Aroara's saga continues...update #77(with graphic picture)

[Moesha]

I'm going to see what they tell me when they send her home about having to have more pill forms of antibiotics. If they want her to continue on them, I will definitely ask about the injection. My one concern would be that with the Clindamyacin her fever kept going up and that a different antibiotic wouldn't work and I'd be gone and not know. There is a place that boards animals, where I take them to be bathed, that charges $10/day I think it is. She'll give medicine to animals. If pills are prescribed for Aroara, I may check into having her boarded there. As long as cats are kept away from all the barky dogs. Aroara would be scared out of her mind. And with the holiday weekend, I'm sure she's going to be pretty full. I had thought about boarding Morgan and not having to have a petsitter, just leaving self water and feeders for the other guys, but stress increases Morgan's sugar levels and I don't want to take a chance on having to put him back on insulin. Thanks for all the suggestions! The vet closes at noon tomorrow, so Aroara should be home by then. Of course I have 2 houses to clean and a hair appointment almost an hour away, so who knows what time I will actually get to be home.

ETA: I just talked to my mom, who was the one that talked to the vet's office yesterday when they changed the antibiotics. She said that the pill is only given to her once/day. So if I could pill her by myself Friday morning, and then have help when everyone gets back Sunday night, she would only miss maybe one pill if she wouldn't eat it from a pill pocket. hmm

[Moesha]

Aroara got home about noon. They called me to say they were kicking her out because they thought she was "feeling pretty darned good". That was their way of telling me they got to see the "roar" part of her name. When she wants something she tells you. And she definitely didn't want to be in that cage. Now she doesn't want to be inside. She has to take 1/2 a orbax (I think it is) each day for a week. She ate as soon as she got home. I had to immediately leave again and just returned. She has reddness by her ear and the side of her face is swelling again. I don't know if he lanced it or not actually. He just said that if it puffed back up to let him know. So I don't know if the reddness is from something he did or not. I got there just before they were closing today and they just told me about the medicines and that she was feeling much better. Guess I'll have to be making a phone call tomorrow. She may have gotten bitten by something to have caused this whole thing. We just don't know. My mom may have to take her back for me. I have to be at a cleaning job at 7:30 in the morning, before the vet opens. At least she is feeling better. But I sure don't like the thought of her being alone this weekend. But she will be miserable if she has to be in a cage. And if it's a cage at the vet's office she will be all alone for the weekend. I'll have to see what happens with them tomorrow and if I should try to board her. She will squawk the entire time she is in that cage though. I'll come back and she will have larengitis on top of everything else! I was pleasantly surprised by the bill though. It was only $62.50 for her fluids, meds and 2 days of hospitalization.

[Emeraldgreen]

Wow, 62.50 is really reasonable! I'm glad she is back home and feeling better. It's strange that her face seems to be puffing up again though. Is it possible for your mom to either stay at your place or keep Aroara with her for the 3 days? That way she could take her in at any time if it's needed.
Good news that she has her appetite back and is roaring up a storm!

[Moesha]

We are all going to be gone for the weekend for a convention. The girl that I have coming to look after the furkids has a dog and a cat of her own. She was telling me that they are having some trouble dealing with fleas on her dog. I sure don't want to ask her to watch Aroara with that going on over there. Plus, if something happens and she gets worse, the vet's office is closed. The closest emergency vet is an hour away. The best option would be for her to stay inside here because she won't squawk the entire weekend. But for her to have someone to watch her would be to be boarded, but then she is caged and frustrated to no end and I couldn't get her until Monday morning and would have to drop her off tomorrow night.

[krazyaboutkatz]

I'm glad to hear that she's feeling better and is now home. I'm sorry to hear that her face is starting to swell up again. Hopefully you'll be able to have some one to keep an eye on her while you're away. I hope she'll recover quickly.

