Meow to all our furriends! Mom wants to say a few words, so we are going back to sleep.
Mom:
So.... when it comes to cat health problems, I swear it's *never* easy.
And always, always, it's a question of "am I making the right choice?
Will this medicine/procedure help or hurt?"
Will this medicine/procedure help or hurt?"
I'm not really concerned about Leia. She sleeps harder these days, I think there is a small bit of hearing loss, and I can see a little stiffness at times, but none of these are at a level that concerns me.
Toby.... medically, it's always Toby. He may be big but he's also fragile. He has several problems. Last night I tried to address one of them, some form of arthritis. Given his particulars the only medicine the vet wanted to give him was Tramadol.
Let us just say his first dose was also his last. It didn't go well.
Let us just say his first dose was also his last. It didn't go well.
What my long years of dealing with cat health matters has taught me is that no matter what the vets say, or the advertising, or the glib websites, it's Never.Easy.
And sometimes, some days, there just aren't any good answers.
And sometimes, some days, there just aren't any good answers.
OH! I am with you on this! Another incident with Chuck late last night: we are giving him three heart meds, two meds for his IBD, and now the holistic vet has five different herbs/vitamins to help, but a set back happened anyhow. I have a numb kind of feeling; cannot be mad, cannot be sad, cannot be glad. Limbo-land.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry to hear that the Tramadol didn't go well.
ReplyDeleteCarmine has a lot of medical issues, too. Have you tried Cosequin with Toby? Even with all of Carmine's medical issues and other medications he takes, he can still take the Cosequin. I'd ask your vet about it if you haven't tried it yet. It is available OTC. Carmine developed arthritis very young (at 6 years old), and it has helped him tremendously. It can take a few weeks to see a difference, but I know it works for a lot of kitties. I hope that maybe it can help your baby, too.
Hugs and purrs,
The Mom to Carmine and Milita
I have thought of trying that.
DeleteYears ago the vet wanted my cat on three different medications twice a day. It was difficult to say the least. When we went back for a re-check and she wasn't 'better' he suggested we do it three times a day. I looked at him and told him that he was insane. I asked what would happen if I just stopped giving the meds and he said her life would be shorter by a few years. Well I figured a short life with quality of not having to be medicated all the time was far better than a longer one of having pills shoved down your throat, so I opted out.
ReplyDeleteQuality over quantity is always the right answer.
And that is really the view I am taking. I love my cats dearly but there comes a point when it's just too much for everyone.
DeleteTurning this over to our mom ...
ReplyDeleteI've used Tramadol a great deal in the past, for my pups. I've had success with it treating the pain, without side effects. Was the problem in administering it, by chance? It has a HORRID taste, very bitter, and is hard to disguise. (I accidentally put my fingers to my mouth once after just touching a Tramadol tablet and OH MY, I almost threw up!) Anyway, here's what I came up with, one of those "why didn't I think of this one earlier" and "why don't vets do this". I got the pharmacist to sell me empty gelcaps - large enough for me to slip the Tramadol inside. Then I'd wipe down the gelcap to make sure there wasn't any residue on it, then put it in some cheese or meat or whatever I could get my dog to eat. Peanut butter. Or I could at least slip it down his throat. Maybe that could help with Toby?
KZK
I used a Pill Pocket and put it down his throat. The oils help with the slide. He got stoned, basically, and was growling at what I think were hallucinations. Huge eyes, and he wouldn't rest for close to 5 hrs till it started to wear off. And his back end was wobbly, which is what I wanted to improve. He just wasn't Toby... he was a bundle of jittery irritated nerves.
DeleteAh, gotcha! Poor Toby! Maybe a lower dose? It's so hard when you can't give them just anything. Tramadol is a great "go-to" drug because it's one of the few that doesn't cause problems with other drugs and other side effects. :(
DeleteDid Toby have bad reaction to Tramadol? I hope he is OK. I agree, dealing with health matters is never easy.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry Toby is having problems! My Waddles was on Gabapentin for arthritis pain--I think it's in the same group of drugs Tramadol is. She seemed to tolerate it pretty well. The vet also recommended a type of supplement/substance that was in treat form. I'm sorry I don't remember the name. She said it really helped her cat with arthritis. But Waddles never liked the taste of the treat and it was hard getting any in her. You're right--it's never easy, and what works for one cat may not work for another. I hope you find something that works.
