Purrs In Our Hearts - Cat Forum UK
Cat Health & Behaviour => Health & Behaviour General => Topic started by: LesleyW on September 25, 2007, 09:49:34 AM
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I have to take Tarka to the Vets tonight. He is now ten weeks old and has had runny poo most of his life. Has been on antibiotics, lacto B, sensitive diet, etc but nothing has really worked.
The weird thing about him is that his "Bottom" seems extremely large and appears to have two holes!! I do not know whether this is due to the diarrhoea or whether this is the cause of the diarrhoea and is a deformity.
He is such a happy, playful little soul but has spent alot of his life in a pen because when he is free he just "leaks" all the time. He has a dirty bottom and back legs all the time and now has a runny eye, which I think is due to all the cleaning he has to do round his rear end and his eye then getting dirty. I am terrified that if it is a deformity that nothing will be able to be done for him and, though I HATE the thought of it, there may be no hope for him, as he cannot carry on as he is, it is not fair on him and he could never be re-homed and, though I am willing to clear up after him all the time, it is also not fair on the other cats or on OH.
Has anyone ever experienced anything like this?
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Oh Lesley that sounds awful, no matter how much you love them that is pretty trying
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We have Lily who is 4 months old who has problems that sound similar to Tarkas probs. Lily had every test the vet can think of. In fact this morning she has an appointment with a specialist from Manchester. £140 for consultation alone, still we need to try to find out what is wrong with her. Fortunately the specialist will take notice of all the tests that have been done already, some consultants want to start again.
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Ela, did Lily have a runny bum too, and did you find anything to sort that out or is that still ongoing?
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Have you been to vets yet? Would be interested to know more!
Only thing i can think of is prolapse.
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Lesley if he has had runny poo for so long it almost sounds like the anal tissue is thickened;I hope not.I have a pic of this but it is too unpleasant to post but can email it to you if you want. Keeping fingers crossed and sending positive vibes. :hug:
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could be a prolapse, or, as T says it could simply be that the continual diarrhoea has caused thickening or possibly even haemarrhoids... Will be interested to hear what the vet says...
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Ela, did Lily have a runny bum too, and did you find anything to sort that out or is that still ongoing?
All the time, funnily enough today when she was on the table with the specialist she did a little solid for the first time ever. They did a another ultrasound to check she had a Pancreas and took more bloods which are to be sent to the USA for analysis. Only £470 plus £170 consultation fee which was £30 more than I thought. But we have to find out what is wrong with her we can't give up on her now.
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Tarka has been to the Vet and has been kept in. There are not two holes but his bottom is really swollen and they want to get poo samples, starve him and give him i/v fluids. Not sure if the diarrhoea is causing the swelling or the sweling is causing the diarrhoea.
Teresa, I would be interested to see the photos, if you can e-mail them to me that would be great, :thanks:
Will let you know where there is more news, please send positive thoughts to my little man, I have raised him since he was one day old.
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Will be thinking of him Lesley, I do hope something can be done for him.
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Lesley have emailed the pic.
Sending lots of positive vibes to Tarka hes a little fighter
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Thanks for pic, Teresa - it does look a bit like that but I promise it is not due to neglect, he has been on every type of medication but we just cannot stop him having the runs. Hopefully, his spell in hospital will be the turning point and they can discover the real cause of his problems.
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Thanks for info Ela - one final thing if you haven't gone yet, was the diarrhoea really smelly?
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I hope all goes well for Tarka and the vet can sort him out :hug:
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Thanks for info Ela - one final thing if you haven't gone yet, was the diarrhoea really smelly?
Very, often just a brown liquid. Of course so many similar symptoms and so many different diseases. The results of the tests sent to the USA will take at least 2 weeks.
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I do hope Tarka's problems can be sorted out :hug:
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Lesley
I know its not neglect. I find myself wondering if maybe Tarka has been born with an abnormally small large intestine ; this would account for runny poop. Did mum abandon him?
