Gummi back to vet, prayers needed

[Gadzukz]

I was folding laundry and ran across the little shirt Christina made for Gummi, she wore it to the vet because I didn't want her to get cold, and it had gotten blood and poo on it. I sat with that tiny shirt in my hands and thought about the wonderful people who have come into our lives through this forum, and about sweet Gummi Bare, how loved she is by so many, how my family is willing to sacrifice to help her, and how it's so unfair that she is so sick with no answers, and I cried all over that little shirt.

Now I have to wash it again, I don't want Gummi to wear my tears

 

[ckutkuhn7]

awwwww I really hope she pulls through Bronwyn,,I'm so sorry. I wish I could help make it all better. We are keeping you and Gummi in our thoughts.

 

[MissMySphynxBoys]

<offering a hug, a shoulder, and a box of kleenx>

 

[Candys]

You probably know this but I am constantly thinking about and praying for Gummi.

Here is the following information from Cat Fanciers:

Diarrhea
If your cat has persistent diarrhea, take the cat to the vet if symptoms have continued for more than 2 days. Bring a stool sample with you and have the vet check for parasites and/or fever.

You can try changing (temporarily) the cat's diet to one or more of the following (depending on the cat's preferences):

* boiled rice
* cottage cheese
* bread
* plain yogurt
* boiled chicken
* chicken broth
* baby food (strained meat varieties)

The emphasis on the above being as bland as possible. No spices allowed as they tend to aggravate the stomach. This procedure may be advisable to reduce the possibility of dehydration from the diarrhea.

The vet may or may not prescribe medication. One-half teaspoon of kaopectate (NOT peptobismol, it contains aspirin) usually works pretty well too. The vet may recommend withholding food for 24-48 hours to give the GI tract a rest before starting with some bland food.

Usually diarrhea lasts only a few days. If it lasts longer than that, as long as the cat does not have a fever, it usually does not mean anything serious, but you must protect the cat from dehydration by making it take in plenty of liquids.

 

[susi794]

C'mon Gummi Bare! I know you can do this. Absorb all the love that is being sent your way from all of your extended family here on Sphynx Lair and let it lift you up. Your Mommy and Daddy and brother adore you and will do anything for you...and Truth and Dare miss you so much too--feel all that Gummi and take it and turn it into something you need. Warmth, energy, strength--whatever you need. Now rest little one--let us carry you with our love until you are strong enough to do it for yourself.
Please get well,
Susi, Moody, Habibi, Othie Marie, Dulcinea, Mabel, Pruney, Boo, Lulu and Beanie

 

[Lauren]

Good thoughts and prayers go out to both you and Gummi.

Love,
Lauren and Kenny

 

[Treasurecat]

I am so sorry. I have thought of her a million times today. I truly hate that you and her have to go though this. Has the vet tried metronidazole? I can't remember from prev posts. The fact that she has been on ABs for so long makes me think of Clostidium Diffacile (c diff)
Its caused when the good flora is totally wiped out in the gut and the c diff flourishes and also releases toxins. Its really hard to detect and unless your vet feels otherwise I would start treatment immediatly.

Here are a few quotes:

Disruption of the colonic microflora together with the presence of toxigenic C. difficile, are the prerequisites for disease. C. difficile produces two antigenically distinct toxins which damage colonic epithelium: toxin A (enterotoxin) and toxin B (cytotoxin). Toxin A causes hemorrhagic fluid accumulation and detachment of epithelial cells. Toxin B acts synergistically with toxin A as a cytotoxin only after the epithelium has been injured by toxin A. Extravasation of plasma proteins and alteration of water and electrolyte transport follow.

Approximately 10% of asymptomatic dogs shed toxigenic C. difficile in feces. A high percentage of human infants are colonized with toxigenic C. difficile, but do not show signs of disease.


All of the cats colonized with toxigenic C. difficile had > of the risk factors (antibiotic use, antineoplastic therapy) associated with C. difficile infection in human patients. Four of the eight cats colonized with toxigenic C. difficile were treated with metronidazole and had resolution of the diarrhea and negative fecal culture on subsequent testing

I googled " c diif in cats " and came up with a bunch of stuff

 

[Treasurecat]

Also:Table 1. Antibiotics For The Treatment Of Bacterial-Associated Diarrheas

Drug
Dose
Indications

Enrofloxacin
5 mg/kg BID, PO
Gram negative bacteria

Ampicillin
10-20 mg/kg TID, PO
Clostridium perfringens

Ampicillin
10-20 mg/kg TID, IV, SC
Sepsis (use with aminoglycosides)

Gentamicin
2.2 mg/kg TID, IV, SC
Sepsis

Cephalothin
22-44 mg/kg TID, IV, IM
Sepsis

Metronidazole
10-20 mg/kg BID, PO
C. perfringens, C. difficile, IBD

Tylosin
20-40 mg/kg BID, PO
C. perfringens, IBD

Erythromycin
10-15 mg/kg TID, PO
Campylobacter spp.

