Category: Doctor’s/Vet Appointments

Size Doesn’t Matter

Published on by Service Cats U.S.40 Comments

Well it’s Box day here in da blogosphere, and what’s better than dat yous ask? Comin’ home fwum da VET to find 3 bwand new big ole boxes waitin’ fur us. Yep dat’s wight, we came home to a whole new supply of boxes. Weez’ll be tellin’ ya’ ‘bout da contents in anudder posty. More on da VET visit this time. We be wequired to purrvide purroof of our vaccinations each year when we wenew our lease. And well, weez be in da purrocess of duin’ dat wight now. Mommy hates vaccinatin’ every year but we live in a state dat wequires da Rabies vaccination every year. (much to mommys chagwin). Anyways, wiff sis Lexi havin’ CKD and all, mommy sed there was no way hers was givin’ hers any shots. We found out we can get a waiver, so mommy purrinted da form fur da VET to fill out. Course you have to member, we have one of those VETs dat finks he needs to vaccinate fur everyfin’ all da time.

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When we got there, dogs was everywhere. Da place was hoppin’ busy, so we had to wait our turn. Dat pointment just went out da window. Finally our turn came and we went back to da room and mommy stawted talkin’ to him ‘bout da weasons not to give sissy da rabies shot, and hims disagweed wiff her every step of da way, even when she sed da vaccs themselves clearly state to only give to healthy animals. Course weez offen wunnered just how he knows ifin weez healffy or not cuz hims dusn’t do any kind of exam afur stickin’ us. Can ya’ tell mommy’s ‘bout fed up? Mommy purrsented him wiff da papers application fur a waiver she had purrinted and hims sed he wuldn’t sign it fur nuffin’. Da only way hims wuld agwee to give sissy a waiver is to have a Titer test ran. Now fur those of ya’ dat not know what a Titer test is me will tell ya’. It’s a very spensiv blood test dat measures antibodies to da rabies virus. It can also measure udder fings, but all we need is Rabies.

You can't see me? Ssssh meez hidin' fwum sissy.
You can’t see me? Ssssh meez hidin’ fwum sissy.

Well, mommy didn’t have nuff munny fur it, so we got me a rabies shot and made a pointment next week fur sis Lexi to have dat Titer test. Da test itselff costs $80.00 and then there’s da office visit chawge of $30.00 and da chawge fur drawin’ da blood (we furget how much dat was). Dat’s more than we be allowed to chawge, so weez not know zactly what weez gunna do. Ifin yous can help, weez sure wuld purreciate it. Sissy be duin’ so good wight now, mommy just can’t fall in and give her dat shot. We know dat sum of ya’ may not agwee wiff us, but studies have purroven dat those vaccs last much longer than a year. Even our VET agweed wiff mommy on dat one. Hims a stwange apple dat one. Contwadicts himselff all da time. Anyways, dat’s how our VET twip went. We did make it wiffout getting’ caught in any stowrms tho’, so dat was a blessin’ fur sure. Altho’ we fink we must need sum fweon fur da a/c cuz it was hot, hot. Me even got meez hawness all wet fwum da “sweat” (drool fwum pantin’).

Hmmmmm Wherez dat Dezi at?
Hmmmmm Wherez dat Dezi at?

Well on wiff da boxes. Hope yous havin’ fun in yous box today and evewyday. Weez also be joinin’ Rascal and Rocco fur da weekly Pet Pawade Blog hop, and postin’ at da Tabby Cat Club. Oh and mommy wore sum of hers new clothes on our VET twip and sed they was pawsum comfy. Fanks again awnty Jennifer and gwand awnty Peggy. Mommy’s not so good at selfies and didn’t have on hers makeup anyways, so hers face was never gunna make a foto. MOL And don’t furget to chack back this weekend fur a pawsum give away.

OMC Whatever kuld be in diz big ole box?
OMC Whatever kuld be in diz big ole box?

Till da next time……………….Be Blest!!!

