Bernie

[Elaine]

Taking Bernie to the vet just shortly, over night he has been vomitting, this afternoon G said he made a choking noise. He has been quiet and sleeping all day. Another thing to make me worry is that he has lost his purr, he always purrs and drools when you pet him. Rayne has been very cuddly with him over the last few days.....

[pamela81]

Hope he's ok Elaine x

[Kazz]

I am sorry he is not well Elaine and hope things work out - look after yourself.

[Elaine]

Well......
Bernie has lost another 200 grammes, taking his weight down to just over 3 kilos. He is a little more uncomfortable around his abdomen. His heart murmer has increased and they suspect hypertrophic cardiomyopathy but with out an ultrasound that cannt be proved. He is running a temperature. There is also the possibility of an over active thyroid.
For now he has had an antibiotic injection and another injection to stop him feeling sick and some catalax paste. If there is no improvement by thursday I have to take him back and they will run bloods etc.

Thing is, I dont want him to undergo too much if its really not going to benefit him. So many ifs, buts and possibilities, but as I wont let them open him up........

[angieh]

:bighug: :bighug: :bighug: for you both

[Moli]

Sorry to hear Bernie Boo is not too good, you will do whats right for him Lainey...Hugs to both of you............

[lynz85]

hugs to you and bernie x

[Velvet]

Ack poor wee man. I do hope he improves for you. The long lasting antibiotics these days are a godsend.

[Kazz]

Well......
Bernie has lost another 200 grammes, taking his weight down to just over 3 kilos. He is a little more uncomfortable around his abdomen. His heart murmer has increased and they suspect hypertrophic cardiomyopathy but with out an ultrasound that cannt be proved. He is running a temperature. There is also the possibility of an over active thyroid.
For now he has had an antibiotic injection and another injection to stop him feeling sick and some catalax paste. If there is no improvement by thursday I have to take him back and they will run bloods etc.

Thing is, I dont want him to undergo too much if its really not going to benefit him. So many ifs, buts and possibilities, but as I wont let them open him up........

Fingers crossed here he is a little better by Thursday

[Elaine]

Thanx all, the good news is, he has eaten a little today and took his catalax no problems.

[Elaine]

Ok things may not be good at all now. Just saw Bernie mouth breathing, called the vet who has said to keep an eye on him over the next hour, if he does it again within the hour, I have to get him to the vet and it wont be good news sadly.

[Shelley123]

Thinking about you and Bernie xx

[yola]

Elaine, I hope Bernie stabilises, I really do. It's so, so awful when they start to deteriorate. Thinking of you all . . .

[Mags]

Thinking about you and Bernie, Elaine .... x

[Kazz]

Sorry I missed the update Elaine I had gone to work I do hope he has rallied a little....although undergoing something similar with Sal ........its when to make a decision...we so want them to to okay again.

Hope he is okay.

[angieh]

Been thinking about you both this morning. Have a nice clear picture of Bernie in my head and am sending positive healing vibes.

[Moli]

Lainey has asked me to update....


Bernie is still with us, but his heart is failing, he is on new medication and has to go for a recheck tomorrow, if there is no improvement, Lainey will have to let him go..
Lainey is house sitting so will not be on....

[angieh]

Guess that's what she's been dreading and we've been hoping against hope wouldn't happen Moli. Please pass on HUGS from me.

[cats' staff]

Please send her my best wishes- fingers crossed

[yola]

Please send her my love Pat. I'm sure we all know that Elaine will do her very best for Bernie . . .whatever that might end up being.

[Elaine]

Hi, I am home tonight and off on a house sit from tomorrow.
I am ok for now so no need for hugs coz that will make me cry lol.
Bernie had a diuretic injection into the neck muscle, he has heart tablets and water tablets to take twice daily. I have to take him back for a check up tomorrow afternoon, if they dont see an improvement, we will have to let him go because having seen little Abby struggle to breathe with the cardiomyopathy thing and having seen a clients cat suffer after having a saddle thrombosis, I never want Bernie to get near that kind of pain and discomfort. We will not be doing any exploritory examinations or blood tests, all we are doing is treating any symptoms which have arose.
My biggest worry is being away on a house sit. Graham loves the cats but doesnt see the underlying issues or spot the signs of distress.

