AMAZON

Saturday, August 18, 2007

Allergy Cat


Today Alex’s vet gave him a new nickname: Allergy Cat. She (the vet) has now confirmed that what has been causing the health problems of the cat whom I serve (more than ever now) is allergies.

It wasn’t that diagnosis that took Alex and me to the animal hospital this morning. We had received that by telephone a few days ago. What motivated me to con Alex into jumping into my arms and then stuffing the little clawing tiger into his cat carrier was a black discharge coming from his ear. When I first observed the discharge, I thought that an insect had lodged itself in my kitten’s ear. It wasn’t an insect. I was able to remove some of the dried, crinkly, yucky stuff from his outer ear. However, I noted that it was also deep in his ear—too deep for amateur cat physician me to attempt removal. Thus, our trip to see Alex's veterinarian at the Animal Hospital.

The black stuff, when removed and analyzed, was identified as a discharge from a combination bacterial/fungus infection that had developed in Allergy Cat’s ear. The vet pointed out that animals, like human kids, who have a lot of allergies also develop a lot of infections. And Alex seems to have a lot of allergies! These allergies account for his itching and scratching his fur down to bare skin. That condition has improved greatly since he was been on a regular cortisone treatment. Alex is also no longer "off" his food: he as gained a whopping 0.4 lb. since his last visit to the vet and now weights a staggering 10.6 pounds.

After his ear was cleaned as well as possible and he received yet another injection, Alex gladly if not happily crawled into his cat carrier and fell asleep for the duration of the trip home. I paid the vet’s accountant (enough money to feed Alex and me for three weeks) and, with the carrier of the cat who owns me and a “goody bag” containing five new medications for Alex (who now has more prescription meds than I do), drove home.

Alex, of course, slept. And, after staggering out of the carrier when I unzipped it in our living room, demanding to be fed, and exploring the house to be sure it wasn’t the Animal Hospital, Alex took a long, medicine induced nap. I did, too.

19 comments:

  1. I hope this is about the end of Alex's woes, and your wallet being emptied at the vet's. I really do hope Alex is feeling better.

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  2. Well, even though I'm allergic to Alex, give him a hug from me...

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  3. My friend's dog also has a lot of allergies, thankfully they aren't very severe now but when she was a lot younger she was allergic to just about everything you can imagine including grass.

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  4. Poor bugger. I'm glad he's getting better. Does your vet give you a seniors discount?

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  5. ` That reminds me. It's time to give my cat her medications.
    ` Glad Alex isn't eating his furs anymore!

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  6. I glad there is finally a diagnosis for Alex. If there a prognosis too?

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  7. purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr alex

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  8. black goo? ick.

    So what is the course of treatment now?

    I like med induced sleep. Aleve is my best friend during my menstrual cycle.

    xx
    pinks

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  9. I hope Alex's health problems are finally solved. How are you doing after your fall through the stairs?

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  10. I'm glad Alex is feeling better.

    My Alice gets a check-up once a year when her shots are due, but other than that she's only been to the vet once. She's strictly an indoor cat, and I think that limits the opportunity to pick up stray germs.

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  11. alex sounds like he is taking it all in his stride. but give him a big cuddle from me. i'm amazed i'm not yet allergic to cat or bunny fur, it's moulting season right now and the tufts are flying ...

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  12. Hi Nick ~~ Glad to hear that Alex is on the mend - just as well for the finance department, as well as Alex.
    Do you get a Pensioner discount? I would ask.
    I had thought of getting one of those plug-in thingos, but glad I didn't now. Take care Nick, Regards, Merle.

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  13. Gee maybe you can see if you can do commercials or make personal appearances to promote the animal hospital to help cut down those bills.

    Glad Alex is doing better and you know what is going on with him. I think you need to ask them for some more medicine.

    What ever they gave him while they were working on the ear worked so well for getting him into the carrier. You certainly need some of that.

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  14. I'm glad the vet has finally come up with a diagnosis for Alex and that he is getting a bit of weight back now. Vet's bills are expensive though, all my animals have insurance just in case, in fact it costs me more to insure them than to insure my car, but it's worth every penny.

    I'm sorry I haven't stopped by for a while but things have been a bit hectic. I've linked you now though, so that should jog my memory.

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  15. Isn't it funny...we humans will put off going to the doctor ourselves, yet spend a small fortune on our pets. A boss of mine years ago made that observation (he was a cat person, so he was a good boss), and it's so true.

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  16. It’s good to have a diagnosis. Now I hope Alex is on the road to healing.

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  17. I'm so glad he's doing better! That is wonderful news.

    Hugs to you both,
    Laurie

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  18. Poor ALex. I hope he's feeling better. This reminds me of my own Peanut, who's been on and off different antibiotics and anti-inflammatory meds for almost a year now from infections on his... ahem... bum. Costs a fortune but I don't care.

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