Heroic measures for pets... I'm having trouble. UPDATED.

[zakatak]

The vet called and his creatinine level has gone back to normal but his amylase was high so the vet's final opinion is Pancreatitis, not Kidney failure. He has given him a "fair" prognosis, not grave, but fair. or

We will pick him up tomorrow and take care of him at home. Since he will be over the 96 hour time frame, with added antibiotics, fluids, etc... we are hoping he will recover. If he doesn't, he will be home with us.

Thanks, DocRafiki, for your advice and ideas. It is very nice that you help out the people here.

Thanks for all the hugs and concern, everyone.

Karen & Nicholas

 

[catsrule]

I sure hope King Nicholas is doing better. Give him lotsa lovins'.

 

[katerkat]

I'm glad the vet is optomistic! I'm hoping Nicholas recovers overnight with the fluids and he'll be back to being tortured by Kadek in no time!

 

[sammi]

Wow that sounds a lot more positive!

Get well real soon Nicholas your Mommy loves ya!

 

[zakatak]

Here is the latest update.

Nicholas has been hospitalized since Monday with IV fluids. He still has diarreah but he did stop vomiting for 24 hours so they started forcefeeding him this morning. He did throw that up some but they tried again and as of the last time I talked to them (visited him) at 11:00am, he hadn't vomited again. The vet has to take out his IV tomorrow (3 day limit) so he said we can bring him home and continue force feeding him. If he shows significant improvement by Saturday, then he might recover. If no improvement, then we have to make THE decision. The vet has given him a 55% chance at surviving this. I'm grasping at that 5%!

At home, we have an upset 7 year old and a grown woman (me ) who can't even eat. Every time I think about Nicholas (which is alot), I get naseaus thinking about Euthanasia. I am putting all my strength into him each time I visit him, I hope it helps.

Anyone know where to get cheap, cheap towels? We have to keep him in a large metal dog crate (for cleanliness reasons) so I need alot of towels to put under him and change.

Thanks. I will keep updating if you would like throughout Saturday.

Karen & Nicholas

 

[KatelynnsAuntie]

Sending lots of good vibes and pixie dust to Nicholas.

Poor little guy. Hope he feels better soon.

Yes please keep us updated! Hang in there, Karen.

As for cheap towels, the only place I can think of is somewhere like Kmart or Walmart??

Take Care.

 

[Gupsmom]

Wow Karen...somehow I missed this entire thread until now. It must have got past the first page before I checked the board. Thankfully, someone else replied and I caught it this time.

You're not online right now... I'm sure this is very hard on all of you. I hope Nicholas is doing better.

Jess

 

[katerkat]

55% is more than 50%! I would definitely be hanging onto that extra 5%... I hope the forcefeeding works. As for cheap towels - I'd say WalMart. That's where DH got all his regulation white towels for cheap.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Karen.

 

[damo]

Sounds like your baby is moving in the right direction. I know how difficult it is when they are sick. It totally consumes you. He sure will be happy to come home and that will probably help him a lot. Keep us posted on his progress. What about using those cheap but very think flannel sheets for the bottom of his crate. They sell them at Walmart . They might even be blankets; they are off-white with thick stripes on the top and bottom. They might be more comfy than towels and just as easy to pop in the washer and dryer.

 

[Belle0101]

We buy our towels at Goodwill for our pets. Very cheap there. I try to get white ones. Then I wash them in hot water, laundry soap and bleach. If the bleach smell is too much, sometimes I get carried away with it, then I just wash them again without the bleach. I generally pay less than $2 a piece. Actually this week I picked up a big bath towel. It was $1 and looked brand new.

As for your kitty - I can appreciate how you feel. I lost my Italy (greyhound) on October 30 and am facing having to make "the call" for Miranda in the very near future. She's a whippet and very near 17 years old.

My heart just breaks for you. I do believe that you will know when/if the time is right. Until that time, hold on to the extra 5%. Know that any decision you make is the right one for you, your kitty and your family.

 

[catsrule]

I hope little King Nicholas continues to improve every day!

 

[Planogirl]

Thinking a good thought for Nicholas. Please do keep us posted on his progress.

As for towels, you could check out some of the car towels too. They're often inexpensive and very soft.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Karen,
I was cuddling with my Kitty last night and couldn't help but to think of you and Nicholas. Kitty is now 12 and I can't stand the thoughts of what you are dealing with. I hope Nicholas continues to make improvements. You guys are in my thoughts and prayers.

 

[chager]

Your Nicholas is beautiful. I would hang on to that 5% too. Our Trixie is 12 but we already know she will never be healthy again. Our vet was very honest with us. He told us she would never improve but we could maintain her as long as possible. She could live another 10 years or she could go today. To make things even more challanging she is allergic to her meds!! (Yes she is one of the like 1% that has a reaction ) We still have to give it to her though and monitor her becuase without it her metabolism would be totally out of control. Our Ds9 has been prepared the best we can. She is the only cat that likes to be picked up and cuddled and he loves to do that. She is just so laid back. I didn't realize how much this was working on him until he started crying in the store while we were buying cat food. The only thing I can say is be honest with your children and let them talk about how they feel. I also can't imagine heaven without our dear pets.