I can't believe it's been over a month since I last wrote. So much has been happening - a trip to the Hamptons, friends and family visiting, an amazing trip to Boston, my rm moving out, having to search for a new apt, jobs, and my cat being sick. Instead of writing one stupidly long post, I'll break them up into more manageable and entertaining segments. But I'm going to begin with the one weighing most heavily upon my heart.
My dearest little love is sick. He has feline hepatic lipidosis - liver disease. Basically, for whatever reason, Strider decided to stop eating, and so his body is trying to convert fat into energy, which cats weren't designed to do. The fat cells build up in the liver, ultimately causing it to fail, resulting in death.
I had noticed last week he seemed to only be picking at his food, which wasn't super unusual - he's always been a small eater. I got him some wet food and hoped his appetite would be piqued. He started eating the wet food and I hoped he would be better when I got back from Boston.
I got back Sunday night and noticed he wasn't doing as well as I'd hoped - he seemed thinner and lackluster. I took him to the vet Monday afternoon and am so glad I did. His skin was turning yellow and he hadn't pooped all the time I was gone. They did some tests and took an xray (the vet had felt a lump and wanted to see if it was a growth or just stool - thankfully it was just a bit of stool). They hydrated him through IV and gave me some special wet food.
I was a nervous wreck. My love had never been seriously ill, and I didn't know if he was going to drop dead on me or what. We got the results back Tuesday. Blood and urine tests, coupled with his symptoms, pointed toward liver disease. We seemed to have caught it in time - but it's a fast moving disease. I'm trying not to beat myself up about going to Boston - though if he had been beyond help because of that I'm not sure I'd be able to forgive myself.
Treatment suggested was hospitalizing him for 3 days and being fed through IVs and tubes until he was doing better, then I could continue the treatment at home. This of course would be expensive (over $1,000) , but I also didn't think it was best for us to be apart, leaving him in a cold kennel surrounded by strangers. He has always been a very timid and nervous little fellow; just taking him the four blocks to the vet petrified him. I wanted to keep him as calm and comfortable as possible to help speed up recovery time, so I asked if I could treat him myself at home. Thankfully, the vet was receptive to that - though we agreed if he started throwing up again and took a turn for the worse I'd bring him in for the 3 day stay. They re-hydrated him, gave him some shots and anti-vomiting medicine, and sent us on our way.
I need to get him to eat as much as possible - preferably on his own, but if he's not eating by his own volition, I have to force him (which gets pretty messy and smelly and is no spring picnic for either of us). I also need to give him liquid antibiotics twice a day via mouth, and hydrate him through IV once a day - a new skill I didn't think I'd ever have to acquire! The nurse taught me on Tuesday how to do the IV and it was easy to do at the vet - Stry was so scared he just sat still, a nervous wreck. When I did it for the first time alone at home I lulled him into comfort with his favorite brush, and when I stuck him he whipped his head around at me and yowled, quite affronted. He squirmed a bit but we got it almost all in him before he twisted a funny way and the needle came free, spewing the fluids around the bed before I could turn it off.
I had noticed last week he seemed to only be picking at his food, which wasn't super unusual - he's always been a small eater. I got him some wet food and hoped his appetite would be piqued. He started eating the wet food and I hoped he would be better when I got back from Boston.
I got back Sunday night and noticed he wasn't doing as well as I'd hoped - he seemed thinner and lackluster. I took him to the vet Monday afternoon and am so glad I did. His skin was turning yellow and he hadn't pooped all the time I was gone. They did some tests and took an xray (the vet had felt a lump and wanted to see if it was a growth or just stool - thankfully it was just a bit of stool). They hydrated him through IV and gave me some special wet food.
I was a nervous wreck. My love had never been seriously ill, and I didn't know if he was going to drop dead on me or what. We got the results back Tuesday. Blood and urine tests, coupled with his symptoms, pointed toward liver disease. We seemed to have caught it in time - but it's a fast moving disease. I'm trying not to beat myself up about going to Boston - though if he had been beyond help because of that I'm not sure I'd be able to forgive myself.
