Chasing answers
Spent four hours at the vet yesterday with Prowler, my sweet orange Polydacyl kitty. Presented her with the following symptoms:
inablity to swallow
projectile vomiting (this really scared me)
gulping
not eating or drinking
her temp was normal (I always check because it is the first thing they ask me on the phone). Her breath sounds were normal, but I took her in anyway.
They did a complete exam and x-rays. They found one disturbing fact- the rugal folds show up on the x-ray as all bunched up and near the opening of the stomach. This is not normal, though why it is occuring they couldn’t say. It should be a thin layer, not a thick one. But even though they were concerned, they are not set up to do further testing. I asked them to please x-ray her esophagus because I was afraid she had an obstruction in her throat. Nothing conclusive showed up. They are treating her systematically because this is how they proceed. I am giving her prednisone (a mild dose) she is getting Metoclopramide, and Sucralfate. They also gave her two shots, an anti-inflammatory and an anti-emetic. This morning, she is able to eat (something she couldn’t do yesterday)
This is not the first time that made me wish for a good cat only vet in my area. The nearest one is a few hours away. So for right now, I stay the course and keep on the meds and hope they will help Prowler get over this. On a fixed income $250.00 hurt. Money out, answers lacking-
On the dog front, Chloe is now running off. She doesn’t stay gone long, but if she continues to run off (Lei will follow her) she is going to end up a speed bump. An electric boundary fence was purchased yesterday. We will set it up today. It will allow her about a 1/2 acre of running room. This will keep her out of the back of the property and the creek where she makes her escape.
We are grateful this apparatus was gifted to us and hope to pay it forward when we are in a better place. We really love this dog. She is so tolerant of the cats and kittens. When she is in the house, they romp all over and around her and she just lays there. I don’t want to have to send her back to the place we got her from, though I am told I can. I really see her as a therapy dog down the road, she has been through so much in her life and is quite a giving being.
February 9th, 2007 at 10:48 am
I hope Prowler feels better. I know how it is about the vet costs. I am constantly trying to find a few extra bucks for vet care, plus for food and all the other extras that come up.
You know, the more involved I get in feral cat care (plus caring for my indoor cats), the more I realize how little support there is for people like us. Every organization I call is strapped for resources. Many places are caring for dozens of animals, yet I still see feral cats everywhere I go, some badly in need of care. I get upset about it sometimes. It seems that in our culture, this is a problem that most people do not want to deal with, If as a country we decided to turn to this problem, it would take relatively little effort from a lot of people to help. As it is, relatively few people make themselves responsible for a huge problem. It is a constant struggle.
February 9th, 2007 at 12:08 pm
I agree. My oldest sister is involved in helping feral cats in Florida. She recently held a fundraiser to come up with enough money to transport 40 ferals to the vet for neuters and then they were relocated into a natural cat habitat (outdoors)
I am of the opinion if someone would take the time to collect information about all the rescuers nationwide, both private and non-profit and then invite everyone including the lawmakers and politicians to participate in a crisis feral convention there would be some major strides taken to educate the public about the importance of neutering, a ban on backyard breeders and other important legislation passed to help with this monumental problem.