Jackie has a seizure

At least I'm guessing that it was a seizure. She was down in the
kitchen while I was making breakfast and insisted on some food.
Normally I can't even hear her when she opens her little mouth but she
was actually making noise and since I'm desperately trying to get some
weight on her (she's down to 5.1 pounds) I opened up a can of sardines
and crushed up a few.

After eating for a minute or so, she fell on her side and got up and
fell again and kept getting up and falling This was all in a few
seconds. Then she staggered out the back door onto the deck where
Nipsy and Espy were hanging out. So I went after her and held her for
a minute and then put her down on the deck and she wobbled a bit but
then started walking around normally. Well, normally for her which is
a stagger for any regular cat since her back legs are very weak.

Now she's sleeping on the couch and leaking a bit from her butt so all
is back to normal. Naturally I have big towels covering the counch and
the other spots that she likes to sleep, like my bed.

Well, it's Easter Sunday and nothing is open but I don't think there
is really anything I can do. I know she is in lousy shape and we're
really doing all that can be done. I'm sure not having a feeding tube
inserted in her when the time comes.

I'll call the vet tomorrow assuming that there are no other incidents
that are even more dire. For all I know this has happened several
times when I was out or sleeping and I'd never know. This one I was
there to see.

"dgk" wrote in message
...
At least I'm guessing that it was a seizure. She was down in the
kitchen while I was making breakfast and insisted on some food.
Normally I can't even hear her when she opens her little mouth but she
was actually making noise and since I'm desperately trying to get some
weight on her (she's down to 5.1 pounds) I opened up a can of sardines
and crushed up a few.

snip
I'll call the vet tomorrow assuming that there are no other incidents
that are even more dire. For all I know this has happened several
times when I was out or sleeping and I'd never know. This one I was
there to see.

I wonder if she was dehydrated? This happened to Dash, but more severely.
She would walk in circles, stumbling, and I had to take her to the vet to
get her rehydrated. We ended up doing sub-q fluids for her.
--
-Kelly
kelly at farringtons dot net
"Wake up, and smell the cat food" -TMBG

"dgk" wrote in message
...
At least I'm guessing that it was a seizure. She was down in the
kitchen while I was making breakfast and insisted on some food.
Normally I can't even hear her when she opens her little mouth but she
was actually making noise and since I'm desperately trying to get some
weight on her (she's down to 5.1 pounds) I opened up a can of sardines
and crushed up a few.

After eating for a minute or so, she fell on her side and got up and
fell again and kept getting up and falling This was all in a few
seconds. Then she staggered out the back door onto the deck where
Nipsy and Espy were hanging out. So I went after her and held her for
a minute and then put her down on the deck and she wobbled a bit but
then started walking around normally. Well, normally for her which is
a stagger for any regular cat since her back legs are very weak.

Now she's sleeping on the couch and leaking a bit from her butt so all
is back to normal. Naturally I have big towels covering the counch and
the other spots that she likes to sleep, like my bed.

Well, it's Easter Sunday and nothing is open but I don't think there
is really anything I can do. I know she is in lousy shape and we're
really doing all that can be done. I'm sure not having a feeding tube
inserted in her when the time comes.

I'll call the vet tomorrow assuming that there are no other incidents
that are even more dire. For all I know this has happened several
times when I was out or sleeping and I'd never know. This one I was
there to see.

Poor old girl. You're taking good care of her, and have given
her so much. I hope she has no more seizures and when the time comes
for her to go, she goes peacefully and in her sleep.

On Sun, 27 Mar 2005 15:18:51 -0500, "KellyH"
wrote:

"dgk" wrote in message
.. .
At least I'm guessing that it was a seizure. She was down in the
kitchen while I was making breakfast and insisted on some food.
Normally I can't even hear her when she opens her little mouth but she
was actually making noise and since I'm desperately trying to get some
weight on her (she's down to 5.1 pounds) I opened up a can of sardines
and crushed up a few.

snip
I'll call the vet tomorrow assuming that there are no other incidents
that are even more dire. For all I know this has happened several
times when I was out or sleeping and I'd never know. This one I was
there to see.

I wonder if she was dehydrated? This happened to Dash, but more severely.
She would walk in circles, stumbling, and I had to take her to the vet to
get her rehydrated. We ended up doing sub-q fluids for her.

That's an interesting point. She does seem to drink fairly often and
loves drinking that horrible water that collects outside. I'll ask the
vet.

On Mon, 28 Mar 2005 09:44:31 -0500, dgk
wrote:

On Sun, 27 Mar 2005 15:18:51 -0500, "KellyH"
wrote:

"dgk" wrote in message
. ..
At least I'm guessing that it was a seizure. She was down in the
kitchen while I was making breakfast and insisted on some food.
Normally I can't even hear her when she opens her little mouth but she
was actually making noise and since I'm desperately trying to get some
weight on her (she's down to 5.1 pounds) I opened up a can of sardines
and crushed up a few.

snip
I'll call the vet tomorrow assuming that there are no other incidents
that are even more dire. For all I know this has happened several
times when I was out or sleeping and I'd never know. This one I was
there to see.

I wonder if she was dehydrated? This happened to Dash, but more severely.
She would walk in circles, stumbling, and I had to take her to the vet to
get her rehydrated. We ended up doing sub-q fluids for her.