 

I'z see you Dezi. hehehe
I’z see you Dezi. hehehe

Luv and Hugs and Kitty Kisses

Dezi and Lexi

cat-animated

What’s In That Ham Baby Food

Published on by Service Cats U.S.35 Comments

Hey y’all Lexi here again today. I really purreciate all your support an purrayers. This is the last of my Vet day posts. For the last three days we’ve been covering my latest appointment. We posted the link to my lab work Thursday and told ‘bout what happened at da VET; and yesfurday we told ‘bout what mommy and me did after we left da VET. We’ve been asked a lot of questions about just what is my diagnosis and what are we doin’ about it. So today we’re gonna cover all that. You’ve probably noticed the human speak, well we wanna make sure everyone can understand what we tell ya’ ‘bout my medicines and condition. So first, I do have kidney disease. My thyroid is okay and there’s no sugar in my urine, and the numbers from my tests confirm kidney disease. Although based on my latest lab work their does seem to be a small question as to whether it’s chronic or acute. What’s the difference you ask? There’s a few, but the most important difference is that acute can be cured and chronic can only be managed. 

 0dw Lexi getting luv

Now as most of you know the day doc diagnosed me he sold us a neutraceutical called Azodyl. It was expensive and mommy worried that she wouldn’t be able to afford it for long. Fanks to our wonderful furiends and awnties we were able to buy it for a few months. And then the day came that mommy had feared. We were out and she had no money to buy anymore. Of course as soon as we had gotten the news mommy started researching everything she could find and joined a very knowledgeable support group. During mommy’s research she had read about Astro’s products. So she contacted the creator, an M.D. and asked all kinds of questions. Still a little leary she staerted talking to the support group about them, and when we couldn’t afford my Azodyl mommy decided it was better to treat me with something than nothing. So she ordered the Astro’s Protein Powder because I lost so much weight, and Atro’s Nitrogen-Creatinine Scrub which takes the place of Azodyl. By this time some of our furiends had sent green papers and mommy could afford to buy them. As I said yesfurday most CRF diets are low in protein and phosphorous. And that’s great if you’re a doggy who could survive as a vegetarian. But when you’re a kitty what be an obligate carnivore, low protein isn’t the best idea. But as with most feline medicine the treatments for cats are based on those for dogs.

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This be da protein powder and da scrub.

As cats, we need the protein to stay healthy and maintain muscle mass and weight. And since CKD can cause us to lose weight we sure don’t need to cut back on anything positive. Recent studies have proved CKD kitties do better on a high quality protein and low phosphorous diet. But proteins make our liver work harder and that’s harder on our kidneys. So it’s almost a lose lose. But in comes the Astro’s Protein Powder. It’s designed to help animals gain and maintain lean muscle mass and promote cellular regeneration. It’s a white fish derived, amino acid concentrate that’s pre-digested so that it’s easily absorbed by the gut. Because it’s concentrated and high quality very little waste product is created, therefore the kidneys have less toxins to filter out. In other words, it’s easier on the kidneys. That’s great news for CKD and many other ailments as well. Although this product was created with CRF in mind, it can be given to any animal who needs to gain weight and/or maintain muscle mass. It costs $32.95 for a 120gm jar. Or a little over $10.00 a month because 1 jar lasts about 3 months.

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Now to talk about the replacement product for the Azodyl, the Astro’s Nitrogen Creatinine Scrub. It’s designed to use the digestive tract to trap and excrete metabolic toxins, transforming it into a rudimentary third kidney. And unlike the Azodyl, it doesn’’t have to be refrigerated and can be given in food. Or in my case the tablespoon of ham baby food I get each meal. It can be made even more effective by adding it to yogurt, but it’s not necessary. And it costs $22.95 for a 120gm jar (ie: about 2-3 months supply). Mommy prayed it would work because $23.00 for 2-3 months as opposed to $80.00 a month is a huge difference. And we know you all get tired of helping us and we hate to be a burden on anyone. But purrhaps helping with a smaller amount might be less burdensome. 

