Koala update

Things never go the way one expects them to go.

Today was the day I opened the door to Koala's room. It was open for
several hours. During that time, Pickles twice stuck her head in the
doorway and meowed. Koala stayed in his hidey-hole.

It's a good thing that's all that happened, because I got a call from
the vet about an hour ago. The results of Koala's stool sample finally
came in, and he has coccidiosis, an intestinal tract infection caused by
an organism. That means two things.

First, I have to keep them separated for another two weeks. I'm glad
there was no real interaction. It's a pain to keep them separate, and I
think it will make it take that much longer for Koala to feel
comfortable here. However, to keep Pickles healthy, I can do it.

Second, I'm supposed to give Koala medication once a day for ten days.
I didn't know if that would be even possible, since he stays hidden all
the time. If he decides to hide under the bed, I doubt if I can do it.
However, today he was on a low bookcase shelf. Getting down there was
hard, and getting up was much harder, but I managed. When I reached in
and touched him, he raised his head. I put the syringe in his mouth and
gave him the medication with no trouble at all. I hope it goes that
easy for the rest of the time. The only problem is that, in ten days I
have to give him a pill, and it's a rather large one. That might not go
so well.

Joy

--
Joy Unlimited
Colorful Crocheted Critters
Photos at http://www.PictureTrail.com/joy9

On Mon, 04 Aug 2014 18:23:12 -0700, Joy wrote:

Things never go the way one expects them to go.

Today was the day I opened the door to Koala's room. It was open for
several hours. During that time, Pickles twice stuck her head in the
doorway and meowed. Koala stayed in his hidey-hole.

It's a good thing that's all that happened, because I got a call from
the vet about an hour ago. The results of Koala's stool sample finally
came in, and he has coccidiosis, an intestinal tract infection caused by
an organism. That means two things.

First, I have to keep them separated for another two weeks. I'm glad
there was no real interaction. It's a pain to keep them separate, and I
think it will make it take that much longer for Koala to feel
comfortable here. However, to keep Pickles healthy, I can do it.

Second, I'm supposed to give Koala medication once a day for ten days.
I didn't know if that would be even possible, since he stays hidden all
the time. If he decides to hide under the bed, I doubt if I can do it.
However, today he was on a low bookcase shelf. Getting down there was
hard, and getting up was much harder, but I managed. When I reached in
and touched him, he raised his head. I put the syringe in his mouth and
gave him the medication with no trouble at all. I hope it goes that
easy for the rest of the time. The only problem is that, in ten days I
have to give him a pill, and it's a rather large one. That might not go
so well.

Joy

Getting medicine into my reasonably friendly cats isn't easy. Good
luck with this one.

On 8/5/2014 7:13 AM, dgk wrote:
On Mon, 04 Aug 2014 18:23:12 -0700, Joy wrote:

Things never go the way one expects them to go.

Today was the day I opened the door to Koala's room. It was open for
several hours. During that time, Pickles twice stuck her head in the
doorway and meowed. Koala stayed in his hidey-hole.

It's a good thing that's all that happened, because I got a call from
the vet about an hour ago. The results of Koala's stool sample finally
came in, and he has coccidiosis, an intestinal tract infection caused by
an organism. That means two things.

First, I have to keep them separated for another two weeks. I'm glad
there was no real interaction. It's a pain to keep them separate, and I
think it will make it take that much longer for Koala to feel
comfortable here. However, to keep Pickles healthy, I can do it.

Second, I'm supposed to give Koala medication once a day for ten days.
I didn't know if that would be even possible, since he stays hidden all
the time. If he decides to hide under the bed, I doubt if I can do it.
However, today he was on a low bookcase shelf. Getting down there was
hard, and getting up was much harder, but I managed. When I reached in
and touched him, he raised his head. I put the syringe in his mouth and
gave him the medication with no trouble at all. I hope it goes that
easy for the rest of the time. The only problem is that, in ten days I
have to give him a pill, and it's a rather large one. That might not go
so well.

