|
|
|
| |
auctions - advertising rates -
site news -
help -
contact
| |
|
Thursday Chats: 9 PM ET Behavior - Pet Loss 10 PM ET Cats Let People Talk - Long Term Illness Support - 11 PM ET Cat Talk
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
auctions - advertising rates -
site news -
help -
contact
| |
|
Thursday Chats: 9 PM ET Behavior - Pet Loss 10 PM ET Cats Let People Talk - Long Term Illness Support - 11 PM ET Cat Talk
|
Posted by Martisimo on March 06, 2003 at 08:10:03:
In Reply to: Re: Ezra... posted by PHMadameAlto on March 05, 2003 at 19:58:17:
Munchie: The cotton ball trick is just getting some rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball and holding it near their nose. They hate the smell, get pretty offended and stop purring. Another trick is to scoop them up under your arm and hold them near the sink. Some cats don't even need you to turn the faucet on for them to stop purring, some you need to turn it on and hold them nearer the sink.
Anyway, purring was the problem I guess, but three doctors heard the murmur it yesterday. The doctor I spoke with, who is one I like, said she heard a grade III and only heard it on his right side, she said she couldn't even hear it on his left side at all.
Perhaps he was purring when my friend listened to his right side.
His heart wasn't terribly enlarged on the x-rays, but it was clearly enlongated, a sign of some sort of cardiomyopathy. His blood pressure was normal and his bloodwork is pending. As I recalled from what I've seen of this condition in older cats, they are very often asymptomatic until they have sudden cardiac arrest or throw a blood clot and get paralysed, usually in the back end. She said it doesn't usually get diagnosed when cats are this young, and when it is clearly in a young cat, the kitten is usually a purebred...which he certainly isn't.
Anyway, no medicines until I go for the ultrasound, which will tell us exactly what medicine to use for his specific form of cardiomyopathy. I'm calling to schedule that today with a specialist. I plan to ask her more questions about his longevity, but I know there really is no predicting with a heart condition. He could live for years or he could suddenly just go tomorrow. He feels fine and spunky for now. You'd never guess anything.
What I do know is even though he's cursed with this, he's also freakishly lucky that he accidentally (I think!) let me catch him. Imagine if he were still outside and suddenly got paralysed? He'd be in pain and a sitting duck. At least now for all the rest of his days he'll be warm, fed the very best stuff, have friendly dogs to rub on, scratching posts to climb, have lots of love and pettin's, and pals to wrestle with. And that's very lucky no matter how you look at it, because it's far, far more than most of the cats in this world have, bad heart or not.
So, I'm trying to keep the big picture in mind, the important stuff, even though sometimes I feel a little sad too.
:I can imagine how frustrating it is to get so many opinions from different vets. I hope you'll get a more definate answer soon. :I'll keep some **GLOW** going that Ezra's purr is what is confusing everyone and that he's really OK.
:
:Awww, Ezra, that's a cute name!
:
: