I hope that Pidge will start improving and feeling better. I'll continue to keep her in my thoughts and prayers.
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I hope that Pidge will start improving and feeling better. I'll continue to keep her in my thoughts and prayers.
I'm relieved that Coco Puff is acting more like his old self and even playing with toys, that is soooooooooo great! And I'm glad you are on the mend too. And it does sound like Pidge is turning a corner too and I hope she is able to hold down her next meal. Prayers and thoughts going out for you and your whole crew. :)
So sorry that you and your babies are going through all this. Hoping and praying that things will start turning around and everyone will begin to feel better. {{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}
She came upstairs first thing this morning and, although she didn't come when called for breakfast, when I placed the food in front of her, she did eat a bit. No vomiting today either. She sat in the dining room window for quite some time and laid in her spot on the back of the sofa for about a half hour this evening. She's still sneezing so I had to start her on Clindamycin and boy, does she hate that! I don't want to give her an antihistamine because it makes her so nervous that she cries out. She's stressed enough w/out adding to it.
Coco Puff is almost back to his old bad boy Raoul Boop self. His meow isn't as loud as it's been but it's still louder than usual so I'm thinking that his hearing is impaired but that he's not totally deaf as I feared. He's frequenting his favorite sleeping spots again and he's playful; such a totally different picture from a week ago.
Things are looking up and life is good again. Thanx for all your prayers and good wishes, friends. Pidge and Coco and all the rest of the Fur Posse and I appreciate it a lot. :love:
Medusa, how are Pidgie and Coco Puff doing?
Coco Puff is returning to his bad boy ways. I brought home some fried rice for dinner yesterday and while I was on the phone w/someone, I heard "Thud!". He had chewed through the side of the container and knocked it onto the floor. So I'm taking that as a sign that he's feeling better. I still can't judge whether or not his hearing has been totally restored because his meow is still louder than it used to be but at least he isn't afraid and insecure any more.
Pidge is doing better, too. The subQ treatments really perk her up and she doesn't even make a sound the entire time during the treatment. She's eating, although not that much, but at least she isn't turning up her nose or completely turning her back on food as she was doing. She's been sleeping w/the rest of the Fur Posse instead of w/me as she has been but that's ok, too. She comes upstairs in the morning and is alert and was snuggled in w/her man Boo on the back of the sofa yesterday.
Thank you so much for asking. :)
What to do about Pidgelet? Same problem as before; she won't let me groom her. It's ok until I get close to the hindquarters; then she bats the brush out of my hand. She's becoming so matted again back there. I shaved her in a few spots a couple of weeks ago but she's matting near her tail now. Last night I tried to brush her for a few minutes and the poor girl became so stressed that she vomited. I can't do that to her. So I guess I'm going to have to totally shave her hindquarters. Boy, I sure hate to do that but I don't want those mats to become tight and painful again. There's no way I'm having her sedated for a lion cut again, not when she's been so sick and has cardiomyopathy. Jen, help!
prayers that Pidgie will allow herself to be groomed back there
Mary, I'm sorry to hear about Pidge's matting problem again.:( My Ziggy will get like this from time to time and she's also very hard to groom. I hope that she'll let you shave her and won't get too stressed out from it. Good luck.:)
Have you ever heard of using cornstarch to help remove mats? I've been watching the show "Groomer Has It" on Animal Planet and one of the groomers used this to help get mats out of a dog because they weren't allowed to bathe the dog. I think that another groomer used baby powder to do the same thing. Maybe this would also help Pidge.
Hummmm... cornstarch? I may try that on Boo... I can brush and brush her and she still mats...
Poor Pidgelet.. You're right, you can't keep stressing her like that. Gee, I hope the cornstarch idea works.. You have to do something but finding what works.. :rolleyes:
It seems as though everything stresses my little girl lately. She vomits her meds almost immediately and the pills are so teeny tiny. Maybe they're bitter, I don't know but it's got me concerned. Her appetite is waning; she barely eats enough to keep her alive. She's using the litter box fine and she's drinking water, so I guess I"ll count the blessings. I'm not sure about shaving her hindquarters today. I thought about the baby powder to get mats out but she's already got such bad dandruff; I don't want to add to the problem. I feel so bad about this.
Have you tried a spray on detangler? I used to use that on my Lhasas when I kept their hair long.
No, I haven't. I looked for one at the pet supply stores but wasn't able to find any, just detangler shampoo and I don't want to bathe her. She's had enough stress, poor girl. She cringes when she sees me coming towards her. Not exactly the reaction I want. :(Quote:
Originally Posted by pomtzu
ROLLER COMB - mom and I went to a local cat show yesterday. Of course, the Persians looked like they had fur made out of angel hair! :)
One lady was putting her lovely brown persian baby back in her carrier, and I asked her what she used to groom her.
She held up a comb. It looks like a wide tooth slicker comb, with a two rows of steel teeth, one half the length of the other.
Each tine ROLLS. She said she has used the roller comb for 30 years. I tried to find one locally and online. I can't recall the make - started with an "E". Excaliber? Entourage? Expedition?
Mary, I think this would really help you groom Pidge...when I find one for Cole, I'll give you a report.
The breeder said all better pet stores have one.
ETA: Found a pic! http://www.petnutritionproducts.com/.../ergo_shed.jpg
The NAME I was trying to think of is "Evolution". Bamboo makes a comb like this, as does Master Grooming.
