Your response has given me some comfort Marianne. Thanks. I'll first address the vetoryl history on Patch for you. Patch started Oct. 7th on 15mg once daily for 1 week. Week 2, the dose increased and he began 15mg twice daily. That's 30 mgs. Nov. 4th he had his first ACTH test, wherein the results were, pre 1.5 and post 4.6. The Vet used Antech Lab. A CBC and urine was also done, wherein his bilirubin was extremely high. They forgot to run the urine creatinine protein. His blood pressure was fine.
I forwarded the results to Auburn since they are in the loop and they called me seriously concerned and asked me to get Patch down there, which I did on Nov. 9th. They wanted to do another ultrasound, x-rays and chemo panel to check his gallbladder, pancreas, his adrenal tumor, etc., for fear he may have something serious going on. Thankfully all went well and all his numbers were fine. My pocketbook wasn't, not to mention the trips there are exhausting for this old lady! Auburn stated to have his urine creatinine protein checked at his next ACTH test, not overly concerned about it at the present. His Vet said Patch should be retested by Dec. 11th coming. I'm unsure if that is outside the normal range for test two.
During Patch's Auburn LLDS test of Sept. 20th, I had the orthopedic department give Patch a thorough exam, as a precaution, to hopefully catch any issues before anything got worse. Their report stated most what I already have known of over the years and they felt Patch wasn't in pain. I begged to differ having arthritis and spine problems myself. I discussed this with the new Vet on Nov. 4th and that's how Patch came to be on Galliprant. 60mgs seemed to make him inactive and drowsy, but a half dose of 30mg made him more responsive daytime. Either way had a ZERO noticeable effect on him for any pain relief. The Vet suggests we might add some gabapentin into the mix but not really wanting to add more med's to Patch. So don't know what I'll do.
ow we are entering week 7 on the vetory, 30mg daily. In week 4, (1st week Nov.) Patch lost interest in breakfast. I'd find something edible to trick him into at least eating even a small amount of food with his med's. Shredded cheese, cottage cheese, mashed up chicken. Anything I knew he'd eat just for the pills. Night feeding hasn't really been an issue.
At the Nov. 4th first ACTH test at the Vet, they had trimmed his nails and hit the quick on his left front toe nail. He also slipped afterwards on my car ramp, when we were leaving, hitting that same leg. I noticed him limping the following day, mentioned it to the Vet and kept watch on him. Over that weekend he seemed to be fine. Of course I used a heat pack, massages and Yankee ingenuity and put baby oral gel on that toenail, thereafter liquid nails to feel confident I had closed up any damage that may have occurred. I know that hitting the quick is painful. So I reasoned I knew why he was limping. Last week I found he was having a difficult time getting up off the floor, but didn't seem to need my assistance to get up. Saturday, I noticed he was really struggling to get up off the floor. I placed several rugs and fatigue mats all over the house. I noticed the Vet, we dropped down on the vetoryl to 25mgs. Seemed now it is his back legs were giving out.
Yesterday was terrible in that I had to use a towel underneath him to help him up, go up or down my 3 house stairs, and just to help him to get to his bowls. I was freaking out, called the Vet to report his worsening condition, trying to brainstorm, searched the internet for possible causes, just worried sick. I had a beautiful cat die a couple years back from a sudden aortic thrombosis and now I was forced to recall that sad experience, scared to death Patch may die! I found if you cut the sides off a cloth shopping bag you can use that as a sling with handles, so that's what I'm currently using. Thanks to some posting it on the Net! I'm still saddened over his tail fur loss, but I appreciate you addressing it Marianne and giving me some hope for regrowth. It was a shock to get a handful when I brushed him!
I have a Monday Vet appointment for Patch. They're not open on Saturdays unfortunately. Thinking that Patch could have low calcium, low thyroid, a host of spine or degenerative diseases, low blood pressure (vetoryl can cause problems with BP med. benezapril) or whatever, I decide to stop all his med's until Monday except the vetoryl. Whether right or wrong, I dropped him down to the original 15mgs, all to see if he reacts better by Monday. He didn't have any issues until week 4 on 30 mgs. I hate this roller coaster ride!
This morning after just omitting last nights vetoryl dose, Patch was hungry for breakfast this morning and eat he did! I'm seriously beginning to think Patch needs no more than 20 mgs daily. But the back legs issue is another thing, even though he got up by himself a couple of times this morning as well. As long as he was on a rug and not under my kitchen table.
I'll update after Monday's Vet appointment. Trying to hang in there over the weekend and praying he doesn't get any worse.
Donna