Thankful Thursday

 TBT:  Our current vet clinic seems to be trying to "go out of business".  The Mews were cared for by a wonderful vet for 30 years but he retired and we got transferred to this practice with 3 vets.  Apparently, only one remains and she doesn't seem to be there often..  They are closed all this week and it not the first time they have done that.

So I looked up other vets nearby.  I talked to one for an hour.  They seem to be good (asked about the cats before discussing costs). Very friendly and had a good Yelp review.  

Lori needs her annual shots and we have an appointment for Jan 16th. We'll see how that goes.  Meanwhile, the new vet office is getting the medical records from the previous one.

I hate to change vets.  I know they all mean well, but maybe some are better at it than others.  But Lori is just going in for a few routine shots and anyone can do that well enough.  

What I'll really be looking at is the waiting room, the exam room, and how they handle Lori on the table.  I wish it was Marley; he's calm but tough. But it is Lori's turn for shots and I can't change that.

I sure miss Dr Miller, but he did 30+ years and that was enough for him.  Time to establish a new vet relationship.  I hope this one lasts.

Mancat Monday, Part 2

 TBT:  First of all, Marley is fine!  I just wanted to get that out of the way.  No dental issue.  Apparently he got a claw-wound from some brave defense of our yard or a mouse bit him in a last act of defiance.  The vet couldn't be sure.

But this became an UTTERLY STUPID DAY!  I think I may just drink wine for the rest of it.  And "yes" I've already started.

I called our vet as soon as they opened, explaining that I had an injured cat and was a regular client.  They said they were down to 1 vet (they usually have 3) and could not manage an appointment until the end of November.  I repeated "injured".  No luck.  They referred me to a 24-hour animal hospital.  

I may be referring them to a new vet to whom to transfer The Mews records to soon!  But for now, I will wait to see why they are lacking vets.  I don't want to be unfair if they are having temporary problems they can fix.

I said I called my vet.  Yeah, but not because my regular cordless phone was working.  When I picked it up at 8 am to call the vet, it said "telco line not working".  OK, I have 2 cordless phones (same number) and the other didn't work either.  Both were fully-charged.  

I own a smartphone (my first one), but I'm too old and/or stupid to navigate to the apps.  I only bought it for GPS directions and emergency calls.  And if an injured cat isn't "an emergency" I don't know what is.  But while I can't figure out how to get at the apps on demand or answer calls, I can originate one.   Seriously, most of my smartphone use is just deleting spam calls once a week anyway.  

So I could call my regular vet even though they couldn't/wouldn't help Marley...

So, I prepared to get Marley to the Emergency Hospital.  And I wasn't happy about it.  I had to bring Ayla there after her 3rd spay operation (wow, was that really 14 years ago?) and it was awful.  The vet was weird and a walking dead guy.  I will admit that the place is improved some, but not by a lot.

I arrived and all the parking spaces had signs demanding "text us at xxxxxx".  I don't now how, so I knocked on the door.  They didn't want to open it.  I yelled that I had an injured cat and no smartphone.  

They let us in 😹

There was no other client in the place.  So, we waited for 15 minutes to get attention.  Really...  Injured cat, no customers, 15 minutes?  They acted like they were doing me a favor just to let us in.  15 more minutes before a vet technician took Marley to the examination room.

Ooh, I don't want to forget to mention the 4 page entry form I had to fill out...

And get this...  She said I "could stay in the waiting room" while the vet examined Marley.  How kind of them!  But it makes sense; every door I could see said "Staff Only" in 6" letters.  And the staff even needed cards to get in any door.  I may have to have Marley checked for CIA implants, LOL!

I mentioned "no other customers".  So of course Marley was gone for 30 minutes.  And after he was brought back, 

He was not a "happy camper".  Though he was happy enough to not "sing the song of his people".  Well, Marley talks to me often enough, but not to strangers

it took another 15 minutes for the actual vet to arrive and explain what she found.  I may be complaining a lot (and I'm not done with that), but she was great!  She discussed the likely causes of the wound, explained that the swelling had drained well (oh don't you love to hear "lots of pus squeezed out" - LOL - actually, I do), and that his teeth seemed fine.  She was friendly, smiling, and communicative.  

So, I had Marley back (a bit grumbly, but to be expected).  And we waited another 15 minutes for the bill to be prepared!  I'm still trying to understand that (the wine may be kicking in here) but there were 2 clerks sitting around doing nothing and I wanted to Give Them Money.

I have the general sense that a businessperson could profit at this place by improving procedures and attracting more customers.  But I'm retired and don't want to spend time in or risk anything in a business these days.  

The place looks better than it did when I had to bring Ayla there for seepage around her spay sutures.  It was originally all cinderblock.  But the vet there could sure use some business help...

I forgot to mention earlier that I was sure the Emergency vet would want proof of Marley's rabies shot.  My regular vets do and they gave him the shot - it's in their records).  Now, I don't know about you, but my  paid bills, car maintenance stuff, and cat records end up stacked on the top of the filing cabinet.  

Usually, they are only a few months old and I never need them anyway.  But I needed Marley's Rabies shot document, so OF COURSE things had stacked up for nearly a year this time.  If it didn't matter, it would have been only 3 months.  When it mattered, it was a year's worth.

I found it and brought it along.  So, of course, they didn't even ask for it...  They should have.

I still don't know why the cordless phones aren't working.  Not that I expect any meaningful incoming calls.  I do want them working of course.  But that's tomorrow's problem.

Marley had been eating well before the Emergency Vet visit, but he sure ate a lot more than usual when we got home.  He LOVES Fancy Feast Turkey&Giblets.  He ate the whole can!

