Wednesday, March 20, 2013

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY WITH DOMINO PLUS A FEW WORDS FROM MAMA




Words from the Mama:  This is our little Domino last Friday when she was still feeling well enough to PURRuse the neighPURRhood.  She is wordless, but I am not.

For the whole weekend following she didn't eat or drink and was generally lethargic.  So I took her to the V.E.T. on Monday, and she was in pretty bad shape.  Of course she was dehydrated so they gave her subcutaneous fluids.  And she got a shot of antihistamine which is supposed to increase appetite.

They also stole her blood to do an array of tests to determine the cause.  Thankfully, the hydration and antihistamine worked and she was almost her old self by Tuesday.  We returned to the vet to get the results of the blood tests and get some more treatments.

It seems that Domino has hyPURRthyroidism which causes many things to happen in her little body, not least of which is to lose weight (which she can ill afford).  At least we are happy that this problem is so treatable, because she will be able to get back to business as usual once the medication kicks in.  We chose a gel treatment which is administered daily to the inside of her ear.  It's like a felt-tipped pen that issues just the right amount and you rub it in gently.

Until the medication gets to an acceptable level, we still have to boost her appetite artificially.  I have taken to handfeeding her when she won't eat on her own.  It's actually kind of cute because when I spoonfeed her, she will growl gently and chew at the same time, so it comes out sounding like: "Mmmm Mom Mom Mom"!  She actually allows me to continue, though, so I think she knows I'm trying to help her.

There are so many beloved pets in the CB who have passed just recently.  We are just so happy that Domino's problem isn't so devastating.  She will be just fine.  Please save your purrs for those who need them most.  

So, we are taking a break until next week because there are many things going on which require our attention right now, not least of which is sweet Domino.  Please do not feel obligated to comment.

53 comments:

Fuzzy Tales said...

Lack of appetite certainly isn't a symptom of hyper-t, usually it's the opposite--voracious appetite and weight loss.

Annie was asymtompatic when diagnosed back in September 2009. I went the route of the transdermal methimazole, but forever will regret not somehow finding a way to do the I-131 at the only clinic in Ottawa at the time that did it.

Purrs for her, because hyper-t can be managed with meds, but certainly not cured unless you have the radiation treatment done.

I have a great PDF on the pharmacological management of hyper-t; email me at keas DOT fuzzy DOT tales AT gmail DOT com if you want it, Wendy. There's tons of great info on the web, of course.

Fuzzy Tales said...

Oh, make sure to have her platelets tested when you do blood work, as they can drop with the methimazole. Usually that's just a short term side effect, but you need to keep an eye on it, make sure they don't remain low if they do drop.

Angel, Kirby and Max said...

We will send a short purr to her. She is a love and we want to encourage her to eat!

Milo and Alfie Marshall said...

PURRS are like LOVE, you never run out .... so we have plenty to spare and are sending PURRS for sweet Domino.

Extra special love and PURRS from Milo xxxx

PURRS from Alfie xx

Love from Jan xx

Andrea and the Celestial Kitties said...

I'm glad it's not something more scary! Hope she gets all better and regulated soon!

Brian's Home Blog said...

Oh sweet Domino, we are sorry you are having problems sweet one. I know your Mom will take the best care of you. We all send you our very best purrs and gentle hugs.

Cat said...

We're sending our strongest healing purrs for beautiful Domino!!!

Molly was my elderly calico who died at 19, but she lived for many years with hyperthyroid and happily ate her daily pill pocket which contained her medication. I know Domino will recuperate quickly with your loving care :-)

Selina said...

MomKatt says she didn't know what to DO before transdermal meds! We are purring that Domino continues to improve!!!

PURRZ!
Selina

Layla Morgan Wilde ( Cat Wisdom 101) said...

We're sending big healing purrs from our Domino to yours!

Sweet Purrfections said...

Of course we're going to be purring for Domino. We're happy her condition is treatable. We hope the medication takes effect quickly.

Mo and The Purries said...

Sending PURRS & PRAYERS for Domino from all of us at Purrchance To Dream.

We also put up a post for Domino on the Cat Blogosphere.

ANGEL ABBYGRACE said...

We will continue to send purr for Domino and hope she feels completely better very soon.

Connie - Tails from the Foster Kittens said...

Oh Domino! I am so sorry to hear you are not feeling well! (but I so do love that photo!)

