Tabitha's health
I took Tabitha to the vet today. She's had very little interest in food since Friday morning, when she didn't bother to come downstairs until afternoon (though she did seem to revive a bit that evening). Last night I was debating whether to take her in, and then I found that she seemed to be passing blood, which convinced me, so I made an appointment this morning.
The vet thought the most significant symptom was one which I'd vaguely noticed, but I hadn't realised how serious it was: he says she's lost a third of her bodyweight since last year. She's always been slimmer and lighter than Rosie, and I thought she was getting thinner, but I suppose the rate of decline is less obvious when you see her every day. He says the likely causes are thyroid, diabetes, kidneys or cancer, so she's had a blood test to try to work out which it is. (His guess from other symptoms is kidneys, which I'd been wondering about too - Thomas and Kitty had severe kidney problems in their later years.) But we're to get the results tomorrow afternoon.
Tabitha was very brave, and only once tried to make a run for it, during the preparations for the blood test. She's had some steroids, which usually make her feel better (though she still hasn't shown any interest in food), and she's sitting behind me purring.
Rosie also seemed less interested in food yesterday, which is a worry, but seems to be eating more normally today, so I hope that was just a blip, though I'll continue to watch her. Obviously she's taking longer to get through what I put down without Tabitha grabbing [more than] her fair share, but she is eating something.
Meanwhile, the magnolia stellata has come into flower.
Also posted on Dreamwidth, with
comments.
The vet thought the most significant symptom was one which I'd vaguely noticed, but I hadn't realised how serious it was: he says she's lost a third of her bodyweight since last year. She's always been slimmer and lighter than Rosie, and I thought she was getting thinner, but I suppose the rate of decline is less obvious when you see her every day. He says the likely causes are thyroid, diabetes, kidneys or cancer, so she's had a blood test to try to work out which it is. (His guess from other symptoms is kidneys, which I'd been wondering about too - Thomas and Kitty had severe kidney problems in their later years.) But we're to get the results tomorrow afternoon.
Tabitha was very brave, and only once tried to make a run for it, during the preparations for the blood test. She's had some steroids, which usually make her feel better (though she still hasn't shown any interest in food), and she's sitting behind me purring.
Rosie also seemed less interested in food yesterday, which is a worry, but seems to be eating more normally today, so I hope that was just a blip, though I'll continue to watch her. Obviously she's taking longer to get through what I put down without Tabitha grabbing [more than] her fair share, but she is eating something.
Meanwhile, the magnolia stellata has come into flower.
Also posted on Dreamwidth, with
comments.