Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Brighton is in Intensive Care...


I knew ML would get the word out to the CB (even though she herself is recuperating from a recent illness) and already Brighton is receiving lots of healing rumbly purrs! As all of us with cats know, they like to hide their illnesses and things can go from Super to Serious very quickly!

I was away on vacation and my petsitter (and her wonderful husband and their 4 kids) were caring for the kitties while I was away. They know my cats welll and even have a Furrydance kitty of their own, Pixie, so they know their personalities and behavior well. They said he was feeling fine on Sunday, playing with the kids and very 'interactive'.


On Sunday (around 5pm) they came by, and stayed for an hour or so like they always do, and Brighton didn't come downstairs to greet them and play and they found him curled up on the bed in the sunniest room of the house-the guest room. He did play a bit, and didn't want to leave the upstairs to follow everyone around the house as they did their 'cat chores' Someone had vomited but she didn't know who, but made note of it for me.

I got home at 1:00am Monday morning, after spending all day in airports and planes, dreaming of a nice long restful sleep and day off on Tuesday before I headed back to work. But while Brighton got off the couch to greet me and followed me into the bathroom (so I could use the 'litterbox'), he was wobbly and missed the jump onto the sink twice and when I picked him up he growled and leaked bloody urine (mostly blood) onto his fur and me and the floor.

I am an hour from the Emergency Hospital that I trust, but knew I didn't want to take him to the one nearby. I did a quick check of the house, looking at the litterboxes and for any other evidence of blood or vomit and found red pawprints in the kitchen sink and his favorite cat bed was wet with urine and blood.


So I loaded him up and jumped in the car, sped over to The Hope Center
Click here for more info
and they whisked him right back to the treatment room and started their workup on him. His bladder was full and he appeared blocked but the blood tests showed he would have been an anesthetic risk at that point (BUN 230 -- should be around 24; Phosphorus 8.2 -- should be around 4). They started an IV for fluids, gave him pain meds and I waited...

Within a couple of hours, the phosphorus came down enough for them to put him under anesthesia and place a urinary catheter, empty the bladder and I waited some more...for him to come out of recovery. The doctor came up and talked with me after every step of his treatment and I knew we were both worried but I felt he was in very good hands and had 24 hour monitoring and nursing care.



He got quite cold during the anesthesia, and his temp was down to 94 so they had him in a Bair Hugger Warming System
Click here for more info
and I got to visit him before I left at 4:30am and even though he was sleeping still, I kissed him on the cheek and whispered in his ear and I went home to try and get some sleep, not even sure I could relax enough to do that.

But I took an Excedrin PM and fell asleep for a few hours, not even minding when about an hour into my sleep, the vet called with a morning report. He had made it through the night and was sitting up and pretty alert, in spite of the pain meds which make them sleepy, too.

I drove over to visit him in the afternoon and he was hooked up to 3 'lines'--IV for fluids, Urinary cath and collection bag, and one even on his tail (I forgot to ask what that one was for) and he was wearing an Elizabethan collar to prevent him from chewing out the IV's and urinary catheter.

He looked very sad, and I tried to be strong for him and gave him a nice massage and lots of kisses. The nurse said he ate some canned food and was head bonking them (to the best of his ability in spite of his 'cone head') and I am waiting for an evening report from the vet, although it's now 10:00pm and I hope they don't hesitate to call in fear of waking me! They repeated his labs this evening and I am praying for the kidney values to show some improvement and give me hope for another day.


Update: It's 10:30pm and the vet just called. Some good, some bad news. Brighton's BUN has come down to 130--good news; He is eating--good news; He is not anemic--good news; and he is being a good patient--who couldn't fall for him?

But his Total Bilirubin (a liver test) is elevated and the doctor is concerned about pancreatitis or bile duct problems, though his other liver tests aren't too out of whack. If it's on the rise in the morning, I will need to have an Internal Medicine consult and probably an ultrasound to look at his liver. Also, as he is on IV fluids, they are watching his heart murmur to make sure he doesn't get over hydrated and go into congestive heart failure.

