![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
cat trouble
Sep. 21st, 2007 12:07 pmDancer (our little black and white cat) hasn't been acting like herself the past couple of days--hiding off in a corner, not being the lapcat we know and love, not even managing a purr when petted. It's also been obvious that she's had some difficulty breathing, so this morning I made an appointment at the vet for her. Just got back.
The nurse took one look at Dancer and whisked her into the back room. She said she wanted to make sure Dancer was stable before we proceeded. Came back a bit later and asked for permission to take an X-ray because Dancer's labored breathing made them think she had fluid in her lungs.
She does.
The doctor gave me a run-down on a list of possible causes. The top two, especially considering Dancer's age (a senior cat? Well, yeah, I've had her 12 years, but Dancer does *not* act like a senior!) are congestive heart failure and some form of cancer, such as leukemia or lymphoma.
My choices were to let them tap the fluid to try to ease her pain or to think about a humane end for her. I went with tapping the fluid and running diagnostics on the fluid and on a blood sample. It's possible this is something treatable, and I'd really rather know.
They're keeping her for observation today, should give me a call this afternoon. They close at 5, so if they think she needs further observation, they'll let us know and, I think, suggest we take her to Valley Clinic. While she's there, they'll be giving her an IV (I told them I wasn't sure she'd been eating or drinking, and her X-rays only showed gas in her stomach and intestines--probably because she's been gulping air while trying to breathe.) and possibly some diuretics to try to help clear the lungs.
They gave her some oxygen after the X-ray, and that perked her up quite a bit, so I'm hoping that if the fluid can be cleared (and stay cleared!), she'll be up and about in no time.
The nurse took one look at Dancer and whisked her into the back room. She said she wanted to make sure Dancer was stable before we proceeded. Came back a bit later and asked for permission to take an X-ray because Dancer's labored breathing made them think she had fluid in her lungs.
She does.
The doctor gave me a run-down on a list of possible causes. The top two, especially considering Dancer's age (a senior cat? Well, yeah, I've had her 12 years, but Dancer does *not* act like a senior!) are congestive heart failure and some form of cancer, such as leukemia or lymphoma.
My choices were to let them tap the fluid to try to ease her pain or to think about a humane end for her. I went with tapping the fluid and running diagnostics on the fluid and on a blood sample. It's possible this is something treatable, and I'd really rather know.
They're keeping her for observation today, should give me a call this afternoon. They close at 5, so if they think she needs further observation, they'll let us know and, I think, suggest we take her to Valley Clinic. While she's there, they'll be giving her an IV (I told them I wasn't sure she'd been eating or drinking, and her X-rays only showed gas in her stomach and intestines--probably because she's been gulping air while trying to breathe.) and possibly some diuretics to try to help clear the lungs.
They gave her some oxygen after the X-ray, and that perked her up quite a bit, so I'm hoping that if the fluid can be cleared (and stay cleared!), she'll be up and about in no time.
