Very special (veterinary) critical care case--would love all of you smart intensive care RD's to share insight

July 18, 2008

Hello colleagues,

My question has to do with a very special patient, a cat we are caring for at

the shelter where I volunteer.

Norm was caught in the foreclosure crisis and was left in a condo with no A/C

(this is Phoenix), no food, and only toilet water. He was found on day 26,

about as close to being a loss as he could be.

He was so weak he could not stand on his own. We've had him for 3 weeks now,

and he's got some serious GI problems. When intestines get dehydrated,

apparently, they get sticky and double up on each other...causing

intussusceptions. Norm has had to have 2 surgeries because of this, because

there are associated blockages.

We've called around to quite a few veterinarians for some ideas, but I am

wondering if any of you in critical care may have seen similar scenarios and

what you would do if this was a human? I've been trying to remember what we

would do when I worked in inpatient eating disorders...but when they were this

sick we always sent them out to an ICU.

The other problem is that his bowels, even though he's not tolerating food,

are hyperactive and he's got diarrhea. So he is hungry, not an appetite issue,

but it is coming out either end.

Any thoughts/suggestions/etc. would be greatly appreciated. We were even

trying to think of meds (antianxiety, etc.) that are commonly used in humans, so

those kinds of suggestions are appreciated.

Norm thanks you too.

Monika M Woolsey, MS, RD

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