Last I blogged it was October 4th, now it is the 9th and the kittens are both still at the vet’s. They don’t quite know what is wrong with them, just that there is something wrong. It was not a prolapsed rectum as originally felt. They ended up sedating Ashes and doing a thorough exam. All they could determine is that she has a very infected bum. They have been using a steroid ointment combined with an antibiotic cream on her rump but she is still having diarrhea. Eugene is also having bum issues. They have discussed anal fissures, anal polyps and finally just decided to keep them under observation for about another week to see if anything clears up. It is very frustrating.

There was an incident that occurred between me and one of the vet’s there that prompted me to ask that the kittens care be turned over to another vet immediately.  Once the smoke cleared, it was relayed to me that it was just a big misunderstanding, but I am still not keen on this vet working with me in the future and they are respecting my wishes.

I miss my kitties and I hope they can solve this soon. I am going to hate to see my next vet bill- it was already hefty, I can’t imagine what all this one-on-one care is going to cost us.

On a personal note, I went to doctor today over my leg and knee injury (from when Kota crashed into me) The brace is not working and it looks quite likely that surgery on my knee and my foot is in my future. 🙁 Here in our hometown for the first time since March) our Covid cases are skyrocketing. 31 cases day before yesterday and 19 cases yesterday. Is this because people are getting lax and having pandemic anger or pandemic depression? No one is sure. Most of the local schools are doing distance learning except for two.

I am not keen to have surgery in the middle of a Covid Pandemic and am grateful the doctor will wait until things calm down. Plus, I need to make arrangements for Kota (who I think my vet’s family will watch him for me) and my cats and kittens. Lots on my heart right now. Mostly it is about these kittens and the mounting vet bills. 🙁

Although the vets insisted that all would be well if the kittens stayed on special food and prebiotics, Ash continued to get worse. I threw up my frustration on FB on Saturday and then called the vet and told them that I really needed to see a vet about Ashes. They told me they were booked solid and to just “drop her off.” I firmly believe that they never fully read the drop off form and I was afraid that we would get nowhere. But I agreed.

When I got there, I was waiting a long time for them to just come out and pick up the carrier and let me drive off. I am thinking to myself, what the hell? Then the tech came out and said the Dr. had made a spot for me and did I want to come in and talk to her first? Of course I did.

I told her that if she could look at Ashes’ bum and tell me that it looks “normal’ I would walk out the door and not bother her again. I also told her I am not in the habit of wasting vet’s time and something was horribly wrong with Ashes’ bum. I told her that when I am allowed by Ash to touch her bum lightly (without her screaming in pain) it felt hard and not normal.

She picks up the kitty and looks at the bum and said: “oh my, look at all this inflammation!” She took her in the back to clip her rear and I looked up at God and asked Him to please let her respond to them, as she does to me. If you touch her bum, she hisses, spits, growls and screams at the same time and tries to bite me.

All of a sudden the show started and as I listened to this precious girl screaming in pain and my heart was breaking for her, I was also saying to myself: “Do you believe me NOW?”

The vet comes back and tells me she has a prolapsed rectum which is what I’d been saying all along. But because she is such a fluffball her hair was hiding it. Ash will have surgery on Monday, so they can keep a better eye on her, and they will push the rectum back in place, do a purse stitch, keep her an additional day then send her home.

As i left, a vet tech said “Mary Anne, thank you for being so attentive.” I just looked at her and said- “I have to be.”

I am their voice. Sometimes if I just accept the professional’s word that all will be well soon- it doesn’t get better, it gets worse. If I don’t speak up, they don’t get help. I am just so glad she will be out of pain now and has a chance for a new, and wonderful life from here on out.