In the morning they will repeat the organ function tests. They won't pull the urinary catheter until his kidney values are closer to normal but I am hoping he will improve enough soon to be able to be discharged and have me do home care on him-sub q fluids etc...but while I know his care is going to be expensive, I feel like I have to try and get him well! He is young--only 4 years old, and he holds a very special place in my heart.

If I have to spend all my income tax refund, take 'kitten money' out of savings and put off my garden improvements and patio...well, it will be worth it to have him still in my life!

I talked to ML a little about doing a fund raiser for Brighton, as I know how much the CB pulls together for cats in need. Right now, I am so shattered by what is happing with him, that I can't really concentrate on much else...writing this post tonight took all my effort to complete but I knew our furrends were worrying and purring for Brighton and I just had to let you all know, and thank you for your thoughts and prayers...

39 comments:

  1. Well, mostly good news.
    Please keep us posted and we will keep sending those purrs and purrayers and prayers up for Brighton.
    Mom Teri, try to get a bit of rest herself.
    Love & Purrs,
    ML & KC

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  2. Thanks for the update. I'm sure the CB will pull together and help out. I had surgery a couple of months ago and they are getting ready to have an auction for me.

    I'm purring really hard for Brighton.

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  3. We are purring super hard and loud for Brighton. We hope he hears us!

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  4. We're purring for Brighton and hope he will be okay!

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  5. You and Brighton have been through an awful lot lately. We're sending healing vibes and purrayers for Brighton now...

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  6. I am glad that Brighton seems to be on the mend. I am hoping and praying for him and Herman sends healing purrs.

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  7. We're sorry to hear about Brighton but are sending many purrs and purrayers that he gets better soon. Hugs to you both!

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  8. This sounds so frightening! We are very glad Brighton seems to be in stable condition now and we're sending him many many purrs. (Plus some hugs for Teri!)

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  9. We are purring our 12 loudest purrs for Brighton. 24 hours can make a world of difference...we'll purray for good labs tomorrow.

    Get some rest, our babies can tell when we're stressed--and know that we are all here for you!
    KatMom Trish

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  10. Sending purrs and tail wags to Brighton.

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  11. I am praying for Brighton to pull through; most of the news was good and he is a young cat, so he is strong and will be a fighter for you!...I hope you can get some sleep, but I have been in your shoes and know it is practically impossible to rest while worrying so much...Blessings of love and comfort to you and to Brighton...Praying hard for his recovery=Good luck Teri.

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  12. We are purring very hard for Brighton and our human is sending him healing energy. Purrs to you, too, Ms. Teri.

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  13. We hope you get good news tomorrow morning. I'm sure that we can dig up some goodies for Gracie to auction off.

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  14. Purrrrrs and purrayers for Brighton!!
    Your TX furiends,

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  15. We are purring & purraying as hard as we can for Brighton. Please get well soon sweet boy!!

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  16. Oh no! Poor Brighton! We will purr our hardest for him! We will purr that the liver values also come down or at least stabilize. Certainly when one thing gets out of wack other things can go there to, so we will believe and purr that things will look better tomorrow.

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  17. Oh Teri, I'm so sorry. My Sher had pancreatitis last year.
    But it seems that the worst is over now. Please take care of yourself.

    - Reenie

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  18. Dearest Teri! We are thinking hard about you and precious Brighton...this is very scairty to happen as you came home from your trip. Poor baby...we will make a very special set of jewelry to donate to the fund raiser when it gets on the block! yes we all pull together for each other. What an amazing family we all are...so know we love you and keep us updated and you get some much needed rest right now yourself...
    Love Misses Peach and mommy Karla

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  19. I feel so awful for both you and Brighton! What an ordeal, and traumatic for both of you. I'm purring really hard for Brighton - I know he can't wait to get home and recuperate there instead of being stuck at the clinic. Please keep us posted!

