Thank YOU Thursday
Thanks so much to all of you who commented yesterday, for being the voices of reason. In my head I know much of it is dependent on the cat's personality, and how much you can push them, even with time, patience and treats. Nicki, for instance, totally freaks--and I do mean freaks--at the first whiff of Advantage, so it's not something I'm able to apply to his neck, even if he's "confined" in a carrier or a room. Poor boy goes berserk. Literally. So it might be that even after a few weeks or a month he just will have none of the Aerokat. I'll do my best, because the potential/probable side effects from long-term Prednisolone use are very much in my mind, and if he won't accept the Aerokat, I'll be out of options.
On a more upbeat note, his blood work came back great! His liver values were way down--the range is 27 to 158 U/L. Last year he was at 152 and this year he is at 79. I can't figure out why the significant decline, other than that I stopped the Vetri-Science lysine and immune support treats a few days before he had his appointment. I don't think lysine would make a difference (and neither did the vet) but there is another ingredient in the treats and so maybe that's it. Or maybe it's not the "treats" at all and was something else entirely.
Also, last year his T4 (thyroid) was so low it didn't even register, whereas this year it came out at 12.2 on a scale of 10 to 60 nmol/L.
It's almost like it's a different cat's blood work.
Could the Pred have anything to do with it? Beats me.
Anyway, in the face our first real snowfall this season (3 or 4 inches, I think), I'll leave you with today's pretty calendar pic. And give thanks I don't live in Buffalo!
Peace.
Comments
Taking care of these animals isn't easy, and if you are bringing Nicki's bad numbers down, that's tremendously good work. You're adding years to his life right there. Yesterday, two of the best cat-handlers in the rescue-group I volunteer with tried to cut my Cammie's claws and were unable; she's that obstinate. She will go to the vet for that. And weighing the cats, I found that Tucker is 20 pounds. Twenty pounds! Yet Josie has lost weight!
So if you are failing your cat, then we all are failing our cats. We do the best we can, and that, and the love and companionship we give our pets, gives them what they need most.
Not sure if that is a good or bad thing.
My boys hate Advantage too, and can recognise the sound of the top being removed from a mile away!!
Sigh.
XO
Haven't read blogs in a while. It's been a little busy around here lately. Catching up with yours today. I have to say that I worked as an AMT for years at a cat specialty hospital (granted it was years ago) and have never seen that mask you are using with Nikki. I can't imagine many cats tolerating it... at least not for very long. But I hope it helps. I know that my grand daughter had to use something like that when she was very young. And as for the snow... well, guess we're all in for another bad winter. Stay warm!
Love the picture, wouldn't it be nice if spring were only a month or two away and not six?
Have a happy Thursday..
Noodle and crew
Have a lovely weekend!