What I used wasn't a shampoo - just a spray on detangler - can't remember the name. If you Google "detangler for dogs" - it brings up a bunch of different ones - I didn't check every one out since there's quite a few.Quote:
Originally Posted by Medusa
So sorry about the matting problem. :( Basically it happens because she probably doesn't groom herself as thoroughly as she used to. the cat's tongue actually combes the hair.
anyway, let me comment on some of the suggestions.
cornstarch will probably not help wth mats. I am sure it was used to help absorb some of the dirt and grease in the coat. But, it can't hurt to try.
Spray on detanglers might not be safe for cats. READ labels!! And you do still have to COMB the hair, so she still might resist.
The comb pictured above is a fantastic comb, I could not live without it, but it WILL still pull at the fur.
Shaving is the quickest way to get the offensive hair away, and the results last longer than just combing. But I understand not wanting sedation.
Call any and all groomers in your area and ask if they do cats. Your vet is not always the best option. We (at our shop) would be able to do what is needed without sedation. All you need is a shop with experience, a few exta hands, and the willingness to work within the customer's request.
Ask them to just shave the hindquarters. Explain that she is old and doesn't tolerate a lot of grooming, but needs this done for sanitary reasons. She should be in and out quickly before she gets agitated.
Good luck!
I have one. She hates it. :confused:Quote:
Originally Posted by Catty1
I would ask you to ship it to me, but the shipping would cost more than what I would pay for it, likely! ;)
With the detangler spray I have, I spray it into my hands and rub my hands a bit, then apply it that way to Cole. Maybe try that for a couple of days, and see if the combing goes better.
I guess Dr Lee would still put a no-no on painkillers? Seems to me that some pain she might have is causing the combing difficulty?
Maybe only for use on grooming days???
I use it on the rest of the Fur Posse and, actually, Pidge lets me groom her everywhere except her hindquarters and, of course, that's where she mats because that area is neglected. None of the other cats mind it at all. I believe I may have an extra one, Candace, and if I can find it, I'll send it to you. No worries about the postage.Quote:
Originally Posted by Catty1
Good idea about pain killers or maybe just a chill pill for her. I'll ask Dr. Lee about it and see what he says. I can't dig in there and really give her a good brushing because it truly appears to hurt her but I sure would like to. W/the rest of my cats, I can turn them upside down and they don't mind. LOL
She barely eats at all, turns her nose up at most treats and more often than not, vomits her meds. I didn't get one single med into her this morning, so I have to wait before I try again because she vomited instantly. She doesn't like pill pockets so that won't work either. I was supposed to take a first aid/CPR course for pets this morning but I cancelled because I'm afraid to leave her. To make matters worse, she got underfoot and I accidentally stepped on her tail. She took off running and I just feel awful. And scared. I was going to shave her a little bit more today but not after all that. :(
I hope this is just an "off" day for poor Pidge. Sending prayers and gentle cuddles her way and healing is all hers.:love:
I hope so, too, Candace. She's treating me as though I have the plague. "Tell it to the paw!" She has the same body language as Puddy did when she saw me coming towards her: she stiffens because she knows it's going to be meds or subQ's or a shot. If I try to show her affection at any other time, she pulls away. It's so sad to watch them grow old.Quote:
Originally Posted by Catty1
This just isn't Pidge's day. I waited to give her the subQ treatment because of all that transpired this morning and I didn't want to stress her out. I've done hundreds of subQ's but you'd think that this was my first one. That needle just would not go in right and I made her bleed, not a lot, but it just added to her stress and my feeling awful. She's really avoiding me now. :(
Oh Mary, I am so sorry Pidge is not having a good day today. :( I know how stressed you must be to see her so stressed. That's probably why the subQ's didn't go so well today. I would tell you to try and relax, but that's much easier said than done, I know.
I will just keep hoping that Ms Pidge gets over this little hump today and starts to improve again.
HUGS to you and Pidgelet!!
Aww Geez, my heart is so heavy reading this..
Oh, Pidgie, your Meowmie loves you SOOOO much, and she isn't being mean to you sticking you with the needle, she is giving you fluid to make you feel much better!
Sending Pidgelet and Mary prayers and good wishes and calming energies..
Mary, I'm sorry to hear that Pidge isn't doing well today.:( I hope that tomorrow will be a much better day. I'll keep her in my thoughts and prayers. Please take care and try not to stress out too much. (((HUGS)))
Mary, I'm so sorry you're going through this with Pidge - I wish there was something I could do. Keep up hope, and faith, and you'll pull through this.
My thoughts exactly.Quote:
Originally Posted by krazyaboutkatz
Prayers for you and Pidge from me.
She's doing a little better now. I tried pill pockets last night w/her meds and she actually ate it, so the meds got into her at least. She probably figured that anything is better than gagging up the meds and me trying again and again to get them down her throat. She tried to scoot downstairs w/the rest of the Fur Posse to sleep last night but I wouldn't let her. I wanted to hear her so I had her sleep w/me and she was NOT happy about it. Every time I reached towards her to pet her, she cringed. Boy, does she ever hold a grudge! I'm taking it all as a good sign, though. If she was totally acquiescent, it would mean that she's too weak to put up much of a fight.
I hope Pidge starts to feel better. I'm glad she ate the pill pocket.
Poor girl. I know what you mean about them holding a grudge. Hermes wouldn't let me near him after I put the cone on his head. He's doing better now but they don't forget easily.
Prays coming for Pidge.
Melissa