state of the meow address

[thejunipertree]

Tinker had another vet visit today because I'd noticed he really wasn't eating all that much and was looking a bit thinner. I also cottoned on to how he was chewing kind of oddly when he ate hard things like kibble or treats. He'd just gotten over the headcolds to end all headcolds and now this.

Verdict: SIX of his back teeth are bad and need to be removed.

The idea of putting my 17-year old, overweight cat with a slight heart murmur under sedation does not fill me full of joy and song. In fact, it's got me on the verge of weepy-style breakdowns.

Also, he's down to 10 pounds and some change. Ordinarily, I would be happy about that turn of events because I've been trying to get his weight down from the horrible heights my mother had gotten it to. However- a year ago, he weighed 16 pounds. A month ago, thirteen.

I've started him on canned food for the time being, so that he's actually able to eat his food and dear god, was he into that idea. It's not that he doesn't want to eat, he can't because it hurts him. The soft food helps tremendously. Right now, I'm under strict orders of "if he wants it, give it to him", which I am quite certain will brook no disagreement from his end.

I'm trying very hard to be optimistic about this entire thing, but I really need to fully grasp that he is quite old and going under sedation is a big risk. He's been so deeply intertwined in my life for so long that whenever I start thinking about the possibility of life without him, my head gets kind of swimmy.

Comments

[debrafortune.livejournal.com]

Poor baby. I'm glad you figured out whats going on with him and that he's readily taking food. Good luck.

[meetzemonsta.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[awdrey-gore.livejournal.com]

I hate it when you know what the problem is but face a Hobson's choice in remedying it.

I'm glad he's eating soft food. I hope he starts feeling better soon.

[meetzemonsta.livejournal.com]

I hope he's feeling better soon too, because the personality change from badass motherfucker to quiet and retiring freaks me out the most. It's like the Pod People came and took my cat away.

<3

[ninjalicious.livejournal.com]

When Marvin was < 3 lbs the vet gave Chris a tube of nutritional paste that helped him gain some weight and stay well-vitamined, I assume your vet didn't think he was bad enough to warrant something like that, but just fyi if his weight keeps shedding or stays too small.

Re: <3

[meetzemonsta.livejournal.com]

They gave me a can of some kind of prescription food to try out. He compared it to Ensure, but for cats. It's ground really smooth and is nastystinky.

I'm not fond of the ingredients list, but if it helps- then, hey!

[lachupacabra.livejournal.com]

*many hugs & well wishes for mr. kitteh*
:)

[meetzemonsta.livejournal.com]

Thank you, miss.