Hospital Oh No!

Not again!

Toro will be going to hospital this evening for his ultra sound tomorrow. Since the ultra sound can only be done in the morning, I have to send him this evening so he has to stay overnight for the test. The ultra sound is to see the state of his kidneys as his last ultra sound saw that both his right kidney and his right pelvic cavity were swollen. He also has a urinary catheter to allow him to pee 2 weeks ago. Also I hope the vet Dr P would be able to discern the type of uroliths he has. So many tests for a little kitty!

Toro Update - Hospitalisation Day 5

Dr T said that the reason his creatinine and BUN indicators were lower on Sunday was because of the dopamine that they had introduced into his system. This allowed more blood to go to his kidneys. However this would not be possible to do at home so his protocol would be the following per day:

-250 ml of fluids

-1 capsule Azodyl (to be swallowed whole and would dissolve in his intestines)

- 1/2 Apo-K for potassium per day

- 1/4 Alutab 2X a day

The hospital nurse, a professional, said that Toro is very good with his orals! This has not been my experience with him at all. I foresee troubling clouds in the future. Alternatively I can send him to the vet at T for several days to train him to accept his meds gracefully and myself on how to give the orals meds confidently. Of course we would get the pill popper for this as I had given my pill popper to R for Fatboy.

He was very perky as the nurse said and Dr L told me that he was also very chatty. When I came to see him, he was already on his 2nd bowl of kibble and he was eager to show me that he was good at eating them by eating more in my presence. After every several brush strokes, he would eat some kibble :) Then I had to go out as Dr L was helping another cat to breathe. When came back he allowed me to carry him while the nurse changed is pad but he was not as docile as the last time. Toro really does not like to be carried at all and so I knew he was on the mend.

Dr T told me that 3/4 of his kidneys are not in working order and indeed it was precisely because of this, that we managed to find out his troubles. If kidneys were not damaged to that extent, we would not even have known about his low creatinine and BUN levels as they would not appear in the reading. The irony of that dumbfounded me!

Dr T warned that he would be on medication all his life and asked me if I wanted them to do a last blood test for him today. He said blood tests are expensive and Crit C costs $175.00 per. I told him to go ahead as I do not want it to be because of one blood test not done that would unravel all the good that his hospitalisation had done for him.

He would have one ultra sound done at 3.30 pm and Dr T was confident that he could go home. The ultra sound would confirm the type of kidney disease he has, whether chronic or not.

Question:
I read online that cats on Azodyl do so much better when it is combined with Epakitin. Would anyone know where I can get Epakitin?

Your cat is perky and eating well :)

The hospital nurse called me this morning to give me an update about Toro. I was glad to know that he is 'perky' and eating well. The news about his clear pee also made my day :)) I think when your pet is in hospital (or even people in hospital) it is all in the details.

Toro would not have any blood tests today and he would have a relatively stress-free day for today. Tomorrow is his last blood test and his ultra-sound. They are quite confident that he would be allowed home tomorrow, barring any catastrophes in the ultra-sound.

I would be seeing him later with some treats since he has been very good the whole time he is in hospital.

Toro at the hospital on Sunday

Toro grooming himself quite calmly in his ICU

Toro Update - Hospitalisation Day 4

Toro inviting me for another round of brushing. He woke up very quickly when he heard me thorough the glass

We went for a walk around the lounge as it was quiet. He was nervous at first but then he got used to it. He quite enjoyed himself. One of the staff members recorded his meow for a ring tone :)

He was a good patient and followed the doctor's orders :)

This Sunday's test is so much better. I am comforted by the fact that he would be able to come home in a few days. His creatinine is now 5.2 from yesterday's 15 and his BUN is now 61 from 172. Dr S introduced potassium into his fluids so that is also stable. I saw the armoury of meds that he would have to take - an exact replica of Fatboy's. I also got a bottle of Bach 7 -Purification and ut some in his water bowl.

In the evening, he settled down to groom himself. I am glad to see this as I know he is no more afraid of the place and is quite comfortable where he is.

Toro Update- Hospitalisation Day 3

Toro was looking well when I left him today, at about 7.30 pm. He had eaten some wet food and drunk a lot more water as I brought him our water bowl. He is not used to drinking water from a bowl as we have drinking fountains for a few years already, which he prefers, but I am glad he remembered.

He wanted to look at what was up but he realised the jump was not something he wanted to do. It was very quiet on Saturday afternoon and the dogs were all asleep so he felt safe enough to venture out of his cage.

Toro contemplating life...

I brought him a feather that Cousin R found two days ago. He was much more interested in it as it was kept with the catnip :)

His blood test on 29 July

His blood test today...

The indicators for kidney issues (or kidney failure as the vet calls it) were a little better but not so much better that he can go home. She said it was the practice that if the 2nd test shows a a number that is comparable, then they might allow him home. We are of course hoping for the indicators to improve in the days to come. The vet Dr S said his kidneys were very very very very bad. I think 4 very bads are just the same as 1 very bad though. I guess he had to tell me the naked truth so I do not have unreasonable expectations of what medicine can do. :(

I read that Persian cats were predisposed to kidney stones and some may even have them in the kidneys from young, about 30%. This is no consolation of course. It would be good to know from the very beginning though.

Toro Update - Hospitalisation Day 2

Toro having his first meal of the day - of Walthams Renal

He allows us to brush him and stayed put quite long until he was satisfied with his fur...

Yes! I am all ready for the night san...

What are you doing? This is NOT my favourite toy!

Toro in hospital, having food from home instead of hospital food...

Dr T called me at work to speak about toro yesterday but I was not able to speak with him. One of the staff said that Toro was not eating and that he was not so alert. I was not so worried as I knew Toro would spent half the day asleep if he was home until i come back from work and so told him this. He sounded relieved and asked if I was coming to see Toro with food!

Toro was looking well and ate the Walthams Renal readily in his own bowl. He complained several times as he ate so I guess he was not very sick. Then we spent the remainder of the time playing with him and brushing his fur, which he enjoyed.

Dr T called me again at about 10. I did not speak to him at the hospital as it slipped my mind. He said they would do another blood test for him on Saturday (today) and the earliest he could return home is Sunday, if all is well. The only doc at the hospital today would be Dr L and so if I can get him it would be better. If not, then Dr Lim would tell me if Toro could go home and that would be Sunday (if his indicators show a marked improvement only) Dr T said he was quiet and I told him that Toro is usually very laid back in the mornings and afternoons and would only play late afternoon with the amigos. I also told him that Toro is a finicky eater and would only eat what he is used to, the way he wants it and to always give him fresh food (even kibble) in the morning.

I will be seeing him later today and we will see what transpires. Thank you for all the thoughts and advice for Toro yesterday.