Peek A Boo's Day at the Vet!
 

Poor Peek! I noticed he was having labored breathing, and his cough had become worse about 2-3 days ago. With the Holidays coming, I figured I better take him in today rather than wait until Christmas morning... we all know how that goes.

Kind of bad news though, he has fluid in his lungs, a result of congestive heart failure. He got a shot of Lasix and stayed in the O2 tent for a bit. Sent home on Lasix and Enalapril, indefinitely. Recheck in 3 weeks.

He has had a cough ever since I got him at 5 years old. Possibly a mild CT way down in the brachial area where the trachea first enters the lungs, so I'm used to him coughing on and off, but I could tell this was different. With him being 17 years old, I did not want to wait until he was really showing signs of distress before having him seen. He still does his daily routines and his appetite is still good, all else normal, just a more frequent cough, a slight heave to his chest (which just started last night) on inspiration and expiration.

He did seem to sleep a bit more yesterday, and didn't finish his food in one sitting, but came back and finished it a few hours later. As this is not normal for him, I made the decision to have the vet take a look at him. I don't allow him to go off feed for long, bc at his age, it's so easy for him to get too skinny quick, which brings on other problems with his kidneys and dehydration.

The vet also sent off a comprehensive blood panel and did x-rays.

He also checked his eye, and said it was healing nicely. (injury/ulcer in another thread)

Please keep my baby in your thoughts and prayers. I know he may not have too much longer on this Earth, but we're going to do what we can till his time comes. The vet thinks maybe 3 more years, which would be fantastic!

Oh my! Am so sorry to hear of Peek's illness. Sending you lots of prayers and hugs that he's feeling much better. Keep us posted on how he is doing.

Hugs,

Katheleen

Thank you! I had to laugh... Peek wouldn't eat when we first got home, he just found a spot and laid down for a nap. Then I hear him barking his head off in the bedroom... giving Tinkerbell an earful, lol! So I think he's feeling better all ready! He ate well after his nap.

Aww poor baby I hope he gets better

Peek will be in my thoughts. I have to smile when I think he's 17 & the vet is brave enough to estimate he's got another 3 years-that's great! Give him a little kiss for me...

I hope Peek A Boo feels better and has many good times still to come.

Thanks! I don't think at this point in time it's ever going to 'get better', but more a case of managing things as they crop up. I think 'getting better' more like being cured, and I have to be realistic about his health. Thanks for your thoughts.....

Will do! I was like, 'Wow! You're kidding!' But my heart wants to believe him, I guess we'll see....

Thank you, Patti.:)

Sending Peek A Boo and you lots of good thoughts.

Thank you, Teri!

His breathing and cough have improved a lot, he just seems a bit tuckered out today from his trip to the vet.

He is probably also fatigued from the CHF/breathing issues. So glad he responded to treatment...it's a good thing you got him in quickly!
Will keep him and you in my thoughts and prayers.

Sending good thoughts, hugs and prayers to you and Peek A Boo!!

Poor Peek, hope the meds help. You're such a good Mommy to him!
This is a very strange request, but if you get a chance, could you possibly get Peek's coughing on video? Just the sound will be fine! I want to know what a cough caused by heart issues sound like. Momo has an enlarged heart (1 side bigger than the other) but no murmur & he does these weird expression coughs once in awhile, esp after he's been running around. Planning to take another xray & maybe an EKG soon.

I was thinking that too... thanks...

Thank you.

Sure will. Peek has an enlarged heart and something to do with his Mitral Valve that's causing the fluid to build up in his lungs. I know his heart normally looks large on x-ray, and I forgot to mention this to the vet. I'm going to call and ask him to compare x-rays with his previous ones from the last vet.

Now I'm questioning the dose of Enalapril. He's been out of it today, and sleeps deeply. Also decreased appetite. He weighs about 6.5 lbs and is taking 1.0 mg Enalapril once a day. Does this sound right? Going to call an ER Vet now...

Daisy takes benazapril and it's similar and she takes 2mg once a day (7.5 lbs).

Don't know how much help that was, lol! They said it would not make him sleepy... Google said it could cause weakness, and DH said he gets very tired when his BP is low.

While I was on hold for the vet, I did get Peek to eat some sugar cookies (his new fav treat) followed by a bit of chicken baby food licked off my finger (about 1/2 jar). He had peed in his bed before I called the vet. This is not like him so I was concerned.

His breathing looks good, not labored nor rapid. He alerts to noises by lifting his head, but then just goes back to sleep.

Thanks Cathy. Guess I'll be up all night keeping watch. They also suggested he could just be stressed from the vet's, but he's really very good when he goes there, and no one was excessively rowdy in the waiting room. Think I'll cook him some chicken and rice and see how that goes.

Hi Kathy, I'm so sorry to hear that your sweet PeekABoo is having a tough time now. It's so hard when they begin feeling their age. I pray you find the right medications and dosages, and that things improve rapidly. I'm praying.

I hope he will eat his chicken and rice. Praying for Peek a Boo.

Keeping him in my prayers . . {{hugs}} to you both !

My prayers for Peek, may he get back to feeling more like himself real soon.

Hi Kim! Thanks for your prayers...

Thanks, Kristin.

Thank you, Kathy.

Thanks Dawn...

Well... good news I think! Peek has been asleep (he did get up twice and changed sleeping spots) since my last post, but just woke up and barked at the door to go out to potty! Then he came in and ate a serving full of chicken with some green beans and had a drink of water! I really think he was just too tired to stand and eat before.

I think I'll reduce his dose tomorrow and see how he does, then call the vet 1st thing Monday morning.

That dose is ok Kathy. My Olivia is 5.5 pounds and takes 2.50 mg in AM and 1.25 mg in PM

It does not affect her at all. No fatigue..nothing! :)

Thanks! Did she have to adjust to the dose when she first started taking it? I am also thinking of giving him half in the am and the other half a bit later on. I'll see how he is in the morning though. It was a bit scary with him today, especially when he wasn't eating. He doesn't care for Nutrical at all... he hates sticky stuff, lol. Or maybe I should make sure to feed him before his meds.... duh.

So glad to hear he's feeling a bit more "like himself". I think of Peek a lot, the little sweetie!

I don't think I would worry myself too much if he has a decreased appetite. He probably just does not feel so great. Hopefully the meds will help him to feel better and he will get his appetite back. I would not give him Nutrical just because he had a decreased appetite, especially if he hates it. Have you tried yogurt? Years ago my sweet Maxwell who is at the Bridge used to eat it every night. I gave him vanilla yogurt. :)

Aw Thanks! He's my 'Little Buddy'. He loves all people and is always ready with a kiss, he is such a sweetheart! Just don't put him on the bed, then it becomes his domain and he will fight to the death protecting his Mommie. (He even bit DH once :eek:) He has mellowed a little in his 'Golden Years', but not much!

All his sisters have been a big help.... they keep checking on him for me. And one of my kitties got into bed with him!:)

No, she seemed fine with it from the start. She is taking more now than when she first started. The only thing they told me to watch for was syncope but it never did happen with her.

The bloodwork came back... all is good! Even his kidney values... which I don't get bc he was diagnosed earlier in the year as having early stage renal failure? He's on 1/2 K/D and regular food (won't eat the K/D alone) and baby food and I always add water to his food. Do the kidney BW values return to normal with diet change if the kidneys are not 100% functioning?

He was up and about fine this morning, so I made sure to feed him first before giving him his meds. He's sleeping now, but is quicker to respond to stimuli, either noises or me touching him, so this is good, better than he was doing yesterday. His breathing is good and hardly any coughing at all.