Doc's medical thread

[Traci]

Ok, if he's eating even a little, he's most likely not constipated, but do keep an eye on the litterbox. You can give him hairball remedy if you want.

[Tina B and crew]

Ok...I think it may be official. Doc is definitely on the upswing. I'm still going to require him to take it easy for the most part, but I've seen a LOT more normal behaviors throughout the day and even more tonight. Just about every time I went into the room today he got down from where he was snoozing and came to greet me. He did the same to Tim when he came home. He's more alert, ate a little better tonight - although he didn't eat as much as he usually does by far. He's grooming more too. Just now I went in to check on him and he ran to the door and started scratching. So I told him I'd let him out for a little while. He made 3 turns through the house, sniffing and checking things out, moving at a faster pace than he has been for days. Lucy tried to play with him twice but he showed little interest. Then it happened. He and Chunk did 2 turns through the house chasing each other - no aggression, just their usual play chase. Not quite as enthusiastic as before, but it was good to see him want to interact at least! This is the first interest he has shown in that kind of pay all week!! I'll confine him tonight to make sure I can monitor his output, and he will stay in for his meals and for a while after. But I think I'll start letting him venture out more each day. I still think he tires much easier than before, so I'll put him back in the bedroom here in a bit so he can rest and mend.

Fingers crossed that we are moving over that hurdle!

[Traci]

That a boy, Doc!!

[Tina B and crew]

Ok...we are definitely on the way to recovery. I let him out this morning while I fixed their food and he was all about being a butthead to Chunk - his normal behavior. He's still not eating a lot but I'm not too worried about that yet. I did put some kibble in a bowl and mixed some water in last night night and he ate all of that. His energy level is up more today, we had a normal poop over night, and we have not had any vomiting after that one incident several days ago. Whew! Let's keep this up!

[Traci]

Wonderful news, what a way to start the day!

[Tina B and crew]

Just an FYI...Doc continues to act more and more like his normal self. In fact, to watch him today you'd never guess he'd been feeling so ill this past week. Yay Doc! You are a trooper!

[Tina B and crew]

Apparently I spoke to soon. He doesn't seem to be quite as energetic or feel as well today. I'm guessing it is the antibiotics, possibly. This morning before his antibiotic he was running through the house like a bat out of hell. Since he had his morning dose he hasn't seemed to be himself. I didn't give him the Cerenia yesterday because he seemed to be just fine, but I may give it to him in a bit to see if he does any better.

[Tina B and crew]

Roller coaster ride here. Doc is behaving normally this morning. I gave him Cerenia last night, so apparently it was likely nausea that was bothering him. But here's the downside. He has been vomiting a little (he's a stealth vomiter, I never saw him do it so I never knew if it was him or one of the other cats since it was always in a shared area and he never vomited when I had him confined) and this morning he vomited quite a bit. I know it was him because there was a bit of the color of the clindamycin capsule in the vomitus. He seems to feel fine, but I'm concerned he isn't getting his antibiotic. I have a call in to both my regular vet and the oncologist. Will see what solution we can come up with.

Update Talked with my vet. We are going to start dosing the Cerenia an hour before the Clindamycin and add 5mg of Pepcid. Since he seems to feel better on the Cerenia he wonders if it just some gastric upset from the antirobe. If he continues to vomit or has more episodes of getting lethargic then we will reassess.

[Traci]

As talked about before, vomiting and nausea can be side effects of clindamycin, hopefully this is all it is.