Joy

Getting medicine into my reasonably friendly cats isn't easy. Good
luck with this one.


Thank you. Last night he was in one of his favorite spots, on the
bottom shelf of a bookcase. Getting down to his level wasn't easy (I'm
78), and getting back up was really difficult. However, he was fairly
docile about letting me squirt the medicine into his mouth. However,
since then, he's gone back to hiding under the bed. If I have to drag
him out, or chase him out, then catch him to give him the meds, it will
probably put off the time he decides he can trust me for a lot longer.

Joy

--
Joy Unlimited
Colorful Crocheted Critters
Photos at http://www.PictureTrail.com/joy9

On 8/4/2014 9:23 PM, Joy wrote:
Things never go the way one expects them to go.

Today was the day I opened the door to Koala's room. It was open for
several hours. During that time, Pickles twice stuck her head in the
doorway and meowed. Koala stayed in his hidey-hole.

It's a good thing that's all that happened, because I got a call from
the vet about an hour ago. The results of Koala's stool sample finally
came in, and he has coccidiosis, an intestinal tract infection caused by
an organism. That means two things.

First, I have to keep them separated for another two weeks. I'm glad
there was no real interaction. It's a pain to keep them separate, and I
think it will make it take that much longer for Koala to feel
comfortable here. However, to keep Pickles healthy, I can do it.

Second, I'm supposed to give Koala medication once a day for ten days. I
didn't know if that would be even possible, since he stays hidden all
the time. If he decides to hide under the bed, I doubt if I can do it.
However, today he was on a low bookcase shelf. Getting down there was
hard, and getting up was much harder, but I managed. When I reached in
and touched him, he raised his head. I put the syringe in his mouth and
gave him the medication with no trouble at all. I hope it goes that
easy for the rest of the time. The only problem is that, in ten days I
have to give him a pill, and it's a rather large one. That might not go
so well.

Joy

Could you crush the pill and mix it in his food? Or maybe cut the pill
up and tuck the smaller pieces into some of those Greenies Pill Pockets?

Keep up the good work with Koala. Purrs for everything to work out
smoothly.

Jill

On 8/5/2014 1:15 PM, Judith Latham wrote:
In article ,
Joy wrote:
Things never go the way one expects them to go.

Today was the day I opened the door to Koala's room. It was open for
several hours. During that time, Pickles twice stuck her head in the
doorway and meowed. Koala stayed in his hidey-hole.

It's a good thing that's all that happened, because I got a call from
the vet about an hour ago. The results of Koala's stool sample finally
came in, and he has coccidiosis, an intestinal tract infection caused by
an organism. That means two things.

First, I have to keep them separated for another two weeks. I'm glad
there was no real interaction. It's a pain to keep them separate, and I
think it will make it take that much longer for Koala to feel
comfortable here. However, to keep Pickles healthy, I can do it.

Second, I'm supposed to give Koala medication once a day for ten days.
I didn't know if that would be even possible, since he stays hidden all
the time. If he decides to hide under the bed, I doubt if I can do it.
However, today he was on a low bookcase shelf. Getting down there was
hard, and getting up was much harder, but I managed. When I reached in
and touched him, he raised his head. I put the syringe in his mouth and
gave him the medication with no trouble at all. I hope it goes that
easy for the rest of the time. The only problem is that, in ten days I
have to give him a pill, and it's a rather large one. That might not go
so well.

Joy

It's a shame that Koala has this infection but he will get better from it
and by then maybe Pickles will have got more used to there being another
cat in the house even if he's only in one room.

Do you think that Koala would come to you if you just sat quietly in his
room, reading or something. He might come out if he thought you were not
after him. If you do this when you're not giving him his medication he
might get used to you, then when you do give him his medication, it may be
easier.

Would it be possible for your vet or vet nurse to give him the big pill?

Judith

I did that a few times before I started giving him the medicine, and he
wouldn't come near me. I'm sure he won't now.

