Mr C needs another two operations

[Corygal]

One to remove the other half of his thyroid gland, the other to fix his teeth. Teeth and FIV cats are never a happy mix, I was sort of expecting this.

Poor little boy! How do you think I should time this - I really don't want to traumatise him. The little cat has had to be evacuated twice in the past six weeks as a result of fires in the flats, which took him days to recover from. I don't want to pile on endless stays in hospital on top of that. Would it be possible to do both at once, so at least cutting down on hospital time?

As to paying for it, I just quail. The worst thing is that he has got a touch of arthritis in his left back leg as well - is on strong painkillers that are making him pant, but he seems happy. At night he uses my arm to rest his sore leg on, which means I can't move, but he is visibly more comfortable.

[cozietoesie]

Poor lad and poor you.

What did your vet say about the timing?

[YeOldTrout]

You're a saint, I imagine all that is going to cost a fortune. Does he have good prospects of long quality of life after all the treatment.

[Corygal]

Well, they want to do it but I want to get in first with explaining about what a sheltered life he leads and making it right for him emotionally. It hasn't been a good few weeks for the little lad.

I am talking to vet tomorrow about timing.

[cozietoesie]

I know that when Seniorboy had his big GA dental when he was 16, his vet did an excision of a lump at the same time. I seem to recall that his teeth were the time 'biggy' and that she wanted to gear up for a full op (extra team member to keep an eye on his hydration etc) so did the two things together.

I just don't know about the difficulty and length of the thyroid op though. Maybe one of the vets who post would be willing to give a view. (Or maybe not - in which case your own vet would have to opine tomorrow.) My own temptation would be to do the two things together if it was OK.

[RubbishMantra]

Oh Cory! You poor loves. It makes sense to me to have both procedures done at the same time, lessening his emotional stress and the need for only one GA. I hope your vet's empathic, and will be able to advise and reassure you. Write down everything you want to ask them, it's easy to forget during stressful conversations.

Good healing thoughts and

[Corygal]

That's brill cozie, that's what I was hoping you would say.

I feel quite sick about the bill - I have scuttled off already to TK Maxx and taken all my new wardrobe back which is a start.

Obviously it's nothing compared to Mr C's welfare, and he should be more comfortable afterwards. He is talking a lot at the mo, which is totally lovely, but it doesn't seem to be overactive thyroid talking - more issuing commands.

I get squawked at for meals, sweets, cuddles and general opinions made clear on matters concerning the household or my demeanour.

[Corygal]

Thanks a million Rubbish, that's a brilliant idea. He is such a purry. happy cat at the mo.

[SirVixofVixHall]

Poor Mr C. I agree that doing both together if possible might be a good thing. But it does depend on the length and complexity of each op I suppose, and recovery. Otherwise, maybe thyroid first unless the teeth are horrendous. Are both things urgent or could they wait a bit?

[cozietoesie]

Did you manage to speak to the vet?

[PinkSparklyPussyCat]

I missed this yesterday - poor Mr C and poor you. I hope you've been able to speak to the vet today. to both of you

[Corygal]

Held on for 20 min at the vet but no joy, I'll have a go tomorrow.

Mr C appetite undimmed by anything today, including his new arthritis medication, Metacam, and he is purring by me now, sending furry vibes to you all.

[code]

Poor Mr C, glad he is eating and purring though.

[cozietoesie]

I have a vague memory that meloxicam doesn't taste of anything. (Yes - I have to admit that I taste test all of Seniorboy's standard meds: only the merest droplet, though, so my memory could be playing me false.)

[cozietoesie]

Sorry - that would be Loxicom and not Metacam. (Just the version my vet uses.)

[Fluffycloudland77]

Good grief, your poor boy has not had the best luck with his health has he?.

At least the painkillers will help his leg. A hot water bottle might help too.

[Corygal]

I taste all Mr C's medicines too, Cozie.