Trimethoprim-sulfa
15 mg/kg BID, PO, IV, SC
Salmonella

I don't know if any of this helps or if your vet has already thought of it, but I just had to at least try to help. I have watched Gummi from birth and I just HATE this.

This NEEDS to be done with Probiotics and fiber (the bulky kind) I would also ask the vet about putting in a feeding tube (Nasal) And continue the subQ fluids

 

[dreaming_in_colour]

How is wee Gummi doing? Any better at all? I have been thinking about her so much!

 

[Candys]

I am so sorry. I have thought of her a million times today. I truly hate that you and her have to go though this. Has the vet tried metronidazole? I can't remember from prev posts. The fact that she has been on ABs for so long makes me think of Clostidium Diffacile (c diff)
Its caused when the good flora is totally wiped out in the gut and the c diff flourishes and also releases toxins. Its really hard to detect and unless your vet feels otherwise I would start treatment immediatly.

Here are a few quotes:

Disruption of the colonic microflora together with the presence of toxigenic C. difficile, are the prerequisites for disease. C. difficile produces two antigenically distinct toxins which damage colonic epithelium: toxin A (enterotoxin) and toxin B (cytotoxin). Toxin A causes hemorrhagic fluid accumulation and detachment of epithelial cells. Toxin B acts synergistically with toxin A as a cytotoxin only after the epithelium has been injured by toxin A. Extravasation of plasma proteins and alteration of water and electrolyte transport follow.

Approximately 10% of asymptomatic dogs shed toxigenic C. difficile in feces. A high percentage of human infants are colonized with toxigenic C. difficile, but do not show signs of disease.


All of the cats colonized with toxigenic C. difficile had > of the risk factors (antibiotic use, antineoplastic therapy) associated with C. difficile infection in human patients. Four of the eight cats colonized with toxigenic C. difficile were treated with metronidazole and had resolution of the diarrhea and negative fecal culture on subsequent testing

I googled " c diif in cats " and came up with a bunch of stuff

I am not sure what you said exactly - but I understand about good stomach flora. Love and healing to Gummi.

 

[Pbinky]

My little boy Skinny came home to me with giardiaand an URI. Same symptoms as Gummi but Skinny also had a fever. After the giardia and the URI cleared ( about six weeks later) he still had diarrhea. We tested him again for giardia using a fresh poo sample (vet swabbed inside of his bum ) and was completely clear of any parasites. I started Skinny on a raw food deit and his diarrhea was gone in two days. Let me know if you want more info. Cats should not be fed grains and I can garuntee what your vet has you feeding Gummi has corn in it. I have a small suspicion that the corn is making your baby sick.

 

[marlene]

I keep refreshing this thread hoping to see that Gummi is getting better. I'm just heartsick about what she and your whole family is going through.

But I'm thinking that maybe Treasurecat and Pbinky may be on to something. I specialize in emergency and critical care in humans and I see a lot of C diff crop up in people that have had long-term antibiotic therapy. And if its found in cats too then it seems logical it would also show up in the same circumstances that it does in humans - and Gummi has been on a lot of antibiotics lately.

I think I'd switch her to a bland raw diet or a high quality grain-free canned food like Blue Wilderness Duck recipe and see if that doesn't help settle her stomach.

I dunno, but at this point I don't see any reason to not try. You've reached the point where you're grabbing at straws. It sounds like you have everything to gain and nothing to lose by trying. And pray, and tell her that we all love her and we aren't letting go of her cause she has a long life she's supposed to share with you.

 

[susi794]

Amen to that! Please, Gummi! You just HAVE TO get better!

I keep refreshing this thread hoping to see that Gummi is getting better. I'm just heartsick about what she and your whole family is going through.

But I'm thinking that maybe Treasurecat and Pbinky may be on to something. I specialize in emergency and critical care in humans and I see a lot of C diff crop up in people that have had long-term antibiotic therapy. And if its found in cats too then it seems logical it would also show up in the same circumstances that it does in humans - and Gummi has been on a lot of antibiotics lately.

I think I'd switch her to a bland raw diet or a high quality grain-free canned food like Blue Wilderness Duck recipe and see if that doesn't help settle her stomach.

I dunno, but at this point I don't see any reason to not try. You've reached the point where you're grabbing at straws. It sounds like you have everything to gain and nothing to lose by trying. And pray, and tell her that we all love her and we aren't letting go of her cause she has a long life she's supposed to share with you.

 

[Inferno12]

Any word on Gummi? I am just sick worrying about her.

 

[Pbinky]

Checking in on little Gummi. When I read this thread it brought back so many memories of the first two months I had with Skinny...the sleepless nights wiping his bum and his little paws everything he went poop. Round the clock poop and scope and wiping and disinfecting, hand washing, giving meds, crying......those two months were horrible...not to mention I was having a major flare up of my own Trigeminal Neuralgia which I ended up in neurosurgery at the end of Skinny's ordeal. But the raw diet did the trick for Skinny. I had to beg him and hand feed him his 'cat food' that the vet ordered but as soon as I put some raw meat and raw liver in front of him, he ate like he had never eaten before....like he knew instinctually what he needed. The rest is history, I have a beautiful, robust boy who is healthy and has nice solid poops!
He too was gravely I'll. I'm just praying that Gummi will come around.