I don't know whether they'd charge me to give it to him, but I'd have to
get him into the carrier and take him. I think that would be as much
trouble, and as hard on both of us, as my giving him the pill. Right
now I'm concentrating on trying to figure out how I'm going to get him
out from under the bed to give him his medicine this evening.

Joy

--
Joy Unlimited
Colorful Crocheted Critters
Photos at http://www.PictureTrail.com/joy9

On Tuesday, August 5, 2014 4:59:59 PM UTC-5, Joy wrote:
On 8/5/2014 1:15 PM, Judith Latham wrote:

In article ,

Joy wrote:

Things never go the way one expects them to go.



Today was the day I opened the door to Koala's room. It was open for

several hours. During that time, Pickles twice stuck her head in the

doorway and meowed. Koala stayed in his hidey-hole.



It's a good thing that's all that happened, because I got a call from

the vet about an hour ago. The results of Koala's stool sample finally

came in, and he has coccidiosis, an intestinal tract infection caused by

an organism. That means two things.



First, I have to keep them separated for another two weeks. I'm glad

there was no real interaction. It's a pain to keep them separate, and I

think it will make it take that much longer for Koala to feel

comfortable here. However, to keep Pickles healthy, I can do it.



Second, I'm supposed to give Koala medication once a day for ten days.

I didn't know if that would be even possible, since he stays hidden all

the time. If he decides to hide under the bed, I doubt if I can do it..

However, today he was on a low bookcase shelf. Getting down there was

hard, and getting up was much harder, but I managed. When I reached in

and touched him, he raised his head. I put the syringe in his mouth and

gave him the medication with no trouble at all. I hope it goes that

easy for the rest of the time. The only problem is that, in ten days I

have to give him a pill, and it's a rather large one. That might not go

so well.



Joy



It's a shame that Koala has this infection but he will get better from it

and by then maybe Pickles will have got more used to there being another

cat in the house even if he's only in one room.



Do you think that Koala would come to you if you just sat quietly in his

room, reading or something. He might come out if he thought you were not

after him. If you do this when you're not giving him his medication he

might get used to you, then when you do give him his medication, it may be

easier.



Would it be possible for your vet or vet nurse to give him the big pill?



Judith



I did that a few times before I started giving him the medicine, and he

wouldn't come near me. I'm sure he won't now.



I don't know whether they'd charge me to give it to him, but I'd have to

get him into the carrier and take him. I think that would be as much

trouble, and as hard on both of us, as my giving him the pill. Right

now I'm concentrating on trying to figure out how I'm going to get him

out from under the bed to give him his medicine this evening.



Joy



--

Joy Unlimited

Colorful Crocheted Critters

Photos at http://www.PictureTrail.com/joy9

You might do what my daughter does- fill underneath the bed with boxes, so there's no room for a cat. My approach, though, is to just let him stay under the bed until he comes out. We both try to keep our bedroom doors shut, with him outside, but that seems to make our rooms more attractive. Toci

On 8/5/2014 5:59 PM, Joy wrote:
On 8/5/2014 1:15 PM, Judith Latham wrote:
In article ,
Joy wrote:
Things never go the way one expects them to go.

(gentle snippage)

Would it be possible for your vet or vet nurse to give him the big pill?

Judith

I did that a few times before I started giving him the medicine, and he
wouldn't come near me. I'm sure he won't now.

I don't know whether they'd charge me to give it to him, but I'd have to
get him into the carrier and take him. I think that would be as much
trouble, and as hard on both of us, as my giving him the pill. Right
now I'm concentrating on trying to figure out how I'm going to get him
out from under the bed to give him his medicine this evening.

Joy

My 2¢... I think putting him in the carrier would probably be too
stressful and undo what you've accomplished so far. If the big pill is
an actual tablet, there may be ways to break it into pieces (do you have
a pill-cutter?) and disguise the smaller pieces in treats. Just a
suggestion. I have no idea if it would work with Koala, but best of luck!

