off topic - worried about my Fluffy

[Fluffysmom]

Fluffy has had a sometimes weepy left eye for a couple of months, but otherwise seemed fine.  I picked him up from the catsitter's on Friday (he was there 5 days) and his left cheek was swollen.  I called and made an appointment with the vet for Thursday the 11th.  That night I noticed he was having trouble eating, so I called Saturday morning and moved his appt. up to Tuesday.  Today is my day-after-Avonex-aching and fatige day.

The weekend was rough; he whined a lot, wanted to be by me all the time, and Sunday night he didn't want to eat his dinner (with his medicine in it) at all.  I'm feeling concerned and depressed.  Fluffy has been my little guy for almost 16 years, and I didn't realize something was wrong until it was really wrong.  I don't know if it's dental; probably, but he won't let me look at that side of his mouth.

I hope it's treatable and I can afford whatever treatment is necessary.  With his other health issues, all we need is one more thing.  If he needs a tooth pulled, that will be another appointment (an expensive one).  I'm just tired and sad.

Send some good thoughts to Fluffy and me, please.

Kathy

[Wobbly]

OH... poor fluffy... I can understand how you are feeling, I have a 14 year old Peke dog and love him dearly.. he seems to be getting sicker more often and it's not an easy place to be.  

Hope he feels better soon, let us know what the Vet says.

take care and hugs to both of you
wobbly

[Quixotic1]

I hope he is okay.  I know what a part of your soul he is.

Thinking good thoughts for both of you.

Quix

[saveone]

Sometimes our pets are our babies.  I hope your baby feels well soon.
terry

[ErinZoe23]

Your cat is in my prayers! I hope it is somthing simple and easy to do or get rid of. I know how special those lil guys can be to our hearts and hope you get some answers soon. As a fellow cat owner ill be looking for your update!

[lovemy6monkeys]

gentle ((hugs)) for you and Fluffy both.

~Jess

[Fluffysmom]

Thanks, everyone.

I'll let you know how it goes tomorrow morning.

hugs,

Kathy

[goofysmom1]

Hoping your Fluffy is okay.  Give him gentle hugs from me.

Hugs to you too,
Chrisy

[Guitar_grrrl]

Hugs and Prayers for you and Fluffy.
Playing gentle tunes for you both,
Guitar_grrrl

[LLWB]

Adding my prayers for you both. Maybe he just needs an antibiotic or something simple. I know how worried you are. I'll be hoping for good news when I check back tomorrow night.

Hugs t you both
Maggie

[BOK2Bjan]

Oh, the animal lover in me aches for you.  You're probably right about it being oral.  I hope the vet is able to work wonders.  Prayers will be said for you both.  Love, Jan

[mistylee]

Just wanted to wish you and fluffy the best.

Sending hugs to you both and hoping for a speedy recovery.

Mistylee

[steph74]

We have two elderly cats, too.  One turns 17 this month and the other will be 17 in June.  I know what you mean about not knowing something is wrong until it's *really* wrong.  I've read, and heard from vets, that cats are like that and it's difficult to find things early with them.

We've been through all sorts of illnesses with them--one cat had cancer (spent two weeks at a vet school hospital for surgery), fell out a third story window (spent the weekend in the vet ER), and accidentally had her eardrum punctured by the vet (several days at their office for IVs), not to mention her on-going, chronic urinary problems.  The other one is in chronic renal failure and it's now getting much more pronouned (he went from 16 lbs to 10!) and had a MAJOR infection right before christmas (back to the vet ER).

Anyway, I know how much you love Fluffy and I hope you are able to treat him.  It's so scary when these things happen, but most of the time they're treatable (that's why our two kitties are still with us after that long list of problems!!)

Good luck and let us know.

Stephanie

[SharleneMA]

I hope all is well with Fluffy.  We have 3 cats in our house and they are such an integral part of our lives.  We love our furbabies!  

Sharlene

[Fluffysmom]

Fluffy was happy to receive the gentle hugs; he really wanted attention last night and I gave it too him.  I was afraid he was saying good-bye, but I hope he was saying that he knew I would help him feel better.  Thank you all for your hugs, prayers, well wishes, and understanding.

I took him in at 9 am and saw a very nice woman vet.  He's lost 2 pounds, so he's now a 14 pound cat instead of a 16 pound cat.  She looked inside his mouth and said that he definitely needs a cleaning, possibly some extractions.  She was able to take him right in, and his cleaning will be later today.  He'll be on antibiotics.

There is a very small chance that it might be cancer, but he doesn't have the usual symptoms for cancer in that area.

