Comments on: Gracie update 7

By: srp

srp — Sun, 22 Oct 2006 21:36:48 +0000

One of my Siamese developed this problem. She lost a lot of weight and threw up liquied five or six times a day. I took her to the vet school at Mississippi State. They did ultrasounds of her GI tract and she had a little thickening of her stomach wall. The biopsy showed inflammatory bowel disease and Helicobacter pylori organisms. She couldn’t keep the steroid pills down so the vet gave her a long acting shot of prednisone and said she might have to have another one in eight weeks or so. That was 8 years ago and she is still fine. Cats can have the same bacteria that people have in their stomachs with chronic gastritis.

I’ve heard of that Dr. Camuti. I would think Tufts Vet School would have great vets too.

By: Patti

Patti — Sun, 22 Oct 2006 15:21:57 +0000

Sending Kitty prayers… It must be a bad time of year for cats — Lucy suddenly can’t move or feel her back legs at all. So, I’m crossing several fingers (making it hard to type).

By: Marilynn

Marilynn — Sun, 22 Oct 2006 13:18:48 +0000

My heart just aches for you and Gracie. I went through this type of agony with my darling Pluto when he was 11 years old. I lived in California then, so vets’ names won’t help at all, especially since none of the three vets we saw could come up with answers.

My prayers are with you and Gracie.

Marilynn

By: Connecticut Yankee

Connecticut Yankee — Sun, 22 Oct 2006 04:20:30 +0000

Ongoing prayers from me and the kitties again. My vet is a wonderful internist; unfortunately, I know New Haven is too far to travel with your sweet Gracie. On the other hand, Cornell’s Feline Health Center has a telephone consultation service (named for Dr. Louis Camuti, the first veterinarian in the US to devote his practice entirely to cats).

Here is the basic info about the service:

Information on feline diseases and health care has burgeoned during the last few years. However, this abundance of information makes it very difficult for practitioners and cat owners to stay current on the newest developments in feline health care. In response to this need, the service attempts to make information available in a timely, efficient and accessible manner. The Cornell Feline Health Center’s consulting veterinarian answers your specific questions, giving expert advice based on the most current information available in feline medicine.

The service is available to both cat owners and veterinarians on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays between the hours of 9am and noon, and 2pm to 4pm Eastern time, excluding holidays. A member of our staff will assist you in obtaining information and, if consultation is requested, guide you through a brief intake process. After reviewing your questions and concerns, our consultant will contact you directly. Typically, calls are returned the same day they are received.

The $55 fee helps the center defray the costs of this service. Payment can be made by MasterCard, Visa or Discover credit cards. Professional and Supporting Members receive a 20% discount on all consultations.

Link: http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/camuti.htm

I hope this info. might help if the vets in VA are still looking for a diagnosis on Monday. God bless you and precious Gracie.

By: Hot(M)BC

Hot(M)BC — Sun, 22 Oct 2006 02:18:43 +0000

LOL I mean to drive you and Gracie, or drive with you. And since I work from home, my schedule is flexible. Obviously my mind is toast, but the offer is genuine. :)

By: Hot(M)BC

Hot(M)BC — Sun, 22 Oct 2006 02:13:10 +0000

Meryl,
I’m sure you probably have a bunch of friends who’ll offer, but if you need a driver to take Gracie to Manassas Monday, I work from home, so it wouldn’t be a problem for me to drive yall up there. Just let me know please.
~~ Robyn

By: Meryl Yourish

Meryl Yourish — Sun, 22 Oct 2006 02:01:38 +0000

Those are all questions they’re going to hear from me on Monday. I know they’ve sedated her because of the surgery, and that they did two different blood tests.

I think I may be taking a trip up to Manassas this week.

By: Ellen LVT/VDT

Ellen LVT/VDT — Sun, 22 Oct 2006 01:41:49 +0000

Hi Meryl,
Lawrence Simon emailed me about Gracie.

I am saddned to hear about your cat.
Since they did an exploratory, did they take biopsy samples? Have they run a PLI/TLI/Cobalamine/Folate test to check her for vitamin deficiency and or pancreatitis?

I am also VERY sad to hear that they have not placed a PEG(stomach tube) or an esophagostamy tube for feeding. It is SO important to keep a cat eating. They will become sicker and die from the lack of nutrients. 24 hour fast past surgery is commmon, but not to go longer than that.

I do also hope they placed her on opiods for pain medication and on an IV CRI drip of pain medication as well. Exploratory is incredibly painful. I actually do epidurals and CRI and pre and post pain meds for the cats I work on for these types of surgeries that my DRS will perform.

Have they given her anitemietics such as Pepcid, Reglan, or Anzemet? Carafate?

Please feel free to ask me if you need any help. Dr Chiapella in Manassas is THE guru of internal medicine in VA. \

Ellen (Licensed Veterinary Technician 13 years in the business.)

By: Meryl Yourish

Meryl Yourish — Sun, 22 Oct 2006 01:34:40 +0000

I’m going to have a long talk with the vet on Monday morning. They have to bring someone else in. Gracie can’t last much longer before stuff starts shutting down from lack of nutrition. IV isn’t enough.

Thanks for the suggestions. I see a bunch of internal specialists about an hour’s drive from me. I’m going to talk to my vet about them.

By: Cameron

Cameron — Sun, 22 Oct 2006 01:27:44 +0000

Meryl,
I know that Gaithersburg MD is a bit of a haul for you, but these people helped my Punkin earlier this year. You have to have a referral from your vet, but they do incredible work.

http://www.vcavra.com/