Wibble Update

[lwood]

Okay, so, here's what we know right now:

countgeiger has been to the vet. Wibble has an infection...somewhere. She's running 104.5°, which is great for a radio station, but 2-3° too high for kitties. She has been given a shot of antibiotics for this.

She has a significant heart murmur (4 on a scale of 6). They wanted a chest X-ray; we are waiting for the results of the blood work before we make a decision on that front.

There is obviously something awry somewhere in her urinary tract, although it's possible that her litter box avoidance was behavioral, not due to "if it hurts to pee in the box, then the box is BAD". Blood in the urine, though, is a pretty sure sign, so urine and blood samples have been taken, with test results theoretically back tomorrow.

She was dehydrated; they gave her a bag of subcutaneous fluid as well as the antibiotics.

Here's my bottom line--where you might draw it on your own pets is your own deal, but here's mine:

If it's something acute, that can be fixed relatively quickly and without a hospital stay, we'll do it.

If it's systemic, chronic, or otherwise long-term...she's fourteen. That's long for cats. I will hold her, and cry, and bury her in Greyhaven's front yard, where the roses, mint, and sweet-singing bees may grok my sweet girl in fullness.

...if I can. It may well all come down while I'm away, and it would be better done sooner than her suffering until I can be arsed to be home.

-- Lorrie

Comments

[dasubergeek.livejournal.com]

Oh, Lorrie, I'm sorry. Poor kitty, I hope this is just a minor "blip" and can be attacked easily and fully with only a few of modern medicine's marvels needed.

[lwood.livejournal.com]

I hope so, too. Thanks...

-- Lorrie

[zoe-me.livejournal.com]

Isn't this the rough part of elderly cats? We don't know if it's a nuthin or the big one. I have been through 2 elderly cat deaths in the last 6 years, and with 2 cats aged 14 know we have more in the near future. My experience is that it's a rare old cat to take pills with grace - most put up such a fight I suspect it just makes everyone miserable. Anyhow, I hear ya - it's so tough figuring out the right call for your family.

btw, if she comes out hyperthyroid I have the meds for that. I have a months supply from when my cat died last year. Actually her sister is acting odd and I need to get her re-checked for it....

((hugs))

[lwood.livejournal.com]

George takes his pills with grace, but this is in part because an especial treat for him is water from the faucet; if he lets us toss the annoying thing down his throat, we fill a shallow dish and he's a happy boy.

Wibble has always been more problematic, even when it comes to better-tasting things like garlic and brewers' yeast pills. Still, she doesn't appear hyperthyroid, not even apathetic hyperthyroid, so that's something, but again, anything systemic like that, especially given her bad history with pills, is more likely to edge us toward putting her to death.

-- Lorrie

[ardaniel]

I miss Wibble preventing me from getting out of bed in the morning by the simple expedient of nesting between my knees. Here's hoping everything works out for the best for her.

[lwood.livejournal.com]

Thank you...especially for the delicate nature of your well wishes. ;)

-- Lrorie

[purplevenus.livejournal.com]

Sweet Girl! Wishes, and I appreciate your stance, even though it sucks to have one less beautiful furry thing in the world.
Do I get a Greyhaven invite?

[lwood.livejournal.com]

Thank you, love.

Greyhaven invite to what? After tomorrow evening, DLP and I will both be out of town for a week and a half. If Wibble has to die while we're gone, it'll be Mike with the shovel...

-- Lorrie

[shantak.livejournal.com]

*hug* I have a few fond memories of Wibble. I hope for the best, whatever that may be.

-smk

[lwood.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

Hey! Cute otters!

-- Lorrie

[arcturus.deadjournal.com (from livejournal.com)]

*hugs*
I had to say goodbye to my sweet Trillian three weeks ago. The vet gave her a 70% chance of recovery with treatment, but it would have been office visits every day for several weeks, and boarding there while we were at Trothmoot. We didn't think she could handle all that. It was one of the hardest decisions I've made, to put down a cat who might have recovered. The house still seems empty without her, despite the two beautiful furry children who remain.
So anyway, I know what you're going through, and you have my sympathies for having to deal with this, whatever way it turns out.

[lwood.livejournal.com]

Oh! I'm so sorry!

*hugs*

-- Lorrie

[tanrinia]

**HUGS**

[lwood.livejournal.com]

*hugs!*

-- Lorrie

[walkyrja.livejournal.com]

There just aren't words, you know?

Here's to hoping it is somethign fixable.

*comfort*

[lwood.livejournal.com]

*hugs* Thank you...

-- Lorrie

[wednesday]

Oh hell. Just saw this. All best wishes that Wibble will be okay.

[lwood.livejournal.com]

Thanks...

-- Lorrie

[thorolf.livejournal.com]

Awwwwwwwww.... [hugs]

I hope things work out for the best for y'all. It sucks having to draw those lines.

[lwood.livejournal.com]

Thank you...

-- Lorrie

[abhasana.livejournal.com]

Poor kitty. My best to everyone there.

[lwood.livejournal.com]

Thank you...

You know, the potting mix I got came full of myceliae, which means that my seedling box occasionally puts up the teeniesttiniestmushrooms which are gone the next day. I only notice because I'm looking for teenytinyseedlings...but whenever I see one of those fun guys pop up, I think of you. ;)

-- lorrie

[abhasana.livejournal.com]

Aw, that's so cute! Wee mushrooms. :)

[lwood.livejournal.com]

Somehow, I knew you'd approve. 8-)

Two of them looked like paddy/straw mushrooms, and one looked like a dandelion seed head writ verraverrasmall.

-- Lorrie

[lastwaykeeper.livejournal.com]

:( Poor poor kitteh...

-greatbigdelicatehugstoWibble-

[lwood.livejournal.com]

...sankoo.

-- L

Urinary stuff

[jon-decles.livejournal.com]

Take hope!

When I took Elena in she piddled on the floor, with blood in the urine. Turned out that was not so bad as I feared. They x-rayed her in case of stones, which is what a long term infection can do, and said she would be fine. Antibiotics are great when properly used (not as a garnish).

She is better. I sure hope your kitty is also better.

Re: Urinary stuff

[lwood.livejournal.com]

I have some hope, but I also know that urinary tract issues are all much fussier with cats, and Elena has youth on her side--and no heart murmur.

We'll just have to see what happens...

-- Lorrie

[bellacrow.livejournal.com]

dammit, not Wibble ;-(