Keep hanging in there :hug:
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Thanks Teresa. Tarka and his brother and sister were abandoned at a day old but probably because mum was disturbed from a shed and the kittens were moved. She came back and got one kitten but then never returned for these three and was never seen again. Both Abby and Gibbs have always been fine and have recently been re-homed.
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Have spoken to the Vet today to see how Tarka is doing. He is on a drip and faecal samples have been sent off. Put him on Pro-kolin but this is going straight through him so he has been put on antibiotics and they are applying cream to his bottom.
He is very bright in himself still and although they are starving him at the moment he is taking his lectade extremely well.
Nurses have fallen in love with him, despite the smell :sick: and he is still bright and bubbly.
He will stay in isolation for the time being, until samples come back (which could take a week) or until he starts to firm up and I can bring him home. I hate to think of him in a room on his own but I know the nurses will fuss him as much as they can.
Will keep you up-dated.
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Bless his little heart, hope he is better soon. Prokoalin made my Benglies worse when they had it for runny bums.
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poor little Tarka, he's so lucky to have you caring for him
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Hope he gets better soon :Luv:
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Poor Tarka but he sounds like such a feisty little soul :hug:
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I hope they give him loads of cuddles and strokes so he knows he is loved :hug:
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Poor little soul .... as Gill says he sounds like a little fighter and hopefully the vets will be able to get the bottom of his problems (no pun intended .. sorry!)
Sending lots of love and cyber hugs to Tarka xxxxxx
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Will be thinking of you hope he gets better real soon lots of :hug:s :Luv:
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Hope little Tarka shows signs of improvement soon; keep cheerful :hug:
Tx
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Sending healing vibes your way Tarka ~~~~~~~ & :hug: to you T ;)
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Fingers crossed for him.
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Latest update. Tarka is now being a terror and chewing his drip so he has had to have a lampshade put on. He is very bright, eating for himself now but still has sloppy poos :sick:. His bottom is looking better though Debbie, the Nurse, says he still looks a bit like a baboon :rofl:.
I will be going to visit him this afternoon but sounds like he will be staying in over the weekend :(.
Thank you to everyone for their best wishes, I will pass all the cuddles and hugs on to Tarka. :thanks:
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Oh Tarka, what a boy ;D
Please give him some cuddles from me and hope he gets well soon :hug:
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Oh Tarka, what a boy ;D
Please give him some cuddles from me and hope he gets well soon :hug:
And me :Luv:
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Poor boy, tickles to him.
The worse thing about them being on drips is the teeth grinding habit they can pick up, drives me nuts that noise :sick: :sick:
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How did the visit go Lesley? any further news on Tarka?
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Well, the visit to Tarka was not so good. They thought he had been improving but just before I arrived he had covered the whole cage in runny poo and had just had a bath :(.
He is eating well and is soo wanting cuddles etc but he hates his drip and I felt awful because all I wanted to do was give him a big hug but very difficult when I'm wearing disposable gown etc and he has a lampshade on his head, drip in a leg that is all bandaged up so he can't pull it out. I must admit I had a few tears but I know he appreciated the visit.
He is staying in over the weekend, so I will phone for progress reports and then probably go and see him again on Monday. I think until we have the poo results it is going to be a waiting game to see if he improves. Hopefully, the results will show something that can be treated and then progress can be made.
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Keeping everything crossed for this little one Lesley, he sounds like a really special little lad
x
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Sending you both big :hug:.its even harder when you have handreared from such a young age and the kitten is so bonded to you just went to feed my bottlefeds Pushkin and Eugenie now almost 9weeks and thought of you and Tarka and felt like crying for you both. Lesley he is a fighter otherwise he wouldn`t have made it this far, keep strong.
Tx
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Oh thats so sad and it sounds like despite his problems he is still happy and active......arent they amazing ;D
I hope fpr the results to come back quick and a fix to be possible :hug: :hug:
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Aww, I do hope they can find soemthing treatable.