He is not exactly hiding after his scary vet visit, but I can tell he wants to be left alone for a day.  He just hates to be handled by "strangers".  I just walk by and stop to talk to him every hour.  The good thing is that he probably won't even remember all this tomorrow.  Marley seems to forget bad experiences well.  😁

Lori Update

 TBT:  Lori seems to be doing fine.  We broke all the rules the Vet gave us, though.  Lori shoved the inflatable collar off several times, so I gave up on that.  But I kept her in The Mews Room overnight.  I visited her every hour that night (yawn).  By morning, she was hurling herself at the door so violently, I let her out.  That seemed to be "rough activity".

Did she come running into my arms?  Of course not.  She went searching for Laz!   They ran around together.  Laz had been distressed when Lori was at the Vet and enclosed in The Mews Room.  They napped to gather later.  Then Lori ran around again for a while.  And up and down the stairs.

I cut down on her food some as the Vet recommended.  She wasn't thrilled, but her appetite was less.  I checked her hourly for any signs of suture damage or leakage, sensitivity around the incision, and bloating.  None!

She curled up on my lap later and slept with me parts of the past 2 nights, purring.  As far as I can tell, she is healing great and doesn't seem to even be bothered by the operation.

I don't have the Photos app restored on the computer, so sadly no pictures.  The computer issues have been updated on the Cavebear's Lair blog, so you can check there if you want to.  

Caturday Saturday

LAZ:  Im annoyed today.  Well, I was annoyed yesserday and I expect ta be annoyed tomorrow too.

OK, yesserday, he stuffed me into the PTU.  Yeah, I know most of us dont go into one easily but I REALLY fought.  TBT said it was like trying ta force a big-box-sized python into a small box.  But in spite of my pythonlike efforts, he DID force me in.  He IS stronger.

But then he had ta figure out how ta let GO of me!  I had my claws out on his bare arms, and HE had ta figure out how ta get his arm out in one piece AND close the door before I could force my way out.  I had my back paws braced on the back of the PTU, ready ta jump.

Eventually, he suddenly pulled his hand out and pushed the door.  I did get my head out but not the rest of me an he pushed enough to get my head back in and closed the door.  And he checked the latch several times because I was really banging on it.

Well, I was afraid he was sending me on ta some different place, and I desperately like it here.  Thats worth a struggle, right?  My first place was RATHER HORRIBLE!  Here, I can go out, I can sit among plants and catch shrews, and sniff the excitin outside smells.  Inside, I get good foods, nap in nice spots, sleep up against TBT at night, and wrassle with Marley.  I dont much bother Ayla annymore, but it IS fun pretending to stalk her.

So it was natural to fight against being in the PTU if I was gonna be sent away.  Naturally, there are no pictures of all that.  TBT would have ta be an octapus ta manage getting me in the PTU AND take pictures.  Ya know how we cats can glare at Beins when we are upset?  Well, Beins can glare too.  His look would have frozen a fire!

But I wasnt done YET.  In the PTU car, we all normally sing the mournful songs of our people.  I pawsitively SCREAMED!  Ayla and Marley hid in their best most secret spots.

And it was just a trip to the VET.  Im kinna OK about that.  Stabbies and handling and The Probe.  But I was pretty worked up.  I didn't stop yelling the entire time I was there.  Not that TBT would know since he just sat in the car...

[TBT:  I've had my Moderna shots (last one 6 weeks ago) and wore an N-95 mask, but they STILL wouldn't let me inside.  Their policy IS a bit extreme.  My presence would have reassured Laz a lot.  Fortunately, our next scheduled visit is March 2022, so I HOPE all that is done with by then]

But they brought me back to him outside afterwards and we went home.  Whew!  What a bootiful word "home" is.  But then he went away to hunt down his kind of food and was gone "a long time".  After an hour, when I was fed and TBT was sure I wasn't wobbly from the stabbies, he let me outside.  

HURRAY!  So of course it began to rain soon after.  I was so desperate to be out, I tried to hide under the deck, but that didnt werk too well.  So (also still being hungry) I came in when he called me.

So that was yesserday...

Today it is still raining.  And worse, TBT says it will tomorrow too.  I cried about THAT all morning.  He told me "the flowers need water sometimes".  Now THAT was a problem.  I wanted to go out and hunt mousies, but I hate rain.  But the shrews like bugs and the mice like dry seeds from the flowers and rain keeps them down in their holes.  But the flowers need the rain.  

My brain kinna exploded inside trying to get around that.

So I think I will have sufferred the PTU, sufferred the VET, screamed my lungs out and stayed inside almost 3 days by Monday.  The food better be the REALLY GOOD STUFF, Marley had better be willing to wrassle, and TBT better be willing to let me push up HARD against him at night...

[TBT:  There are no pics to use here.  I have a few from Thursday, but the weather was good then and that wouldn't make any sense.  I have some new ones of The Mews inside, but naturally, the camera battery died as I started to download the pictures and it takes hours to recharge.  I should just buy a 2nd battery.  I have sometimes mentioned that I am generally lucky about major things but not minor things.  This is a perfect example]

Im staying calm.  Food is good, rain ends, sunpuddles appear again.  Patience, patience, patience...

Caturday Saturday

AYLA:  Before we forget, we had the annual vet visit Wensday.  TBT  forgot the camera, so we don't have pictures.  But the Vet still won't let Beins inside, so we had ta be left by the door in the PTUs while he knocked.

But before that, he had to get us in the PTUs, which is "usually" a bit of fun.  We know what he intends, so we go run and hide.  Usually.  He is getting sneakier.  I like the bathroom high windersill, so he opened that door.  And closed it when I ran in.  That was unusual.

Marley was barely awake for the day, and likes to greet TBT in the Mews Room with Jazz Paws and purrs, and TBT gave him attention.  Until he picked him up and carried him to the other bathroom.  Which seemed like the weekly weighing.  But he closed him in there.  

And THEN we heard the distinctive sound of the PTUs coming out of the closet where he hides them.  Oh BAST!

He got me first.  I used ta be able to get around him, but he confoosed me by opening the door a crack and closing it a few times until I backed away.  He finally opened the door a bit wider and I charged but he had a pillow there.  He got me!

