Purrkins comes home from Dogwood 19 January 2021

Purrkins comes home from Dogwood. 

Our trip to pick up Purrkins! Hazy daze! I don’t know about anyone else, but those ugly gray days under distress do not help this hooman!

I spoke to my Mom on the way there and asked her to send us some sunshine. No more do we pull into Dogwood to get Purrkins RAY and look what peaks out A RAY OF SUNSHINE! Yep, another sign all would be ok.

Thanks, Mom Delivered☀️  🙌🏻

Picking up our Purrkins Ray

Purrkins was drugged to the nines. They told me he was not with it yet and would be unsteady, ugh on three, that’s understated!

I  brought food, knowing he did not eat well and thought we could spend a little time in the parking lot before heading home.

Purrkins was agitated and unsettled in his carrier – he wanted out of his carrier for the first time in his life. Pressing his little head against the door. Frantic.

I got Purrkins out and held him thinking I could help soothe him.

It helped, but there was no way he was getting back in the carrier!

I tried to feed Purrkins. He had zero interest.

I held Purrkins the entire trip home. (Not safe) but we were in the back seat, and we do what we need to do for our furmily.

Purrkins did settle in my arms. 40 minutes into the drive, he let out this sound I have never heard before. A little distress sound mew. I don’t know how else to describe this to you. He was telling me something and began to get agitated again.  I told Mark I think Purrkins needs to go the bathroom. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Using the facilities on the Road

Mark pulls off the highway to a church parking lot. We get the gigantic litter box out of the hatch and put it in the backseat. I had to hold Purrkins in the box. He has no strength. None, the boy, can hardly stand up.  I place him in the litter box – sure enough, he had to pee (huge pee). So we get him cleaned up and put the litter box in the hatch. Off we go again.

A half-hour later, I hear the same sound mew  🤔 I ask Mark if we can pull over again and repeat. Another church parking lot and redo! Now the dear boy has to poop and does. What cat does this?

I’m not even sure dogs would do this ?!

He never ceases to amaze us 10 years 7 months later. 

We scoop, clean up, and off we go again, and phew Purrkins says thank you, hoomans cause I was distressed and needed to use the facilities. ( I can only guess he did not use the litter box in the hospital) I did not think to ask as he had a catheter in during the MRI.  Purrkins has NEVER had an incident in the car or at home. He refuses to even drugged to the umpteenth nines! Dear soul💝💝💝

The rest of our ride home was uneventful Purrkins watched out the window all the big semis going by. You can see where the tap was. ugh

WE ARE HOME

We are finally home and so happy to be home! Purrkins ate and has a full belly & decided to rest for a few minutes. It does not last long!

Dogwood

I have to say the Dogwood neurology group was amazing; they could not have been more compassionate and caring! They took the best care of Purrkins! I hate any of us would need Neurology or needs a neurologist, but if you are in Michigan or the surrounding area, we cannot recommend Dogwood highly enough!

Purrkins Vet Dr. Isaccs 2nd one in the screenshot is one of the co-founders of the clinic. GEM absolute gem! Easy to speak to easy to understand, so compassionate! Angel in earth clothes!! He gave us the floor to ask any & all questions and took the time to answer them in detail each time we spoke.

Purrkins MRI & Spinal Tap 

They found nothing on the MRI and what our utmost prayer/hope was. We knew that if the MRI did not reveal anything, they wanted to do a spinal tap while Purrkins was sedated, and they did that on the 19th while Purrkins was sedated.

We will get the results of the tap on January 20. 

Spinal Tap Information

DR I. told us not to lose any sleep over the tap results because usually if there is inflammation in the brain, they can tell during the MRI. He did not see anything in the scan. The spinal tap was to make sure nothing else was going on with Purrkins. If the tap comes back abnormal, i believe he said we would start a steroid, but I will need to confirm this if needed.

I asked in the planning/decision making if the spinal tap would be painful for Purrkins, i shuddered at the idea! 

His answers  –

1. It is different in animals than in humans, 
2. Purrkins would not feel the procedure because he would be sedated.
3. Obviously, our animals could not tell us how it feels.
4. They appear to have no side effects from the procedure.
5. Some humans get severe headaches; animals’ difference is the head’s location and the heart’s location. When we humans stand up, our head is above our heart, and it is almost in line with the animals.

This made sense to us. I hope it does to you all reading this.

 Mri is done

Dr. I asked the tech to call us asap to share the news NO TUMORS were found during the MRI! Of course, this was the most significant concern and our worst fear! NONE FOUND! 

List of the possibilities for focal seizures CATS

They go by age in cats 0-1, 0-5, 5 & older – the onset of symptoms.

The older the kitties, the odds of C are greater.

1. Meningioma (cancer) could have been treated depending on location. 

Treatments for Meningioma

Surgical, radiation, steroid, or combo ( he told us if any species, including humans, had to have a brain tumor, we would all want to be a cat and want it to be a meningioma)

If they found this during the MRI, they would have stopped the MRI and given an IV of steroids to reduce swelling of the brain –  then we would have had to make choices) 

This type of cancer is outside the brain and easily removed and/or treated depending on location.

Another type of cancer that infiltrates thru the brain and as wicked as it comes. We discussed this, but this was not on his list. I’m not sure why.

2. A vascular stroke that we did not see the full effects of

3. Another organ causing issues making the brain swell ( which was unlikely because Purrkins bloodwork does not indicate anything)

4.  Idiopathic (No reason), but at Purrkins age, this was unlikely! 

Being a cancer survivor, yes, we all know where the thinking was.

It appears we are unlikely.

We can confirm more tomorrow when we get the tap results back.

More Questions

Could this onset of focal seizures be Purrkins tooth? 

Dr. I’s answer, yes, it is possible – it is a stressor or a trigger for an epileptic patient. Dr. I suggests we do take care of the dental and resolve that issue.

Plan for now

We continue on the phenobarbital and recheck blood plasma levels by the 26th and see how Purrkins does. If Purrkins were to have any more of these focal seizures, i am to record and call Dogwood and our Kitty vet, and they will reevaluate the plan.

All the results from today will go to Kitty Vet and Dr. Matt. I know Dr matt will have more input.

We have a wobbly tripawd kitty right now,

Purrkins back in recovery in his Parkland Pet Portable Foldable Playpen Exercise Kennel Dogs Cats Indoor/outdoor Removable Mesh Shade Cover

LOADS OF LOVE & GRATITUDE FROM ALL OF US AT PURRKINS PALACE

XOXO