cjsmith: (Default)
cjsmith ([personal profile] cjsmith) wrote2007-09-07 10:07 am

Kitty health

Duchess is diabetic again. She was looking skinny, and sure enough, the calories she's eating aren't sticking. Other numbers in the blood work are a little bit off as well: potassium low, BUN (nitrogen) elevated. She could just be dehydrated or she could have kidney disease or an adrenal tumor.

I had forgotten, what with Princess living past twenty-one years of age, that thirteen or fourteen IS old for a cat. Fortunately my other two feline teenagers are still pretty healthy.

[identity profile] rfrench.livejournal.com 2007-09-07 05:28 pm (UTC)(link)
Rats! Well, you'll get over your needle phobia again...

[identity profile] cjsmith.livejournal.com 2007-09-07 06:21 pm (UTC)(link)
And Duchess will be very happy. She LOVES her little injection-time treats.

[identity profile] msmichelle.livejournal.com 2007-09-07 06:43 pm (UTC)(link)
Awww, poor Dutchess. Why does the diabetes fade in and out for her?
You're a good, doting kitty mama!

[identity profile] cjsmith.livejournal.com 2007-09-07 07:12 pm (UTC)(link)
It just does, for some cats. If she's on a good diabetes-maintenance diet it seems it's sort of random.

Fortunately she, at least, will be pleased. She gets treats with her shots, and she'll come trotting over whenever I open the fridge door at roughly the right time of the day.

[identity profile] mactavish.livejournal.com 2007-09-09 01:42 am (UTC)(link)
I wish my doctor gave treats!

[identity profile] cjsmith.livejournal.com 2007-09-09 08:18 pm (UTC)(link)
Maybe if you wriggled away when she tried to give you medicine... :)

[identity profile] quasigeostrophy.livejournal.com 2007-09-07 08:54 pm (UTC)(link)
Poor kitty. Good luck with the new round of injections. And *hugs*.

[identity profile] cjsmith.livejournal.com 2007-09-07 09:24 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks! She'll be happy, my wallet will be sad... it all balances out in the end. :-)

[identity profile] wooddragon.livejournal.com 2007-09-07 09:34 pm (UTC)(link)
Urgh. Poor Duchess.

[identity profile] cjsmith.livejournal.com 2007-09-07 10:24 pm (UTC)(link)
I hope there's nothing more serious than the reappearance of her diabetes. She doesn't seem to be bothered at all by that.

[identity profile] kimatha.livejournal.com 2007-09-08 01:36 am (UTC)(link)
Oh darn. At least you know the routine now.

[identity profile] cjsmith.livejournal.com 2007-09-09 08:19 pm (UTC)(link)
Yep, and she seems completely unfazed. I just hope there's nothing worse going on.

[identity profile] jupiter29.livejournal.com 2007-09-08 04:07 am (UTC)(link)
Aww, I'm sorry to hear that. But hopefully you'll be able to help her out. Hang in there, I'll be sending good thoughts your way.

[identity profile] cjsmith.livejournal.com 2007-09-09 08:20 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks! Fingers crossed.

[identity profile] rampling.livejournal.com 2007-09-10 11:34 pm (UTC)(link)
Awwww, sorry ti hear it's back. Best of luck to both of you!

[identity profile] cjsmith.livejournal.com 2007-09-10 11:43 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks! Her blood pressure check this morning was reasonable, so I'm crossing my fingers for JUST the diabetes. Already she's loving the morning routine.

[identity profile] rampling.livejournal.com 2007-09-10 11:47 pm (UTC)(link)
Glad to hear it may not be worse than that. Ohhhh, *hugs* and *kitty-scritches* to both of you (you pick which one you want) for hanging in there and working through this.

[identity profile] redgrrl.livejournal.com 2007-09-11 07:51 pm (UTC)(link)
Aw, sorry to hear it! I'll be thinking about Duchess. Do you have to give her shots again?

[identity profile] cjsmith.livejournal.com 2007-09-12 12:47 am (UTC)(link)
Ayep, insulin twice a day. She doesn't seem to mind that at all. Fortunately, her blood pressure is normal so there may be nothing worse than the diabetes. Woohoo!

[identity profile] redgrrl.livejournal.com 2007-09-12 05:59 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm glad to hear THAT!