Had to run Shell to the vet today. In the afternoon, she started looking really punky. Stopped eating, pooped out of the box, hid when I came in the room. I picked her up and she was tight against my arms, almost rock-hard. No relaxing at all. Worried, I called the vet. They were booked solid, but I was told I could drop her off and they would work her in somehow.
Fast forward to now, just returned from the vet with Shell. He took films, gave sub q’s and agreed she doesn’t look right- but he doesn’t know why. The films worry him. Her liver is bigger than it should be, yet her enzyme values are good. He sees “something” in the films that bother him, but because she doesn’t have any fat, there is really no defined shapes on anything other than the lungs and the heart, which look good.
She has gained weight she is 6.3 pounds now. He said he would like to be able to see her internal organs better and could with an ultrasound- but for now, we decided just to wait for the meds to arrive (hopefully tomorrow) and then see how she does.
He said with a cat like Shell where she is really a train wreck, he doesn’t expect this to be a smooth journey. They did assist feed her and she ate, but they couldn’t get her to move much- she remained in one spot until they picked her up and put her back to bed.
On the way to the vet, she laid across my lap the entire trip without moving. I didn’t want to put her into the carrier because she was wheezing pretty bad.
She got another gift today- a wonderful soft, furry blanket from Carolina, Bugsy, KC, ML, Gracie, and Peggy’s Place. It couldn’t have arrived at a better time. She is confined in her cage for now and could use your prayers.
Haley’s Tip-
Shell wasn’t eating and a dear friend of mine who used to be a vet tech called and we were talking about assist feeding and how hard it is on poor Shell’s mouth. She suggested that I use the Zoom Groom and do a soft grooming process with Shell to see if the stimulation would convince her to eat. It worked! Shell just ate a whole jar of baby food on her own! She is back on her new blanket still confined to her cage, more active than she was before. Thank You Lord-
Sending our best healing purrrrrayers and purrrrrrrss. Hang in there, Shell. You’ve got hundreds of kitties and beans and other critters thinking about you.
Sweet Shell we’re purring and praying for you!!
The Florida Furkids and Angel Sniffie
You had mentioned at one point that she had been pregnant, lost the kittens and needed to be strong enough to withstand surgery to clean everything out. Could that be causing her elevated WBC or the “something” the vet is seeing in the films? It was just something that keeps popping in to my head… And here is hoping that the meds from TX show up tomorrow!
In any case, lots of purrs and head bonks from all of us to all of you! 🙂
the first vet who specializes in livestock told me the pregnancy was a factor- but the cat vet said no because her ear is tipped. I dismissed what the initial vet said but never updated my blog-
The biggest of purrs and prayers for Shell. Come on little one, you can do it. We want you to feel better and get your appetite back, sweetie.
… her ear is tipped
Interesting. From what we’ve seen, a tipped eat usually means the cat was neutered by a TNR group, which seems at odds to what we remember about Shells history.
I am so glad that Shell is doing a bit better. I am also glad that she is enjoying her new blanket. I am praying and Herman and Emma are purring that the medicine arrives soon and she will do much better in the days to come.
Sending big purrs for Shell. Lets hope the medicine arrives soon and the off days diminish quickly.
We are sending lots of purrs and gentle nose kisses to dear Shell and hope her medication arrives quickly. What an amazing result the zoom groom had on Shell’s feeding – would never ever have thought that would have worked.
Sending lots of purrs to Marg for taking such good care of Shell –
Luv Hannah, Lucy and mum Sue xx xx
We are sending HUGE healing purrs for Shell, and willing her to get well and strong.
My sisters and I are purring like crazy for you sweet Shell.
We sure are sending lots and lots of purrs and prayers to you Shell. Hope that darn medicine gets there soon. Glad you got that wonderful blanket to stay warm in Shell. Keep fighting girl. Don’t give up. We are all here to help you. Take care.
Praying for Shell all the time. I just love her story and your devotion to her.
THere will be bumps along the way. But Shell has shown she can weather them.
I love her….what a wonderful sprirt.
The “grooming” stimulation has worked for me also. My first cat, Bill, had a terrible “angry” cancerous tumor on the upper side of his mouth. The only way I could get him to eat baby food was to pet him slowly and constantly and then showing him a spoonful of food. He would eat a few then stop, then I would start petting him again. That last month of his life it would take me an hour every morning to get some food into him.