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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsAnother update on the abandoned cat Tiger Tim (good news and bad news)
Sunday evening update on Tiger Tim
Tiger Tim really knows how to keep us on our toes. We may need to see a doctor ourselves after he is well.
So in the morning he was fine, eating small amounts of food and being sociable. This photo was taken then (doesnt he look handsome?) But of course that was just to lull us into a state of complacency. Early in the evening the ICU vet called. Tiger Tims breathing was labored and a new x-ray showed more fluid buildup. He needed another chest tap.
This time around they removed 92 mls of fluids from around his lung. The vet was actually that precise. They changed his pain meds, too, putting him on fentanyl, but keeping him on baytril and unasyn. The problem is, until the biopsy and cultures come back, we really dont know what he has or if he needs a specific antibiotic. Right now all they can do is treat him with baytril and unasyn, which are pretty broad spectrum.
After giving us the nightly scare, what did Tiger Tim do? He woke up from sedation and proceeded to meow for attention. Hes back to normal, seemingly. We, on the other hand, are aging rapidly.
Tiger Tim, buddy, get off that roller coaster!
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Magnificat-Cat-Rescue-and-Rehoming/335821436543926
I hope they can pinpoint his illness and that it's treatable. Sounds like he is doing better emotionally. He is one handsome cat!
SoapBox
(18,791 posts)If animals can get addicted to narcotic pain medications (fentanyl) like humans?
SoapBox
(18,791 posts)Oh...poor kitty. Shaved and is that an IV in his leg...oh my gosh.
I know that he's getting so much help but in my "old age" it breaks my heart to think of critters in pain.
People in pain? Hmmm...let me think about that!
Thekaspervote
(32,809 posts)Sounds like it might be FIP, nasty nasty for cats. I hope not, but if you haven't read up on it you might want to that. Best of luck!
TexasTowelie
(112,509 posts)Let's hope for a good diagnosis and a quick recovery.
Not a Fan
(98 posts)That is one of the most beautiful cats I've ever seen. And we've always had cats - sometimes a lot of them.
When our cats are ill we always give them Vitamin D. It's worth considering.
New research suggests low vitamin D status is a predictor of short term mortality in cats
"Researchers from the Royal School of Veterinary Studies, Hospital for Small Animals in Edinburg, measured serum 25(OH)D concentrations in 99 hospitalized cats. They also measured various clinical, hematological and biochemical markers.
They found that cats who survived the first 30 days after initial assessment had significantly higher vitamin D levels than those who died within the first 30 days (p = 0.0022). Cats with serum 25(OH)D levels in the lowest tertile were independently predictive of mortality within 30 days (p = 0.0051).
The researchers concluded,
The central finding of this study demonstrates that hospitalized ill cats with low serum 25(OH)D concentrations were less likely to survive 30 days."
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A (different) recent study showed that dogs need it as well.
Researchers suggest vitamin D sufficiency range and its relation to risk of cancer in dogs.