Kazz, I am sorry to read that you are in a similar position with Sal, hugs to you both xxx

[lynz85]

oh lainey i am so sorry to hear :( i really hope the medication works for him x x x

[TiggerMoon]

So sorry to hear about Bernie x I can understand your reluctance to put him through lots of tests and treatments, sometimes it is not in their best interests.

[Shelley123]

Hoping there is sôme improvement xx

[Velvet]

So sorry to hear your news, do hope his meds work to give him some relief

[Elaine]

Deary me, what a rollercoaster this is.
There has been a significant improvement, Bernies heart rate yesterday was 260 bpm, today its down to 180 bpm.
So we now know that his heart is seriously compromised but for now he is not in any discomfort or distress but its any ones guess as to how long before this deteriorates.

[Moli]

Bless him, he is not giving up yet...pleased he has improved, give him a hug from me...x

[Squirrel]

It certainly has been a rollercoaster... Glad you've seen recovery - long may that continue on.

[angieh]

What a lovely wee soldier - well done Bernie!

[lynz85]

bernie is a brave little boy, hoping he continues x

[Shelley123]

Elaine and Bernie we are all on the rollercoaster with you. Glad things have improved x

[paulinef2]

Aww bless him, hope he continues to show an improvement. Its such a difficult time for you, thinking about you both xx

[Kazz]

Just catching up with this Elaine.....I do hope things continue ona level path.......

[yola]

Top man Bernie! Very glad to read he's perked up . . . I hope he'll continue to stay strong for a while yet :D

[Moli]

Bernie is stll stable for now..........:D

[angieh]

Positive vibes still being sent.

[Elaine]

As Pat said, Bernie is stable for now, it just all depends on how rapidly his heart will deteriorate, but he is in fine fettle.;)

[Kazz]

Glad to hear it.

[pamela81]

glad to hear he is good :)

[Elaine]

Bernie is not enjoying being medicated and has sharpened his claws for the occassion. He apears ok in himself but the weight is dropping I fear and I may have to take him back in the very near future.

[Moli]

Sorry to hear this , hope he perks up again, he has done it so many times in the past...........

[angieh]

He's a sure little soldier Elaine. Positive vibes from me.

[yola]

C'mon Bernie . . . Keep fighting little fella.

[Kazz]

I would say trust you heart and let him go before you think he really needs to. Although I hope he bounces back.

[alexgirl73]

:( thinking of you Elaine x

[JMPARK]

Our thoughts are with you and Bernie!!

[TiggerMoon]

Poor wee man! Sending hugs and head scratches x

[Elaine]

This is a rough road to travel.

He is a little perkier this evening, bought a chicken and cooked it up, thought some nice warm chicken might apeal to his sense of smell and it did. He didnt eat much but he ate more than he has done the last few days.

Will keep a close eye on him over the weekend and may call the vet on Monday for a chat.

[Kazz]

This is a rough road to travel.

He is a little perkier this evening, bought a chicken and cooked it up, thought some nice warm chicken might apeal to his sense of smell and it did. He didnt eat much but he ate more than he has done the last few days.

Will keep a close eye on him over the weekend and may call the vet on Monday for a chat.
Hard call when they perk and then pop down again then perk then pop down again a lot like Cleo.....my heart goes out to you Elaine and G.

[pamela81]

sorry to hear hes not doing too well elaine, thinking of you x

[truthisouthere]

Thinking of you both Elaine. x

[Elaine]

I had Bernie back at the vets last week as I knew he had lost more weight, was eating very little and as a result not pooping very much either. He is also drinking alot of water.
I went fearing the worst but my vet assured me that although his weight is gradually dropping, his body condition wasnt too bad and he still has muscle tone etc. My vet doesnt think that Bernie is in any pain or discomfort, gave him a good examination.
The day after Bernies vet visit, he ate 2 pouches of cat food, he hasnt looked at cat food in 2 months, he continues to eat more than he has done in a long time which is a bot of a double edged sword to be honest coz one the one hand I am extremely happy he is eating better but on the other I wonder to my self, does this mean he now has an over active thyroid.