That's an interesting point. She does seem to drink fairly often and
loves drinking that horrible water that collects outside. I'll ask the
vet.

Ok, vet says TIA which is transient Ichysomething attack. He can't be
sure but that's what it sounds like. A little stroke. Says that Ed
Koch (former NYC mayor) had them often. Maybe that explains his shift
to the right.

There isn't anything to be done about it if she seems normal
afterward. Not likely to be dehydration as long as she is eating and
drinking. So, I just keep an eye on her.

On Sun, 27 Mar 2005 15:40:44 -0500, "Mary" wrote:


"dgk" wrote in message
.. .
At least I'm guessing that it was a seizure. She was down in the
kitchen while I was making breakfast and insisted on some food.
Normally I can't even hear her when she opens her little mouth but she
was actually making noise and since I'm desperately trying to get some
weight on her (she's down to 5.1 pounds) I opened up a can of sardines
and crushed up a few.

After eating for a minute or so, she fell on her side and got up and
fell again and kept getting up and falling This was all in a few
seconds. Then she staggered out the back door onto the deck where
Nipsy and Espy were hanging out. So I went after her and held her for
a minute and then put her down on the deck and she wobbled a bit but
then started walking around normally. Well, normally for her which is
a stagger for any regular cat since her back legs are very weak.

Now she's sleeping on the couch and leaking a bit from her butt so all
is back to normal. Naturally I have big towels covering the counch and
the other spots that she likes to sleep, like my bed.

Well, it's Easter Sunday and nothing is open but I don't think there
is really anything I can do. I know she is in lousy shape and we're
really doing all that can be done. I'm sure not having a feeding tube
inserted in her when the time comes.

I'll call the vet tomorrow assuming that there are no other incidents
that are even more dire. For all I know this has happened several
times when I was out or sleeping and I'd never know. This one I was
there to see.

Poor old girl. You're taking good care of her, and have given
her so much. I hope she has no more seizures and when the time comes
for her to go, she goes peacefully and in her sleep.

Thanks, she is such a cutie. Well, not exactly a cutie, she's really
an obstinate bitch, but her determination is very endearing.

She does seem to drink fairly often and
loves drinking that horrible water that
collects outside.

Considering Jackie's health issues, I would not allow her to drink the
outside water. It is not treated and could harbor many kinds of bacteria
that could make her sicker. Filtered water would probably be the best
option.

Megan



"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do
nothing."

-Edmund Burke

Learn The TRUTH About Declawing
http://www.stopdeclaw.com

Zuzu's Cats Photo Album:
http://www.PictureTrail.com/zuzu22

"Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one
elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and
splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then
providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision,
raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and
material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his
way."

- W.H. Murray

On 2005-03-27, dgk penned:

Well, it's Easter Sunday and nothing is open but I don't think there is
really anything I can do. I know she is in lousy shape and we're really
doing all that can be done. I'm sure not having a feeding tube inserted in
her when the time comes.

I don't know what it's like for cats, but when my husband's family was
considering a feeding tube for his grandmother, they were told it was a
routine procedure and not all that big a deal.

Then again, Jackie is surely more mobile than his grandmother was.

--
monique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully

pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca

On Mon, 28 Mar 2005 09:39:36 -0700, "Monique Y. Mudama"
wrote:

On 2005-03-27, dgk penned:

Well, it's Easter Sunday and nothing is open but I don't think there is
really anything I can do. I know she is in lousy shape and we're really
doing all that can be done. I'm sure not having a feeding tube inserted in
her when the time comes.

I don't know what it's like for cats, but when my husband's family was
considering a feeding tube for his grandmother, they were told it was a
routine procedure and not all that big a deal.

Then again, Jackie is surely more mobile than his grandmother was.

I guess I used the feeding tube example because it is on everyone's
mind. I really meant that I don't want to take extraordinary measures.
I think I overdid it with Luckyboy and Nico and possibly made them
suffer. Nico even had a feeding tube but it goes in their side and not
down their throat. It wasn't the tube that was really the problem,
it's just that he was getting ready to die and I wasn't ready. It is
just a very tough decision and unlike a human, a cat can never make
its wishes clear.

On Mon, 28 Mar 2005 09:49:43 -0600, wrote:

She does seem to drink fairly often and
loves drinking that horrible water that
collects outside.

Considering Jackie's health issues, I would not allow her to drink the
outside water. It is not treated and could harbor many kinds of bacteria
that could make her sicker. Filtered water would probably be the best
option.

Megan




I thought about that but then I think that cats have evolved to eat
stuff that sickens me just to think about it. All three of my cats
love drinking that stuff and bypass the fresh water dish on their way
out the door. And I wonder if perhaps there is something in rainwater,
even if filled with bugs and stuff, that is needed by their
constitution. Maybe even the bugs and stuff. There isn't going to be
salmonella or other pathogens in that water; that really comes from
fecal material which is unlikely. Besides, it's likely pretty tasty to
them.

I've started giving Jackie probiotics, which is nothing more than
supposedly healthy bacteria. Hey, at this point I'll try almost
anything. Perhaps it's even better if she gets it from the stuff that
she seems to want to drink?