Sick, Sicker, Sickest

[muninnhuginn]

It's the annual pilgrimage to the vee ee tee for the usual round of inspections, injections, et al. It's a real car load: the 20-year old cat, the two thirteen-year old cats, two adults to cart them in and out. And with cats that old it's always a bit of a worry, if you've seen their weight dip or anything else of concern.
So....
I'm not sure which cat is Sick, which Sicker, tho' I'm pretty certain I know which is Sickest.
It went like this.
First up was Ozzie, a tad pudgy, but as far as we were concerned the least of our worries. But, looking in his eyes, there's distinct signs of high blood pressure, wiggly red veins very visible on the third eyelid, but the vet can't tell how bad as he can't see the back of Ozzie's eyes 'cos of the sclerotic lenses. So, we need to take him back in for a longer visit so he can be nice and calm when they check his blood pressure.
Pills will help with the blood pressure. I guess we could cope with a blind cat, as long as he can cope with it. I think he may be officially "Sicker".
Second up was Socks, who tried to escape over various bits of consultation room, because, Socks. We've always had concerns about him, as he came to us with a slight heart murmur. Now not so slight, and with the distinct possibility of a thrombosis building up in his heart. If that's the case, the recommendation is euthanasia. The alternative is allowing the cat to run the risk of a sudden and very painful death when things go pear shaped. We're booking an appointment with a cardiologist to see what's what.
Oh, and he's lost quite a lot of weight, more than is probably good for him, and he's got bad tartar on his teeth.
He's most definitely "Sickest".
Last up was Little, over 20, down to 2.54 kg, with a slightly elevated heart rate, and possibly a dodgy thyroid, or maybe diabetes. She needs to go back for blood tests.
Pills again might be the answer.
Little might only be "Sick" compared to the other two.
You wouldn't think there was much wrong with any of them, especially if you'd seen the way they nommed their extra breakfast when we got them home again.
Oddly, just yesterday, I found the poem I'd written about Big (an hommage to Christopher Smart) when he died. I don't want to be penning similar odes to any of the current trio, although I've been prepared to do so for Little for quite some time. (I have a nasty moment at least once a week, when I find her so deeply asleep that her breathing's barely visible, and she's almost impossible to rouse.)
The one lovely thing was we saw the vet who patched Little up after the car ran over the house. Even if he had to give not very good to really bad news, we could at least confirm that nearly a decade on Little's leg, tiny pins in the phalanges and all, is still absolutely fine.
And behind me on the futon right now is a scene of much washing, both boy cats cleaning their undercarriages with great care and attention. Little is probably asleep by the stove.
Cake baking, I think, is in order. It won't really soften the blow when I have to tell Looby Loo all this. It's spring, we have an egg glut, and comfort food is comfort food.

Comments

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

*hugs*, *strokes* and *cake*, as appropriate.

[muninnhuginn]

Thank you.

[muuranker.livejournal.com]

Oh dear - hoping that no difficult decisions are needed. Diabetes is one that I fear, as it's too close to home to make a rational decision. And, for me, making a rational decision (i.e. one that is rational according to my beliefs) is a bedrock to anchor the chain of emotional reaction in.

[muninnhuginn]

That's my hope, too. With Little, the vet was more inclined to think thyroid than diabetes. And I can entirely see why the latter would cause a negative response.

Ozzie and Little are treatable. Socks, we'll have to see after the cardiologist has been consulted.

[apademek.livejournal.com]

Sorry to hear of the feline woes. Poor Melchett has to go into prison for a fortnight on Tuesday, and is due for his annual check-up in June. 16 now and OK-ish if a bit scraggy. One of his liver enzymes was elevated last year so he will have to have the old cat tests again, which means chasing him round the garden with a plastic cup under his tail, to catch a urine sample as he will not use a litter tray!