Monday, September 30, 2013

Update on Sam

I snapped this photo as Sam came out of her bed to drink some water.

Late last week, we thought Sam was doing better. However, late Friday night and early Saturday morning, we found blood in her urine.
We took her back to the vet on Saturday morning. She had a temperature and blood work showed high white cell counts. She was also very depressed, reacting very little to the work of the vet and her assistant.
The vet said she had an infection that seemed to have gone into her kidneys.
She said it was very serious and life threatening for a cat Sam’s age.
She has been on antibiotics and pain medication over the weekend.
The vet suggested that we offer her sliced chicken or turkey or baby food, or perhaps some roast chicken, to entice her to eat.
She loved the roast chicken we bought and the sliced turkey. She didn’t like the baby food. She likes dry food soaked in water.
But her eating has been erratic. Sometimes she eats, sometimes not.
They gave her subcutaneous fluids at the vet’s office on Saturday, and then Larry and I gave them to her Sunday morning. She’s drinking water on her own, too.
She’s mostly staying in the bed we made for her in what we call the futon room, right off the den. We don’t want her high up on furniture because we’re afraid that she will fall.
She comes out to use the litter box and to drink water, occasionally to eat, but goes right back to the bed.
Larry took her into the den Sunday night and sat her on the couch with him, but she wanted to get down. He put her back down on the floor and she walked back to her bed.
We have an appointment to take her back to the vet Monday morning.
We are concerned, of course. We’re very worried and very anxious. It’s hard to keep the anxiety at bay. We are hoping for the best.
I am trying to remind myself that healing takes time, that Sam needs to rest and perhaps she needs to stay in her bed.
Thank you for all of the kind comments you left on Friday’s post. Please keep Sam in your thoughts.

P.S. After I wrote this post and put it in Blogger, I heard a noise just as I was ready to press publish. I looked up and Sam was getting out of her bed. She walked into the den to find Larry. She walked around a bit, then went back to her bed. That's reason for hope!

I'll be back when I can.

19 comments:

  1. Hope Sam is doing OK today, thinking of you all x

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  2. Oh Tina! Thinking of you and Sam and Larry tonight! Keep us posted! Poor kitty!

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  3. It is so hard when someone you love is ill. Yes, Sam is most certainly a "someone" - a very special someone in your lives, who knows and feels your love deeply. Hope she can recover from this. Thoughts and prayers being sent!

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  4. Thanks for the update, I hope Sam is feeling better. Caring for an aging pet can be very heart wrenching.

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  5. I hope she feels much better soon! It's hard to watch these little precious animals struggling.

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  6. sending you get well purrs! Rio from Barcelona

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  7. Hope Sam feels better soon......I certainly understand your and Larry's concern. We hate to see our beloved pets ill. Sending positive thoughts and hugs your way.

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  8. I'm so sorry to hear Sam isn't doing well. I hope the vet appt goes well! I have been thinking of you all.

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  9. Poor Sam. It is hard when pets are sick because they don't understand. Keep us posted on how he is doing.


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  10. Oh, These things are . . challenging.
    Please take care of yourself.
    Stay Strong.
    Love & Love to YOU!!!

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  11. I'm hopeful and my fingers are crossed Tina! She's such a sweet girl, and it sounds as though she's determined. It's a good sign i think, that she got up to find Larry. Thinking of her you and Larry. Hugs!

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  12. Thinking of you and Larry, and sweet Sam.

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  13. Tina, I have missed you...and please know that I am thinking of you and little Sam. Sending you a hug...and an extra one for Sam.

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  14. Oh I'm so sorry for your little baby! It is so hard to not be anxious about stuff like that, especially because it's not like you can talk to them and ask them how they are feeling. I hope the meds work and that she bounces back quickly. : (

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  15. So sorry to hear about Sam. I had to give a cat subcutaneous fluids some years back. It helped him perk up for a while, long enough to get really upset with us about giving him the fluids! You and Sam are in my thoughts and prayers.

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  16. I am just now seeing this today - I wasn't on the blog much this weekend. I am glad I read the "On the road" post before this one :)

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  17. my reading list has not been updating, so i missed this!!

    but it sounds like sam is on the mend.....fingers crossed!!

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