Update (11/19/23): Bilirubin and liver values are better today. Still a little anemic, but holding so the Dr is fine with that as long as it continues to hold. Temp is back in a normal range. Her BP got better post transfusion, so they started weaning her off those pressers last night and hopefully that will be done by the end of the day. She ate a few bites of dry food late last night and licked the gravy off some wet food this morning. The Dr seemed concerned about that, but I told her that she literally only ever licks the gravy off here too. So, she felt better knowing that
UPDATE (11/18/23): She looks much less haggard than she did in the post surgical photo from yesterday. I got to visit her very briefly today. She kept wanting to jump off the table, but I wouldn't let her. Then she found the sink and made herself comfortable. She growled when I tried to coax her out of it, I got small purs when I realized that was pointless and started just giving her pets. She even squeaked when the tech picked her up to go back. She's a little anemic, and they couldn't ween her off the BP meds last night like they hoped. She also hasn't eaten still, not even what I brought her. She's getting a transfusion now and that should help the first two issues. Which then will hopefully also get her feeling well enough to eat on her own.
UPDATE (11/17/23): Our little fighter made it through surgery with flying colors and her first night of recovery. Her bilirubin and something with her liver are still wonky, but they said that can be expected after major abdominal surgery.
She ended up having a giant gallstone blocking bile from draining from her gallbladder. For those that do not know, bile is like a dark green/black motor oil consistency. When they went in hers was so infected it was essentially just puss (which I had no idea could happen and the surgeon said she had never seen that before). Which explains the high fever, and if the gallbladder can't get rid of bile, then the pancreas can inflame because that is not able to empty appropriately either explaining the pancreatitis. They removed the gallbladder and flushed out the infection, and are keeping her on antibiotics a bit longer for good measure. It's all still just so shocking because she NEVER guarded her stomach, and this does not happen overnight. She is currently on a feeding tube and they are hoping to see her attitude and BP improve with that. Otherwise she is resting fine, and is alert and looking around when staff go in to see her
Thank you everyone who has donated and asked about her so far!! We really have an incredible village.
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Don't get me wrong, I think this is a very helpful platform, but I typically never consider making these myself. Those that know us know we have 4 cats. Valkyrie was our second, and the softest squeaky princess. She is only 7, but she runs the house and she knows it. Sunday night she came to bed with me like normal. Come Monday morning, she had done a total 180. She was hiding, lethargic, and refusing to eat. We took her to the Rochester Animal Hospital Monday where she spent the night. They found blood work consistent with pancreatitis, but all the scans were pretty much inconclusive. She came home on Tuesday night in hopes that she would do better in the comfort of her own home with medications we were sent home with. She seemed to have some energy, but that was gone and she regressed again on Wednesday. I had her back at the hospital by 1pm where all her blood work showed various numbers getting worse and now a fever of 106. We were referred to Oakland Veterinary Referral Services for their ER and specialists. They were able to find that she has a gallstone blocking the bile from draining from her gallbladder, the bile also seems to be carrying an infection which caused the fever, and that is also causing the pancreatitis since it also cannot drain accordingly. She is very very sick. And, sadly, with the cost of services I now understand why many people put down pets because of the treatment costs. Anesthesia and Cardiology signed off on her heart. They are hopeful she will make it through surgery, but will have an intense recovery afterwards as well. We are asking for any help anyone may be able to provide. If the doctor's think she is strong enough to fight, we want to let her.