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Poor Baby! I'm sure he was very happy to see you Lesley! He does sound like a feisty one, he's obviously a fighter! Love to both of you
Déborah xx
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Love to you both :hug:
Max sends purry head butts :hug: :hug:
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Hope Tarka is feeling and looking better today Poor little darling.
Positive vides being sent to Tarka xxxxxxx
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Sorry for delay in reporting on Tarka, busy weekend with other kittens!!
Tarka has done a normal shaped poo :cheer: :cheer:. Apparently, it was very large and very orange :sick: :sick:.
He has been taken off the drip, mainly because he kept chewing through it, and he is eating really well on his own anyway. His bottom is not looking as red as it was but is still larger than normal.
I will be phoning later today to see if there are any poo results back and hopefully to find out when he can come home.
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Thats good news
Sending you lots of :hug:s.xx
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Oh I do hope this is the beginning of a recovery and maybe if it was, then the 'swelling' will go down.
Lots of gentle strokes to Tarka :hug:
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Aw, everything crossed for this little one :)
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;D oooh sounds promising ...fingers crossed he is on the road to recovery. Lots of Love Tarka :Luv:
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Fingers crossed that the little fella is on the mend.
:hug:
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Great news, fingers crossed he continues to do well
I think we need pics of the little fella ;D
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Fingers crossed he continues to improve.
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Well the latest news is not so good. Tarka has the runs again :Crazy: :Crazy: :Crazy:. The lab results have come back re his faecal sample and everything is normal so nothing to help us there either.
My vet is as in the dark as I am at the moment but she is now going to try him on steroids to see if that helps in any way.
Will try to find some photos of him later.
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Sending you both lots of love :Luv:
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Poor little fella :hug:
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Sending love and positve vibes to Tarka and a hug for you :hug:
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Poor little Tarka :hug: Fingers crossed the steroids do the trick, when Tiggy had chronic diaorrhea once the vet gave her antibiotics and then pro-kolin paste which didn't work. She had an anabolic steroid injection which didn't work so he tried a corticosteroid injection which worked a treat.
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Just caught up with this again,hopefully orange poo is down to vitamin injection. Keep your chin up Lesley sending positive vibes your way. :hug:
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Visited Tarka today, but no good news really. He is so lively and loveable and growing fast, but his bottom is still oozing poo - it seems no different to me really. He is eating well and very lively but the treatment he is getting seems to be making no difference to his bottom and I don't know how long it is fair to keep him in there in isolation with no improvement but, on the other hand, I cannot risk bringing him home and infecting anyone else.
Hubby says we cannot go on indefinitely paying for special treatment with no visible improvement and the only option may be to put him to sleep. :( :(. I obviously do not want to do this but I cannot bring him home yet but cannot go on indefinitely with rising Vet bills.
I am going in again later this afternoon to see him again, as I have to pick Tilly up who has been spayed today and have another three in for vaccinations before going to new homes tomorrow.
I just wish I could see a light at the end of the tunnel.
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:hug: :hug: to you and Tarka
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If the samples have returned negative I doubt he is going to infect anything else Lesley. I still think he may have been born with a very small large intestine.
Keep fighting :hug:
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What is the vet suggesting, he cant expect for this to be made right by itself?
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How's little Tarka doing Lesley?
x
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I've just been on to the Vets and although Tarka is still very bright in himself the diarrhoea is no better.
Just had a good moan to them because I have not heard from a Vet since last Wednesday and nobody can tell me where to go from here or what the next step is!! but at the moment things are not looking good. He seems to be oblivious to the fact that he is constantly "weeping" diarrhoea and he has no control whatsoever over it. Everything he comes into contact with gets covered and my poor friend Sharon who works at the vets has just had to completely clean him and his isolation cage because someone decided to give him a couple of cushions to climb over and that just made things ten times worse.
