Health of my kitty
Feb. 6th, 2002 01:28 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mattlistenerAfter being fine this weekend, Simon was all lethargic on Monday, only moving around to change sleeping locations. It was enough of a behavior change that it really set off my warning bells. I gave him a kitty treat and he wasn't even interested, which made me think he might not be eating. I wasn't able to tell right away because he has a food tower.
By Tuesday night I determined that he was barely eating or drinking, so I took off work and brought him to the vet today (Wed). Results: ear infection, probably unrelated. Gingivitis and a big ol' cavity, which are probably making it too painful for him to eat, hence the lethargy. The vet took blood and urine to rule out liver and kidney trouble, and if those are fine I'll be bringing him in for dental surgery tomorrow. Vet was really impressed by Simon's demeanor: "He's a great cat, he'll sit for anything!"
So, he's probably going to be okay, but it brought up mortality fears, and some guilty-pet-owner feelings. The same vet *did*, after all, tell me 3 years ago that Simon had a lot of tartar on his teeth and I should be brushing him regularly. I even came home with kitty toothpaste and brush, which I pitched during a purge just a month ago, on the realization that if I haven't used them for 3 years, I'm not going to. Well, I wouldn't be surprised if after all is said and done here, I'll have been convinced to brush his teeth regularly after all. SIGH.
I came home with 3 different kinds of wet food, formulated to be palatable to cats in various kinds of health trouble, antibiotics for the tooth infection, and ear drops. I opened the first can and he went right at it, so things are looking up.
By Tuesday night I determined that he was barely eating or drinking, so I took off work and brought him to the vet today (Wed). Results: ear infection, probably unrelated. Gingivitis and a big ol' cavity, which are probably making it too painful for him to eat, hence the lethargy. The vet took blood and urine to rule out liver and kidney trouble, and if those are fine I'll be bringing him in for dental surgery tomorrow. Vet was really impressed by Simon's demeanor: "He's a great cat, he'll sit for anything!"
So, he's probably going to be okay, but it brought up mortality fears, and some guilty-pet-owner feelings. The same vet *did*, after all, tell me 3 years ago that Simon had a lot of tartar on his teeth and I should be brushing him regularly. I even came home with kitty toothpaste and brush, which I pitched during a purge just a month ago, on the realization that if I haven't used them for 3 years, I'm not going to. Well, I wouldn't be surprised if after all is said and done here, I'll have been convinced to brush his teeth regularly after all. SIGH.
I came home with 3 different kinds of wet food, formulated to be palatable to cats in various kinds of health trouble, antibiotics for the tooth infection, and ear drops. I opened the first can and he went right at it, so things are looking up.
no subject
Date: 2002-02-06 11:14 am (UTC)When we still had Jacob's 8-year-old Siamese, we were told that older cats tended to have a lot of gum and tartar problems, so yeah, you'll likely have to get another toothbrush.
I am *so* not looking forward to having to brush Andromeda's teeth in a couple of years, considering how she reacts to having her teeth checked by me. But it sounds like Simon is much better about that sort of thing.
no subject
Date: 2002-02-06 11:55 am (UTC)