Our Russell had been very severely burned when we found each other at the shelter 12 years ago. He healed and adjusted really quickly from that experience, but I always wonder what had happened to him. Our previous cat Story showed up in our yard one day almost dead from starvation. We had 4...
Just a quick update: Russell's inflamed scar has gotten better. He definitely was overgrooming that spot after his two stressful vet visits. It's not perfect at the moment, but it's not open and weeping like it was last week. We're pretty sure it was exacerbated by stress, so even though we made...
Thanks so much for sharing your story, FeebysOwner - it does help a lot. I've been leaning towards thinking it might be a hyperextended wrist and scaring myself with thoughts that it might require surgery (surgery = scary, but especially so with the recent HCM diagnosis. Plus I don't think...
Hi all - I'm not sure if I should start a new thread with this, but Russell's limping has gotten worse. He was perfectly fine before the vet visit where we STUPIDLY let them take him to the back without us for a routine blood draw. He came back absolutely full of rage and unable to walk properly...
The odd thing is, she recommended that particular fish oil while also saying avoid vitamin A. I'll ask her about it on Monday, but I wondered if anyone here had experience giving their HCM cats fish oil.
Isn't all fish oil high in vitamin A? I've read that cod liver oil is very high in vitamin...
Hi all – We were recommended to start supplementing Russell with fish oil for his heart health and joints (early HCM and moderate arthritis). The cardiologist wrote:
“Begin fish oil supplements (omega-3 fatty acids) at approximately EPA ~275mg and DHA ~175mg total per day. Start at ½ the dose...
Thanks for the fish oil recommendation! As for FF, Russell's unimpressed by the pate styles: it's gravy lovers all the way. Maybe that's the problem! Maybe I can experiment a bit with gradually adding some pates into his gravy lovers to lower the carb content.
Hi all, my recent threads have gotten a bit mixed up. I posted a detailed update about Russell's echocardiogram, including easy and successful gabapentin administration, in my thread "Extremely elevated BNP - heart disease?" (I'm sorry, I don't know how to link it.)
Short version about the...
Thank you, all - yes, it's good to know about the gabapentin. I was nervous while he was on it, but I think he handled it fine.
I agree with a slow weight loss plan, FeebysOwner. Oddly, Russell's not really a chow hound - he's kind of a delicate eater. He eats max two 3 oz cans of Fancy Feast...
Here's the report from the cardiologist:
Cardiac Evaluation Report
Exam Date: 04-02-2024
Patient Details
Name Russell
Species Feline
Breed Domestic Short Hair
Age 13 years
Sex Male Neutered
Diagnosis
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (thick heart muscle disease)
Rule out contributing...
Thank you! And Russell had a nice long whizz in his box, so Mom's a bit more relaxed at the moment.
The T4 is in what the cardiologist called the "grey zone" - the regular vet didn't mention it. I'll try to attach his bloodwork here. It might look a bit odd because I've done some creative...
Hi all - We’re back from the cardiologist. Russell was great late last night and this morning – even running around the yard – so I was sorry to have to take him in for another vet visit just when he’s feeling himself again. He easily took two 50 mg mini-tabs of gabapentin in pill pockets at 7...
Please don't be sorry - I was really touched. I think I hadn't fully acknowledged that grief and stress about Danno has been complicating my anxiety about Russell, so that's actually quite helpful to remember. These pains and worries come with the territory, right?
Sorry, just had to go off for a big crying break...:sniffle: Your message really touched me, iPappy. Yes, I'm still grieving for Danno - it's less than 2 months ago. And all of that feeling so out of my control not just with the lymphoma but also with my difficult extended family. Even so, Danno...
Russell's echocardiogram is tomorrow morning at 9:30. We're going to try sprinkling about 100mg gaba into his food around 7 a.m. in the hope it calms him and allows them to get good images.
Generally he's more or less back to his usual self since his distress at the vet last Monday (just in...