I've just been reading up on treating Hyper-t.. all the reports say to start low and go slow with the medications.. But I have yet to read about the gel now coming in a 'pen' form, that is super cool!! *off to do more reading*

Many purrs that you feel better right quick, but that the Mom keeps up the hand feeding, cause that's just adorable.

Angel Junior, Orion and Sammy said...

We are glad the problem was found easily enough and will be purring for themeds to work sooner rather than later, and for a good appetite to continue!

Zippy, Sadie, Speedy and M'Gee said...

We've heard of RadioCat treatments being a miracle cure...mom was thinking of doing that for Punkin when she was diagnosed but then the cancer happened and treatment for that was more important.

Fr. Tom Fish said...

Just wanted you to know we came by to lend our support and let Dommy know we're here, too..we didn't know about the gel in the ear. Wish they had that years ago, but at that time my brofur had the radiation and was good as new. Hopefully, they've come down in the cost of such treatment.

Good luck xx

Team Tabby said...

We are very happy to hear Domino is eating again and feeling better!

Purrs,
Mindy
Moe
Cookie
Mike

Cat Street Boyz said...

Oh how our kitties can hide their troubles......Setzer also has a hyper-thyroid and takes pills 2xs a day........he will be getting the radiation treatment soon.
He was a fast eater but would sometimes puke up his food. He became sicker right after the pet food recall which he was on one of them. My son feeds him dry food which I have tried to talk him out of doing.
I am so glad that your sweet Domino is going to be better=^Y^=Holly

Asta said...

I am sending my healing smoochie kisses to Domino in the hopes that it will help hew eat and gain hew appetite and let the medicins make hew all bettew. Mommi is also pwaying
The Powew of the Paw and all the love can wowk miwaculls
Soochies and love
Asta

Pip said...

We are purring for sweet Domino. Get better little girl!
TK, and Pip

Pip said...

We are purring for sweet Domino. Get better little girl!
TK, and Pip

Summer at sparklecat.com said...

I always have purrs for Domino! I am glad she is doing well with your help.

Jacqueline said...

YAY!!...We are so grateful that beautiful Domino is doing better and will recover with medication; we have lost so many friends in just a few weeks and are thrilled to hear your precious girl will be fine...Take care of yourself, Wendy, we know you have been through a lot recently with Walter's health issues as well...Wishing you all the very best, dear friends...big hugs...J, Calle, Halle, Sukki

Lynx217 said...

Foo! *sprinkles magic pixie dust on you*

Nimbus

The Florida Furkids said...

Purrs and prayers are going out to Domino! We hope she's better soon.

The Florida Furkids

Quill and Greyson said...

Poor Domino! Finny had that too. She took the pills but she took to the treatment very well. Purring your sweet girl does very well with the gel. I heard very good things about it too.

Cherry City Kitties said...

Whew! We are so glad that Domino's health issues are treatable, and of course she knows you are trying to help. Just beware that she may expect you to keep spoon feeding her, long after she is well! MOL
Harry, Dexter and Tipp

Savannah's Paw Tracks said...

oh Domino...purrrs for you sweetheart. And my sister before me, Tasha, was hyperthyroid and eventually she also developed high blood pressure. She was hard to regulate on her meds, Mom used pills; but eventually it was sorted out and she was good for several more years. She went OTRB at 17. We will have you with us sweet Domino for a very long long time...purrrs Savannah

Random Felines said...

we are sending purrs.....we hope the can fix Domino....

Katie Isabella said...

I am happy to meet you dear beautiful little girl. My angel sisfur AdmiralHestorb also had hyperthyroidism. She got the transdermal gel too. It was a piece of cake. Kitties have to be retested after a few days to make sure the dose is correct. Make sure they steal her bloods again.

Angel MoMo and Charlotte said...

Sorry to hear that sweet Domino has not been well. Hopefully the condition will be sorted out soon and she will be back to her normal self. Purrs .........

Fuzzy Tales said...

Wendy, I wanted to apologize, didn't mean to sound abrupt or terse, do this do that.

When Annie was diagnosed back in Sep 2009, most of info came from my own research. I joined the Yahoo Feline hyper-t group, Googled like crazy, etc. Learned a lot (most of which I forget!), but I'm thankful I did, because the vet was only interested in prescribing the meds and didn't offer me anything else. I was the one who did the research on the I-131, who discovered that methimazole can lower blood platelet levels at least in the short term--it's rare for them to stay low, and so on. Presumably you have a vet who is more on the ball.

BTW, the original gel base that Annie got so badly irritated her ears that they were in danger of becoming infected. I had to do my own research on the old and newer base (different ingredients) and I had to push my vet for a different compounding agency.

