suggestions for leaving my cats

[corlev]

My three elderly cats all have special needs....pills, insulin, etc. I was going away for 2 nights. Usually, my son takes care of them, but he has just moved out and is working 2 jobs. I scheduled boarding at the vet, and wasn't too happy about that, although I knew their medical needs would be taken care of. As it turned out, we didn't go because my husband had a stomach virus. I was so relieved. Any suggestions for the best way to leave them? Even if someone comes in, I don't feel like they should be along most of the day and night. Is boarding okay? Thanks.

[Traci]

I would only suggest boarding at the vet if the vet is a 24-hour staffed facility. Diabetics need to be monitored after insulin administration etc and if you don't have someone trained to give insulin properly and know what to monitor for, that can become a real problem. If your vet doesn't have a 24-hour staffed facility, find a vet who does. If only boarding for two days at the vet, that wouldn't be too stressful for the cats, but any longer could be. You don't want your diabetic cats subjected to undue stress.

[corlev]

Any good solutions for a longer trip like we usually take in the summer? I just might have to threaten my kids to come home.

[Traci]

As I said, you need someone responsible who knows how to give insulin properly, spends time to monitor them after insulin and food, and knows what to watch for (hypo or hyperglycemia). If you can't find someone, then perhaps shorten your trip and only board them with the vet for a couple days.

What are the other "special needs"?

[corlev]

By the way, the vet is a 24 hour facility. Chester has lymphoma, and has had it for 3 years, and takes 4 medications...prednisolone, flagyl, amptriptyline, and cyproheptadine It was diagnosed as "low-grade" and the vet only has seen someone live this long one other time. He seems to be doing very well with these. He had a bout of Horner's Syndrome a month or two ago, but it cleared up. Junior has diabetes but it is under control right now with lantus. He also takes theophylline for asthma and laxatone every other day. He almost went into shock once...luckily my son was up and caught it, and we took him to the emergency room. That made us change vets in a hurry, and he hasn't had an episode in 2 years. They keep him regularly for blood glucose curves and also check his frutosomine. Muffin has colitis (she had a colonoscopy a few years ago) and is on prednisolone once every other day. A few weeks ago, she was diagnosed with an enlarged heart after she had an echocardiogram. She is on enalapril maleate and atenolol, and I am going to get her blood levels checked tomorrow. They are also watching her calcium level, which was a bit high. Chester and Junior are 13 (littermates) and Muffin is 11 (a former stray.) Taking care of them is a lot of work, and luckily, my husband is retired. My son and husband did very well when I was suddenly taken ill and away for 5 weeks....I will have to arrange for my son to "come home" and maybe use the vet for a few days too. Thanks for your response.

[Traci]

Well, I understand your need to get away and maybe vacation etc, but personally, your three cats really need you. I don't go very far myself, due to two diabetics, I refuse to board them, and I don't trust a soul to give them their insulin much less monitor. But, that's me.

I know we've discussed your kitties' conditions before, but may I ask if your vet is being cautious, and, judicious about all the prednisolone for your cats? Also, laxatone probably isn't the best approach, what is it being used for?

Has Muffin seen a board-certified cardiologist?

[corlev]

Chester takes the pred because of the cancer. We opted not to give him chemo because of the stress of the long car ride. The specialist said it would be harder to get his cancer under control because it was low-grade and they didn't guarantee much more time. We were happy we made this decision because he has lived so long without it. He has bloodwork done on a regular basis. Muffin takes the pred because of colitis, and it now is under control. When I tried to give it to her less often, her diarrhea started up again, but I will speak to the vet about it. She is also on z/d. They didn't suggest a heart specialist; I will talk about it, but the vets in the practice do tend to call for consults quite often when they feel they need it. Chester did have some trouble with his sugar because of the pred, so he is on a bit of insulin too.....a half of a unit every other day. That small amount seems to have helped. Junior tends toward constipation and then starts throwing up. The laxatone or hairball treats seem to keep him regular. He has had to have an enema.....don't want him to go through that again, and of course, the throwing up is scary with his diabetes. Thanks for your input...I will follow up.
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