Minuet Under the Weather

Minuet is feeling very poorly. She is suffering from severe diarrhea, over which she seems to have little control. Fortunately, much of the library’s floor is covered in the vinyl that was put down for Portia’s troubles; it is paying dividends now by making Min’s problems easier to clean up.

Cleaning is, of course, the minor issue; the major is Minuet’s health itself. The good news - relatively - is that this is a recognised result of stress. From her veterinary records and communicating with her previous owner, I know that this has occurred in the past. She will not have priorly suffered such an anxiety-inducing event as a change of home, so this time, the effects are quite bad.

However, with the confirmed problem come possible solutions. Catnip and Feliway spray have helped her in the past. I will have some of both by the time I go home this afternoon and will put them to work. She is also receiving sub-cutaneous fluids, to fight dehydration, and high-nutrient food by syringe, as she has no interest in eating on her own. Until there is a positive change, though, Minuet feels more secure in a  little spot behind the library’s couch. At least there, it is warm - inches away from the hot-water pipe - and secure from prying feline busybodies.

Better news is that Minuet may not be diabetic. Her diagnosis as such relied upon a single test of her blood, which resulted in a number of 12.5. No further tests were conducted. I would have tested her over several days, possibly a week, twice or thrice a day, in the comfort and relaxed atmosphere of her home, rather than the stressful situation of a veterinary hospital. On the basis of the one test, she was prescribed a twice-daily dose of one unit of insulin.

For me, even 12.5, though higher than the best numbers (between four and eight, inclusive), is not a particularly high number for blood glucose. Other factors, such as water intake, urination, activity and mobility, must be considered. Tucker, in his later years, rarely had blood-sugar lower than 14, but the doctor felt satisfied that, as long as the roly poly was otherwise well and hardy, the numbers alone need not dictate treatment.

I tested Minuet’s blood yesterday and today, and both times, it registered 6.8, an excellent number. I will continue to test her randomly. It may indeed be that she is diabetic, that condition being quite unpredictable; in any case, she need not receive insulin for such a good number. I am annoyed that a veterinary would not suggest that the owner test Min repeatedly to determine the viability of such treatment; the owner was not even shown how to conduct a curve.

Minuet still faces some tough and uncomfortable days. But there is a plan in place and I am hopeful that she will recover and feel good soon.