Noelle - PT - Sad update....she's gone :**(

[Debbie]

Well, my dear little PEW is showing the classic symptoms of a PT. :sad3: It's been a while since we've had anyone with a PT, as all my girls are spayed young now, and we've dodged the bullet. But we've certainly had our share of PTs in the past, and the signs are unmistakable. :sad3:

We didn't spay Noelle as she was already elderly when we adopted her. And when we decided to give it a shot anyway, due to possible uterine problems, we discovered she had heart issues.

Anyway, in past years, I've never found anything that really helped. I just had to watch these horrid PTs take their course. But I've seen many of you post here recently and wanted to ask if steroids REALLY did all that much? Because Noelle is on heart meds, and has some respiratory issues now, steroids is not the best idea. They compromise their immune system and leave them open for infection. Not to mention, they are harder on their hearts....and her's is already compromised. BUT, if steroids might help give her more time, that she'll lose anyway.....is it worth trying?

In the early days, I tried steroids and they did nothing. So I just don't know.

Noelle is still coherant, but already starting to move about like she's a little lost. She can't eat solid food, she just goes through the motions. She WILL clean her bowl of mushy mix (A/D, Babybood, babyrice cereal and Ensure) and then some more. She's losing function in her hands, but not completely yet.

Without steriods, I'd give her another week....what could I possibly expect WITH steroids??

Thanks for the advice and suggestions guys.

 

[LA]

Aw Debbie my heart goes out to you, I just dealt with PT myself with Pearl.

With Pearl I got a shot of dex at the vets and she gave me baytril to administer. I saw improvement in Pearl that night so we went in the next day for another shot of dex. After that because our vet doesn't give out dex we got pred, we had a good 3 weeks with Pearl. She went downhill we upped the pred but it didn't help. So we had her PTS.

I would definately do the exact same thing again and will when I see it again.

:hugs:

 

[lilspaz68]

You are at the early stages so there's a very good chance you will get awhile with her. I had Laila, my little CHF girly on enalapril (sometimes lasix) and dexamethasone every few days...she lasted a long time on that combo and was definitely more comfortable. Its palliative now for Noelle so I would definitely not worry about contraindications at this point.

My average is 3-4 weeks on meds now.

Summer has PT as well...just diagnosed last Sunday. She was wobbly and not able to grasp well and was knuckling. I gave her a couple of days of dex with her baytril, and she improved. But then I started doubting myself, was I hyper-aware of PT now, and she really truly didn't have it? I let her meds slide, and she regressed fast, to the point where she was almost immobile I gave her the baytril/dex and prayed all day at work. Came home to a little girl running to the door all bright-eyed and running on her Wodent Wheel. :heart:

I will always try now :mrgreen:

 

[Debbie]

Thanks so much guys. I'll call my vet today and ask her to call in the pred. I just wish we would have done a shot of dex yesterday. But even then, I just wasn't sure. Today I am. :sad3:

Noelle is lapping up some mashed scrambled egg and avocado with Ensure right now. But anything more solid than that, she just lays her face on. This is happening fast. :sad3: So hopefully the steroids will slow it down.

 

[dubchick]

awww ur noelle looks like my heart rat, mischa who passed away from pt. im so sorry to hear ur girl has that. its so hard to watch them with it :sad3: :cry4:

 

[jorats]

We've had several PT cases and only once did the steroids give us a couple of months of good quality time. The others didn't respond much. But if your little one could respond like our Flea did... you'll be thrilled.

 

[mamarat]

Fingers crossed the steroids help Noelle. She's so pretty.

 

[SQ]

To my knowledge, the steroid shrinks the inflammation in the tissue around the tumour.
If there is a lot of inflammation and the tumour is slow growing, steroids can really help. Otherwise they will be of little or no help.
I have had steroids help a great deal, and also provide absolutely no help.

Very sorry that this is happening ...

 

[lindsayfawn]

I'm sorry to hear about Noelle, PT is so horrible to watch a little rattie go through. I wish you all the luck with Noelle. :hugs:

 

[Moon]

I'm so sorry Debbie. Hopefully the steroid gives her some time still.

 

[Debbie]

Thanks again guys. :hugs: I'm heading over to the compounding pharmacy right now to pick up the Pred for Noelle. Here's hoping it will help buy some time for our dear witto old girl. :sad3:

 

[jorats]

Lots of healing vibes for Noelle!!!

 

[Dahlas]

Sending lots of good thoughts your way...Hope the pred helps give her a bit more time...... :hugs:

 

[Debbie]

I forgot to ask those of you that have had success with the Pred buying them a bit more time. How long did the oral steroids take before you noticed any improvement? I wish I could have gotten Noelle in for a shot of Dex, but my vet is on the other side of town and I can't get any time off work (new job).

Noelle took her first dose of Pred last night. I'm hoping if it's going to help, I'll notice something within the next day or so.

Thankfully, she's still eating. Only babyfood mush, like I mentioned above...but she will polish it off. So we just keep refilling her bowl. I gave her some peeled peas, cooked pasta and watermelon. She actually ate all but the pasta. so she's still nibbling on soft foods a bit too.

 

[lilspaz68]

You should see some improvement in 12-24 hours with oral I think. The Dex can be an hour to a few hours.

I have my fingers crossed for beautiful Noelle!

 

[jorats]

It was almost immediate with Flea... 6 hours? But the 12 to 24 is about right for the others.

 

[Debbie]

I'm just heartbroken to report that my beautiful angel is gone. :sad3: :sad3:

She was still happily lapping up her mushy mix, as of this morning. She was a bit out of it neurologically, yes. But still hadn't declined too much further than losing coordination in her hands and not eating more than just soft or mushy food. She even polished off the mushy mix bowl, and I refilled it again before leaving for work.

But when I got home from work, I found that not only had she not touched any more food, she was laying oddly in her nest box, and both eyes were covered in porophyrn. My baby girl took a turn for the worst for sure.

She was so out of it, at first I thought she was already gone. But she was definitely very incoherent. :sad3: :sad3:

We rushed her to the vet, where we had to set her free. The vet agreed she was ready.

I've never seen a PT work this fast, and can only assume she must have suffered a stroke or something during the day today.
:cry3: :cry3:

Good-bye my sweet Noelle.

 

[Maple]

Sorry to hear the sad news. My heart goes out to you. :heart:

 

[SQ]

I am very sorry for your loss.
Lois Lee had pt a few years ago and the time between the first appearance of symptoms and her death was only a few days ... Noelle may have had a stroke but sometimes pt progresses very quickly.

 

[littledevils]

I'm so sorry to hear about Noelle, Debbie :cry4: *hugs*