be getting anesthesia, vet is going to keep her there for half a day after. So I can drive up there, get the meds, and get back in time to pick Mazy cat up.

Later: I've kept Jennie on poached chicken and broth for the remainder of today.

Offline Pookie

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Re: Jennie has been diagnosed with carcinoma (cancer)
« Reply #102 on: November 18, 2018, 09:23:36 PM »
Just wondering . . . is there a (human) pharmacy (think Rite-Aid, Walgreens, CVS) near you that also handles pet prescriptions?  If so, maybe the vet can call in the prescription to the human-pharmacy and you could pick it up from them.  Just an idea.

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Offline Middle Child

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Re: Jennie has been diagnosed with carcinoma (cancer)
« Reply #103 on: November 18, 2018, 10:22:44 PM »
Thanks Pookie. Unfortunately the gabapentin has to be specially compounded for cats.  There is no pill or capsule of the right dosage and the human liquid contains xylitol.

The suspension liquid the mail order pharmacy makes does not have to be refrigerated so it can be sent by mail. The solution liquid the veterinary specialty clinic dispenses has to be kept refrigerated so I will have to pick it up.

Jennie had some more broth but only a little poached chicken.  I hope by tomorrow, with no more of that suspension gabapentin, she will be feeling better. I have enough of the solution to last about 3 more days probably.

If they won't give me more than one month at a time..well I took Christmas Eve off so I can go up that day, then there are holidays in January and February I can drive up there, or I will have to take a vacation day, if the weather is bad on the holidays. In March and April I will have to take a vacation day, if Jennie is still with me then.

Offline Middle Child

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Re: Jennie has been diagnosed with carcinoma (cancer)
« Reply #104 on: November 19, 2018, 07:38:07 AM »
I called this morning . I had to leave a message. I said I would order the one month and come pick it up this week but asked about getting 3 months and asked someone to call me back and let me know if this was possible. Jennie is already doing better with two doses of the solution formula under her belt.  She ate her breakfast and is moving around more again.

I did find out from their message that I can pick up medications on weekends as well, so I won't have to take days off at least.

PS I followed up with an e mail to the internal medicine vet who saw us.


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