They NEVER cease to worry us lol. For now I am happy to report that he has perked up a fair bit and is eating well.

[lynz85]

glad to hear it elaine :)

[Elaine]

He's a wee ****** Lynz, the moment I fear he may be a deaths door, he bounces right back and sticks up the middle finger at us all :lol:

[lynz85]

i think they just like to worry us!

[truthisouthere]

Long may Bernie continue to stick up the middle finger Elaine. :)

[alexgirl73]

Bernie is very much like his owner. Pernickity and a complete mystery to all who know him :p

[Shelley123]

Bernie probably thought " I'd better get eating quick, before she takes me to the vets again !" , ;)

[angieh]

Way to go Bernie! He sounds very like another wee soldier I knew and loved loads.

[Elaine]

Bernie is very much like his owner. Pernickity and a complete mystery to all who know him :p

Thanx for that Alex:lol: :lol: :lol:

Thanx to all of you for your messages, he's a wee trooper.

[yola]

Way to go BERNIE! Keep confounding your Ma . . . :-D

[Kazz]

Its the wonders of cat ownership......confusion and concern are raised by them and then......Dada....back they bounce.

Long may it continue.

[Elaine]

Back to the vets tomorrow with Mr Boo, think he now has an over active thyroid, as well as everything else:roll:

[Elaine]

Bernie has lost over half a kilo in the last month, vet doesnt think its his thyroid as it is not enlarged, we could run blood tests which I have decided against because with everything else that's going on with him (his heart condition, the mass in his abdomen), the prognosis wont really alter that much. My vet thinks its more likely that he is possibly begining renal failure. We have to keep a close eye on him, he is still bright and eating for now, but the decision isnt far away.

[Kazz]

Awww Elaine I am so sorry.

[Elaine]

It's ok Kazz, have been preparing for this for quite some time now, feel quite pragmatic about it until that awful moment happens. I only hope that I am not to slow in seeing the decline.
He has done magnificently to get this far in all honesty and he is still a wonderful cat.

[yola]

Being prepared doesnt make it any easier when the time comes though :( xx

[Elaine]

Oh I know I am going to fall apart when the time comes.

[Kazz]

Being prepared doesnt make it any easier when the time comes though :( xx
Exactly my thoughts....and feelings.

[Elaine]

Kinda goes without saying really. All I meant was I feel ok about it for now, because he has been ill for such a long time, you are more prepared for when the vet tells you "we are now in the last stages"

[Kazz]

Kinda goes without saying really. All I meant was I feel ok about it for now, because he has been ill for such a long time, you are more prepared for when the vet tells you "we are now in the last stages"

I think we know what you mean Elaine its just heartbreaking and yet its the last gift.

[Shelley123]

glad Bernie is still doing ok in himself xxx

[Velvet]

He sounds a marvellous inspiration to us all.

[alexgirl73]

I'm sure when the moment comes Elaine you will know ((hugs)) x

[truthisouthere]

..and lots of water bowls for those kidneys!
It sounds like your positivity is rubbing off on him and helping keep him strong Elaine. Long may Bernie soldier on whilst remaining happy and innocently oblivious to the daily rollercoasters they give us. :/
Please give him a gentle-on-the-floor-hug from me, or just an extra hug!

[PoshPuss]

Wishing Bernie happy days ahead, however many or few there may be. I know he has a loving home and a wonderful caring mam, Elaine you have been excellent and so knowledgable that you have helped many others too.

Big hugs from my fur kids and me xxx

[Kazz]

Hope Bernie is good..............

[Elaine]

He's still soldiering on, bless him. He now also has folic acid tablets to take but he's in fine fettle still although I notice his teeth are very quickly deteriorating now too.
He was very talkative today when I got home as he'd been all on his own all day. Milly was at the vets having some matts taken off which was very badly needed. Dropped her at the vets this morning and picked her up after work.
Every one is now settled for the evening.

[pamela81]

aww glad to hear he is still soldiering on. He must have missed you yesterday!!

[Kazz]

Good to hear.

[yola]

Good to hear.

Indeed . . .

[angieh]

Thinking of you both Elaine. Just make each day special. Bernie sounds as if he has the same fighting spirit as my special old soldier, Merlin.