Treatment suggested was hospitalizing him for 3 days and being fed through IVs and tubes until he was doing better, then I could continue the treatment at home. This of course would be expensive (over $1,000) , but I also didn't think it was best for us to be apart, leaving him in a cold kennel surrounded by strangers. He has always been a very timid and nervous little fellow; just taking him the four blocks to the vet petrified him. I wanted to keep him as calm and comfortable as possible to help speed up recovery time, so I asked if I could treat him myself at home. Thankfully, the vet was receptive to that - though we agreed if he started throwing up again and took a turn for the worse I'd bring him in for the 3 day stay. They re-hydrated him, gave him some shots and anti-vomiting medicine, and sent us on our way.
I need to get him to eat as much as possible - preferably on his own, but if he's not eating by his own volition, I have to force him (which gets pretty messy and smelly and is no spring picnic for either of us). I also need to give him liquid antibiotics twice a day via mouth, and hydrate him through IV once a day - a new skill I didn't think I'd ever have to acquire! The nurse taught me on Tuesday how to do the IV and it was easy to do at the vet - Stry was so scared he just sat still, a nervous wreck. When I did it for the first time alone at home I lulled him into comfort with his favorite brush, and when I stuck him he whipped his head around at me and yowled, quite affronted. He squirmed a bit but we got it almost all in him before he twisted a funny way and the needle came free, spewing the fluids around the bed before I could turn it off.
I'm not going to lie - it's tough. It's emotionally draining for me to have to force feed my little guy, stick him with needles, and make him do things that make him upset, but I know I need to do it if I'm to keep him with me. I know he's got years of good life left in him.
I sure am learning quickly, though! Here are some of the things I've figured out in the past few days:
1. Cover the couch in an old blanket I don't care gets messy and smelly.
2. Wear an apron while feeding him.
3. Portion out the food so I know how much he's eaten and how much he needs to eat - make feedings routine every 2hrs.
4. Do the IV in the livingrm with Stry on the hard table and the IV hanging from the coatrack on the door.
5. Don't let him sulk at night under the bed - make him join me on the bed to keep him warm.
But there are a lot of positive signs, and I hope I'm not speaking too quickly when I express cautious optimism:
1. Interested and alert
2. Eating in the morning on his own
3. Doesn't hold a grudge against me for any of his feedings and medicines (at least, not for long)
4. Still snuggles and purrs
5. He doesn't seem to be getting any more yellow
Researching as much as I can, and asking a myriad of questions my vet is always willing to answer, it looks like we're in this for the long haul. He'll need to be IV hydrated for possibly two months, depending on how quickly he takes to the treatment. I may need to force feed him for several WEEKS! Yikes. Thank you to my friends and family who are constantly expressing hope and giving me encouragement. It's rough to be doing this alone, but every well wish and boosting expression helps my flagging spirits. Any prayers/healthy thoughts/good vibes sent our way are greatly appreciated.
I sure am learning quickly, though! Here are some of the things I've figured out in the past few days:
1. Cover the couch in an old blanket I don't care gets messy and smelly.
2. Wear an apron while feeding him.
3. Portion out the food so I know how much he's eaten and how much he needs to eat - make feedings routine every 2hrs.
4. Do the IV in the livingrm with Stry on the hard table and the IV hanging from the coatrack on the door.
5. Don't let him sulk at night under the bed - make him join me on the bed to keep him warm.
But there are a lot of positive signs, and I hope I'm not speaking too quickly when I express cautious optimism:
1. Interested and alert
2. Eating in the morning on his own
3. Doesn't hold a grudge against me for any of his feedings and medicines (at least, not for long)
4. Still snuggles and purrs
5. He doesn't seem to be getting any more yellow
Researching as much as I can, and asking a myriad of questions my vet is always willing to answer, it looks like we're in this for the long haul. He'll need to be IV hydrated for possibly two months, depending on how quickly he takes to the treatment. I may need to force feed him for several WEEKS! Yikes. Thank you to my friends and family who are constantly expressing hope and giving me encouragement. It's rough to be doing this alone, but every well wish and boosting expression helps my flagging spirits. Any prayers/healthy thoughts/good vibes sent our way are greatly appreciated.
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