[Gpdd] Health update: KIMBA

[juliejohnson12 at bigpond.com]

Hello lovely friends,
 
I have to give you update re Kimba.    He is still with me!   Since 29th April he has had 6 vet visits.    The first 4 did nothing for Kimba, he just couldn't eat after any visit to have dental work done, and still could eat nothing.    I fed him Critical Care from 29th April until 6th June.
 
The reason I stopped feeding Critical Care was because I finally found an exotics vet on the north side of Brisbane, a 4 hour round trip, who put him under gas, and used proper dental equipment to do the teeth.   What he found was on one side of the mouth the molars were the problem, and on the right side of his mouth it was the upper teeth that was the problem.  
 
I will say I had to leave Kimba with the vet until 3.30pm because they would not release him until he was eating weeing and pooing.  When I went back some 4 hours later, Kimba was in his hospital cage eating some grass I had found whilst waiting around!!!   He looked bright as a button.      He wasn't eating exactly right, but the vet was happy.      I was also prescribed Cisapride which is an appetite stimulant; as well as Metacam for pain.
 
On 6th May Kimba stopped eating again because he was having respiratory trouble, wheezing, and as an asthma suffered I know I can't when I'm wheezing.  I rang the vet he said give Baytril until I saw him next day.
 
I took Kimba back on the 7th day for another check up.    Kimba has lost a lot of weight, going from 1.244 kg down to 820 grams.  
 
The vet was happy with his teeth, and also with his poo pellets.   They were not as big as he always used to do, but they were good poos.   However, Kimba has been doing bloody urine (I've been checking with towels), so the vet felt around, could feel no bladder stone, and put him on Baytril hoping it was just an infection which may clear with antibiotics.  Also, he found a little ulcer on the left isde of his tongue, so he also said give 0.1ml Metacam 2 times daily for 10 days; 0.35ml Baytril twice daily for 10 days, and 0.3ml of Nilstat oral drops (Nystatin), twice daily for 5 days.
 
I have to go back in 2 weeks (I have a few medical appointments myself next week so we had to compromise for 2 weeks instead of 7 days that the vet wanted.
 
Kimba is eating ravenously, and always looking for food.   It seems as if he's starving still; but he is also drinking heaps of water, and then weeing a lot, especially in his tent bed which he never used to dirty.    So, it's possible he maybe diabetes I wonder?  I pray not a bladder stone because I would not put him through any more suffering.     When I took Kimba back for his 7 day check up after the first GP specialist visit, he objected so energetically.    He would not stay on the bench, he literally climbed up my shirt, using the lace as a form of ladder!    The vet called him a sook, I called him mummy's boy and we were best companions!

The vet wanted him to wee, but after an hour we have up.   When I put him back in his cage in the car, I realised why he didn't wee, he just drank and drank.   So he was dehydrated.   I don't know if it is just wishful thinking, but I suspected tonight his towel was not as bloody as before, so perhaps the Baytril is working.
 
I must admit the past week has been hellish for me with driving all that way, undergoing renovations in the house, having family visitors, and for the first time since 29th April I had the opportunity to actually go outside in the fresh air and do some mowing!  Such a pleasant change since Kimba's troubles started on 29th April.
 
So my lovely friends, so far God has allowed me to win this battle, and I am grateful to God, to Ann, Penny, Sandy, Pat, Jean, Joanie, everyone who wrote with kind words of support and love.         To this point, God has given me the Grace needed for me to win this fight - again!
 
 Kimba is now so bright, energetic and naughty, he fights so hard when I try to syringe in the medicine.   It's amazing how much strength he has in his tiny little body!!! Thank you to you all for your love and support and help and caring during my very difficult month and a bit.   Julie, Kimba, Sooty and Treacle