Oogway's very ill.... Goodnight little man...

[Debbie]

Over the last year, we've been overcoming several seizures in Oogway after he suffered a Grand mal in July. Overall, we've been able to maintain him and he's been very happy and comfortable with Life and us.

The hardest part is his nail trims. Although he's always been good for them, any form of stimulation can tip him towards seizures. Normally he'd take 3 days to recover. This time he hasn't. Over last weekend, he gradually stopped eating, then stopped drinking.

Yesterday we boxed him and drove towards Portland. As we'd feared, he seizured only a couple miles from home, but eventually settled and we got through the day. He was hydrated, and give abs and blood was taken.

The vet just phoned and we're getting prepped to take him back over. It's about a 2 hour journey for us. At the moment it's an acute kidney infection and anemia. We won't know until the infection is cleared if it's kidney disease or not.

Oogway has to stay the weekend with the vet, getting treated and fluids. The quantity of fluids he needs is well beyond any I can physically get into him. We have to try, though.

[Fi]

Thinking of him, and hoping he makes a good recovery, bless him

[Debbie]

Thanks Fi, the encouragement means a lot.

It was a long day for all of us. Little man's never slept the night away from home before I know it had to be done as he needs a tremendous amount of fluids and they may end up forcing foods as well. Personally I don't think that's a good idea, and even the vet said they wouldn't be forcing the food issue until the infection has been reined in. Oogway does have enough reserves to see him through a bit more no food days.

We loaded up food for him 'just in case' the infection abates and his hunger returns. I packed along his favorite blue and yellow dragon toy and his radio that plays his favorite mellow tune over and over. Still it was such a wrench to leave him behind.

I have the others to care for, otherwise I would have parked alongside his cage and simply stayed. Not practical for them or me, but I hated leaving him there.

I'll be phoning in the morning to check on his status. C'mon Oogway...get better baby boy ....

Oh, that was one oddity, overnight Oogway's seizures went away! I told the vet. He felt the infection was probably bad enough it was overriding any potential seizures. They would probably reappear once the infection is controlled. A part of me is wanting the seizures to simply be a symptom of the kidney infection. Gone forever would work for us!

[mickey]

Debbie sorry to read this Hope Oogway picks up quickly x

[dusty]

Poor little man. Sending little Oogway lots of healing vibes.

[Debbie]

Today I was able to phone the vet clinic twice. The first time was just before they were going to do the fluids and the second was after. The first time he was responsive, lifting his head, the second he was mostly curled in a ball I hate not being there for him!!!!

That said, they are able to do what I cannot, which is keep him hydrated. The second time I phoned they said they were going to try foods for him. Mostly we're just having to wait and see what the fluids and antibiotics can do.

I was surprised at the lack of response with the antibiotic so far. When I've had similar acute kidney infections, between the antibiotic and the hydration, I was at least 80% better within 18 hours. I'm shocked they didn't match him with something similar, especially as the first application was a 12 hour injection.

Nothing to do but wait and keep everything crossed. They were at least playing his mellow music for him. She said they chose to keep it playing for him all day today. We usually have it playing 24/7 for him here at home, so at least it will give him something of home besides his dragon.

Tomorrow I won't be able to get an update. They don't man the phones tomorrow, though the techs and assistants will be there for him. We have to wait until Monday for them to phone and see how he's progressing. No clue if he'll get to come home on Monday. Part of me really wants him, but only if he's actually over the worst and drinking and eating reliably. We did this with Mister when he had that horrific staph infection. The vet sent him home far too soon and we had to turn right around and take him back. That was only a half hour drive with Mister, this is a two hour journey one way with Oogway.

[harveydales]

Fingers crossed

[Fi]

Oh he's gorgeous. Stay strong, little guy, everything crossed for good news tomorrow.

[Debbie]

I couldn't wait any longer for them to call and simply phoned to check Oogway. He was just waking up from the anesthesia. He's got a little bit more energy, but still not eating/drinking on his own. They drew bloodwork just now, so as soon as those results come back, the vet will phone me back with the news progress/no progress, what might be going on, how to continue etc.

I do know we will be headed back over to the hospital today regardless of if he can come home or not. He needs to know we haven't abandonned him. C'mon Oogway.... get better little man ....

Seriously not what any of us hoped for. The infection is responding a little but the biggest issue is Oogway's red blood cell count. His kidneys aren't producing the hormone that stimulates the blood marrow. At the moment he's only operating on 15%, which means of course he's struggling to do much of anything.

The vet is attempting to source the hormone for us. We'll see if the marrow can be stimulated at all. I suspect his body may be trying to shut down. We'll have a better idea within a few days, but clearly he should have responded already to the antibiotics if it was a straight forwards infection.

[Debbie]

Update as we've just returned from our trip to see him...

Oogway was in fact way better than when we had left him on Friday, although he is not eating or drinking on his own. The drinking doesn't surprise me since he's being rehydrated twice a day, and if he has minimal red blood cells, the food and needing to digest it will be a massive impact on his body.

When we arrived at first he shrank back, but he was sitting upright and once he understood it was us he began making noises and reaching out for us with his feet. Both of us petted on his face and every time Eldon pulled back, Oogway got anxious, wanting to know where Dad was. We must've made Eldon reach at least five times before he called it quits. I took over petting on him and holding his front feet, explaining what all was going to be needed while Eldon talked with the vet and made sure we were all on board with Oogway remaining at the hospital for the ongoing intensive care.

Once we arrived at the clinic, there was a flurry of activity to order the hormone. I was a little upset as I'd already told them to go ahead this morning on the phone. The vet tech who ordered it said it would be coming over from Washington State (just across the city) and if she'd missed the shipping deadline, it would show on Wed. Once it arrives, they'll give it to him. It was believed to be a once a week injection. Honestly it had been 3 years ago that they needed to use it and that was for anemia in ferrets, so.....

I was glad to see the antibiotic has indeed made a difference, and although he is much stronger than he was on Friday, the anemia leaves him weak and easily out of breath. I was able to stay with him almost half an hour before he began to hyperventilate, clearly his little reserves had been used up and he needed to rest up. He seemed perkier, though, and willing to hang in there.

So the gameplan is to continue with the daily hydration and antibiotics, and to give the hormone, and see if the anemia can be corrected. It's a wait and see thing, but I can understand why the vet wanted to keep going. Oogway hasn't given up and his baseline chi is still strong. I just hope we can get his body kick started and repair whatever has depleted his kidneys.

[valerie n scout]

Oh Debbie am so sorry X gentle hugs for you all xxx

[Fi]

Oh, so very very sorry x

[Debbie]

Just off the phone. Apparently we crossed wires and the vet said he had left a message very late last night. I haven't checked, but he let me know Oogway passed away late in the evening last night. It was definitely kidney failure. He did say the passing was very quiet, with a mild, 15 seconds seizure. He said they were on the way to cage when Oogway seemed to go. They tried recussitating but no luck, and in truth, I'm sure we would have had to make the same call in a few days. He took it into his own paws to head on.

[dusty]

I am so so sorry Debbie.

[harveydales]

So sorry Debbie