On 12/23/2020 9:44 PM, Cheryl wrote:
On 2020-12-23 9:50 p.m., The Doctor wrote:
In article ,
jmcquownÂ* wrote:
Here's hoping everyone has a safe and happy holiday season!

Jill

Merry christmas.

2 male cats and 1 unspaded female catÂ* share the Christmas spirit here.

Best wishes to all!

Cinnamon has medical problems, and although she seems happy, is now on a
special diet for kidney disease, plus having antibiotics to treat a UTI.
She also has thyroid problems which can't be treated medically without
making the kidney problems worse. I'm looking into radiation for the
thyroid, but I don't know if it will be financially feasible (maybe, I
don't have all the data and it will be a stretch), worth it medically
given her kidneys aren't good and won't improve, and I got her as an
adult 11 years ago so she's not a young cat, or a sensible choice
practically, given that the treatment isn't available in province, and
if I do decide to send her to the specialist clinic in the next province
over, it may make the most financial sense to have her shipped over and
then back rather than going myself. Such a trip would surely be
frightening for a cat, with or without a human. One of the airlines
doesn't seem to allow pets in the cabin at all, and I suspect the other
only does so on some of its larger planes, not the little puddle-jumpers
on that route. It looks like it would mean shipping her by cargo - I've
made some enquiries, but not yet gotten responses. The very experienced
local vet I took Cinnamon to when I became concerned over her excessive
peeing has never had a cat sent off for this treatment. Generally, they
just don't treat the thyroid condition and provide supportive care (eg
special diet) for the kidney problems. Fortunately, Cinnamon actually
eats the special diet (although she prefers the kibble form while the
vet thinks the canned form is better), and the UTI is at least easy to
treat - she's been on antibiotics, as I said, and in January will go
back for another urine test to make sure that problem is cleared up.

I'm sorry to hear about Cinnamon's problems and do hope the UTI clears
up quickly with the antibiotics.

Persia was always susceptible to UTI's and had several bladder
infections so she ate a prescription diet to prevent crystalline oxolate
formations in the bladder. At approx. age 13 she was hyperthyroid.
Turned out she was allergic to the medication. So she had radioactive
isotope therapy. My then-neighbor drove us 130 miles north to a clinic
that had the facilities. But Persia didn't already have kidney
problems. She developed kidney problems a few years later. It was, at
the time, one of the known side effects. I'm not sure she would have
qualified for the treatment if she already had kidney problems. Of
course there have been medical advances in the ensuing years and I'm
sure you've investigated all of this.

I could say "try not to worry" but that's a senseless platitude. Of
course you'll worry. Purrs, Cheryl.

Jill