Sunday, February 24, 2019

A Bum Deal



Saturday morning, I thought it would be Tucker’s turn at the veterinary hospital.

I woke at 5.30, as I always do, in order to give the sugar twins their insulin injections. Right away, I noticed that Tucker’s visit to the litter-box, which usually immediately follows upon my waking, was of very short duration. In the next fifteen minutes, he probably repeated that visit ten times, each with no result: no sounds of digging or litter being moved about, no scraping, and no waste left behind. As well, he wanted to lick his bum, and he tried to rub that portion of his anatomy along the rug.

This, of course, meant trouble. It was either blocked anal glands or constipation. It could have been other things, but likely one of those two. The hospital is open Saturday mornings, but whether I could get the roly poly in to see a doctor was unknown. As well, it would not be open for three hours.

However, about half an hour later, while drinking some water in the library, Tucker left a deposit. Afterward, he was relaxed and untroubled. He did not go back to the litter-box for a few hours, and he lie peacefully on the carpet. The deposit he made was hard. It was, after all, just constipation, though that in itself is nothing to laugh at.

So the sausage-cat is receiving a treatment of hairball remedy this week, which I believe is pretty much a laxative that smooths the way for the removal of food. However, I will be checking with the doctor tomorrow when I speak with her about Renn. The good news – aside from Tucker relieving himself at last – is that he likes the hairball treatment; it tastes good to him, which is practically unheard of in my household. And these days, I will take what good news I am given.

8 comments:

  1. I am glad things sorted themselves out and you didn't need to take Tucker to the vet. Eric used to regularly have the same problem and I used to smear a little Katalax on his paw every other day. He also loved the taste of it.

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  2. Boy, you've had one thing after another. Hopefully all will be well with Tucker. Please let us know what the vet says about Tucker and Renn. Fingers and paws crossed that everything will be OK.

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  3. I'm glad things were moving along for Tucker! I keep a small bottle of Restor-a-Lax on hand for the boys, and on occasion have given them 1/8 tsp per day in canned for one or two days. I've never tried the hairball remedy though, don't know if they'd like it. I remember once putting some on Chumely's paw, thinking he'd lick it off, but it was like he had poison on his fur and he ran around the living room, flicking it off onto the walls and the curtains. Ah, memories.... :-D

    Sending good thoughts for Renn's UA results, Tucker's system, and of course Parker.

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  4. At least the remedy tastes good to Tucker, that's sure a plus.

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  5. You must be feeling like 'what is going to happen next!?!" We added stool softener to Chuck's food for years, and along with a mild steroid, finally found the solution to his continued constipation problems. Think I still have a large bottle of the stuff in the cupboard; I'd buy it on sale!

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  6. I am very happy that Tucker is fine. Lucky he had you to watch him closely. I am thinking of you and the cats. Ps i am having troubles with comments disappearing. But I want you to know I am reading daily and thinking of you and the cats.

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  7. Phew, glad it was as simple as constipation (even though it wasn't easy for Tucker). Poor boy!

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  8. catfather...whoa buddy....ya knead ta drink mor waterz dood...trooth.. pree tend itz fizh jooce if ya due knot like de waterz...sum one in TT had sum anal gland issuez N bee leeve ewe me eye noe itz KNOT fun....pleez ta tell dad ta look inta PUREE pumpkin; sure him canna make ewe a pie with it; but it will help !! :) ♥

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