Loki update: cultures, meds, and a zero balance(!)

Quick medical news first: Loki’s urine culture did grow bacteria. The first lab run didn’t include sensitivity to his current antibiotic (Orbax), but a couple of days later, we got the call that Orbax does cover what’s growing, so we’re staying the course. He’s bright, eating, and healing.

On the money side: we finished paying the bill (screenshots show both invoices at $0.00). Thank you again to everyone who donated/shared; you helped us get to even so Loki could keep getting care.

What’s next:

Strict RX-only urinary diet for Loki going forward to keep us from backsliding. It expensive but 100% worth the price.

He’s still kennel-confined and rocking the Shark/Donut cones, very ready to retire both.

Suture removal next Wednesday (needs sedation, estimate ~$240).

After that, we’ll finally tackle his dental if he stays stable ($900 - $1200).

For now, there are no big new bills, but as we’ve learned, things can change fast. We’ll keep you posted after suture removal. Thanks for sticking with our shark-boy while he fights his way back to normal.

https://gofund.me/52b7382c1

#cat #cats #caturday #catsofmastodon #sickcat #LokiCat #caturdayeveryday #catsoffediverse #catstodon #ittybittykittycommittee

Loki Update: Healing, Shark Collar, and Where Funds Went

Good news first: Loki had a recheck today and he’s doing really well. Electrolytes are back in the normal range, he’s alert/curious, and he even made the vet tech juggle him on the way back to our room (classic Loki chaos).

The plan is suture removal next week, start tapering a couple meds, and keep a hawk-eye on any licking. We’re waiting on culture results to see if we need to swap antibiotics again.

We also saw the bladder images; gnarly is the right word. The surgeon did a double closure because the bladder wall was so angry/inflamed; it was iffy at the time, but seems to be holding and healing now.

Payment update & thanks:

We just added $595 to our Parkview account ($495 cash + $100 card).

Outstanding balance: $1,712.10 total
Invoice #20130 (9/12): $1,617.82 remaining
Invoice #20212 (9/15): $94.28

We’re waiting on the GoFundMe transfer; all GFM funds will go straight to these balances.

Huge thank-you to everyone who’s donated/shared; your help is literally keeping Loki’s care moving forward. We’ll update again after suture removal (and with the culture results).

More Info: https://gofund.me/52b7382c1

#cat #cats #caturday #caturdayeveryday #catsofmastodon #catstodon #catsoffediverse #sickcat #LokiCat

Tl;dr: Loki went to vet, we're in it for $2,500 so far and looking like $3,000 in total overall. Pets are my family and i'll burn every dollar i have to see my family well.

---

Man oh man Loki isn't having the best week so far. 2 Days ago he was rushed to the vet with a blockage, full bladder, and uber bad UTI. General i notice my cats quite well and sus out issues before it gets bad but this time I was out of my element as i've never seen a UTI in a cat before, nor the signs.

Day 1 8/10: Loki was acting a bit off but assumed due to the storm in the wee hours of the morning.

Day 1.5 8/10: Walking bowlegged, laying in cat globe on LR4, not normal, debating on vet and if we can wait til monday.

(Did not work out, to out of his norm to wait, and glad we didnt)

Day 1 Evening: ER Vet to find out a full bladder about the size of the vet's fist vs the size of a kiwi. Emergency procedure to unblock and cath to drain, goes well, lethargic after getting gabapentin.

Night 1: Touch and go, kept being told not out of the woods nor even close, potassium off the charts >10, unreadable, phosphorus stupid high, calcium, stupid low. We told them to do what's needed to save our little guy.

Morning 2 6:30 AM: Pick up at vet, $996 out the door, no good outlook, just love and hope he can bounce back.

Morning at normal vet - 7:30 am: Checked in, not hopeful but will monitor and run new bloodwork and get x-rays.

Day 2, Early Afternoon: Called for a status update, not looking good. Kidney values are dropping, as the potassium level is now under 8 and readable, ideal being 5-6.5, I'm told. White blood cells through the roof, not eating, and not drinking.

Day 2 1 PM: Called by vet and advised he's doing worse, we should probably come to see him and decide if we want to end his suffering or give him more time.

We visit, bawl out, consign ourselves to letting him give up the ghost after a few more hours to bounce back. All pain meds are cut to see if this is affecting him, be back at 5:15 pm to decide either let him go or transfer back to the E-vet and wait it out.

Day 2 5:15 pm, on way to vet, running late, 5:20 we're down the street, stoic emotions, ready to do what is best for our guy, text comes through: White Blook count still very high but coming down slightly, kidney values looking better but not great yet, Loki is sitting up and now fighting the anal probe!!!!

We arrived and I talked them into letting Angie back to see Loki in his kennel, hes on fluids and is cathed so less moving and stress is ideal, Angie got to see her baby boy (their bonded fully) and he see his mom for the second time and was moving and running on her fingers!!!

Day 2 6:30, normal vet closes at 6, no overnight staff for this place, Loki is back to ER vet to be supervised overnight again. Also found out his lost tooth from last may when he snuck out was not in fact missing but sheered off just blow the gum line, very infected, likely cause of high WBC values now, first vet to see this in a year, planning to get this out when hes good enough to get into surgery which is a ways away.

Day 2 9:30: Angie went to visit, Loki is drinking water again normally, bathing with the cone on and getting irritated about it, and slightly touching food again.

Day 3 1:30 AM: Still looking up, more water, still active, no food again yet but feeding time was coming up at 2-ish.

Overall it's been a super touch and go moments with this guy. Money is of small issue to me vs the health and well being of my animals. We are in it for $2500 so far and looking at another 500-1000 for further care over the next couple days. Then a tooth extraction will run about $996 as well after, from past experience. But a small price to pay to have my home slice still alive and kicking, 10/10 would pay and break myself again to have my dude back!

If you made it here, well you're awesome just like the people, at Park View Animal Hospital and the Emergancy Vet Services here in Lincoln, NE!

Loki will be picked up at 6 am again for transfer back to the day vet from Angie in the morning. Hopefully, tomorrow sees the blood out of his urine and we get to thinking about coming home soon!

Tip of advice for a cat, get the insurance, you dont need it til you do and when you do you really need it. Also if you have a male cat get used to the signs of a UTI, don't make my mistake and not know!

#cat #cats #catsofmastodon #LokiCat #vet #animals #hospital #hangingon #toughdude