I just got off the phone w/Dr. Lee. The way he views it, and thus, so do I, is that it's all good news. Puddy has a complicated disease but then, it's Puddy. What else could I expect? The name of the disease is too long for me to remember. But....she is essentially operating on one kidney, her liver is inflamed and so is her colon. He was concerned that she had a tumor on her pancreas but she does not. Our plan is that starting next week she'll be on prednisolone for inflammation and will prob. stay on clindamycin for a while longer. He is also going to teach me how to administer subcutaneous fluids which will have to be done weekly, prob. for life. He said that because Puddy is so feisty (nice word for 'cranky') that I may not be able to do it and may have to take her in once a week for the procedure. That's something I hope doesn't transpire because it's over an hour drive each way. Not sure how I'll manage that w/this schedule of mine. Plus the added expense of weekly vet visits and procedures. But I'm going to think positive and hope that Pud will allow me to do it.

She goes in on Monday to have her sutures removed and depending on how she behaves then, he'll determine whether or not I'll be able to administer the SQ fluids. And he'll start her on the prednisolone then. He said to start it too early deters healing. He said that no wonder the little girl was crying in pain, that if I could've seen how her colon ran, it's a wonder she lived at all. Then when she got hypothermia after surgery, he was worried that she wouldn't survive. But my girl Puddy fooled us all!

So, there ya have it. More good news than bad. Just gotta make sure she keeps eating and somehow I've got to get those SQ fluids in her. Since my previous vet has come out of retirement and he's only 10 min. away, I may see if I can work something out w/him and see if he can do it, if Puddy won't let me. Either way, Dr. Lee said that she could live a long life, provided that her other kidney doesn't shut down because she does have nephritis, too, and she'll be on a special diet.

Thanx again, friends, for your support and prayers. You have no idea how you all have helped me through this and all the other "cat astrophes".

Blessings,
M