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☀️  🙌🏻

Truest Statement

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.

What is going on, Mom?
Is that you, mom?! i think that is you!

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.

Get me the bleep out of here, MOM! I’m soo confused!

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

So not Mr. P. Im whacked people.

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.

Much better i know I’m going home now!

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.

Phew!

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

my mohawk

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!

I have to clean up i have a new patchwork quilt hairdo.

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

I’m ok guys, but i would prefer not to see so many colored elephants.

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

XOXO

Author: Purrkins

Cat Diagnosed with soft tissue sarcoma low grade 1 on his left front carpus at age six, now a cancer-free tripawd kitty.

10 thoughts on “Purrkins comes home from Dogwood 19 January 2021”

  1. Aww thanks for fixing the comments. 🙂 Glad Mr. Purrkins made it home safe and sound and everything is figured out and he is on the mend.

    Sending hugs and love

    xoxoxoxo

    Michelle, Jazz, Chief and Angels Sassy, Bosch, Baby Simba and Sweet Snickers

    1. Thanks for letting us know the comment box was mia 💨🌬 Michelle😘

      Safe and sound, and a plan in place. A significant difference between where we were at and now.

      Purrkins will be climbing the cupboards again😽🥺🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻

      Big Hugs & loads of love!
      💝💝💝
      XOXO

      1. Welcome home! 🤗❤🥳 We were so worried.
        Only Purrkins could be this adorable in a Mohawk.
        Get rest and relaxation, all of you. Sending huge hugs❤
        Jackie and Huck❤

        1. Thanks, Jackie & Prince Huckleberry
          I know old news for all of you in the forums; feel free to ignore our duplicate info! Rest & relaxation is a work in pawgress for the hoomans anyway;)

          Purrkins says thanks on his new doo it’s got fuzzies on it already!🙌🏻
          Hugs & loads of love!
          💝💝💝

    1. Thanks, Gina, we appreciate it. Purrkins sends a sandpaper kiss to you😽

      My updates are slow on the blog but they will get on here.

      Purrkins is having an excellent day and adjusting to his meds. Big relief

      Scratches to your furmily, please.

      Love and hugs spirit kisses to Rusty
      💝💝💝

  2. Oh Holly, I missed this post. Woah! The photos say so much and really show how out of it and zonked he was, poor guy. He did not look like Purrkins, no wonder you were so worried. I would be too.

    And nope, I know that neither of our dogs would poop on command like that when totally wonky from anesthesia. Purrkins is a GOOD BOY.

    What a relief things are better for Super Kitty, and all of you. WHEW!!!

  3. Thanks, Rene,
    Photos show MOST! YES, noway Mr. P. if you would have seen him not be able to walk. Oh my, Rene, no words, it was terrifying this entire experience has been. I’m so thankful the vets kept in touch, and i was able to reach them to express our concerns. Or i would have lost my freaking mind!

    Dr. Matt was shocked as well shocked on all of this, of course!

    The sedation aspect we can discuss with him as well at our next appt. Purrkins is going to need his tune up like never before. I do believe with our team of three. We can ensure this does not happen again. WE HAVE TO!

    Thanks for confirmation on the pups its been 12 years today actually since we had Faith Rae;) I know she would have never let me hold her to pee and poop, lol. She would stop mid stream to get a pee sample;)

    Purrkins Ray is one of a kind kitty both the boys are we are blessed to be their hoomans.,

    HUGE RELIEF, thanks for holding us up and being there!
    Loads of love and gratitude!
    💝💝💝
    XOXO

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