It really was a stressful time for me, going it on my own. I have a big distrust of vets (and human doctors) for *chronic* (and some other) health issues. Derry's idiopathic cystitis is a good example--if I had listened to the vet, Derry would be doped up on human anti-depressants.

Anyway, all I"m suggesting is that you do your own research too, don't take any vet's word as gospel truth, and make the best, most informed decisions you can for Domino. And don't be afraid to question or push or suggest something else if you need to.

Oh yeah, and keep an eye on those platelet levels. LOL.

(((Hugs))) to you and smooches to your sweet girl. I know lots of kitties are just fine on the meds for years.

The Tower Hill Mob said...

Purrs and prayers for Domino. We're glad that it's a manageable condition and hope she feels better soon! Hugs and skritches to Dylan and Dante,too.
Clancy and Cupcake

Robyn and The (Mostly) Badass Cat said...

I'm so glad she's doing better. We have plenty of purrs at HotMBC, so we're sending them for her too.

Jans Funny Farm said...

Glad it's something treatable. Hope Domino will be feeling her old self soon.

Maggie May said...

We are purring and purraying for you, sweet Domino! Get well soon!!!
XOXO
Maggie May and The Creek Cats

Unknown said...

We will include Domino in our Purrayers! Wes had a couple of cats with the problem and they both lived a long time after the diagnosis. We also discovered that we had to ensure the kittys drinked enough as the meds can be hard on the kidneys. Wes added extra water to the doft food to du that. The Cats LIVED the gravy!
Kisses
Nellie

Oskar said...

Praying for Domino, but the ear treatment sounds really great. Not having to give her a pill or shots will be easier for everyone, even though no one wants to be sick at all.

I hope she's back to her old self really soon!

Nubbin wiggles,
Oskar

Cathy Keisha said...

Coming over to check up on my tuxie furrend Domino. I hope she gets to feeling better. Hand feed her some corned beef. She should like that. I do.

Samantha & Mom said...

Lots of purrs and prayers for Domino!! We know she will be all better and back to her cute self!
Your TX furiends,

bichonpawz said...

Sending along prayers for little Domino! Sure hope he is better soon!

Unknown said...

Purrs and hugs, Domino, and speedy recovery. Be well, little one.

Hannah and Lucy said...

We are purring for Domino and sending kitty kisses across the ocean for you all. We hope her condition improves with the medication.
Luv Hannah and Lucy xx xx

Anonymous said...

Big furry hugs and positive vibes from UK moggies xxx

Laila and Angel Minchie said...

Sending purrs and prayers your way, Domino, as you get better. (((hugs)))

Angel Simba said...

Sending lots of purrs for Domino. Our Audrey was recently diagnosed with hyperT as well, but in her case she had a voracious appetite (and still has a good one). She is taking pills in pill pockets and has been on them for 10 days now. I am interested that Domino's gel is like a pen - I have seen other kitties where it is dispensed in a syringe to the ear.

We will check back to see how she is doing.

Oui Oui said...

Wendy, we are so sorry you and Domino are going through this tough time. Thankfully there is a treatment, we are so grateful for that. Good luck and we hope Domino is back to her lovely self soon. She is in the best hands possible! We are purring for you both.

dArtagnan Rumblepurr/Diego Hamlet Moonfur said...

Oh my sweet girl, I am sending you really big purrs. I really hate that you're not doing well, you're a very special ladycat.

Please Miss Wendy, can you give her a big cuddle from us and let her know we're thinking of you all.

Angel Ginger Jasper said...

I am so sad to hear sweet darling Domino is not but glad the vet could make her feel somewhat better. I send purrs and mum love and hope they help.. Hugs and love GJ xx

Jacqueline said...

Just stopping by to check in and let you know we are still purring for precious Domino to get well soon...We hope you all stay warm and have a happy weekend, sweet friends...xoxo...Calle, Halle, Sukki

Big kisses to my Dylan...Halle

The Monkeys said...

We are sending big purrs for Domino!

Jacqueline said...

Still purring for your precious girl...Have a fun week, sweet friends...xoxo...Calle, Halle, Sukki

da tabbies o trout towne said...

domino: we just R returnin N R just now see in this...pleez ta tell yur mom ta ask de vet if ewe can haz one oh de following ta help boost energeee//vitamins

nutri cal

or GNC nurish cat or GNC mega high calorie booster

de GNC products can be bought at petsmart here...de nutri cal at de vetz