I don't think the outcome is looking good and I feel really harsh for saying that but I cannot have a kitten or cat in the house that "weeps" diarrhoea everywhere and it is no quality of life for him to be locked in a crate all the time.
I really am at my wits end with him. :scared:
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have they given any thought to whether the anal sphincter is closing? If the muscle at the opening of the anus is not closing properly there would be a constant weeping of faeces. Not sure if it would be fixable surgically, but if you had a name to give the problem then you could start finding solutions. at the moment you are just bleeding money with no result. Ask them to look into is (so to speak) and give you an answer...
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I really hope that It can be sorted out for you :Luv: Will be thinking of you both :Luv:
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Just spoken to Caroline, one of the partners of the practice and she has apologised that no one has been in touch.
She has gone through his case study and has decided at the moment to give him white fish only to eat. She says it could be something really silly that we are overlooking such as an intolerance to chicken and, as with most diarrhoea cases he has been on quite alot of chicken recently, so swapping to white fish, and also changing antibiotic to erythromycin as other seems to be ineffective.
I asked if she thought it could be physical rather than an infection and she said it would be hard to diagnose without gut biopsy etc so not to go that route yet, and he is so small that any surgery or investigation at the moment is restrictive. They are going to keep him on this regime for the next 48 hours with no extra charge and see if there is any change. Caroline also said that he is sooo bright so I just can't give up on him.
PLEASE KEEP FINGERS CROSSED FOR THE NEXT 48 HOURS FOR MY LITTLE BOY.
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which is why I was wondering. If it was diarrhoea, he would be dozy, if it is simply that his bowel is not closing properly, he would still have runny poos but it would not be running him down. Just a thought, and, as you say, he is too tiny to be able to do anything yet anyway.
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Fingers crossed for little Tarka
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Have just found some info on Fabcats website about Tritrichomonas foetus infection in cats and some of the details seem relevant to Tarka's case so have e-mailed the details to my Vet. The good news is that they normally recover from it, the bad news is that it can take up to nine months with some cats having diarrhoea for 2 years. :Crazy:
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Fingers, toes and everything else crossed for little Tarka - positive vibes and healing thoughts for the little one xxx
Love and hugs to you Lesley xxx
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I have all my fingers crossed for little Tarka :hug:
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Everything crossed Lesley, give him a cuddle for us
x
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Spoke to my friend Sharon at the Vet Hospital and for the first time today Tarka is not leaking poo!!!! :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: In fact he has not even done a poo today yet and this is after only 24 hours of his new regime.
Hopefully my vet will be phoning me later but I am just soo pleased for him - hopefully this is the start of his recovery.
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That is really fantastic news :Luv:
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hopefully this is the start of his recovery.
Oh, I do hope so :wow:
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Oh I do hope this will continue, purrrrrrrrrlease :hug: :hug:
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Sounding good! Fingers and everything else crossed even more tightly!
x
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Excellent News :)
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Fingers crossed for him.
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Keeping everything crossed :Luv:
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Great news Lesley. Lets hope he keeps it up (no pun) ;D
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Just phoned the Hospital and Tarka is leakiing green runny poo again. We are running out of things to try with him.
I am going in tonight and I think it will be time to say goodbye to my little boy.
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oh no poor Tarka :'(
Im sure you have done everything humanly possible for him. So sorry :'(
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poor Tarka and poor you Lesley, you really have done everything you can for him
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Oh Lesley Im so sorry that little Tarka has not improved. Praying for a miracle xxx :hug:
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Oh hun, I'm sorry about Tarka, I really hoped he had turned a corner :(
I pray there is one more thing which can be tried, and will work xx
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Oh no don't know what to say :'(
Would a raw meat diet help him in any way its just that I have been reading about Raw diets and that its help a lot of cats with different problems, as Simba has I B D :Luv:
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Oh dear this is terrible news, the last thing I wanted to see.
