Saturday, September 24, 2022

Not Today

Renn is recovering from his latest off-day. As readers may recall, it began Wednesday night; it continued until Friday. When I came home yesterday, I saw that my big boy had thrown up some coloured fluid. He had also nibbled a little hard-food – which had not come up – and wet in the litter-box, so he had acquired some extraneous water at some time.

What was encouraging was that he ate some soft-food for dinner. It was a very small amount, not enough to keep a mouse’s tummy from growling, but the point was that Renn ate and, moreover, wanted to eat. But it was certainly not enough, so I force-fed a single syringe-worth of Recovery-and-water into him. Then I waited to see if it would stay down.

Later, Renn expressed a wish for some hard-food, of which he ate a small portion. This was repeated through the evening, punctuated by drinks of water. Before bedtime, I risked another syringe of Recovery; it might have triggered more vomiting – the amounts he was eating voluntarily were probably what his stomach was telling him he could stand – but force-feeding not only puts needed nutrition into a cat, but often impels them to eat of their own volition.

There were no unpleasant sounds or sights in the night, and this morning, Renn ate his usual hard-food breakfast, served while I clean litter-boxes and refresh water-bowls. Then, surprisingly, he ate what was for him a good portion of soft-food. He has shown no sign of intending to return it to me.

This episode was a bad one. I called the veterinary hospital yesterday afternoon, but they had no openings until the first week of September; my town is now feeling the press of business in this regard that everywhere else seems to be experiencing. The best I could arrange was a ‘drop-off’ on Wednesday: an animal is delivered to the hospital first thing in the morning and a doctor sees to him in a spare moment during the day. The disadvantages of that arrangement need not be elaborated.

I will, however, take the advice of several readers and talk to my doctor about acquiring some B12 or Cerenia, possibly both, for injection at home. The latter drug would be kept for emergencies, while the former vitamin could be a regular dose. I have no idea if they will provide these under those conditions, how long Cerenia or B12 will stay effective in a syringe, or whether a visit to the hospital is necessary. These are things to discuss with the veterinary. My benefit is that I am well-known to a couple of the doctors and they know my experience with cats.

For now, however, I am relieved. I thought that Renn’s big moment might have arrived. I expect it to come in such a guise: a similar episode from which there is no return. But I think I can now safely write that whenever that moment arrives, it will not be today.

 

17 comments:

  1. That *is* a great relief; from the tone of your prior post, I could tell that you feared he wouldn't recover from this bout. Have the vets ever been able to offer theories about what causes these "off-days?"

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    1. The principal suspicion is of irritable bowel syndrome, but it's a condition that is pretty much guessed at by eliminating other problems. Then comes the medicine (such as prednisolone) that is guessed at because the ibs is guessed at; attempts at getting Renn to eat food that will help ibs... Renn is easily distressed, and I don't want to change his diet when he eats so little as it is. In other words, it may be ibs, but at Renn's age and with his disposition, trying to cure it or alleviate it would not make him feel better.

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  2. Renn looks a bit tired out from all these days of not eating drinking a lot and having you hand feed him. Hope he has a restful weekend and you to, as you play this "wait and see" game. Not a fun game at all.
    I saw Kea comment on Poppy Q yesterday about Derry. Hope he is having a better weekend too.

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  3. Renn, We are glad you decided that you wanted to eat again, and that your wish is 'Not Today'. Phew!
    Hang in there little guy! Sending more POTP and pawyers, too.

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  4. I am sorry I have not been online to visit and I am so sorry to hear about Renn but now delighted his 3 days of not being well are over. (fingers crossed) Will keep him in my prayers!

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  5. I am very glad that Renn has decided that today is not the day. Life can be a very stressful roller coaster and I hope he has many more ups than downs.

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  6. I'm relieved, too, that today is not the day. I hope the drop off won't take the entire day, I've had to do it, but if the cat is very sensitive, like Derry, that can do more harm than good. Over and above that, I hope Renn recovers enough to have more good days than bad. 🤞

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  7. Renn is feeling better, and that's great news! Hopefully this improvement will continue. I'm also glad that you're going to ask the vet to give you some injectable B12 and Cerenia. I've had cats on B12, and I seem to remember that there was no problem keeping pre-filled syringes of B12.

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  8. Good boy Renn. Sending you healing purrs.

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  9. Glad he is eating. I am praying for Renn.

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  10. The veterinary staff knows you, and will give you good advice.
    The longer food goes in the front and only exists out the back, is the goal!
    Purring for Renn.

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  11. We sure are happy to hear that Renn is doing better after that latest episode. Sending purrs and prayers your way, as always.

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  12. Renn, I wasn't here for you. But I am now. Prayers for you precious boy. XXXXXX

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    1. Katie, you are always here for the Cosy Apartment's cats. And anyway, you've had your own great concerns.

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  13. I'm happy to hear Renn is on the mend. And grateful too, that this is not the time, and that you are willing to do whatever you can for him to ensure his good days outnumber his bad.

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