Friday, February 17, 2023

Dodged a Bullet ...


So yeah, Thursday was a very harrowing day. I took PTO from work so I could hang out with Anya who has been in a rough way lately. Her annual appointment with the vet was Thursday afternoon.

For a while it looked like it would be a one-way trip. She was feeling mighty poorly.

The Doc agreed that she'd seen better days, she'd lost two pounds since her last visit, but that was to be expected for a 19 year old feline.

Doc suggested some blood work and a subcutaneous infusion of fluids. The blood work to check her kidneys, the fluid to help her regain some strength.

Anya did perk up and was looking at me as if to say, "Dad, let's get the heck out of here, you know how I don't like doctor's offices."

So home we went. When she bulled her way out of her kennel - no exaggeration, when I unlatched the door she hit it like a bull out of the chute at the rodeo. BAM!

She looked around the kitchen like the new sheriff in town. She looked like a power lifter with all the excess fluid in her, her "shoulders" were literally bulging. I made myself very small.

Then I gave her some fresh food, she hit her dry food like a great white shark going after a dead whale.

So she's still alive, still kicking.

We know she's got more days behind her than she does ahead. but it's good to see her perk up a bit before Mama gets home on Sunday.

Thanks for all the good wishes and prayers. I appreciate it, as does Anya.

Be well.



38 comments:

  1. Great news! It is always good to hear. She is looking quite perky. My Rosie looks a lot like her with a little less white on her face. Still praying for all concerned.

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  2. Good news on the Anya front Sarge. That look....... "where's the fresh food? Like NOW!"

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  3. Did you ask your vet about CBD for her?

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    Replies
    1. Might want to give him a call and ask him if it's OK for when she has a problem between vet visits.

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    2. Not warranted for her symptoms.

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  4. That is good news, Sarge. The thought of those trips being 'that trip" is always dreadful.

    I wonder - if her fluids were low (those ill-defined "fluids"), did they have any suggestions for how to increase them? It is certainly not like you can make a cat drink or anything against its will...

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    1. It is possible to give subcutaneous fluids at home. Sounds fun.

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    2. We've had no trouble at all with subcutaneous injections on our beasts, wouldn't think fluids would be a problem, though possibly taking more time.
      And no, it doesn't sound like CBD is warranted.
      Regarding the "one-way trip" our Vet offers in-home services. Dunno if that's better or worse.
      SO glad Ana's doing better!
      Boat Guy

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    3. We're day by day at this point.

      Nineteen is very old for a cat.

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    4. ...Every good day is a good day...

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  5. All one can do is love them until the end of their days while remembering the good times together. An occasional hairball hidden in the slippers is just a bonus. ;-)
    Good to hear she's still around.
    -Barry

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  6. Glad things went well! I understand, and identify with, her post Dr. visit happy dance. Perform them myself under the same circumstances. I however usually get strange looks in the parking lot. Something about driving I think.
    Never give up! Never surrender!
    juvat

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  7. "Yea!" for both Anya and you (and her care team.)

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  8. Back when I had cats, ginseng extract was the thing we gave the older cats as it seemed to help them cognitively. Just a drop a day for small cats, 2 for larger ones, with 10lbs being the determining factor.

    Glad she's doing better. Older cats are subject to kidney issues, should have remembered that. If she's a house cat, watch her urine output in the kitty litter box. Strange pee or not wanting to use KLB because it's the source of pain (it's how cats and democrats see things, and, no, I'm not saying cats are democrats, I'm saying democrats are pee-brained...) will mean she's having kidney issues again.

    Running sub-cutaneous fluids on a cat is an easy thing to learn to do. That big ruff of skin right behind the neck is the best location, and it also allows you to control the ball of needles and razors that sticking a needle into seems to engage.

    Keep up the good work!

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  9. I love to hear NOT final day stories. Yay, Anya! And, of course, you also, for being Anya's angel.

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    1. Oh, this is Suldog, by the way. I guess I've been out of blog circulation so long, I'm not recognized! :-)

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    2. Sully - Thanks, though we are far from being out of the woods.

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    3. Google has changed since your heyday, and not for the better.

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  10. Elderly cats and kidney disease---BTDT, not much fun for sure.
    Very glad to hear Mom is coming home on Sunday...should help perk both of you up.
    Continuing with prayers and good thoughts for continued quality and comfort.

    Suz

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  11. Having taken that trip to the vet when the old grand cat didn't come, I'm very happy that you get so more time...

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  12. Glad to hear she's still got a life or two left. I'm more of a dog person due to my allergies, so this one got me in the feels,

    https://www.youtube.com/shorts/221TJsKCkMM

    but I know how you feel about what's coming.

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    Replies
    1. Been there, done that. Still hurts.

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    2. I thought we were done with it, yet now we have two more.

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    3. The Missus Herself says no more after this. I get that. Don't like it, but I get that.

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