StrangeRanger

Sunday Update

It has been one *full* week.  I mean seriously.  I'm just grateful that it has gone as well as it has.  Maddie seems to be getting back to her normal self, attitude-wise.  She looked amazingly haggard after coming back from the e-vet.

Here she is fussing over her bandage.  She had to have i.v. sedation for her endoscopy.

She had a tiny little, hoarse meow for a day or two.  And, if you look closely, you can see a bit of bare pink tummy.  They shaved her a bit when they did an ultrasound on her stomach.  

We've got three different kinds of anti-biotics to clear up the helicobacer.  We've got a med that coats and soothes her stomach, and protects it from excess acid.  The funny thing is that I've dealt with *all* of these things as well in the dim and distant past.  Yes, that includes the helicobacter.  I have a heretofore unmatched level of empathy for my cat.  NO. FUN.  At all.  I guess this falls in the category of "pets and their people start to resemble one another".  I do wish she didn't have to deal with this, though.

Anyways, all of these meds are liquid form.  I have to corral Maddie and squirt this stuff in her mouth. I have discovered, since starting this, that my cat has a virtuoso skill that I had never anticipated.  COMBAT DROOLING.  Really.  Won't even describe it.  Oh my god.....

At least the medicine-trauma is only short-lived.  Treats and brushies follow.  

There is one happy coincidence here.  The bedroom sunpuddle is coming back.  Maddie is renewing her happy aquaintance with it.

This is the way a cat is supposed to live.

Very true.  Now bugger off with that syringe or I will drool on you some more.  I mean it.

And I'm outta here.  Thanks for all your prayers and thoughts.

Thursday Update

We've gotten the results of Maddie's biopsies and the news is good, if a bit unusual.  Or Strange.  As in StrangeRanger.  There's a reason I picked this name for my blog.

There is no cancer <insert massive sigh of relief>.  Maddie has several ulcers and inflammatory bowel disease.  The cause of the ulcers is a massive amount of helicobacter. 

This.  This is the bastard that has been messing WITH MY CAT. <insert appropriate rage noises>

Cats normally have some of it, but Maddie apparently is prime property for the bacteria.  Think Boardwalk and Park Place.  The internal medicine vet thinks that somehow Maddie got a massive influx of this stuff, thus causing the ulcers and inflammatory bowel.  The ulcers got worse and worse and led to the bloody vomit.

Prognosis?  Cautiously optimistic.  Maddie has three (!) different flavors of anti-biotic, a stomach-coating med, and Pepcid AC.  We do this for two weeks and report back to the doc.  With luck, Maddie will be back to normal.  We're not out of the woods yet (have you tried to give a 15 pound cat close to 10mL of nasty-tasting liquid meds?  ain't easy) and we still have to figure out what happened to get Maddie's system out of whack enough to allow the runaway infection.  The inflammatory bowel may be a problem all by itself and made Maddie vulnerable to the helicobacter and we may have to treat that.   Also, while cancer doesn't seem to be an issue (and is not very likely) it's not been ruled completely out, but the news is better than we could have hoped.

Thank you to everyone who sent wishes and prayers.  That St Francis must have some pull, somewhere.  I am humbly grateful.  It's meant a lot to know that you guys have been out there, pulling for our girl.

Really.

Thank you.

Tuesday Night Update

Maddie's home from the emergency vet.  She was there overnight, enduring sedation, x-rays, hospital food, more x-rays and an endoscopy. Biopsies were taken and the variable prognoses (?)(prognosises?) range from "no biggie" to "I'm to cry".  And yes, I'm aware that those are not really medical terms.

Anyways, she's home.  Came back with an e-collar that was tied to a harness.  Apparently her rep as a furry boxing glove stuffed with razor blades is intact.  As the vet tech said in the exam room, "I'll let *you guys* take the collar and bandage off!" "Fair enough", thought we, "just give us the cat."

Maddie's had food, water, treats, some of her new meds, and brushies.  She's sacked out on the bed.  We're letting her rest.

Further bulletins as events warrant.

Thanks for being here.

Monday night

Maddie is at the emergency vet tonight.  While polite and up-beat, they don't understand why she vomited blood earlier this eve.  Maddie is staying there tonight while a-waitin' an ultrasound exam by the specialist in the morning.  The house seems very large and dark and empty right now.

Would you say a small prayer for my cat?  LadyRanger and I would appreciate it greatly.

 

Lucky Thirteen

Today is Maddie's thirteenth birthday!

 

'at's right!  'Appy Boifday to me!!  I'ma get cheese and turkey and cake and presents and brushies and lovin' and everything!

We certainly hope we can provide the "everything" necessary to keep this wonderful cat happy.

Oh, you do okay, I suppose.  Just don't slack off....

Funny...at thirteen, it seems that a nice place to nap is higher up the wish-list that in past years.

Just remember...I get my driver's lisence in three years.  Don't think naps are gonna take me away from the convertable Mustang you're gonna get me.  And the lovely Grace Kelly shades and scarf ensemble.  Can't go motoring without those!

Really?  I can see it.

Please join me in wishing the Furry Center of the Universe a Happy Birthday, and Many Happy Returns of the Day!

On the Subject of Boxes

Boxes.  Yes.  I'm sure most cat-blog fans have seen the "If I fits, I sits" meme (big cat edition here).  When it comes to boxes, Maddie is perhaps an exception.  She tends to be an *on* the box girl instead of an *in* the box girl.

What?  There's another way you can do this?

This is much more natural!  I can survey the world from my lofty perch!

There have been times that the lure of the interior has been too powerful to resist,

What?  You're looking at me like there's some sort of inconsistancy in my logic.  It makes perfect sence to me...begone!

In any event, it seems that a box is a wonderful thing regardless of where you are in relation to it.

The good news for the week?  Kitchen issue *seems* to be resolved <insert sound of wood being knocked> and Maddie's food bowl is right back where it should be.  While it didn't happen by the 3:17 deadline set last week by our good friends Da Tabbies (go visit Trout Towne, it is a happy place) it seems to have made our Little Miss happy.

Coping with Change

We've had a small issue here at ChezRanger that has necessitated moving Maddie's food station.  We've had to move it from the kitchen, where it has been forever, to the dining room.  Perhaps that's more appropriate, but Maddie has had some adjusting to do.

Wait...what?  What's this doing HERE?  I'm not sure that I approve of this....

She often walks right by a full bowl of food, goes to the kitchen, sits in the old spot and meows piteously.  She is not to be lured by bag rattling or smoochy noises.  I have to pick her up and carry her to her food.  

We hope to return things to normal in a week or so.  Won't be too soon for Maddie.