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Now I’m also taking Renavast. That was something that mommy had come across in her research but was also told about by Brian and Cheri. It’s more amino acids and peptides, just different ones, and helps too maintain normal kidney function in CRF cats and dogs. All of these products by the way have no reported side effects as they are all natural and can be used for both cats and dogs. Consult your VET if you’re a bunny, piggy, etc. I’m also taking vitamin B-12 supplements for overall health. And the Regeneril that Truffles and Ms. Melissa shared with me. It’s purpose is to increase appetite and energy and help with joint pain. The Renavast is $27.00 for a 30 day supply, the B-12 is $10.00 for about a 6 month supply and I’m taking Organic Slippery Elm Bark at $8.00 for about a 6 month supply for the upset tummies and acid reduction. Mommy also ordered for $20.00 some D-mannose to give to me and even Dezi in the event of a urinary tract infection caused by e-coli. Again since this is all natural it can be given to any animal even as a preventative. What all this means as far as money goes is that for less than the price of the Azodyl we can buy all the medicines I need. Because even if I was still taking the Azodyl, I would still need everything other than the Astro’s Scrub.

As always if you have any questions please ask and if we can answer them we will. As for those of you who think our VETs are cheaper, they most probably are cheaper than what you’re paying, but remember, wages are less here too, so for us; especially mommy who be on Social Security, our VETs charge a lot. Our $200.00 bill is like your $2000.00 bill. Altho’ we just don’t understand why it is that VETs think they need to charge so much. If you missed my lab work, can read it and would like to see it, you can click here.

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And till the next time……………………………….Be Blest!!!

 

Lubz and Hugz and Kitty Kissez  

Lexi and Dezi

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Goin’ To The VET

Published on by Service Cats U.S.54 Comments

Meowllo everypawdy. Oh it was so nice and purretty yesfurday. Well it wuld have been but da lawn crew was here literally all day long. They came before daylight and didn’t leave till almost 5 p.m. But me did get to enjoy a little sunshine and no rain before it got dark. It’s posed to stawt up again tonight, but at least we have one more dry day in the furcast. And it’s a good fing too. Sis Lexi and mommy be goin’ to da VET today. Pendin’ on what time you be readin’ this as to whether they are already there or not. They needed to have enuff peeps on staff to do tests. Mommy just hates dat they fink this way, cuz Lexi be weal good and dusn’t weally put up a fight. Me can tell ya’ ifin sissy didn’t tear up those idiots dat did hers last blood tests, she’s not gunna whacky paw our wegular VET. Mommy sez she’s gunna get a T4 test just to make sure there’s no thyroid issues. But as we told ya da udder day, sissy’s been duin’ purretty good. Weez’ll tell ya’ why in her VET update posty which we hope to post tomorrow. But it may well be Fursday dependin’ on how mommy and Lexi feel after getting’ home. 

 

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We also wanna fank all of ya’ fur yous purrayers, luv and support. And me weally wants to fank meez fellow Cat Scouts, Obi and furmily, Timmy and furmily and Cat and furmily fur helpin’ wiff sissy’s noms, medicines and pointments. Sissy’s gotten quite picky and doesn’t wanna eat da same fing 2 days in a row. MOL Duz she fink she’s hooman?  And weez havin’ pizza today. Our facebook awnty Carrie sent sum gween papers to sis Lexi wiff hers Meowday cawd fur just dat. And wiff all da stowms weez not had it. So mommy purromised we kuld have pizza after Lexi goes to da VET. Our mouths awe alweady waterin’. MOL Weez duin’ our bestest to get in as many visits as we can durin’ this wedder bweak cuz mommy dusn’t let us be on da puter durin’ da stowms. So ifin weez not made it by yous place and commented yet, know dat weez on our way. Meez gunna keep it short and sweet cuz we need to make sum visits. Weez’ll see ya’ on da flipside. (meez always wanted to say dat, even tho’ me dusn’t zactly know why) MOL  

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Till da next time…………………………………..Be Blest!!!