He puts the PTUs on the tree platforms.  The platforms keep the PTU from being pushed off and with the front opened and nothing below, there is no where ta go.  I yelled but TBT took me down into the car.

So he went after Marley next.  Marley isnt as agile as I am, so he was easier ta grab.  On the other paw, he is bigger and stronger.  But it did him no good.  TBT held his front paws together and set them in, so there was no where else ta go.  

And in the car he went, too.  I'll give Marley credit for being better at moaning singing the call of our kind than I am.  He has this deep hopeless end-of-the-world sound I can't match.  

Laz's turn comes in a few moons.  So while our calls disturbed him, he wasnt grabbed.

Last time, we were brought inside and TBT was with us.  This time he wasn't.  So we had ta sit in the PTUs outside the VET door and TBT back away (full masked) while we were taken away.  That made it harder.  As bad as the stabbies are, it is easier when he is right there talking to us.

Other than that, it was the same as usual.  Stabbies, butt-probes, standing on a metal plate not moving.

I'm good for my age.  Agility and weight better than average.  Marley is fat and has to go on a diet.  I eat separately in the Mews Room, and Laz eats anywhere, so TBT will be watching Marley more carefully.  Apparently, he can't have food anymore just by asking for it.  

I can have all I want.  Well, I always did.  I just eat what I need.  Marley eats whatever there IS.  Laz seems to eat like me.

We don't have pictures of this year's visit, but here are some from before and they are a lot the same but Iza was with us then.

Hiding dint werk...

All lined up at the Vet...

In the stabby room...

The evil clippy-claws...

Flashback Friday

AYLA:  First of all, we think TBT did something wrong to the computer and is fixing it, but it doesnt actally stop us from posting (we just THOUGHT it did).

Second, todays flashback is from this week July 2011.  I had an infection in my guts and hadda go to the VET.  When he got inside me, he found the original spaying vet missed some of my ladyparts TWICE!  An thats why I was infected.

So OUR vet found them and removed them an I never went ita HEAT again!  It was a wunnerful day...

The inflatable collar let me eat normally, too.

Updates

TBT Here:  Just to let everyone what is going on...

1.  Ayla goes to the Vet to make sure her tooth extractions went well an the sutures are dissolving properly.  Due to Covid19, they have set up some protective procedures.  You call the vet office from the parking lot, they come to the door, you leave the pet, they bring it in, and you wait in your car. 

Which is fine if you have a cell phone.  I don't, but they said to knock on the door.  Sounds like a medieval monastery, LOL!  Then they take your credit card number by phone for payment.  I suppose they will let me drive home and call from there...

2.  Iza's prescribed Welactin omega-3 supplement ran out a few days ago.  I took a chance and visited both PetSmart and Petco looking for it.  Neither said they ever carried it, which baffled me; I got it somewhere.  Then remembered it was from Chewy.  

So, I placed an order with Chewy today for the Welactin, and added 2 cases of Friskies Ocean Whitefish&Tuna Dinner.  For some reason, The Mews are in love with that right now.  I have some other brand/flavors I tried that they don't, but if I mix the 2, they will eat it. 

In response to my order, I received a reply saying that things were backed up and it may take 5-8 days delivery instead of the usual 1-2 days.  I note that they were careful not specify whether it was at their end or the UPS/Fedex end.  So that means it is at their end...

With the new order, I will have about 2 months of food for The Mews.  And about the same of litter.  And all routine vet visits are complete for the year.  So they will be fine.

I'm also posting about mey own situation on the Cavebear's Lair blog (right sidebar, toward the top in RED, but it may take a couple of hours.  I don't type fast and I edit/rewrite a lot.   

3.  My thoughts to all of you with serious lockdowns and restrictions and more serious confirmed and potential cases of CoVid19...

Mark and The Mews

Updates

Written piecemeal over 2 days using my laptop.  No pictures or anything (it isn't actually networked to my desktop).  

I successfully migrated my files from my external backup drive ("My Passport") using "Time Machine", but all I got was the current version.  I thought I was migrating my Oct 2019 files.    Happened a 2nd time too.  It was weird too.  The Migration Assistant app said it would take 192 hours at one point.  Fortunately, it only took 24 hours.  But that wasn't what I needed. 

So, I'm erasing my desktop HD.  That's scary.  But it won't LET me erase the HD.  The Mac Help instructions fail at one step.  So I searched for other ways.  I found one and it seems to be processing now.  Think it worked.

Now I will try the Migration Assistant again and see if I erred in identifying the backed up OCT 2019 source.

If THAT doesn't work, I will have to conclude that the renewed Mac Mini (a 2011 model, I've realized) just isn't going to work.  And if so, I will give up wasting money trying to be cheap and buy an up-to-date model.  Which I fear will force me to accept new programs and learn new stuff, which I was trying to avoid.

AHAH!  I just realized why I keep getting the current computer files (which I don't want) on the new Mac.  I'm not specifying the older version from the Time Machine.  It seems to automatically choose the newest one.  I need to find a way to choose Oct 2019 backup!  I don't know if I can.

OK, I can't seem to.  But I have another idea.  Apparently, doing a direct migration using Time Machine, it can only recognize the newest backup.  But if I do a Restore to an older computer it was backed up from, it allows me to choose the specific backup to Restore.   And I have an old one that works  (fan is dying and makes noise).  So I'm going to set it up, see if I can Restore it with the Time Machine backup from Oct 2019, and then migrate THAT to the new Mac.

But not tonight.  It is late.

BTW, don't blame Macs for all this.  I really messed things up myself (or it wouldn't be so dreadfully complicated to fix).  I've migrated old macs to new before and it worked great!  Time Machine is a really great backup system.  And Apple really makes it easy.  Unless someone like me really screws things up royally!