ReplyDeleteWe's sendin' lots and lots of purrayers. Hang in there.
ReplyDeleteLuv ya'
Dezi
I 100% agree. Toby we are so sorry...we felines are very good at hiding that we don't feel well which makes it hard for our humans.
ReplyDeleteJan 2015 I went through 4 months of trying to figure out why all of a sudden Madi in spite of outwardly showing now signs..she was eat, drinking and sleeping fine....but ohhh did she have tummy distress.
Sweet girl never once missed her box either.
She went for a senior wellness mid Jan 2015. Nothing wrong everything checked out. Vet suggested/offered C.E.T. dental chews.
I am not big on giving her new stuff..but I thought about it a week later I gave her 1/2. they were about 1" long. She ate it thought it was tasty. 2 days later I gave her the other 1/2. Within a day she started with a 3 month battle of tummy distress. I TOOK HER TO THE VET 2 TIMES A WEEK FOR 3 MONTHS. I KEPT SUGGESTING IT WAS THE C.E.T. CHEWS. LONG STORY SHORT MANY MEDS LATER, AN ATTEMPT AT 2 ADULTS TRYING TO PILL AN 11 POUND CAT AND FINALLY THE VET GIVING HER A TIME RELEASE PREDINSONE SHOT AND ME CHANGING HER TO GRAIN FREE DIET WE FINALLY GOT HER TUMMY BACK TO NORMAL. I HAVE LEARNED MY LESSON NO MATTER WHAT ANYONE SAYS I AM NOT GIVING HER ANY THING SHE IS NOT USED TO EATING! COUPLED WITH THE TUMMY ISSUES I ADDED THE STRESS OF CRAMMING HER IN THE PTU AND RIDING IN A CAR. SHE HATES BOTH.
LOL
GOOD LUCK AND LOTS OF HUGS AND I APOLOGIZE FOR THE LENGTH...AND THIS WAS A SHORTENED VERSION.
CECILIA
Not too long at all. Thanks for sharing. Even the slightest thing can throw them off.
DeleteSorry the meds were not good for Toby.Maybe a heating pad on low would help him feel better. Ihave also heard of different supplements with glucosamine, but every one I tried upset Spooky's tummy.
ReplyDeletePoor Tobes, and poor you. What with a houseful of Cats with flu, I completely empathise!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you. It's never easy...and as the cats age, it seems like it's always something. I don't like giving meds to my 3...though Wally is usually the easiest. I've resorted to getting any medication I have to give them made up into a flavored treat that they will eat. Would Toby be receptive to something like that? I could give you details of the pharmacy I use if you'd like. ~Island Cat Mom
ReplyDeleteWe think we kitties are hard to diagnos cuz we dont show our symptoms very openly.
ReplyDeleteWe know it's hard on both of you. My mom knows exactly how taxing it can be and has shed her share of tears over practically all of us in similar situations. We hope it gets less stressful soon. :-(
ReplyDeleteThat's too bad the Tramadol didn't work out for Toby. Boodie is a little bit stiff these days, so my human has been giving her a spoonful of glucosamine and chondroitin (it's in a tube, but comes out liquidy). My human's boyfriend says the vet at the clinic where he used to work didn't think this was much use for arthritis, but my human thinks maybe he was just too old-fashioned and conservative a vet. In any case, it's been too soon to see how much it is working for her.
ReplyDeletePoor Toby. And poor you. That sounds like it was absolutely dreadful. Maybe something like Cosequin will help? It helped both Sammy and Moosey when they got older. You can just sprinkle it on Toby's food.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear of your problems. Life is so hard sometimes.
ReplyDeleteHealing purrs and vibes,
Athena and Marie xx
OH I am so sorry. What with reading about that drug, my own mom won;t take it, never mind giving it to me. She is not for human narcotic pain relievers for her furbabies if at all possible. So far with our past fur family and now, she's been fortunate not to have to do that. I feel your concern and anxiety about it. Mom's love us. They want to make us feel better and be comfortable.
ReplyDeletetry https://cannacompanionusa.com/
ReplyDelete