cat hospital update
1) Sterling, our oldest cat who had the three abscessed teeth removed, is fully recovered, except for that he drools prodigiously in his sleep. "Well, his jaw is smaller than he's used to," said the vet, "plus he doesn't have those big teeth holding his lips in place anymore." So when he wakes up, someone needs to go after him with a wet washcloth, which he likes about as much as a toddler getting their nose wiped.
2) Jay, one of the two youngest, ate something very large and/or awful several days ago (he's the one cat who still insists on going outside every day). He was horribly sick to his stomach all weekend and spent yesterday hiding under our bed, refusing food and water. Several expensive tests later, the vet said that whatever it was had made its way to the colon, but needs some encouragement to complete its journey. So he got enough sub-q fluids today to look like a furry hunchback, and if the extra hydration doesn't help things out by tomorrow morning, it's on to kitty laxatives.
3) Lucinda, the frail elderly stray, is diabetic. So, this is the part where you can all laugh and say I told you so: since we have plenty of experience with diabetic animals, we're going to try keeping her. The big hurdle here is whether she can get along with the other cats -- but I don't think we can even try introducing them until she's feeling better. She weighs only 3.5 lbs right now, that's how emaciated she is; a healthy weight for her is probably 6. The vet recommended trying these pheromone collars when we're ready for the introductions. I really really hope this works out, because I cannot handle another war of territorial peeing. If it comes to that, she will have to go. And by "go" I mean "die", unless some other fairy godmother appears out of the woodwork.
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2) Jay, one of the two youngest, ate something very large and/or awful several days ago (he's the one cat who still insists on going outside every day). He was horribly sick to his stomach all weekend and spent yesterday hiding under our bed, refusing food and water. Several expensive tests later, the vet said that whatever it was had made its way to the colon, but needs some encouragement to complete its journey. So he got enough sub-q fluids today to look like a furry hunchback, and if the extra hydration doesn't help things out by tomorrow morning, it's on to kitty laxatives.
3) Lucinda, the frail elderly stray, is diabetic. So, this is the part where you can all laugh and say I told you so: since we have plenty of experience with diabetic animals, we're going to try keeping her. The big hurdle here is whether she can get along with the other cats -- but I don't think we can even try introducing them until she's feeling better. She weighs only 3.5 lbs right now, that's how emaciated she is; a healthy weight for her is probably 6. The vet recommended trying these pheromone collars when we're ready for the introductions. I really really hope this works out, because I cannot handle another war of territorial peeing. If it comes to that, she will have to go. And by "go" I mean "die", unless some other fairy godmother appears out of the woodwork.
This entry was originally posted at http://loligo.dreamwidth.org/448678.html.
comments on that entry. Comments on Dreamwidth preferred.