 

Luv and Hugs and Kitty Kisses  

Dezi and Lexi

cat-animated

The Three A’s

Published on by Service Cats U.S.37 Comments

Meowllo evewypawdy it’s Apwil furst. Most of ya’ know dat means Apwil Fool’s day. A day in which peeps pull mostly hawmless pwanks on udder peeps and then say, Apwil Fool’s. But stead of me duin’ a whole posty ‘bout such a day meez joinin’ in da Bloggin’ fwum A to Z. And since today be da furst day of Apwil, weez gotta talk ‘bout sumfin’ wiff da word A. Dat be a weally easy letter in ow house as sissy’s name is Alexandra. And mommy’s name is Audra. But weez kinda ‘cided to delve a little fudder into this CRF/CKD diagnosis of sis Lexi’s. Cuz guess what? Da fing dat alewrted da VET to sissy’s condition stawts wiff a A too. And da meds/nutraceuticals hims purrscwibed stawt wiff a A too. We kuld purrawlly do a whole week or more on just da letter A.  So here goes.

 APRIL-CALENDAR [2015]

As you all know back in Januawry mommy took sis Lexi to da VET fur blood tests cuz her actually fawt sissy might be diabetic. But after getting there hims did a uwinalysis instead and sed it wuld be easier on Lexi. Well finkin’ it wuz diabetes, mommy agweed cuz dat wuld fur sure show up in da uwine. Da VET disappered into da back too wun da tests and when hims weturned he had a test stwip and a box wiff 3 colors on it.  Sis Lexi’s stwip wuz da lightest shade of blue and da VET sed dat meant she wuz in da early stage of Renal Disease. Honestly mommy dusn’t member ifin hims told her what kinda test dat wuz or not. She wuz a bit upset as you can magine so she didn’t catch evewyfin’ dat wuz sed dat day. But mommy did wight down keywords and descwiptions of what da VET sed. It seems Lexi had Albumin in hers kidneys, (Our second A fur da day) and therefore the VET said she no doubt had CRF/CKD

 0dw Dezi licks paw

So what you say? What’s Albumin? Well Albumin be da smallest protein produced in the liver. It’s found in the blood and rarely in da urine of a healthy kitty. So findin’ small amounts of it in da uwine is a pretty sure sign there are underlyin’ health problems. But notice me said health problems and NOT kidney disease? Me did that on purpose. It can most assuredly mean Kidney disease. But it can also be a symptom of these inflamatory diseases: dental disease, skin disease, IBD, or infectious diseases like FIV or FLeuk. It can also be a sign of diabetes, hyperthyroidism, hypertension, high blood pressure and cancer. So the Vet misspoke. (benefit of the doubt thing) While Albumin shouldn’t be in the urine, in and of itself it doesn’t automatically mean kidney disease. It does mean further testing is needed to give a proper diagnosis. And that’s where da “strip test” comes in. Altho’ it’s not an A so we will be discussing it when we get to the E’s. 

Anyways, sissy was diagnosed with CRF/CKD and the Vet sed she needed to take Azodyl. ( our furd A word) Azodyl be a neutriceutical so no prescription is needed to buy it. It must be kept cold and given in it’s capsule formula. Da only other way to give it is da way we do, in a spoon of butter. You may also give it in a little oil. We know you’re wondering just what this Azodyl does. It does one thing. It creates good bacteria that’s needed to restore the balance in us cats. It helps to restore the healthy function of the kidneys.

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We do hope dat yous awe all innewested in learnin’ ‘bout this pawful killer of cats. About da tests required to give a purroper diagnosis and it’s treatments. We will continue to cover it duwin’ this Bloggin’ A to Z. And member ow 3 A’s today, Alexandra, Albumin, and Azodyl.

Till da next time…………………………….Be Blest!!!

 

Luv and Hugs and Kitty Kisses  

Dezi and Lexi

 

Click to access Kidney-Disease.pdf

http://www.vetoquinolusa.com/

 

 

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