I know you have tried everything that has been recommended and would love for there to be a miricle for Tarka :hug: :hug:
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:hug: :hug: :hug:
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I so hope the vet hasnt given up on Tarka :hug:
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We are trying a new mixture of medication and food and Caroline my Vet has said there will be no charge and let's see how he is on Monday.
He is sooo bright in himself, if only we can find the right combination to stop the runs.
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Every instinct I have is that, if he is so bright and lively in himself, there must be an answer.
I so hope it can be found.
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I was taliking to one of the nurses and she had a kitten that had the same sort of problem from two weeks of age. Had every test imaginable and nothing was ever picked up but she perserved and by the age of six months the problem seemed to resolve itself. It's just getting hubby to agree to have a dirty kitty here for the next three months or more.
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I do hope that there is a positive change in him by Monday.
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I agree if he is so bright then there must be an answer, please let there be an answer for Tarka :hug:
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I really hope there is an answer for Tarka :Luv:
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I will keep everything I can crossed that there is a solution to Tarka's problems :Luv:
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Thinking of you all Lesley and hoping Tarka can come through this
xxx
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Owing to life being complex here, I've been out of the Purrs loop for a while. I've read bits of this thread, but not all. Has anyone looked into the possibility of some abnormality of the anal glands which sit at either side of the anus. Poor Sam had hers cleared on sat morning (she's not a happy cat!).
If there is some gross abnormality, such as a failure of the drainage system to develop properly, this may not be something the cat can live with, or there may be some form of surgery.
But I'm sure the vets have already looked into this.
Thinking of you.
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Sorry for no news over the weekend but had an horrendous time, lost three of my four handrearing babies. They just faded over 24 hours and were gone. :'( The last one, Gizmo (named in honour of Tan's Gizmo) is thankfully strong and still thriving so all my attentions have been on him for the last 24 hours, worried sick looking for any sign of illness.
Anyway, to better news - phoned the Hospital this morning and Tarka is doing formed poos (each poo is written down with full description of shape, size and consistency :rofl:) and if he continues like this through the day he can come home tonight. :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer:
He is on strict diet of W/d and peridale but so far poos are good and bum is clean.
Will up-date later today to let you know for definite if he is coming home.
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Sorry to hear about the kittens. :hug: Glad Tarka is doing better, hope he and Gizmo keep well.
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lesley jus read this thread :Luv:
i am so glad you and your vets persisted wth this little star, he sounds like an angel :Luv:
i hope you can get him home and he goes to his own forever home very soon :)
sorry to hear about the other kittens, must be so hard :(
take care xxxx
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I really hope he is improving Lesley, you have tried so hard here, so sorry about the other babes
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I am so sorry that you lost the three little kittens, Lesley.
But I am delighted to hear the news about Tarka and am hoping this means his condition can be managed.
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So Sorry about the kittens but keeep on growing Gizmo ;D
I do hope this is a permanent move forward for little Tarka, come Tarka you can do it :hug:
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Aw, sorry about the kittens, keep strong Gizmo :Luv:
So pleased to hear some good news with Tarka, I hope this is the way forward for this little one now :hug:
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After all the sad news we all seem to be experiencing lately, the good news is that Tarka is coming home tonight. He has managed to keep doing well documented, exquisitely described formed poos today and has earned the right to finally leave the isolation he has had to suffer for the last two and a half weeks and I get my (slightly larger) baby back.
I did not think this day was ever going to come and I really thought at one time there was no hopeful future for my little furbabe but it just goes to show that lots of positive thinking can achieve miracles, and he is definitely my miracle baby.
:thanks: to everyone for their support over these last couple of weeks and I will post piccies of Tarka home later on - yippeeeeeeee.
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:yesss: Brilliant news :hug:
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that's such good news Lesley, I hope he continues to improve and thrive. Well done to you for carrying on, he'll be hard to part with I would imagine!!
