Capt. Greybeard Jackson
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Author of "Grabbag," the Duke Nukem Theme, and much more. On disability retirement, but still writing music. https://dleejackson.lbjackson.com/commissions/
Joined Dec 2018
Baker the cat update: he gave us quite a scare last night. His breathing was shallow and he was lethargic. My wife was considering whether we were putting him through too much, but I reminded her of what the doctor told us - "Don't give up."
Sure enough, he made it through the night, and seemed better this morning.
My wife picked up some appetite stimulant from the vet today, and it worked - Baker finally ate on his own. Still an uphill battle, but not a losing one.
Baker the cat update: he's out of isolation and has the run of the house, so naturally he chooses to hide behind our dryer. He's still accessible, so no big deal.
He's still being tube fed and hasn't eaten on his own. We're trying to encourage him, but no luck yet. However, he's walking around like he owns the place, when he does walk. That much is back to normal.
Pictures of Baker the cat's cubbyhole box:
Not much we can do, other than live with it. I'm making Masala Chai, which is helping a little. Plus, I'm still recovering from back surgery of my own, so I'm a bit knocked out from the pain medicine.
My wife is simply relieved that Baker is still alive and kicking. Baker being in the hospital was stressing her out more than anything. Now that he's home, she'll do anything for him.
Baker the cat is tolerating being fed via his feeding tube, but just barely. We still can't get an entire syringe of food into him at a single sitting.
In other news, the vet's office screwed up and gave him only one pill of something he should have received several of. My wife's going to have to make a return trip out there tonight. Thank God they're open 24 hrs.
The yowling/scratching is done, at least. My wife buit a covered box for Baker to hide in. That solved it.
Saturday morning Baker the cat update: he and my wife slept more or less well in the guest bedroom overnight. Once she left the room this morning, he went back to yowling and scratching, trying to get out. I went in to try and calm him down, to no avail.
We gave him our first tube feeding a short while ago. Went well, but he couldn't hold all of the food - she had to stop due to burping. I held him while she fed & gave drugs. Future tries should go better.
Baker the cat is home. His first act: try and run under the sofa. He's since been isolated in a prepared guest bedroom, where he's been whining loudly and trying to get out. He's obviously quite freaked.
My wife is now back with him, trying to reassure him that he's not being left alone. I suggested that she might need a sleeping bag for the night. Baker is *her* cat, after all, in terms of who he favors. We shall see.
Update: my wife has gone to pick up Baker the cat and bring him home. The night shift vet says we should isolate him from our other cat for a month, but that's a non-starter. Other vets at the place have said not to isolate him. She's going to get clarification when she arrives at the hospital. Same goes for the type of food to give him (both normal and in his feeding tube), whether or not we need to take his temperature, and how we should fit his E-collar.
Latest Baker update: They've inserted a feeding tube into his neck now that pancreatitis has been confirmed, and should be testing the tube about now. Depending on how well he adjusts to it, he should be coming home for continued treatment either tonight or tomorrow morning. The doctors want him moving, not locked up in a kennel, and they do not want his fever treated with anything other than the antibiotics he's already on.
Blood tests and ultrasound results are back for Baker the cat. The diagnosis of severe pancreatitis has been confirmed. No other problems were found in his abdomen.
The doctors are now going to insert a feeding tube into Baker's neck so he can be fed liquids to prevent fatty liver development. They'll then send him home so that we can take care of him. They said they want him out and about, and no longer cooped up in a kennel. Fortunately, our other cat should avoid him.
Further update on Baker the cat: he is still on a fever rollercoaster, suffering from what is suspected to be a case of severe pancreatitis. His white blood cell count is elevated, signifying infection, while his bilirubin is also higher than normal. He is scheduled to have an abdominal ultrasound performed tomorrow morning. Meanwhile, they're awaiting results of the two-day blood test to pinpoint the diagnosis of pancreatitis. Well wishes for our cat, if you would.
An update on Baker, our string-swallowing cat. He took a turn for the worse overnight. His fever spiked around 104°F. It's back down now, but his other symptoms point to a case of pancreatitis.
He's on pain medicine and a wide-spectrum antibiotic while their pathologist waits for a longer test's results.
Baker isn't coming home today. Thank God for insurance, and for a top-notch veterinarian office. We can only wait and hope that they help Baker pull through.
Off to do other stuff - I'll keep y'all apprised as to Baker's progress.
Baker the cat's surgery was successful. The vet had to open him up in three places to remove all of the string, but he says he got it all. We'll see how he's doing in recovery later this morning.
His last blood work came out okay as well. They're taking him to surgery immediately. He'll stay with the vet until he starts eating again.
X-ray results are back. 85% probability of a string obstruction in the bowel. Looping in the bowel detected. Baker will be going to surgery tonight.
Latest update on Baker: Vital signs and tests are normal. He's getting X-rays done.
One of our cats is on its way to a 24-hour veterinarian. He hasn't eaten all day, and he's thrown up at the last three mealtimes. He's usually bouncing off the walls at this time of night, but for the past two days he's been lethargic. Right now he's laid out flat. The vet needs to see him stat.
Capt. Greybeard Jackson
- Twitter/X
- https://www.twitter.com/leejacksonaudio
Author of "Grabbag," the Duke Nukem Theme, and much more. On disability retirement, but still writing music. https://dleejackson.lbjackson.com/commissions/
Joined Dec 2018