Jill

I have suggested this before. Crush the pill into a fine powder and mix it with tuna juice (chicken of the sea packed in water). Most cats love the tuna juice and will eat it right down.

On 8/5/2014 7:11 PM, Mike Mayers wrote:
I have suggested this before. Crush the pill into a fine powder and mix it with tuna juice (chicken of the sea packed in water). Most cats love the tuna juice and will eat it right down.


When the time comes, I might try that. However, he almost certainly has
never had tuna juice, and I have no idea whether or not he'd try it. If
not, the pill would be wasted, and there's only one. I might call my
vet and see if she thinks it's worth a try.

Joy

--
Joy Unlimited
Colorful Crocheted Critters
Photos at http://www.PictureTrail.com/joy9

On 8/5/2014 3:43 PM, toci wrote:
On Tuesday, August 5, 2014 4:59:59 PM UTC-5, Joy wrote:
On 8/5/2014 1:15 PM, Judith Latham wrote:

In article ,

Joy wrote:

Things never go the way one expects them to go.



Today was the day I opened the door to Koala's room. It was open for

several hours. During that time, Pickles twice stuck her head in the

doorway and meowed. Koala stayed in his hidey-hole.



It's a good thing that's all that happened, because I got a call from

the vet about an hour ago. The results of Koala's stool sample finally

came in, and he has coccidiosis, an intestinal tract infection caused by

an organism. That means two things.



First, I have to keep them separated for another two weeks. I'm glad

there was no real interaction. It's a pain to keep them separate, and I

think it will make it take that much longer for Koala to feel

comfortable here. However, to keep Pickles healthy, I can do it.



Second, I'm supposed to give Koala medication once a day for ten days.

I didn't know if that would be even possible, since he stays hidden all

the time. If he decides to hide under the bed, I doubt if I can do it.

However, today he was on a low bookcase shelf. Getting down there was

hard, and getting up was much harder, but I managed. When I reached in

and touched him, he raised his head. I put the syringe in his mouth and

gave him the medication with no trouble at all. I hope it goes that

easy for the rest of the time. The only problem is that, in ten days I

have to give him a pill, and it's a rather large one. That might not go

so well.



Joy



It's a shame that Koala has this infection but he will get better from it

and by then maybe Pickles will have got more used to there being another

cat in the house even if he's only in one room.



Do you think that Koala would come to you if you just sat quietly in his

room, reading or something. He might come out if he thought you were not

after him. If you do this when you're not giving him his medication he

might get used to you, then when you do give him his medication, it may be

easier.



Would it be possible for your vet or vet nurse to give him the big pill?



Judith



I did that a few times before I started giving him the medicine, and he

wouldn't come near me. I'm sure he won't now.



I don't know whether they'd charge me to give it to him, but I'd have to

get him into the carrier and take him. I think that would be as much

trouble, and as hard on both of us, as my giving him the pill. Right

now I'm concentrating on trying to figure out how I'm going to get him

out from under the bed to give him his medicine this evening.



Joy



--

Joy Unlimited

Colorful Crocheted Critters

Photos at http://www.PictureTrail.com/joy9

You might do what my daughter does- fill underneath the bed with boxes, so there's no room for a cat. My approach, though, is to just let him stay under the bed until he comes out. We both try to keep our bedroom doors shut, with him outside, but that seems to make our rooms more attractive. Toci


When I went in to give him the medicine, I pulled out the bed, but
didn't find him. Finally I looked in his newest hiding spot, and he was
there. It's back in the shadow, and he's dark colored, so he's almost
invisible when he's there. He wasn't as compliant as he was yesterday.
He never used his claws, or even his paws, but he did try to turn his
head away and clamp his mouth shut. However, I did get the medicine
into him.

Joy

--
Joy Unlimited
Colorful Crocheted Critters
Photos at http://www.PictureTrail.com/joy9