THe other thig is that I am too impatient.  When some app isn't working fast enough, I decide it isn't working at ALL and move ahead when I shouldn't.  I am learning "patience",  and it is helping.  Some apps go slow, so I just have to let them do their thing and walk away for hours sometimes.  A tip on a website helped with that.  It gave some instructions and said "BE PATIENT some serious changes can take hours".

OK, set the migration apps to start and walk away.  Even better, go to bed...  I will be doing that shortly!

   -------------------------------

Ayla had her teeth cleaned yesterday.  And that wasn't all.  She needed 3 teeth extracted because of serious decay.  She wasn't happy eating recently and that may be why.  The vet said she might not want to eat much for a day.  But she did!  She was pretty upset at a new visit, but she seemed a lot happier when she returned.  Marley goes in for the same tomorrow, but the vet said she didn't see any decay, so it should be just cleaning. 

VET!

MARLEY:  Iza and I went to the vet today, GRRR.  TBT caught me off guard.  He lured me into his litter room and SHUT THE DOOR!  When he opened it, I tried to run but he grabbed me (wearing leather gloves) and shoved me into the PTU that he had put RIGHT THERE at the door.

I got squeezed and stabbed at the Vet but it wasnt too bad.

Iza had it worse.   She are been having the sickies since the visit last week.  Turned up her nose at some foods and couldnt keep down what she DID eat.  She lost 8 oz in a week!  The Vet Lady says she might have that annoyed bowel thing.  So she got 3 shots.  One fer helping keep her food in, one fer nausea, and a B-12.  And she got her ears cleaned too because of the grease TBT rubs in them. 

Thyroid, blood pressure, kidneys, and now her tummy...

Send Iza some purrs. 

Easy Like Sunday

AYLA:  Sometimes it is Marley and Iza together.  Sometimes, it is Marley and Me together.  Today it was Marley and Iza...

Marley probly knew that Iza had a bad time at the vet Thursday, but it took some time for the smell of the alcohol rub for the shots to wear off.  He does have limits of tolerance to weerd smells...

I need more time.  As a womancat, my sense of smell is better than Marley's.  But I'm staying as close as I can in support of Iza's vet visits.

Besides, she tapped my butt yesserday when all I was doing was walked past her...

Another Vet Visit

IZA:  I hadda go back ta the V-E-T again today.  Dad didnt warn me.  Im not sure if I want ta know or not.  Its been too often lately though.  He told me I was getting my blood pressure checked ta see if the pill I was taking (wait, what pill?) is helping, but I wouldnt get stabbed.  Apparently, Im eating a tiny little pill in my breakfast I dint even know about.

So they squeezed my tail with something, but I was brave and sat there (Dad was stroking my chin and that helped).  The good news is that the 1/4 piece of pill is helping.  My blood pressure went from 210 down to 170, the vet said it was better but not great.  It shout be like 120.  But she also says she takes off some numbers because we are always a bit upset in a strange place, so she is thinking it is more like 150 at home.  Which sounds closer to 120, so Dad and I both liked that.

Im staying on the 1/4 pill for now.  The vet said it might get to a 1/2 pill sometime but not yet (Dad was relieved.  He told her he was worried she would make him try to split the tiny round pill in 1/3s).  She laffed.

And THEN she said she thought it was time ta check my bloods!   OH NO!  I glared at Dad, but he said they had told him they wouldnt.  Not that I get anny choice in the matter...  So they took me off for "5-7 minutes".  25 minutes later they brought me back tightly wrapped in a large towel.  I wasnt a good girl this time.  I fought (well, I squirmed a lot, and Im kinna strong).  Not that I tried ta claw annyone.  So they "burritoed" me in a towel.

Well, I had a good reason!  First they stabbed my back leg, but it didnt work.  So they stabbed me a 2nd time.  IN THE NECK!  So I got stabbed twice AND stank of alcohol in TWO spots.  I went straight into the PTU and stayed there even though Dad left the door open so I could lean into his hand while he scritched me.  That helped...

She didnt check my thyroid level, saying it could wait for our annual exams in 6 weeks since my kidney numbers didnt go up.

Dad forgot the camera again, so there aren't anny pictures.  Well, they would be the same as the previous ones, and you all know what VET Visit pictures are like.

When we got home, I sat of Dads lap while he gently wiped at the smelly stuff and told me good things.  Like my blood pressure is lower, that I dont notice the 1/4 pill, that I LIKE the probiotic mixed in my breakfast (for my kidneys), that I havent tossed anny food for 2 months, that I seldom hack any clear foamy stuff, and that I will live a longer happier life.

Which made me realize that I stopped feeling the stabbies before we even got home, the probiotic actually tastes GOOD, and annything that lets me stay around Dad longer is probably a pretty good thing...

V-E-T Visit

IZA:  Well, I had my followup visit to the vet for more tests.  It wasnt as annoying as last week, but they still held me down and squeezed my leg and stabbed me to get some pee.  I would have provided some gladly if asked (all over the table ).

But they didnt do much else, which was good.  And as usual, they talked to Dad about me as if I wasn't there.  I suppose that didnt matter, since I didnt unnerstand ANNYTHING they were talking about.  So I'll turn it over to Dad to explain...

TBT:  Well, as the vet warned me, things looked worse than last weak, mostly because some medications mask other problems.  She has a follow-up visit in 2 weeks.

1.  Iza's blood pressure remains high.  It seems to be around 210/120 even when she was less stressed that after all the tests last week.  So she will be taking 1/4 of a 2.5 mg Amlodipine tablet for 2 weeks to see how that affects her numbers.  The vet told me she expects that to be increased, but wants to start at the lowest level.

A slightly funny story about that pill.  The vet said she thought it was a small triangular pill (she seldom actually SEES pills), and dividing it into 1/4s wouldn't be easy.  I'm good at geometry, but fortunately, it's round and I have a pill-splitter.  And fortunately, it is a cheap med.  $9 for 10 pills (40 doses).  The vet expects that Iza will need a 1/2 pill after the new tests.