Fluffy, thanks so much for the hot-water bottle tip. I fear I am Mr C's HWB - is lying on me now, The Leg stretched out.

I am grooming him as gently as I can every night now, I think he's finding it a struggle. I thought he was just too hot/lazy, but he loves it and joins in doing the bits he can reach.

He really isn't too bad though - I was up at 5 offering Daily Breakfast Options as he was too frisky to wait. Then he hopped back on to my back and The Leg was put into action in scratching frenzy on his ear.

To cap it all, I've got the most swingeing attack of thyroid trouble and can hardly move myself. Might be time for an early night

[cozietoesie]

Seniorboy has an electric blanket so that he can stretch out full length on it. (He can't really curl up properly any more but does love the heat on his old bones.) He's there now, official summer or not!

[Fluffycloudland77]

At least our healthcare is free. I suppose a single heated blanket would be good, a cool side for you and a warm side for them.

[cozietoesie]

It's useful for him because this is an old house with thick stone walls so stays a bit cooler in summer than some other places. An electric blanket is also the sort of thing that people often have spare in a cupboard so you might be able to beg or borrow one rather than have to buy it - the cost of the electricity is pretty minimal.

[Corygal]

Just had long soothing talk with the vet. Turns out Mr C's teeth are dreadful and he will need GA to get a few of them out - this is a priority to me as he is most likely in pain.

However, the thyroid is not so urgent - he's getting to the top of the normal range only and if they do the two ops at once he runs higher risk of infection. So that op is on hold.

He might stay 1 or 2 nights in hospital, and we're booking him in today.

I am off to the Sally Army where I volunteer to get him an electric blanket.

Interestingly, the vet said that dental food and sweets (which Mr C gets) don't do much to help.

The Metacam is a blazing triumph - within 20 min of him taking it Mr C leapt onto my back from a standing position and shrieked for sweets. He will be having both hips x-rayed while on the slab, so they can check arthritis is all it is.

I went on for hours about the fires and how delicate my little pumpkin's nerves are 'he lives a very sheltered life, Doctor'. Then I let slip he'd lived rough on the streets for 6 years. The vet said carefully 'Perhaps Mr C's nervous resilience is a little stronger than you might think'.

[cozietoesie]

Seniorboy's mouth was pretty well a disaster area when he first went to his current practice. Previous vets had demurred from operating due to their facilities and his age but his current practice expressed fair confidence that they could get him through it OK with appropriate fluid support - and they did. He had to stay a bit longer at the practice afterwards than I have been used to but - as I've said previously - I suspect that that was to give She Who Must Be Obeyed the Chief Vet Nurse time to goo over him. (He's her special favourite.)

No problems since and the vomiting which had started all finished. He still has the occasional touch of mild gingevitis on his (few) remaining teeth but that seems to be under control with the occasional ABs that he has for his nose problem.

And - The vet said carefully Mr C is a tough brute you know 'Perhaps Mr C's nervous resilience is a little stronger than you might think'.

That's tact.

[Corygal]

Thanks a million Cozie and Seniorboy. I don't know what we would do without you.

I asked about getting Mr C special supplements, food, etc, but she said not to bother. She referred to him as 'Herocat' so I think she is on side.

Hope darling Seniorboy is enjoying a nice peaceful sunny afternoon.

[tabulahrasa]

Metacam tastes slightly sweet, but not of anything strong

I know the vet will have said, but do make sure absolutely that he never has it on an empty stomach, it can have quite nasty side effects otherwise.

[Corygal]

Thanks for that - I mix it into his food. He has just rejected it, funnily enough. Only 2 days after trying it.

But we now do have a heated hot water bottle - one of those microwave barley ones that I felt was more resistant to claws than a water one or, indeed, an electric blanket - in The Box. It has not been rejected yet.

[RubbishMantra]

Will he let you syringe the Metacam into his mouth? Pop it in the gap between the top fang. Or put it into a small amount of something delicious and strong tasting that he cannot resist?