The estimate for the work is close to $600, which is a huge sum to me, but I had to take care of my little boy.  They'll call me when they know more.

I'm going to my once-a-month MS support group from noon to 2 pm today,  and will probably be able to pick Fluffy up around 3:30 or so.  I'll post another update when I get him home and settled in comfortably.

Kathy

[rendean]

I am happy to hear that it sounds like Fluffy has something simple, albeit expensive, to fix.  Will send positive thoughts your way to share with Fluffy.

Ren

[mewright]

Glad to hear fluffy is doing good... Will keep you in happy thoughts!!!

Maryellen

[Sarahsmom46]

Fluffy is a boy?  Oy veh, I always thought she was a little girl.  I am so happy that he is getting good care.  Did they do blood work on him?  I think we all care about Mr. Fluffy.  He has certainly found a place in my heart.

I'll be waiting to hear the update.

Julie

[HVAC]

The first thing I though was infected tooth tooth. Not only is pain involve with teeth but it messes with cats smell and a cat that can't smell will not eat.

An old trick to get a cat to eat is get wet cat food or dry and add water put it in the microwave for 5 seconds at a time until it is stinky then make sure it is cool this is important you do not want to burn the cats mouth. When you have stirred it and are sure it is cool see if fluff show interest.

Turkey baby food is also a cat pleaser again slightly heated.

Alex

[Fluffysmom]

Hi, latest update on Fluffy:

I called around 3:30 to see how he was doing, and was told that he had done well and was coming out of the anesthetic but they were keeping him a little longer for observation.  They are really nice there.  She said that I could pick him up at 4:15, and the doctor wants to speak to me about the two teeth that they removed.

I got in the car to drive down there, and the doctor called me; I turned the car off.  She said that when she pulled the teeth, nothing drained out; no evidence of infection.  She said that she thought that the lump is what pushed the teeth out and made them loose, which inflamed the gums.

She said that the lump was suspicious, and had aspirated a sample and would view the slides she had prepared.  If they were more suspicious, she would send them to a lab.

I went to pick up Fluffy, and was asked to wait for the doctor in a room.  She brought in an x-ray that she had taken "because they really wanted to know" at no charge for me.  She pointed out that where the lump was it showed bony involvement, which meant that it didn't show fluid like pus or other normal signs of an abscess.  That makes it very suspicious.

She's sending the samples off to the lab, and will call me with the results.  It could be sarcoma, which would be very bad.

Fluffy is still all disoriented from the anesthesia and pain medication.  I'm still disoriented from hearing that my little boy might have cancer, and paying over $800 for it.  I haven't cried much yet; had to hold myself together to drive him home, tell my roommate, watch him stare at walls, the toilet, etc.  He's spent time sitting in both litter boxes.

He's not supposed to eat wet food except for around his pills, very little water until tomorrow.  He wouldn't take his pills tonight, but that's ok.  I'll need to give him liquid antibiotics twice a day.

So, there you have it.  He may have a cancerous lump right under his left eye.  Who knows what's next?

Kathy

Kathy

[rendean]

I am so sorry to hear of this turn of events. I will be sending positive thoughts that this is a false alarm and prayers for  Fluffy and you.

Hang in there!
Ren

[Fluffysmom]

Thanks Ren, that was a quick reply and right when I needed the positive thoughts.  He did eat some dry food and I gave him a little water, and he looks a little better.

Kathy

[Udkas]

I hope that it's not the worst outcome and that Fluffy get's better, thinking of you as I know that Fluffy is the world to you, and I can relate to your love for your cat. Sending hugs your way.

Udkas

[LLWB]

I am so sorry to read your news about Fluffy. I know the fear that is in your heart right now. I'm sure you are snuggled up in bed with him by now. He should be over the post anesthesia effects by morning, hopefully he will be feeling better.

I know it's disheartening to spend so much money, and get such potentially bad news. But all of us animal lovers don't measure our pets' value in monetary terms. You will do what is best for Fluffy, because you love him.

My heart is sad for you both
(((hugs)))) & prayers
Maggie

[steph74]

Oh, I hope it's not sarcoma.  Our cat that had cancer had a vaccine associated sarcoma.  Our local vet said they are *very* aggressive cancers and he would not do the operation on her.  (He was afraid if he didn't get it all the cancer would come back and grow rapidly.)  We had to take her to a university vet school.

I know it sounds suspicious and they're checking to make sure, but it could be something else.  When will they have the results?

I hope you get good news, and I hope if it's not good news that you're able to get some more good time with Fluffy.

Stephanie