2.  The vet gave my a prescription for Welactin Omega 3 for felines last time to assist kidney function last time.  It's not actually a "prescription".   The pharmacist at Walmart said they didn't carry that stuff.  Well, I had really looked at the "prescription".  When I did, I went to Chewy.com and ordered a bottle of the "liquid-to-add-to-food" and was happy to see it wasn't expensive.  But when it arrived (with the usual food order), the measuring scoop was missing.  I called the company and they said they would send a scoop.  It is only 1.25 ml which is about 1/4 teaspoon.  Man, that is SMALL!  At least I can just add that to her wet food.

Turned out I HAVE a 1/4 teaspoon stashed away in the kitchen.  AND I have the scoop.  It not only came out of the box but ALSO got into one of the canned food cases.  So I'll have three...

3.  Her thyroid numbers have improved "slightly".  That pretty much means she will be getting the ear gel Methimazole 2x a day for the rest of her life (she's 10.5).  She tolerates it best when I apply it when she is eating.  She tries to fold her ears back, but almost nothing can stop Iza from eating.

4.  The vet says she expects that Iza will have to go on a low-protein diet, but that depends on adjusted meds over a few months.

5.  I will get urinalysis results in a week.  I guess it is about kidney function, but in all the discussion, it wasn't clear.

6.  The vet seems oddly unconcerned about the fact that Iza drinks a LOT of water.  Maybe that is assumed with kidney problems or isn't actually a problem, but to me that suggests diabetes.  Well, I'm not the vet, and this vet (team of 2 actually) seems to know what they are doing.

I joked to the vet that Iza probably needs her own Little Medicine Cabinet and credit card.  To my surprise, she looked at me sadly and said her dog has both.

 -------------

So in summary, Iza has high blood pressure, kidney problems, thyroid problems, and new tests in 2 weeks and 4 weeks after that may unmask further problems (her kidney numbers will probably be worse after the thyroid and blood pressure meds improve those problems.

Speaking of unmasking, allow me to express some personal thoughts.  When I was young and stupid, I didn't know about all these kinds of problems.  I thought cats only sufferred from bad diets, parasites, or things that vaccines prevented.  Like non-human animals very born healthy and stayed that way until "natural causes" ended their lives.  Skeeter was the first one who had obvious problems in his last (of 16 years) and thought that was rare.

But I think back on cats-who-came-before.  Maybe Mischief who died at 10 (1973-1983) could have lived more years if I had understood more about cat health.  And there were others before her.  Or maybe vets didn't know so much back then (and I won't blame them).  Knowledge of animals increases, and we learn as we go through life...

So, it is going to be a change for me to be giving Iza Omega 3 liquid supplements in her food every day, a bit of a pill orally, and ear gel 2x a day for years.  I'll do that.  It won't be easy, as I'm not used to having to do anything like that regularly (for myself or cats).

On we go, into the future...

The Vet Visit

IZA:  Im resting...  Dad dragged me off to the Vet yesterday, completely by surprise.  I mean, I knew I was going to go sometime soon because he told me. last week  But I dint know it would be "right then now".

But since it was just me, I got the "good" PTU.  It has a top I can see out of.  Sometimes ya can be grateful fer small things. 

So we got there and it wasn't bad.  No barking woofies or crying kitties, just us.  So I just settled down and waited.  Not like I had much choice.  Ive rattled the door and pushed on the top before and nothing ever gets loose.

So we went into the room.  A lady Being was there.  Im used ta that.  But the new Vet is a lady too.  That was a surprise.  So I came out.  The metal table had a cushiony thing on it and I liked that. 

She held me gently fer a bit and looked at my teef and ears.  And didnt do the the temperature thing.  But then she told me a was a very pretty girl.  And that I had such good silky fur.  AND that I had a very good purr.

I like her!

She said she was going to have ta do a couple things I wouldnt like much.  Well, that wasn't a surprise Dad desn't bring us to the Vet fer fun things...

She took me away and stabbed my leg and then put stinky stuff on it because she had to test my blood.  After that, she brought me back to Dad and I curled up on his lap while we waited.  I even napped a bit.

Finally, she came back and said I had good bloods.  I'll turn it over ta Dad, because I didn't know the werds she was saying...

TBT:  Iza's bloodwork came out very normal.  Her thyroid levels (I don't know what that actually measures) were high and the Vet said that can cause problems with bile production, causing the white foamy hacking (maybe).  She said there was a med to try first that came as pill oral liquids or an ear gel.  I decided to try the ear gel, as being easier on both Iza and me.

I was surprised she said she would have the manufacturer ship it directly to me to save a visit and not add to the cost.  I was impressed!

I had to remind her of the pudding-poos, telling her I had tried a pet store anti-diarheal that hadn't had any effect.  She looked at the list of symptoms that included the active ingredients and said, well that sometimes works, but I'll give you something stronger called Metronidazole.  Its a liquid I have to squirt into her mouth twice a day for 10 days.  If it works, I should know in 3-4 days.

If that doesn't work, the Vet will decide whether to entube Iza to take a stomach sample or try a different med.  Depends on whether it helped "some" or "not at all".

Knowing that starches tend to be "binding agents" (koff, koff) in humans, I asked whether the gluten-free canned foods I've been feeding the cats for years was possibly causing any problems.  She said no but it also wasn't necessary unless a cat had an allergy problem.  But she made a note on Iza's file to consider allergies if the Metronidazole doesn't solve her problems "just so I would know".

I had mentioned that The Mews get beef, chicken, turkey, rabbit, duck, and fish, and se agreed that Iza might be allergic to something but that was generally rare in cats.  I had looked that up once and the general advice was that "meat is meat".  Dogs can have more problems, being omnivores, and veggies are more varied than "meat".