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  20. We just saw this on the CB and came to let you know we are adding mega-purrs and healing Light to those from so many others. Our paws and fingers are crossed that Brighton will improve enough to come home soon.

    Lots of kitty kisses to him and hugs to you.

    -Kim and the Fuzzy Tales crew

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  21. We are purring very hard for Brighton, and are hoping for good test results today.
    Purrs for Brighton and (((hugs))) for mom Teri.

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  22. Oh Brighton, beautiful curly fella! What a rough time you are having! We send you and Teri deep, rumbly purrs and hope that your values settle down quickly and you can come home to be nursed by your Mum.

    Get well soon Brighton

    Whicky Wuudler

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  23. My sisters and I are all purring just as hard as we can for your sweet Brighton.

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  24. Oh no, I am so sorry to hear that Brighton is so ill. Harley and I are linking paws and sending our very best purrs for him. It sounds like he is in a good place that is taking excellent care of him, and I'm glad there are some positive signs.

    Stay strong, Brighton!

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  25. We are sending some major purrs to you and Brighton so that he recovers and is back home with you!

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  26. Oh Brighton! We are so sorry to hear that you have been so unwell. We are sending lots of purrs to you, and hope you have a really swift recovery.

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  27. Brighton, we is purring furry hard for you - and MissTeri- {{{{HUGS}}}} from our the mom and bonks from us

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  28. We are praying hard for Brighton and sending positive thoughts to you. It is so worrying when one of your babies is ill and feeling rotten. Hoping you get better news later today.
    Luv Hannah and Lucy xx

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  29. Oh my... just reading this is shocking and we are just speechless with grief for Brighter-tons.
    Of course we will send over some $ to help with this tremendous bill.
    Yesterday when you called mom with the news, we all prayed for you, and the emergency vet place to find the answer.
    We will continue those prayers until Mr. Brightstar is back home safe and happy.
    He reminds mom of Caesar, just the sweetest personality, and his size. Caesar was a big boy!

    Love hugs and purrs.

    ps: mom was going tosend you an email last night but this is so much better, no need for you to be typing up explanations all day.
    bonks to Brighton from nephew Miles and nephew Pierro

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  30. We are so sorry that both Brighton and you are going through such a difficult time. We hop that the treatment will continue to improve his status, and that the vet will be able to figure out how to return him to total good health.

    Sending lots of Purrs,
    Everyone at The Poupounette

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  31. I'm so sorry to hear this. Hugs, Tango

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  32. We are sending over lots and lots of purrs and prayers for Brighton - we hope that the tests come back with good news. We know how hard it is when they are sick - you can't explain what is going on, and why they don't feel ok and that makes it even more difficult. But we are all sending the purrs and prayers, and hopefully he can feel those good energy vibes coming towards him and he feels a little better. We will keep everything crossed for good test results!

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  33. We are sending our best purrs and healing vibes to Brighton!! We hope he makes a full recovery very very soon!!!

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  34. Sending lots and lots of purrs for Brighton! It sounds like he's trying hard to get better.

    Charlemagne and Tamar

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  35. We are so sorry to hear about this!! All of our thoughts, prayers and purrs are with you and Brighton. Hang in there buddy!

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  36. Furry Dance Boys Teddy & Henry OliverJune 2, 2010 at 8:12 AM

    We are so sorry about Uncle Brighton and wanted to let you know that we are praying hard for him and sending him lots of purrs and support. We also heard our mom and dad say they were gonna send something called "money" your way and mom is also working on some things to donate to the auction. Hang in there all of you!

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  37. So sorry to hear about Brighton. Not fun to come back from a nice vacation to a very sick kitty but sounds like you got him to the right place. Good thoughts heading your way.

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  38. We are so sorry to hear that Brighton isn't feeling well and we are sending super turbo hardcore purrayers to him! It's good to know he's at a place you trust! Please, keep us posted!

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  39. Good to hear and read that Brighton is doing better! Jan

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