Second Update On My Cat With Suspected Brain Haemorrhage.

[ladybirder]

For those interested, Bobbie didn't have his x-ray last week as he wasn't well enough to take the anaesthetic. He had it today instead and VD has been ruled out and a Stroke confirmed. There is no treatment except he is having steroid injections as he won't take his pills. The vet agrees with me he seems a happy boy, not in pain, (he was nudging the vet to stroke him), so as long as he stays that way we will continue to give him any support he needs. If things change then a different decision may have to be made but at the moment we are all happy. All except the dog who couldn't care less.

[ladybirder]

That's a sad story BB, so sorry, poor cat.
I don't really have a choice but to leave the food there if he wants it. I must stop worrying about it. He's just lying on the mat outside, been there all morning. We are at the vets again tomorrow afternoon so we'll see if there is any change.
My poor rescue dog has liver and kidney failure but still eats like there's no tomorrow.
Like a sick animal hospital here:-(

[wolf63]

Bobbie sounds like a nice boy and maybe he isn't as devious and conniving as Frankie so this might not be relevant.

Frankie will often leave food and wander off to see what I am eating before he decides whether to eat his food.

I am told (often) that I have put down the 'wrong or poisonour food' I leave him to it and he eventually eats some of it.

I find that the more I coax him into eating the less likely that he will eat it - it is an example of 'Cat Logic'.

Maybe you will find a hint in this website:
https://www.vets-now.com/pet-care-advice/my-cat-wont-eat/

[marval]

I am sorry he does not want to eat. I hope he perks up soon.

[ladybirder]

Me too marval.
Wolf I'll get him some sardines after we've been to the vet tomorrow.
He's eaten nothing today and been back under the bed most of the time. This is bad news. I feel quite upset, I fear he might deteriorating. I'm probably over-reacting but I do worry.

[tonyav]

Best of luck for Bobbie and yourself at the vets tomorrow, ladybirder.

[vetuste_ennemi]

I've suffered all my life from this cat thing, Ladybirder, and understand the worry. I've got six (two families acquired by accident, or, possibly, viewed from their angle, by design).

And yes, good luck.

[ladybirder]

Thank you Tony. Can't sleep for thinking about him.
Six cats v_e, wow, as you say by their design. Must make my trouble seem insignificant.
Back to bed to try and sleep.

[seekeerz]

hoping today's news is better for you both, lb, best wishes to Bobbie and yourself, and Ziggi sends good thoughts as well xx

[rowanwitch]

sit near him with human food he likes, leave your plate for a few minutes and see if he steals some... the temptation might be too much. It might be the stroke has affected his appetite centre in which case long term steroids (but you wont have him so long) might be the answer

[ladybirder]

Thank you seekeerz, oh and Ziggi. xx
Gosh Rowan I was only thinking yesterday I hadn't seen you around for a while and here you are. I hope things are OK with you nowadays. He's not eaten this morning again. Threw yesterdays away and put just two dishes to tempt him. He seems eager, sticks his head in the bowl but then walks away. As he won't take his steroid tablets I'm taking him for long lasting steroid jabs so I hope this isn't going to be going on for long. We're now on 38th day of this "illness". He'll eat after his jab this afternoon. Rowan are you saying that regular steroids will shorten his life? You can tell me the truth, I will be pragmatic. I will try your suggestion re tempting him with my food. Thank you.

[pastafreak]

I've only just read this. I do hope Bobbie perks up and your visit to the vet is positive. Could the heat be affecting his appetite and behaviour? Just a thought. Like many on here I completely understand how distressing this is for you. x

[ladybirder]

Pasta I thought it might be the heat when it first happened but not when he couldn't walk without falling over. He still lists to the right and is a little unsteady. I don't expect you've gone back over my previous posts but he also lost the sight in his right eye. But he does seem to like lying in the sun even in this hot weather so no, I don't think that has anything to do with it. xx

[hereIam]

How did you get on at the vet's today lb ?

[ladybirder]

Hi hIa. B has been going downhill for the last 24 hours. The grim truth is he can't go on like this, not eating not taking his medication, and even if he was it might not make any difference. Vet thinks he's feeling dizzy and probably nauseous as well as lost his ability to smell things and most of the sight in his right eye and it's not fair to keep him alive like this as it's been too long now. I asked him if he was sure it couldn't be VD and he said no he wasn't sure but they had probed his right ear etc while he was anaesthetised and could find no evidence to change their diagnosis. So I asked if B could be given antibiotics as well as his steroids, just in case it was VD. He said it would be another £100 or so but as a final attempt to save his life we could give him (and this is for Sqad) one extra long lasting dose of both Depo-medrone plus Convenia which should last several weeks. If this doesn't work, or after the effects have worn off and he returns to how he is now, then the kindest thing would be to let him go. And I agree with him. He has had a steroid shot today and I'll take him on Wednesday for his final medication and hope to goodness it works.
Thanks for asking hIa. xx

[Sqad]

The vets couldn't diagnose VD by looking in his ear.
This seems a slowly progressive disorder and without an MRI a reasonable diagnosis cannot be entertained.
Even with a positive diagnosis on MRI, what could be done?
Prepare yourself for the inevitable ladybirder.......

[pastafreak]

Thinking of you...and Bobbie...ladybirder. We all know that you will make the decision that is best, and kindest for your boy.

[ladybirder]

Thank you Sqad the vet agrees even with an MRI we could still be none the wiser and even if we were we wouldn't be able to do anything about it so ...
Sqad, honestly, in your opinion, do you think the Depo-medrone and Convenia is worth a shot or not? Or am I just prolonging his suffering?

[Sqad]

LOL...you have put me on the spot and i can only answer from a personal viewpoint.
I think that we passed the stage of steroids many weeks ago.
No I would not subject him to more steroids, but i would quite understand if you decided to ignore my opinion.....the phrase "flogging a dead horse" comes to mind.

[wolf63]

LB - Frankie and I send our love and hope that you are able to make a decision on Bobbie's future. It is so difficult when you are faced with no diagnosis and thus no real prognosis.

♥

[hereIam]

Aww lb, sad I know, but I think he's come to the end, which is awful for a young cat. I tend to agree with Sqad, but I know that only you can make the decision because you are the one who loves him. It must be awful to fell nauseous all the time. Be strong x