Self-indulgent pet thread

[CRI]

General anaesthetic is worrying in any circumstance for any animal, but I don't think any vet would do dental surgery on a cat with just local anaesthetic, cats are quite strong, have multiple weapons, and even the most good-natured can be prone to panic when their mouth is being fucked with. One of the reasons cats have dental problems is that it can be pretty much impossible to ever brush their teeth, even the softest easily-handled cat can go a bit 'what in the holy fuck do you think you're doing? - Deploy Weapons' when you try to use a finger brush in their mouth.

He doesn't have bad breath, nor any trouble eating (obviously if he had trouble eating it would make this urgent!) - if I hadn't seen for myself the state of his gums and teeth, I would have found it hard to believe. He spends a lot of time right up close to me and doesn't have halitosis.

I must confess, I've never tried to brush a cat's teeth, but I can imagine the outcome! Hope the op does go well (and not too hard on the pocket.)

Anaesthetics are particularly risky for cavies partly because they can't be given IV (veins are too small) so the vet has to use gas and it's harder to moderate the dosage. The other thing is they can't be "out" for long as they have to eat at least every couple hours to keep the gut moving continuously, or it can just pack up. And, they aren't good with stress of any kind - likely to just shut down.

But, luckily they are pretty easy to immobilise in a carefully wrapped towel so all but the most invasive procedures can be done under local. I had a fantastic rodentologist in South Wales who could trim and file a full mouth of teeth in about 10 minutes - pig hardly had a chance to squeak! One of mine had to have that every fortnight or so, and if he'd had to be anaesthetised each time, he'd have probably only survived a couple of rounds. With the right instruments and techniques, it's not actually that difficult to do cavy dental work, but frankly, I don't think most vets can be arsed. Too many still see rodents as "disposable" pets.

(I'm going to shut up now before I launch into a rant about a certain vet college and certain "exotics specialist" who seemed almost terrified of touching Griff and every visit took a cursory look in his mouth and said, "oh, I can't see the back teeth as his mouth is full of food," - doh, their mouths are ALWAYS full of food, so you've got to have the confidence and tools to get in there and "get involved" or you're wasting your time and risking the animal's life, how the fuck did this person ever get their job . . . )

(Off to take blood pressure medication.)

 

[fishfinger]

I'm really worried about my cat. She's was extremely clingy yesterday - followed me everywhere around the house. Overnight she's thrown up several times. She's been trying to (unsuccessfully) pee/poo, and has collapsed on the floor a few times. I'll be calling the vet as soon as they open

 

[scifisam]

I'm really worried about my cat. She's was extremely clingy yesterday - followed me everywhere around the house. Overnight she's thrown up several times. She's been trying to (unsuccessfully) pee/poo, and has collapsed on the floor a few times. I'll be calling the vet as soon as they open

Aw, poor thing. Hope she's OK.

 

[Manter]

I'm really worried about my cat. She's was extremely clingy yesterday - followed me everywhere around the house. Overnight she's thrown up several times. She's been trying to (unsuccessfully) pee/poo, and has collapsed on the floor a few times. I'll be calling the vet as soon as they open

Hope she's ok?

 

[fishfinger]

Aw, poor thing. Hope she's OK.

Hope she's ok?

Well, they're putting her on a drip, taking blood, and x-rays. I've got to call them later today for preliminary results. Hopefully pick her up tomorrow if she's better.

 

[CRI]

Well, they're putting her on a drip, taking blood, and x-rays. I've got to call them later today for preliminary results. Hopefully pick her up tomorrow if she's better.

Oh Jaysus - glad you got her in quickly and sounds like they are doing the right stuff - keeping hydrated, all the tests, close monitoring. Keep us posted.

 

[Manter]

Well, they're putting her on a drip, taking blood, and x-rays. I've got to call them later today for preliminary results. Hopefully pick her up tomorrow if she's better.

How scary. You acted fast, so everything crossed. Thinking of you

 

[fishfinger]

Oh Jaysus - glad you got her in quickly and sounds like they are doing the right stuff - keeping hydrated, all the tests, close monitoring. Keep us posted.