I also mentioned that Iza sleeps next to me at night and she often has "stomach gurgles" (air being squeezed around in an empty stomach, just to mention).  Dr Noyes (No-yez) said that slightly increased her confidence in the thyroid diagnosis.  Well, I couldn't think of EVERYTHING to put on the list...   

So Iza starts the Metronidazole treatment this morning for pudding-poops.  I should get a call from the thyroid ear gel company to arrange shipping info and payment later today.    I'm hoping for good results from the Metronidazole, but if that doesn't work, the Vet and I will try other meds.

I am very encouraged that Dr  Noyes is paying attention to Iza's problems.  Dr Miller was a very kind Vet, but I could never quite get him to focus on those.  Maybe he just thought those were normal problems with cats.

I was a bit concerned when I walked in.  All the pictures on the walls were of dogs.  Yet Dr Noyes had specifically mentioned her own cats, and she immediately recognized that Iza was a Tonkinese an mentioned the "people-orientation" of the breed.  Dr Miller didn't know about them at all.

I once read that the best human Dr to have was someone about 5 years out of medical school.  They had current training and enough experience.  Maybe the same is true for Vets.  When I started with Dr Jeffrey 33 years ago, he was like that.  But 33 years is a long time.  Maybe it is a Very Good Thing that Iza is visiting a new Vet.

More when we see how the meds work...

Caturday Saturday

TBT:  Well, some preliminary news about Iza.  I brought a detailed list of her problems to the new vet last week.  The front desk person said they don't do things that way, but I explained that these were problems that wouldn't be observed in a regular office visit and I wanted the Vet to consider them before I brought her in.  She reluctantly accept the list and scanned it into Iza's records.  The expectation was that they would contact me for an appointment after the Vet had reviewed the symptoms.

I also mentioned that the previous Vet (whom they had combined practices with anticipating his retirement in May (he did) had never seemed to pay enough attention to her issues, and since we were starting over with a new vet, it seemed like a good time to make a deliberate restart on addressing Iza's problems in detail. 

I will add that the new Vet seems more organized.  The previous Vet had folders of paper; the new one has everything on computer.  We even get birthday wishes. 

I was beginning to feel ignored, but I got a very good email from the Vet herself last evening.  She went into considerable detail about the possible problems, possible solutions, and the possibility that some of the problems might not be curable.

To summarize, Iza horks up white foam at dawn, can't keep down a full meal first thing in the morning, will eat dry food until she returns it to the floor, has pudding poop, and won't poop in the litter box unless I happen to be standing there (at which time she is a "good girl").  She appears to have a constantly swollen belly.  She drinks water constantly.

The Vet mentioned each issue (so she read what I gave them).  She mentioned Gastritis, IBD, stomach-lining irritation, food allergies, eating habits, diabetes, and possibly kidney disease.  She suggests a blood tests, possibly and xray, meds, habit-changes, and an exam. 

Iza has an appointment on the 16th.  Given the new Vet's positive and detailed email, I have hopes that Iza (and I) will get some relief from at least some of her problems.  It may require several visits, some meds, some special foods, etc, but I won't mind that a bit. 

Just wanted to give everyone an update of the situation.  I won't know whether this results in anything successful maybe even after the initial visit, but the attitude of the new Vet seems promising.

Not Good Tuesday

IZA:  I cant belief it.   Dad is going ta bring me to the NEW vet (Dr Jeffrey retired 3 moons ago) and not fer an annual visit either.  Well, not today, but soon.

So what if my poops are like "pudding"  So What if I return my first meal to the floor sometimes?  So what iffen  I hack up white foam every morning?  Who doesn't?

TBT:  Iza, most cats DON'T.  Ayla and Marley don't.  Neither do your friends (mostly).

IZA:  They don't?

TBT:  No.  You have a problem, Iza, and maybe now that Dr Jeffery has retired, we should take a new look at it.  Just because Dr Jeffrey couldn't find the problem doesn't mean a new vet can't.  Wouldn't you like to eat and keep your food down in the morning?

IZA:  Well, yeah, I guess...

DAD MODE (I'm still trying to get used to this):  So understand, Iza, it is going be an annoying visit.    The new vet is going to stab you a couple times, invade your nether parts and "maybe" do some other annoying stuff I don't even know about.  But she really cares about kitties and wants to figure out how to make you happier!

IZA:  "Happier"?

DAD:  Well, do you LIKE horking up foam every morning?

IZA:  Well no.

DAD:  So let's give the new vet a chance to make you feel better, OK?

IZA:  You gotta be kidding me, right?  New vet, new place, stabbies,  thermometer up the wazoo, and maybe more and you think I'll be "happy".

DAD:  Its worse.  It's a "maybe".  But you remember when Ayla had her 3rd spay operation and that was a "maybe" and it worked?  This is a "maybe".

IZA:  Dang...

Im NOT happy about this Dad...

DAD: Hope and trust Iza,  Have I ever done you wrong?

IZA:    You stepped on my paw in the kitchen last week...

DAD:   You snuck up behind me. But I AM sorry.  And I let you stay on my lap for an hour after.  And I stroked you until you fell asleep.

IZA:  OK, OK, newlady vet huh?
  ..........................

TBT:   I've written an outline of Iza's "intake and output" problems to bring to the new vet later today.  I want her to read it first and consider the entirety of the problems before I just drop Iza on her and explain them verbally. 

Doctors sometimes don't listen very well (or sometimes all they know is what the receptionist writes down), and these are problems a vet can't discover just by an exam.  And having a written list of problems might help in a diagnosis. 

For example, are Iza's stools soft because she drinks so much water and why is she drinking so much water anyway (she always has, it's not new).  I tried an anti-diarheal and if anything, her stools are worse. 

And what's with the white foam most mornings at dawn?  That almost sounds like me when I had acid reflux problems the last 10 working years (stopped completely a few months after I retired).  But I can't think of any stress Iza has.