[Moesha]

I called the office this morning and talked with the tech who had helped the vet the most in dealing with Aroara. She said they searched her face and only found what might be a tiny wound under her eye. I told her about the big spot near her ear, and she said that I could bring her by and they would look at what I was seeing. I was working this morning until noon. The vet does surgeries from noon until 3. So I packed Aroara up and got to the office about 3:15. It was swamped. I guess everyone was getting their last minute checkups before the holiday weekend. We waited about half an hour and then the same vet tech motioned us into a room. She looked at Aroara's head and said that she hadn't seen that before. She tried to shave it, but Aroara wasn't having any of that. So the doctor came in a few minutes later and looked at her. He decided that since it was going into a holiday weekend, he would go ahead and knock her out and remove the abcess. There was only an hour left until closing time, but he squeezed her in. She was passed out cold and looked so cute when I went back to pick her up. She has since woken up, but is still sort of groggy. Despite that, she has attempted to sneak outside. Those attempts were thwarted though! So I'll be leaving in the morning as planned and hoping that all goes well with the furkids until I get back Sunday evening.

They never said what they thought might have caused the problem, but I'm thinking she was bitten by a snake. Look at those two perfectly round holes in my baby's head. I took that with my cell phone because the flash on the regular camera was washing it out. I think you can get the idea though.

[Emeraldgreen]

It does look like a snake bite! Poor Aroara. She has been through so much in the last few days but I'm sure she will begin to feel better asap now that the pressure of the abscess is gone. I'm glad you kept examining her at home because you know her better than anybody and you just knew something wasn't right. Thank goodness she's finally on the mend!

[Moesha]

Thank you very much for your concern throughout this past week.

Here's a picture I took of it with the regular camera. They are puncture holes. At least the vet said there wasn't much pus in there. Guess the antibiotics are doing their thing. I sort of looks like it is swelling to me again. But maybe it is just because there is no hair there. I'm going to hope anyway.

[Catty1]

Poor baby! How is she feeling (aside from trying to sneak out?)

I hope she heals up just fine with that abcess out...heavens, what if the vet hadn't operated?

Good Mommy! Spotting that nasty bit and taking her back in.

HUGS and I hope she is well soon!

[Moesha]

She is still groggy from being knocked out. But she has helped herself to Morgan's food and has had some water. The first place she went was the litterbox. Poor baby. I didn't know that she'd headed that way and I heard some strange noises. I guess she was too groggy to get herself inside the litterbox. That was a couple of hours ago though. She's getting around pretty good right now. She has wanted to be in my lap. That's not a usual thing for her. The vet said that by tomorrow she should be back to normal. She was feeling fine before having the abcess removed. I don't know what would have happened. He seemed to indicate that the reason he went ahead and did it was that he wouldn't be around and the office would be closed for 3 days. I'm glad I saw that first puncture wound. I didn't know the second one was there until they shaved her head.

[krazyaboutkatz]

Poor Aroara. I'm glad that you caught this in time before the long holiday weekend. I sure hope that now she'll feel much better and heal up quickly. She'll remain in my thoughts and prayers.

[Medusa]

Goodness, poor little girl! It really does look like a snake bite, either that or a vampire bit her. I'm sure she'll improve every day now and lucky that you caught it, especially before this long holiday weekend.

[heidiv]

I can't believe what this poor little girl has been through!! You are such a good owner.... I could see how that could have been easily missed considering their hair can be so good at masking things like that....Do you have many snakes in your area....Poor baby? Is there any way she could have gotten into a fight with another animal?? Thank goodness the wound wasn't full of pus it could have taken your baby a much longer time to recover. Best wishes to your little girl and the hope recovery should be right around the corner!!!

[kuhio98]

Gentle hugs and kisses for you dear Aroara. I hope you are up to full complaining strength again, very soon.

[kittykatharine]

Oh, Moesha, I have been gone the past few days and I have just read your ordeal with Aroara. You really have had one very very stressful week. I am so sorry that you have had to juggle so many things. I agree that those puncture wounds look like a snake bite. How scary for little miss Aroara. That is good to hear that she is acting more like herself, hopefully when you come back on Sunday afternoon, she will be 100%. It is always amazing to me how strong kitties are. They can put up with so much and still come through unscathed. It sounds like you are working with a great vet and I already know that you are a great pet mom, so Aroara is in the best hands she could ever be in. I am sure she will settle down while you are gone, and spend her time resting and healing. I am sending you lots of positive vibes!