How scary. You acted fast, so everything crossed. Thinking of you

Thanks for your kind thoughts

I spoke to the vet earlier this afternoon - Leyla is being kept on the drip overnight. Her liver enzymes are elevated - this may be the cause of her vomiting, or the result of it. There is a pocket of gas in her gut, and they will be x-raying her again to see if it is moving.

We will call again tomorrow to see if there is an improvement in her condition. Fingers crossed.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

get well soon, leyla

 

[CRI]

Light's not been very good, but got a few snaps of the swine on the floor while I was cleaning out their flat. Last one a tad embarrassing for Mal.

 

[QueenOfGoths]

Sending kitty good wishes to Lelya, fishfinger. Hope it's good news tomorrow x

 

[fishfinger]

Sending kitty good wishes to Lelya, fishfinger. Hope it's good news tomorrow x

Thank-you

 

[Manter]

Light's not been very good, but got a few snaps of the swine on the floor while I was cleaning out their flat. Last one a tad embarrassing for Mal.

I love Griff's face! Not sure if he is embarrassed and apologising for Mal or saying 'look what I have to put up with'

 

[Epona]

I must confess, I've never tried to brush a cat's teeth, but I can imagine the outcome! Hope the op does go well (and not too hard on the pocket.)

Anaesthetics are particularly risky for cavies partly because they can't be given IV (veins are too small) so the vet has to use gas and it's harder to moderate the dosage. The other thing is they can't be "out" for long as they have to eat at least every couple hours to keep the gut moving continuously, or it can just pack up. And, they aren't good with stress of any kind - likely to just shut down.

But, luckily they are pretty easy to immobilise in a carefully wrapped towel so all but the most invasive procedures can be done under local. I had a fantastic rodentologist in South Wales who could trim and file a full mouth of teeth in about 10 minutes - pig hardly had a chance to squeak! One of mine had to have that every fortnight or so, and if he'd had to be anaesthetised each time, he'd have probably only survived a couple of rounds. With the right instruments and techniques, it's not actually that difficult to do cavy dental work, but frankly, I don't think most vets can be arsed. Too many still see rodents as "disposable" pets.

(I'm going to shut up now before I launch into a rant about a certain vet college and certain "exotics specialist" who seemed almost terrified of touching Griff and every visit took a cursory look in his mouth and said, "oh, I can't see the back teeth as his mouth is full of food," - doh, their mouths are ALWAYS full of food, so you've got to have the confidence and tools to get in there and "get involved" or you're wasting your time and risking the animal's life, how the fuck did this person ever get their job . . . )

(Off to take blood pressure medication.)

Eek! Similar with birds and general anaesthesia, it's always a much bigger risk with them than it is with cats/dogs (or similar sized mammals), and it can make treatment very unpleasant - once had a small bird who had to have a cyst dealt with, now in a cat or dog they'd give it some sort of IV sedation, in a bird you can't do that and using gas is very risky - so draining the cyst was done very quickly whist the bird was conscious. Not at all pleasant, but far less risky than putting a bird under. My avian vet was very good. The one time in an emergency where I could not get a bird to an avian specialist, the general vet I saw knew what she had to do - which was to phone an avian specialist for advice. I respected her a lot for doing that in front of me and letting me describe the problem to the avian specialist on the phone then him advising her about treatment, far better than pretending to know exactly what she was doing.

 

[Epona]

I'm really worried about my cat. She's was extremely clingy yesterday - followed me everywhere around the house. Overnight she's thrown up several times. She's been trying to (unsuccessfully) pee/poo, and has collapsed on the floor a few times. I'll be calling the vet as soon as they open

Oh that sounds nasty - glad to hear that she is at the vets getting treatment (you did the right thing taking her there), hope all goes well for her.

 

[clicker]

George getting to grips with the new fence.

 

[Treacle Toes]

I love ginger Tabbys. He is handsome!

 

[fishfinger]

Off to the vet in a few minutes to pick up a (not so) small furry person. Leyla appears to have improved quite a bit, looking forward to seeing her again

Thanks for all the kind thoughts

 

[trashpony]

Off to the vet in a few minutes to pick up a (not so) small furry person. Leyla appears to have improved quite a bit, looking forward to seeing her again

Thanks for all the kind thoughts

Good news What's the DX?

Just because there's something on their chair, there's no reason why that means they can't lie on it

 

[fishfinger]

Good news What's the DX?