 

[Candys]

I also am checking in and worry so much about Gummi and his family.

 

[Bella07]

Come on little girl, please pull through....Your family is doing such a wonderful job taking care of you....lots of love and prayers being sent your way sweetheart Gummi.

 

[Gadzukz]

Hi guys, Thank you all so very much for your thoughts, concerns, efforts, and advice. I don't have as much time as I would like to address each one personally, however please know that I am taking it all into account and do greatly appreciate it.

As for diet, Normally Gummi is on TOTW, a dry grain free food,she has not eaten ANY dry food in six days. Right now she is being force fed A/D diet canned (mostly liver, no corn, formulated esp. for seriously ill pets to entice appetite) along with kitty glop (evap. milk, glucose, gelatin, probiotic yogurt, pumpkin, mayo)

For meds, currently she is on doxi, and metronidazole, and sub-q fluids. I am hesitant to change too much right now as I would like to narrow down her issues, but I will pick up some fresh liver today and see if she has an interest in it. I used to feed my dogs raw, but know very little about doing it for cats, any info PMd would be appreciated. I have 9 cats altogether so the dry grain free is far simpler, but I would certainly try it for Gumball.

As for the update~ Yesterday was terrible, no change at all, she had more fluids, my husband had to help this time, and he had never seen sub-q fluids given. It forms a huge ugly bubble under the skin and he hated it, kept asking, "are you sure that's not too much??" and saying "my poor baby!" but she got her fluids and lay back down. There has been NO poop runny or otherwise, for 24 hrs, that scares me, but there is also no vomiting now for 2 days, so Yay! she is peeing of course from all the fluids given to her.

This morning she wanted her kitty glop/yogurt/pumpkin mixture! She ate all by herself:Laugh: no syringes, she came out of her crate stuck her head in the bowl and lapped it all up. I gotta think that is progress right?? Also she was horribly grimy and nasty. I have avoided bathing her as she hates it and I did not want to add any stress, but this morning after meds and breakfast, I rubbed her all over with coconut oil and gave her a quick bath, because when I am sick a nice bath makes me feel better, I changed her blanket and she curled back up in her heated crate. So that's where we are. clean bed, clean kitty, full tummy. waiting..waiting...waiting.....

Thank you all so much for waiting with me, and again, I may not have addressed all of your ideas individually, but AM reading them, and am taking your suggestions seriously, and I love you guys so much.

 

[Sleepyheadkitten]

**HUGS** Yay, hon! I am so glad Gummi is giving you signs of improving! I haven't read this whole thread, so I'm a bit behind. What was she diagnosed with- anything?

Oh- and if you aren't doing it already, if you can- start weighing her daily. I know she's a bigger kitten, but she should still be gaining or at least maintaining for the most part daily. That will help soothe frazzled nerves too if you can see a difference each day.

Something someone recommended to me was to add Benefiber into the glop if having problems with the runs- not sure if you wanted to try it, but it's a thought.

**HUGS**

 

[Pbinky]

No poop is a good sign I think! And it's wonderful that she has an appetite! Keep up with the fluids, the big bump is normal, that is what Skinny looked like after he received fluids
If you plan to offer some raw liver freeze it first until solid and then defrot in the fridge again. Just an extra added precaution in order kill any bacteria. If she won't take it raw then you can pass it in a pan with a small about of water, kinda like steaming it. You could also add some chicken thigh meat as well. If you do eventually decide to feed her raw later on then there are guidelines you must follow in order to provide a complete and balanced diet. But for now it sounds like the food you are offering is grain free and she is eating it. You can give her bits of liver and thigh meat along with what she is eating to see how she responds. It's wonderful that you were able to bathe her a bit today, important to keep her clean
Sending love from Pbinky, Skinny and I!

 

[kiennasmom]

Oh, I really hope this is a good sign of things to come! I, too, keep checking in to see how Gummi's doing. C'mon sweet little Gummi, you can do it!!!

 

[dreaming_in_colour]

I am so happy to hear there is no poop and no vomiting! Even better, she ate her glop readily on her own! It does sound positive! Thank you for the update!

We are pulling for you wee Gummi! Get well soon little girl! Gable and Amaryllis send nuzzles and purrs!

I hope everyone in your home is doing as well as can be expected Gadzukz. I know this is a very stressful time right now. Try to take care of yourself too!

 

[Candys]

Thanks for keeping us posted on Gummi's illness. I am so glad she ate on her own. Prayers continue.

 

[Inferno12]

OH my goodness this is such good news. I know its just a tiny improvement but its huge! :Laugh::Laugh::Laugh: I was thinking of her the whole time this morning while I was running and then came back and saw the update. Thanks for taking the time to update us and give her loves for us. I know she can do it.

***********COME ON GUMMI***************

 

[Bella07]

Eating all by herself is a really great sign! Keep it up Gummi! We all know you can do it!!!