So she regurgitates good high-quality food of various meats, drinks a LOT of water, poops pudding,  and horks foam in the morning.  She has always seemed to have a swollen stomach, but past x-rays have shown no blockage or twisted intestine.  Dr Miller could never find a cause. 

Its time to have someone new look at the problems...

Flashback Friday

This week in 2011, I finally got spayed properly!  It took 3 tries.  The first 2 were by the breeder's vet.  Our own vet Dr Jeffrey did it right after I got all infected.I hated the cone, though.

Dr Nurse was also nice.

And TBT was SOOOOO happy!

They took a chunk of me out that had been missed by that other guy...

Marley was nice to me when I got home.   And TBT had changed the cone to the inflatable collar.  Thats a lot more comfortable...

Even Iza was nice to me!

I got lots of soft chewy treats and attention from TBT.

World Veterinary Day

Today is World Veterinary Day and we are honoring it by writing about ours.

When TBT moved here in 1986, he brought a womancat named Tinkerbelle with him.  He had not been all that great about regular vet visits before (but always kept any cat up-to-date on rabies shots), so one of the first things he did was find a regular vet.  At the time, the only nearby vet was Dr Jeffrey. 

So he arranged an appointment.  TBT didnt know about shots other than rabies.  So after a thorough exam, Dr Jeffrey recommended several other shots and a tooth removal.  TBT had just moved and was BROKE, but he agreed.  We mean, "inexperienced and broke" doesnt mean  "stupid".  He recognized that we cats need more attention than just rabies shots.

It was the beginning of a very positive 32 year relationship.  Dr Jeffrey took good care of Tinkerbelle, then Skeeter and LC, and then US.  TBT always did whatever Dr Jeffrey recommended. 

Well, he did have a habit of getting cats out of PTUs by turning them up and shaking the cat out; TBT cured him of THAT on Tinkerbelle's first visit REAL fast!  Seriously, HE showed the VET how to get us out easily.  Have one Bein hold the PTU and another (TBT in the first time) clasping our haunches and sliding us out backwards.  WAY less stressful...

But after that, it was a great relationship.  Dr Jeffrey was friendly, loved cats, and was always happy to explain things to TBT.  Dr Jeffrey found out why LC was getting her eyelids stuck shut when she was a kitten (it was an ear mite infection that caused eye goop that dried when she napped).  Dr Jeffrey is the one who finally got Ayla spayed properly after the breeder's vet botched it twice.  Dr Jeffrey shared some tears with TBT when Skeeter had to be helped to the Bridge.  Dr Jeffrey tried to save LC when she suddenly went comatose (cause unknown) and personally called TBT to say he had failed.

Dr Jeffrey is going to be missed...

At our recent annual visit, Dr Jeffrey said he was retiring in May.  He had moved his practice to another vet in town the year before, so his patients would get used to other vets.

TBT was sad about that, but had been expecting it for a couple years.  Still, he was sad to have it become official.  We will miss Dr Jeffrey too.  Its not like we enjoyed the visits, but we guess it is worth it to spend more time here with TBT and our house and yard.


Here are some pictures...

Ayla would not be going into heat again, finally!

Clippy claws...

Shots...

Calming a patient...

Talking to Marley before the shots...

Listening to Marley;'s heartbeat...

TBT is going to call the vet office this week to see if there is a retirement party for Dr Jeffrey.  We hope there is.  WE wont attend because if pets are allowed, there would be SO MANY we would get all stressed and upset.  But TBT would go to represent us all (past and present)...

So here is to vets all over the world who do their best to keep us in good health (even if we dont like all the shots and stuff).  Without THEM, we would be leaving our Forever Homes too soon, in less peace and calm, and sometimes in great discomfort.

We never thought we might say this, but...

"THANK YOU VET. 
OUR BEST BET

FOR A HAPPY PET!"



We wish Dr Jeffrey a long and happy retirement...

Thankful Thursday

We are ALL thankful that our annual V-E-T visit is over (yesterday).  We weren't expecting it (TBT is getting trickier).  We used to go in a mad rush in early mornings, but now he did it mid-day when everything seemed normal.

And by "tricky" we mean that he led each of us into the hardest rooms ta hide in when it was time for lunch kibbles which we are just now enjoying regularly.  So suddenly, we were each in small rooms and trapped!  Oh we KNOW that part, but he did it so calmly and one of us at a time! 

And then set out the PTUs...

MARLEY:  He came for me first.  I realized what was happening, and hid in the shower stall but he found me right off.  And when I saw the PTU, I knew I was doomed.  I still fought, but he got me in it.

AYLA:  TBT came for me next.  I'm wily, but he is wilier.  He opened the door where I was and puched the PTU part in.  He KNEW I would jump over it because thats what I do when Marley or Iza are too slow to go out the open deck door, and he when just where to hold a large towel to wrap me up.  Then he carried me to another room where he had MY PTU waiting.  I got a couple of scratches in, but he heals fast.  I got slid right in.  It is hard when you are so small.

IZA:  Hearing Marley and Ayla complaining, I knew there wasn't much point in fighting it.  I let him pick me up and while I did spread my legs all around, he got me into my own PTU.  I was saving my fight for later...

So we all got carried into the big noisy moving machine.  But we agreed not to sing the song of our people on the way.  That kinna spooked him a bit, MOL!

Once there, we realized we were in a DIFFERENT PLACE and we were more than usually concerned.  But it was the same VET.

MARLEY:  I was put on the table (in the PTU) first.  I REALLY had TBT worried (score one for me).  I started hyperventilating and making soft hooing noises and got him to leak his eyes a bit.  I ignored him when he tried to talk to me, too.  Serves him right!

But the VETS (a new one) came out and I got pulled out of the PTU.  I got the usual embarassing probes and shots and forced looks at my mouth and ears and all.  But the old VET did the shots, and as weerd as it may seem, that was slightly comforting.  I weigh almost 14 pounds and was declared "very healthy".  I could have just told them that, ya know?  They clipped my claws too.  How am I supposed ta grab mousies with dull claws?  But I was finally allowed back in the PTU.