What is a DX

 

[tufty79]

diagnosis?
fingers crossed all is ok x

 

[BoatieBird]

Good news fishfinger, I hope she continues to improve

 

[trashpony]

What is a DX

Sorry, a diagnosis. If you said Leyla has had one, sorry, I missed it

 

[fishfinger]

diagnosis?
fingers crossed all is ok x

Good news fishfinger, I hope she continues to improve

Sorry, a diagnosis. If you said Leyla has had one, sorry, I missed it

Thanks again.

As for diagnosis - don't really know. She has an inflamed gut, and we are to feed her no more than a teaspoon of food every 2 hours. She is quite lethargic, and a bit wobbly but a little improved from the other day.

If she doesn't improve much by Monday, then she will have to go back to the vet for exploratory surgery

 

[treefrog]

Pockle the parrot is interviewed about her views on bathtime- now on youtube!

 

[fishfinger]

Leyla is definitely on the mend. She's been climbing on the kitchen work surfaces, destroying the furniture, and generally being a nuisance (the furry little git )

We are so relieved

 

[trashpony]

Leyla is definitely on the mend. She's been climbing on the kitchen work surfaces, destroying the furniture, and generally being a nuisance (the furry little git )

We are so relieved

Yay for nuisance cats

 

[CRI]

Relieved to hear about Leyla (and hope she continues to be a nuisance in a nice way!), and great to see Pockle in action.

Probably paranoid of me, but I started looking alot into cat nutrition and switched Breeze to a grain-free, high meat diet. She was on Hills Science when she came from the breeders (even more expensive than Encore/Applaws) but although it's heavily pushed by vets (along with Royal Canin), it's got alot of crap that cats can't actually digest in it. The person who took over from me in my last job's cat was diagnosed with diabetes - vet ready to put her on insulin injections, but she took her off Hills and onto a meaty diet, and blood sugars returned to normal - fit cat again.

Interestingly enough, Breeze seems to eat up more of the "good for you" food than she did with the stuff with more fillers, which she just picked at (both dry and wet), so it probably works out alot cheaper - as in smaller portions with less waste. She craps less as well, which is a bonus!

Yes, I'm that idiot that stands in the pet food aisle for about an hour, reading the ingredients on all the bags, tins and treats! I had to learn alot about cavy nutrition as well when Griff started developing the bladder problems, but I'm convinced changing his diet has made a difference.

 

[Manter]

Relieved to hear about Leyla (and hope she continues to be a nuisance in a nice way!), and great to see Pockle in action.

Probably paranoid of me, but I started looking alot into cat nutrition and switched Breeze to a grain-free, high meat diet. She was on Hills Science when she came from the breeders (even more expensive than Encore/Applaws) but although it's heavily pushed by vets (along with Royal Canin), it's got alot of crap that cats can't actually digest in it. The person who took over from me in my last job's cat was diagnosed with diabetes - vet ready to put her on insulin injections, but she took her off Hills and onto a meaty diet, and blood sugars returned to normal - fit cat again.

Interestingly enough, Breeze seems to eat up more of the "good for you" food than she did with the stuff with more fillers, which she just picked at (both dry and wet), so it probably works out alot cheaper - as in smaller portions with less waste. She craps less as well, which is a bonus!

Yes, I'm that idiot that stands in the pet food aisle for about an hour, reading the ingredients on all the bags, tins and treats! I had to learn alot about cavy nutrition as well when Griff started developing the bladder problems, but I'm convinced changing his diet has made a difference.

She is so photogenic!

I think changing diets makes sense- think of how we react when we eat crap food, or hot curry, or lots of fat or whatever, and our body mass is so much greater. Small wonder animals react. We feed idiot cat one of the Royal Canin dry foods- we've tried him on other biscuits and it's the only one he gets on with. Wet food we cycle a couple of different ones as after three meals max he gets bored and wants something else. So we buy two really 'good' wet foods and morrisons own brand cheap as chips and swap him between them

He's such a princess

 

[trashpony]

Boys are on Royal Canin now. They were eating Whiskas when we got them and it gives them diarrhoea and the world's stinkiest farts. I might give them the whiskas every now and then when they're a wee bit older but right now, their digestive systems are too feeble