More Sylvester News

[dmarley]

I took Sylvester to the vet today to get a read on how he's doing and what needs to be done. Although he's still doing better, eating and drinking and purring and sleeping and complaining, the kidney failure is still an issue, and isn't going to go away. The vet is putting him on a variety of medications to mimic various kidney functions, and to help him put on some weight. So, he'll be taking:

Tapazole, his thyroid medication

Potassium to replace the potassium lost because of the kidney failure

Pepcid AC to control the excess tummy acid caused by same

Epakitin (crushed shrimp and crab shells) mixed in his food to absorb phosphorus

Anti-nausea medication for a week or two, so he'll keep in all down and hopefully gain weight

Everything except the Pepcid has to be given twice a day. Apparently, the kidneys are a complex organ.

The bottom line, though, is that even if all the medications do what they're supposed to, the kidney failure is going to catch up with him, probably within the next few months. Again, not unexpected, and it's certainly a lot longer than I (or the vet) thought he was going to have when I took him in last week. He'll also, hopefully, have a relatively comfortable and happy life until that happens. Well, as happy as any cat can be when its owner is pushing five kinds of meds down its throat twice a day. So, as always, we'll wait and see what happens.

Comments

[ladypredator.livejournal.com]

Poor Sylvester, meds are no fun. *hugs him*

Hope all else is well with you.

[dmarley.livejournal.com]

He particularly dislikes the anti-nausea medication, which I have to squirt in with a syringe. He's more or less resigned to the pills after a year of getting his thyroid medicine twice a day, but he's very un-fond of having sticky stuff squirted into his mouth.

We are all well and good here. Boo had a little fever and tummy-ache last night, but as is often the case, is in rude good health this morning and wanting treats and to play outside. :)

[ladypredator.livejournal.com]

Poor Sylvester!! I can't blame him for not enjoying that.

Glad Boo's feeling better!

[vickita.livejournal.com]

Aw, hugs to you and Sylvester.

I lost my 18 year-old kitty, Shadow, earlier this year. Hurt like a mo-fo, it did. *sigh*

But you never know; sometimes the little dickenses surprise you. Shadow made I-lost-track-of-how-many rebounds before it came to the point where it was time to say goodbye.

::sending good vibes::