Parker's New Enemy

Parker was examined by his veterinary yesterday. My orange-boy was unhappy about the whole thing, to say the least. He grumbled and muttered and ignored people like a miffed cat should. Aside from his attitude, though, there were some reasons for concern.

Firstly, the doctor stated that much about the Parker looks good. His blood-glucose reading was normal for the time of day; furthermore, his urine suggested very good management of his diabetes, so it is not believed that that condition has anything to do with his loss of appetite. (Taken to a separate room (the theft-of-fluids room that all veterinary hospitals seem to have), Parker let loose with his bladder’s contents all over the technician. Hehehehe. However, the joke was on the sturdy-boy, as the technician was able to collect a sample regardless, thank goodness.) There seems little wrong with his blood or his thyroid gland.

The problem lies with his liver and / or bile duct. The true problem might be discovered only with an ultra-sound. While the hospital, indeed, any of the animal hospitals in my city, may be able to use ultra-sound to determine a variety of things, the detail required for this, and the knowledge to interpret the results, are found closest in another city, three hours away. And if a journey is undertaken, an ultra-sound examination may or may not reveal something about which nothing can be done anyway. So, while it may come to taking Parker to a far-away destination, an initial remedy is to be attempted.

The doctor mentioned the possibility of cancer, but only because that is on everyone’s mind in such a situation. I know it is a fear of mine; not just cancer, but that undiagnosed, sometimes undiagnosable, condition that accomplishes the same result. But Parker’s problem may be occasioned by something as relatively innocuous as an infection. So for now, an anti-biotic was prescribed, along with an appetite-enhancer, Mirtazapine (as mentioned by Eileen and Holly in one of their comments.) Both come in pill-form. (I forgot to ask about the ear-ointment form for the Mirtazapine; I will inquire of the pharmacist.)

As you may imagine, the thought of attempting to give Parker pills was trepidatious for me. But I crushed the anti-biotic and mixed the powder with my foster-cat’s food. As long as it is something that appeals to him (right now, that is Fancy Feast seafood flavour), he is eating enough of it to consume all of the pill. The medicine is, in fact, the same as what Raleigh is just finishing, so I knew it would provide little taste to alert my boy as to the presence of a foreign substance. I will be acquiring the appetite-enhancer today, and trying it on the unsuspecting patient tonight.

The doctor was hopeful, and I am, as well. We’ll take Parker’s treatment one step at a time.

An added element in his situation is that his doctor is going on maternity leave for a year. I already must take him to a small town some distance outside of my own (a remnant of Parker’s previous rescue-group’s  programme), and, while his current veterinary is trusted, I know nothing of the replacements. He may be switched to the hospital to which the cats from my rescue-group go.

So my orange-boy begins a new fight, battling an unknown enemy, while he is also combatting diabetes. Fortunately, he has weapons and he has allies. Victory lies ahead.