Cat Tales

[cabenson]

Artie is back in the kitty hospital. I brought him home yesterday afternoon, but he never seemed quite right. No appetite, wouldn't take water, glazed eyes. This morning it was worse, so Mrs CB bundled him up and they re-admitted him. Looks like aspiration pneumonia as well as post-surgical (or possibly pre-surgical) pancreatitis. He is in an oxygen tent and getting antibiotics, but it is still touch and go. They truly thought they were gonna lose him this afternoon, but he came around.

Compounding the pneumonia/pancreatitis is that the fluids they gave him during this surgery weren't as well balanced as the first surgery (because of these un-manifested illnesses) so he is having problems with possible fluid in his heart again...we just weaned him off his diuretic this spring. Tomorrow they'll do an abdominal ultrasound to confirm pancreatitis. He will probably be there til Thurs, so I'm taking Fri off to babysit him. Thank goodness Mrs CB starts break next week. And thanks to all of you who have been keeping him, and us, in your thoughts and prayers. I'm going up to see him after work tomorrow.

Now a funny cat tale. In preparing for Artie's return, I had to move furniture in the bedroom. I am now in "winter mode"(headboard against interior wall vs exterior window), and because Artie can't jump, I had to take the bed and box springs off the frame. Having the bed 12" lower makes all the cats quite happy. Having no headboard makes Smokey extremeley happy. See, Smokey has this wonderful game he likes to play when it gets dark and the bed is against a wall opposite a window. We call it "Chasing Cars". The cars drive past and the lights shine through the rare slit in the blinds and he "chases" it against the wall. Sometimes this means he jumps hard against the wall, or jumps on our heads. We used to have a framed Wonder Woman poster hanging over the bed, but one time too many did we fear for WW joining us in bed, and not in a good way. Tonight he took out my alarm clock. But he sure was happy doing it.

Comments

[dianeb-047.livejournal.com]

I'll be thinking of you guys and Artie. Poor boy. Please try to keep sane about his treatment, though, okay? I know that's easy for me to say, but don't let the vet play on your sense of guilt, responsibility, or just plain love and talk you into something expensive that will not help Artie at all.

I know you guys are sensible folk, but vets tend to see only the most aggressive treatment options. They never consider lesser treatments or non-treatment.

I only say this because I've been through it, and it did not help my cat. But it sure drained my pocketbook.

You're in my thoughts.

[cabenson.livejournal.com]

Thanks for your good thoughts. I just spoke with his doc and once they clear his heart, they can treat for pancreatitis. He is breathing a little easier, his chest sounds clearer, and he has stopped drololing all over himself :)

Artie meets the criteria for a clinical study for a diagnostic feline pancreatitis test. As a lab tech who has been involved in clinical studies, this is a blessing for us as they will comp his lab work since yesterday as well as abdominal ultrasounds. All we have to do is pay for his rechecks, which is nominal when compared to 150 bucks a day for labs. And he will help other kitties. He likes that.

I get to see him after work today :)

[dianeb-047.livejournal.com]

Oh, hooray for clinical studies. I hope this works out well for you and Artie.

Give him a little scratch behind the ears for me when you see him today.

[burningeden.livejournal.com]

HI DIANE!!

I'm sorry to interrupt! I just haven't seen you lately and wanted to give you love and hugs! :)

[dianeb-047.livejournal.com]

Well, hey there. I've been around - mostly hanging out in a Bones Comm and in the Erica Leaves Comm - but it's true, I haven't been around here lately. Thanks for the hugs!