Update on Boomer and Teika

Not much change in Teika. She is drinking and has eaten very small amounts of food.  I have been using a syringe to get the gravy from cat food into her. It provides moisture and I'm hoping a little nourishment.  Still waiting for test results from the fluid sample removed from her chest cavity. These results could take a few more days to come in.



Snug n hug with my Boomie

I left off my last post saying Boomie was doing well as of 9:00 pm Saturday.  Just after midnight the emerg clinic called to say they needed to change Boomie's catheter again.  This was #4.  An hour later they called back to say all went well and Boom was coming out of the anesthetic.  They also were able to get quite a bit of "sludge" (their word for it) out of his bladder as well.  Since then he has been flowing well.



Boomie relaxing

Yesterday afternoon I got to visit Boomie in the special visiting room at the clinic.  There is a comfy sofa and small table in the room.  I had a lovely snug n hug with Boomie for about 45 minutes.  I kissed his head a lot to help make up for all the kisses he has missed since last Wednesday.  Boomie and our other kitties do suffer from kiss abuse regularly.  Only Teika puts up a fuss after about the 10th kiss on top of her head.

I kept talking to Boomie and after a few minutes he began to purr.  He purred for a long time until he fell asleep while I held him close.

This morning's report is that all is well.  Boomie still has a catheter and no blockages since midnight Saturday.  This is good news but that could change at any time.  The next step is to pull the catheter and monitor closely and see how Boomie does.  Not sure when the catheter will be pulled but probably this afternoon.


My sweet boy

I am going back to the clinic this afternoon to visit Boom.  I think it is good for him and I know it is good for me.  I felt all the stress leave as I sat with and hugged my sweet Boomie yesterday.  

Boomer and Teika

This week has been an emotional roller coaster ride.  I want off now!

Teika in happier days waiting for breakfast

It started with Teika, my 13 year old grumpy goose.  She went to the vet Tuesday morning because she has lost a lot of weight - 3 lbs in exactly two months.  She was also very dehydrated plus we started noticing she wasn't eating.  

Teika is a loner kitty.  She doesn't like being handled and will tolerate being petted for about 30 seconds.  She spends the majority of time on our top floor.  She only eats dry food which is out from early morning until late evening.  She self feeds.  She is just about the most perfect kitty, even though she is grumpy.  She has never been a concern or a problem, unless I try to love on her for a whole minute.  I love her to pieces and so does Mike.  In fact Teika loves Mike.  She responds to him and he spends a lot of time with her on the top floor (the TV is up there).

at the vet on an IV to rehydrate

We still aren't sure what the problem is with Teika and are awaiting test results.  What we do know is she had a build up of fluid in her chest cavity.  She was to spend 48 hours at the vet but after about 36 hours she came home.  There was nothing the vet could do that we couldn't do at home while we wait for the test results.  

Thursday evening I thought Teika was fading and was preparing myself.  When Mike came home about 10:30 pm from a work function she perked up.  Teika loves her Mikey.

Boomie resting with his head on my leg a week ago

Wednesday morning I found Boomer straining in the litter box.  Off to the vet.  He has been hospitalized since.  A catheter was inserted and tests were done.  He had a bladder about the size of an orange (golf ball size is better).  I was unable to visit him Wednesday evening but was at the vet at 9 a.m. Thursday morning.  I sat with him for an hour and a half. He looked miserable.  Thursday afternoon his catheter blocked so more anesthetic and a new cath was inserted.  The "sludge" from his bladder was visible in the catheter tube.  Dr. Leung was concerned that if he blocked again overnight his bladder could rupture and there is no one in the clinic overnight.

At the vet
IV in his leg and catheter

Thursday I picked Boomie up around 5:00 pm to take him to CTVEC (Central Toronto Veterinary Emergency Clinic) on Eglinton Avenue, which is under construction - arghhhhhhh.  No parking close by.  Here he could be monitored and treated if another blockage happened.  After he got set up in his cage I got to spend a couple of minutes with him.

Friday morning at 5:30 a.m. I called to check on him and he had had a good night. No blockage and was flowing nicely.  So at 8 a.m. Mike and I went to pick him up.  Instead of returning him to Leslieville Animal Hospital he went to Davisville Park Animal Hospital.  Dr. Avery owns both clinics and was working out of the Davisville location Friday and today, Saturday.  The reason Boomie went to Davisville was that should Boomie require emergency surgery, Dr. Avery would be able to perform.

When we dropped Boomie off I spent a few minutes with him.  He was in a cage beside a very chatty and friendly Siamese kitty, named Penny.  At the end of the day Mike and I went back to visit him and speak with Dr. Avery.  The plan was to pull the catheter last night because Boomie had been flowing well for over 24 hours.  The hope was that when the clinic opened this morning there would be a lovely pee in the litter box.  And there was.

I called the vet's office first thing this morning to get the good news.  It was looking like Boomie would be coming home if all continued well.  Two hours later Boomie was straining in the litter box and another catheter had to be inserted.  This was not good news.

The clinic closes for the weekend at 2:00 pm so Mike and I returned to pick Boom up and take him back to CTVEC for tonight and tomorrow. 

At the moment I am in a fog and constantly on the verge of tears.

However on a happy note, Teika has finally as of 2 hours ago, started eating on her own.  This morning she drank on her own several times.  I am feeling a little better knowing she is fighting to stay with us for a while longer.  

8:45 pm Saturday
Just heard from the emergency vet.  She says Boomer is doing well.  I can't wait to go see him tomorrow afternoon.  If I could I would sit with him all night and day.

Ollie my littlest feral



Beautiful Ollie

When I arrived to feed yesterday morning all the kitties came running out to meet me.  I put down the prepared bowls of food in each cat's fave eating spot.  Ollie sniffed at her food and turned away.  I put out a couple other bowls with different food and got the same reaction.  Then I saw her chin.  It was so swollen and when I looked into her eyes I could see she was in pain.

Ollie with swollen chin

Back in 2003/4 when I was trapping the kitties in the colony to take in for spaying and neutering Ollie proved to be the most difficult little cat to trap.  In fact she was the very last to go in for a spay and that was after numerous trapping attempts.  Since then I have always felt she would prove to be a challenge to trap again.

Yesterday I went out twice to try trapping her.  I was very concerned about dehydration so the sooner I got her medical attention the better.  Both the a.m. and later afternoon attempts failed.  So out I went this morning knowing Ollie would be good and hungry.

Swelling gone

I arrived to find her sitting on top of the feeding shelter, where she often snoozes.  The swelling was gone.  I strongly suspect she had an abscess because under her chin it is a bit of a wet bloody mess.  Ollie ate well and hidden in the food was a little pill (antibiotic).  I will keep her on the antibiotics for at least a week and thankfully my ferals are very easy to pill - much easier than my kitties at home.