Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Took Pookey to the vet for a follow-up/check-up (he's 19 next month). His nasal "tumor" from Jan/Feb has not shown back up again -- no bloody nose, no sneezing, no watery eye since Feb when we put him on a low dose of steroids. Vet thinks it could be either a polyp or tumor that the steroid is holding at bay very well -- and might hold back for quite a while. His kidneys are finally showing signs of failure -- his numbers aren't too bad, but they won't get better. Since he's already on the Kidney Diet (since age 14 when Stanley started on it), the next step is I'll give him Sub-Q fluids at home once a week. They showed me how to today -- I don't think it will be too difficult. And, it will cost me about $2.50 a week to do at home vice $20 a week for them to do it!

So, he's doing very well for his age. Just ask the fly he chased after a few days ago like he was a kitten again...
-----
Tammy and Pookey
(Stanley 8/91 - 8/07)

Glad to see you got some good news. Sounds like he is doing well for his age, although the fly may not like it.
-----
Boris's Human, Pam

It's nice to hear that Pookey is doing so well. I didn't realize that he was already 19 years old. Keep up the good work!

Ellen

Whoohoo! some good news! you go Pookey!

Gave Pookey his first treatment of Sub-Q fluids this morning. We will only get better, LOL. There is a big wet spot on the floor because I turned it on too early and I had to stick him a couple times (he wiggled), but it went quite well for our first time and he was very patient with me, LOL! He's such a good kitty.
-----
Tammy and Pookey
(Stanley 8/91 - 8/07)

It will only get easier Tammy! I was first sitting on the floor with Missy and then moved to a chair and her a small table.

I warmed the fluids first and used a small Terumo needle and she would lie there even after I was done - UNLESS I sang to her! LOL!

-----
Heidi - mom
Kotton - LOVING Ice-blue-eyed Siamese girl
Ben - Young Mr. Wonderful Spotted Tabby boy
Panther - Young Black "Master of Da Bird" boy

3 SPECIAL AngelsPLUS one EXTRA special girl

Minnie -CA LICO Saint of a Kitty girl
Schatzi- LOVINGEST EVER Tuxedo Standard Poodle Boy
Corkie - BEST EVER - cat - & LOVE OF MY LIFE
PLUS the MOST COURAGEOUS Little Angel EVER
Princessita Missy - Tiny MOST Amazing Miraculous Silver/white - Kitty girl EVER!

That is pretty good news for a 19 year old and great news about the "tumor". Give the boy a hug from me
-----
Tessa Foudini, Charlee, Spottie, Buddy, Tuxie, Widdle Attila Sipowitz, Lizzie, Minnie, ET, Mylo,Salem, Wicca, Marmalade, Amelia, Rocket and Turbo (we iz NOT fosters) and the 4 porch kits, Mocha, Tigger, Cali, and Smudge also Riley da goggie and Buddha da baby hamster too
Onyx,Tabitha and Samantha..always in our hearts & together again//Fly free Penny 12/12/07, always in our hearts...ShyRaven 11/17/09, Torti the tudeful 2/3/10
A house without cats is like a garden without flowers

Good for Pookey!

UH can my babies come to you to live? I can't keep them past 15!
-----
Heidi - mom
Kotton - LOVING Ice-blue-eyed Siamese girl
Ben - Young Mr. Wonderful Spotted Tabby boy
Panther - Young Black "Master of Da Bird" boy

3 SPECIAL AngelsPLUS one EXTRA special girl

Minnie -CA LICO Saint of a Kitty girl
Schatzi- LOVINGEST EVER Tuxedo Standard Poodle Boy
Corkie - BEST EVER - cat - & LOVE OF MY LIFE
PLUS the MOST COURAGEOUS Little Angel EVER
Princessita Missy - Tiny MOST Amazing Miraculous Silver/white - Kitty girl EVER!

His second in-home treatment (gets them once a week on Saturdays) went much smoother today.

Heidi -- Stanley and Pookey were from the same litter. When Stanley was diagnosed w/early kidney disease/failure at age 14, he was put on Science Diet KD (dry). I couldn't separate their eating easily and the vet said it was OK for Pookey to eat it too. When Stanley passed at age 16, I kept Pookey on it. The vet and I believe doing this staved off kidney disease until just now, at age 19, it is showing up (number just outside of normal -- not alarming). KD dry costs about $8 a month to feed him at the rate he goes thru a bag... If I get cats down the road, I'll proably discuss putting them on KD around age 12ish with the vet as a precaution, rather than wait for the disease to show up (#1 disease in older cats).
-----
Tammy and Pookey
(Stanley 8/91 - 8/07)

That is interesting. A VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE lady I know suggested putting MY babies on a lower phosphorus food as they are no longer youngsers (well they are 6 & 7 and ?) but Vet said there was no study to say doing that held off CRF.

Now my Panther, at age 6 has had numbers just a tad above normal and yet his USG is 1055! He is not on a kidney diet but on an Adult diet with a phos just over 1% and as he gets older - even IF he does not have any worsening numbers I will change foods to lower and lower phos.

Interestingly though, my oldest cat, Kotton - SHE has the lowest numbers of all!
-----
Heidi - mom
Kotton - LOVING Ice-blue-eyed Siamese girl
Ben - Young Mr. Wonderful Spotted Tabby boy
Panther - Young Black "Master of Da Bird" boy

3 SPECIAL AngelsPLUS one EXTRA special girl

Minnie -CA LICO Saint of a Kitty girl
Schatzi- LOVINGEST EVER Tuxedo Standard Poodle Boy
Corkie - BEST EVER - cat - & LOVE OF MY LIFE
PLUS the MOST COURAGEOUS Little Angel EVER
Princessita Missy - Tiny MOST Amazing Miraculous Silver/white - Kitty girl EVER!

Heidi -- I am a believer with the results in Pookey. However, I think under 10 is too young. The vet mentioned that cat need the higher protein food in their early years. The KD food lowers protein, as well as other things... So, I will stick with somewhere between age 10 and 12 (probably closer to 12) to when I make the switch with any future cats (determining the age with my vet first when the time comes). I will go with Science Diet KD since he's had such great results (just showing a little higher than normal readings at age 19).
-----
Tammy and Pookey
(Stanley 8/91 - 8/07)

My Panther keeps haveing high CRF numbers but he is on the Adult 27 of the Royal canin and so is Kotton who is ? old. Ben keeps vomiting so have switched him to CHEAP FOOD!!!! He is on Purina one for sensitive stomachs.

You might find Royal Canin better than Kd. Royal Canin is much recommended over Science Diet. Good luck to both of us!
-----
Heidi - mom
Kotton - LOVING Ice-blue-eyed Siamese girl
Ben - Young Mr. Wonderful Spotted Tabby boy
Panther - Young Black "Master of Da Bird" boy

3 SPECIAL AngelsPLUS one EXTRA special girl

Minnie -CA LICO Saint of a Kitty girl
Schatzi- LOVINGEST EVER Tuxedo Standard Poodle Boy
Corkie - BEST EVER - cat - & LOVE OF MY LIFE
PLUS the MOST COURAGEOUS Little Angel EVER
Princessita Missy - Tiny MOST Amazing Miraculous Silver/white - Kitty girl EVER!

I'll look into it in the future if I get more cats... The Science Diet KD is prescription...
-----
Tammy and Pookey
(Stanley 8/91 - 8/07)