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Great news ;D Well done, Tarka! He'll be so pleased to be out of that pen.
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well unfortunately it will be out of one pen and into another, as he will go into the Angel pen when he comes home so he can be monitored and only eat the right food.
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Oh Lesley, cant tell you how happy I am for you and little Tarka, if any one deserves a bit of luck its you 2, Ive never met Tarka but love him to bits (if that makes any sense)
So sorry that you lost the 3 little ones, sending positive vibes for Gizmo to get big and strong xxx
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Oh thats wonderful and look forward to see Tarka in the fur, well on picture ;D ;D
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well unfortunately it will be out of one pen and into another, as he will go into the Angel pen when he comes home so he can be monitored and only eat the right food.
Oh, of course. Still, he'll be back in familiar surroundings with you, so he'll be pleased. :hug:
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Wonderful news ;D
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Sorry to hear about the 3 little ones but excellent news at Tarka.
RIP little ones.
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That is fantastic about Tarka :Luv:
But am so sorry for the other 3 babies :Luv:
R I P Little onesxxx
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Hooray for Tarka! You must be so pleased and excited for getting him home. Really glad it's good news for him.
Sorry to hear about the little ones, big hugs to you
xxx
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Fantastic news :wow: Sorry to hear about the babies :hug:
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I am so sorry to hear about your bottle babies, RIP little ones. Am glad that Tarka has improved, and can come home, can't wait to see a pic of him, even if he does have to go in another pen.
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Here he finally is, home safe and sound. He is eating like a horse and so far we have had good formed poos, all in his litter tray, and a clean bottom.
Never has so much interest been shown in one little cat and the state of his bottom. :rofl:
I am very happy to have him home and I think he is happy to be home. Although he is in his pen, he can see the others outside and they all come to say hello and have a playful paw through the bars to him.
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Here he finally is, home safe and sound. He is eating like a horse and so far we have had good formed poos, all in his litter tray, and a clean bottom.
That is such good news ;D and isn't he beautiful?
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Awwww, such a little darling :Luv: :Luv:
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What a beautiful boy :Luv:
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Gorgeous :Luv:
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he is absoluely gorgeous lesley, i can feel some
cat kitten napping coming on :evillaugh:
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What a stunner!!! So glad he's home and doing well. Big cuddles from us
x
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So thats is Tarka ;D
Isnt he just so sweet, welcome home Tarka Purrs we know all about you and have been wishing you to get well so hard :hug: :hug:
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Aww, bless him.
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Tarka is a handsome boy ;D
Glad he's home and on the mend :Luv:
Sorry about the babies Lesley :hug:
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What a gorgeous little face, so glad that he is continuing to improve xxx
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awww he looks so healthy and happy, I can see why you didn't want to give up on him!
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He's beautiful :Luv:
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Any update on this little chappie?
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Hi Millys Mum
Tarka is doing well. He is a very small little boy, now 4 1/2 months old but looks the size of a 10 week old kitten, but he is gorgeous. I still have to keep him in the "Angel" pen as he is not allowed to eat any other food than w/d. He comes out whenever he can when I have hidden all other food and his favourite habit is sitting on my shoulder. He is very affectionate and just constantly purrs.
He still gets a dirty bottom now and again and hates having any part of his rear end cleaned. :Crazy: but I am hoping that one day he will be able to live as normal a life as possible and, of course, he will never be leaving us now. :Luv:
He is still due to start his vaccinations and will probably take him in next week to get this done and let the Vets give him a check up.
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Lesley thats such good news for the boy and another one for you to be a slave to - having been through so much with him I'm glad he's staying with you, we need photo's!
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I will try to get some photos of him this evening, specially next to Felix - looks like David and Goliath, :rofl:
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Thats great Lesley ;D it took me 2 days to remember his name, i kept thinking topaz but couldnt find anything :doh:
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So pleased Tarka is still doing well, can't wait to see some piccies :Luv:
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Aww, bless him.