Prayers for my Pidgelet, please! *Update 11/23*; she's losing weight; post #285

[GILL]

The Crew is sending thier prayers and we hope the she is feeling better soon.

[Medusa]

Dr. Lee took x-rays of both her chest and her sinuses. She has a mild sinus infection but there is a mass in front of her heart that he wants to recheck in a month. The other vets looked at the x-ray and feel that it's probably calcified and nothing to worry about but we'll see if it's grown or changed at all in a month. He said that he could have a radiologist look at it but all s/he would say is "It could be this, that or the other" and Dr. Lee could tell me that himself. So she'll be rechecked in 4 weeks.

He also told me that she has spondylosis of the spine and he showed me on the x-ray where it is. He said that it's probably painful for her and I said that she never cries or anything and he said "Well, you know how cats are".

He gave her an injection of Convenia and some Cyproheptadine tablets for the infection. He also advised that I put her on Science diet, all of my cats for that matter. I told him that they only get a few T. of Fancy Feast in the morning and the rest of the day they eat Purina Cat Chow. He said that feeding them Fancy Feast is like giving them chocolate cake every day because it's loaded w/sugar and salt. So I bought a couple cans of Science diet and will add a little FF and back off the FF every day until they are eating only the Science diet canned.

I'm going to keep a good thought, try not to let my fears get the better of me regarding that mass in front of Pidge's heart but if you will include her in your prayers until I learn more, I sure would appreciate it.

[Catty1]

PT Prayers for Pidge!

If the mass is calcified, it won't grow. They are likely rechecking it as a formality. Does she have any meds for pain?

She is a brave girl, and you are her great mom!

Hey - maybe the pain from the spondylosis is why she doesn't like being groomed? That might change.

She is 18 1/2 and doing wonderfully. Hope her sniffles clear up soon!

[pomtzu]

Oh my!! - it's always something - isn't it??? Hopefully that mass is something that won't effect her adversely. Try not to worry - I know - easier said than done!
Is she taking anything for the pain of the spondylosis? Unfortunately I know first hand how uncomfortable that is.
Lots of prayers and well wishes from me and the poochies.

BTW - interesting fact about the FF. My son's 2 cats split a can at night - maybe that's why their bellies are swaying when they walk. They get dry food the rest of the day to nibble on when they're hungry, but don't really eat much and I could never figure why they are so chunky.

[Medusa]

Oh my!! - it's always something - isn't it??? Hopefully that mass is something that won't effect her adversely. Try not to worry - I know - easier said than done!
Is she taking anything for the pain of the spondylosis? Unfortunately I know first hand how uncomfortable that is.
Lots of prayers and well wishes from me and the poochies.

BTW - interesting fact about the FF. My son's 2 cats split a can at night - maybe that's why their bellies are swaying when they walk. They get dry food the rest of the day to nibble on when they're hungry, but don't really eat much and I could never figure why they are so chunky.

Dr. Lee and I got to talking about the sinus thing and the mass and I totally forgot to ask him about pain meds for her. He had just finished surgery and was about to leave the office (I was originally scheduled to see another vet) but when he found out it was I who asked for him, he stuck around. (Isn't that nice? He's a good guy.) I called the office when I got home and one of the other vets is going to call me about pain meds and they'll ship them to me because their office is so far away; I don't want to drive back up there.

As for the FF, Dr. Lee also said that dry food is almost just as bad if we free feed, which I've always done because my work schedule has always been so erratic, and especially if we leave dry food out for them at night. If you can schedule their eating to twice a day, it'll help to control their weight. I can only imagine the mewtiny I would have on my hands if I tried that after all these years plus changing their food, too.

He also asked me if she had been vomiting and she hadn't and her appetite has been good. So guess who just now vomited? Honestly. So now I don't know if it's the meds that she was just given or what. Can any of my cats get something normal like a sty? LOL

[lvpets2002]

Awee poor wittle Pidgelet.. Get Better Soon.. Sending Positive Vibes & Lots of Prayers..

[pomtzu]

I can only imagine the mewtiny I would have on my hands if I tried that after all these years plus changing their food, too.

He also asked me if she had been vomiting and she hadn't and her appetite has been good. So guess who just now vomited? Honestly. So now I don't know if it's the meds that she was just given or what.

I hear ya' on the mewtiny issue - we'd have the same around here. They hardly eat any dry food durning the day, and I'm pretty sure not much at night either, since Myndi and Sparky will bark when they hear the faintest sound during the night. They must have inherited their "bigness" since I don't think they would be considered fat. It's just that they have "jelly bellies"!

And maybe the vomiting was from the stress of going to the vet - or a combo of that and the meds. I hope she's doing okay now!

[Medusa]

And maybe the vomiting was from the stress of going to the vet - or a combo of that and the meds. I hope she's doing okay now!

I'm thinking you're right. It was all food. I think she may have done the 'scarf 'n' barf' routine.

Hey, did you save me some pumpkin bread?

[Medusa]

Oh my!! - it's always something - isn't it??? Hopefully that mass is something that won't effect her adversely. Try not to worry - I know - easier said than done!
Is she taking anything for the pain of the spondylosis? Unfortunately I know first hand how uncomfortable that is.
Lots of prayers and well wishes from me and the poochies.

BTW - interesting fact about the FF. My son's 2 cats split a can at night - maybe that's why their bellies are swaying when they walk. They get dry food the rest of the day to nibble on when they're hungry, but don't really eat much and I could never figure why they are so chunky.

Just thought I'd add here that I did get some Science Diet for the Fur Posse and they all love it, except for Creamsicle. She doesn't like any canned food. I bought just the regular in the pet store, not the prescription diet but I did get two cans of I/D for the intestinal track at Dr. Lee's and they loved that, too.

[Medusa]

Pidge started wailing again, went downstairs, then upstairs. I think she was looking for Boo because the wailing stopped as soon as she found him. I was just about to finally get around to making my bed but I didn't have the heart to do it once I saw these two together. Boo groomed her and then he just kissed her and you can see that in the last photo.

[cassiesmom]

Dear God, please take good care of Pidge and Medusa. Thank you.