AYLA:  I came out of the PTU, easily.  I was facing away from the door, and TBT just cradled my hips and slid me right out.  So a Meow of advice to others, "face forward".  It's harder for them ta get you out that way.

But I also got the same treatment Marley did.  And I was equally glad to willingly run back into the PTU after.  I am 6.4 pounds just like I have been for years, and the VET said I was completely healthy.

IZA:  Well, I sure didn't have it as easy as Marley and Ayla did!  Fer starters, I fought to stay in the PTU.  It took TWO BEINS ta get me out.  And they had ta werk to get my weight.  I don't mind that at home, because TBT just holds we, and I like that.  They hadda take 3 tries and take the one in the middle.  I'm sorta 10 pounds. 

But the the new lady VET just gushed about how bootiful I was and what smooth fur I have, and held me a bit.  That was good.

But I went through all the same stuff that Marley and Ayla did.  And then EXTRA stuff and that dint seem fair.  See, TBT had told them some of his concerns and problems, and they did that extra stuff  (squeezing the sides of my butt) and  I even got stabbed an extra time, so I couldnt help but suddenly bunny-kick the lady Vet.  And iffen I do say so myself, Im really good at it.  She needed a bandage.

And it took the 2 VETS AND TBT ta hold me down while they clipped my claws...  They even took a look up my nosie and squeezed me all over.  It was horrible.

But I was finally released to run back into the PTU!  Wow.  I'm glad it will be a years before all that happens again (and I hope he forgets next time).
  ____________

It was 4 hours before anny of us went NEAR TBT at home again,  Marley and I just stayed away, but Ayla ran annytime he came near and hid is her special spots til dinnertime.  Food and treats DO return things to normal.

  ____________

TBT here:   The Mews are all in great health and seem to have forgiven me for their unwanted VET trip.  But it's important of course.  Iza has wheezing problems and digestive problems, but he can't find a cause for them.  He says it might be an allergy to some canned food ingredient.  I'm going to call the Vet office back and ask about tests for that.

But there is something else I want to mention.  Dr Miller is retiring in a few months.  I suspected that when he combined his practice with the other Vet in town just after our annual visit last year.  Dr Miller has taken care of my cats for 32 years.  He is the one who found the cause of the 2 failed spay operations Ayla went through with another vet and removed a remnant half of her uterus and 1 complete ovary that was rotting inside her.

When he told me that yesterday, I mentioned an obscure event about LC from decades ago and he replied about it without a seconds hesitation.  He knows everything about all the cats he has ever treated.

He is the one who realized that LCs inside ears were not naturally black, but an infestation of ear-mites (which caused her eyes to close shut from "seepings").  He is the one who sent Skeeter over The Bridge so gently that I think Skeeter did not even know of it.  He is the one who cried with me when I rushed LC into his office and shouted "emergency" and tried to keep her alive and failed.  Turned out she had a fatal stroke...

The Mews will not see him again and they probably won't notice the difference.  I will call the office to see if there will be a retirement party his clients can attend.  If so, I'll bring a small notebook of pictures of my cats that he treated.

32 years is a long time to have the same vet.  I'm going to miss him.

Flashback Friday

This is from Feb 2013.  Feb is V-E-T month fer us.  We were in the PTUs on our way there.

Marley was nappin at home.

But his turn would come!

Flashback Friday

AYLA:  This is a special one for me.  This week in 2011, I was spayed a THIRD time!  Some of you may remember and some might not know that. 

The breeder's vet spayed me before I was sent to my forever home.  But it didn't work.  TBT called the vet after a two months and he said sometimes it took a while because some hormones can "linger" but to contact him again in a month if it continued. 

It continued for a month, but then he was out of the country doing assembly-line spays as charity work.  When he returned, he repeated the operation.  It didn't work.

And I'll leave it to TBT to describe the rest because I don't remember...

TBT:  I talked to my regular vet, who said repeating the operation could be dangerous and he was reluctant to get into another vet's operation techniques because they vary.  But he suggested I contact a feline surgical specialist. 

I did.  The exam alone cost $500, and he said she had to be in heat at the time of the operation.  The next 3 heat cycles, he was booked up. 

Then one day, Ayla showed some different problem.  I don't want to get gross here, but there was some smelly tannish paste pushing out of her girly parts.  I brought her to my regular vet immediately.

He agreed that there was a serious abdominal infection and he would have to do exploratory surgery just to try to find the cause.  I agreed.  I brought Ayla in first thing the nest morning.

Around noon, my vet called me with astonishing news!  In spite of 2 spay operations by the breeder's vet, most of Ayla's uterus and whole whole ovary were still inside her.  The uterus remnant had become infected.

He was proposing to remove both but needed me to approve the extra cost.  Duh!  Of course I did.  And I told him to save the parts.  I wanted to show them to the breeder's vet.

The night after Ayla returned home, she began to seep blood through the sutures.  I had to bring her to a 24/7 emergency pet hospital.  I sent 4 hours there while the rather odd vet just disappeared for the whole time.  Eventually, he brought Ayla out saying he had determined the sutures were sound, coated the sutures with some antibiotic, and did some tests to make some there wasn't some other problem.  And said to bring her to my regular vet first thing in the morning.

Well, by that time My regular vet was just opening, so I went straight there.  He looked at her and said the pink seepage was not abnormal but did need to be looked at.  He found 2 loose sutures.  I fixed those quickly. 

And Ayla never went into heat again!

I spent time over 3 days writing a very carefully-worded email to the breeder's vet and one to the breeder about her vet.    I included pictures of the partial uterus and the ovary in the emails...

First, the breeder stated she would never use that vet again.

Second, the breeder's vet agreed without any argument to reimburse all my expenses. 

So, now some pictures...