So, after some ups and downs within the past few weeks, we have a new one. First we finally got the air conditioning fixed in our car, but we got stuck in Johnson City because Clark got the stomach flu. Then we drove to Hickory for Clark's cousin's wedding, which was wonderful, and got home to discover that I had the stomach flu. Mine only lasted about 2.5 days, thank goodness, but then we got another surprise.
Monday afternoon we took our pets to the vet. Luna needed to go for the whole bundle: distemper, rabies, check up, heart worm check, etc., and Coconut needed to go for his monthly dose of cortisone. Everything was perfectly routine and just fine. I was home in bed, but Clark reassured me that both of them were healthy, as did our vet Dr. McAdams.
Tuesday, however, Coconut was acting strange. At one point I saw him climbing the stairs in a peculiar fashion. I went to check on him, and found him passed out at the top of the stairs not doing anything. He'd let Luna push him and he wouldn't claw back or anything. I went to pick him up, and he screamed out in pain. Yes, cats can scream, because Coconut surely did. I then put him on our bed to attempt to do what feeble examination I could, and called Clark to my aid. I thought it was his leg. He had been limping, and when I pushed on his left leg he would moan or scream out. So, Clark called the vet, I cradled Coconut in my arms, and we rushed to get him there.
We found out that it was not, in fact, his leg. It was his bladder. He had (or has) a urinary obstruction, which means that his bladder is backed up due to some reason and he can not... urinate, to attempt to be polite. They had to put him out with gas and stick a catheter in there to help him alleviate himself. The original goal was for him to stay the night at the Emergency Clinic, under constant supervision, and then they'd keep him at the vet's office and take it out Thursday morning (this morning) and make sure he was "going" regularly without help, and then send him home.
That's not how it happened. Tuesday night he succeeded in pulling the catheter out, within the two hour break that one of the technicians took. So, we had to take him back to the vet's office to get the catheter put back in. They used a new catheter, which supposedly was larger and attached to something so it shouldn't come out at all. They also put an even larger E-Collar on him so that he shouldn't be able to get anywhere near that area to try to gnaw at it or something.
Well, we apparently have a smart kitty-cat. He went back to the E. Clinic last night, only to pick him up this morning and find that he had successfully removed the catheter again. No one knows how he did it, because the nurses that were supposed to be giving him all night supervision were only checking on him every two hours. So, Clark threw a fit and refused to pay the fines they said we owed them, because it was their fault for not doing as they were supposed to. Once again Coconut was taken back to the vet's office.
Today is Dr. McAdams day off, which means we have the lovely Dr. Chris watching over Coconut. We talked to her and she suggested yet another surgery. She is going to put the catheter back in, but suggested we get a full surgery done on Coconut's urethra or what have you to help the problem in the long run. However, supposedly, this is not a definite fix. The problem could come back, just not as severe as it is this time. Another problem is that she's not sure if Dr. McAdams will be available to do it tomorrow, if we decide to do it, and he's the only doctor at that office that is certified. On top of that, the clinic is closed Saturday in observation of Independence Day, and therefore if something should go wrong between tomorrow and Monday we will have to take Coconut to another office.
It's stressful, and everything seems to be interfering with my volunteer schedule. I had to call them and tell them I had the stomach flu, only to turn around and call and tell them we've had so many issues with the cat that I'm sorry I haven't made it in this week. Luckily I have until August 20th or so to finish my hours, but it's just frustrating that I already sound like I'm making excuses. I mean, "I'm sorry I can't come in today because I have to take my cat to the animal emergency clinic before his bladder explodes," sounds like, "Sorry, I can't make it to school today because my dog ate my homework and I have to re-do it." I know I don't have to prove anything to anyone, or rather prove that I do have things going on, but it's just frustrating when you call someone near panicking and tell them you can't make it because of a family emergency, and when they find out it's your cat they aren't so understanding anymore.
When we had to drive him to the vet's office the first time I started crying every time Coconut made a noise that indicated he was in pain, and Clark said, "I just have to remember that they're your children as much as our future children are." I think people forget how much a part of the family animals are, especially if you're in a situation where you don't have any at the moment.
So, as silly as it may sound, say a prayer for our precious kitty. He's at the vet's office for the day and then we're bringing him home and pulling an all-nighter, hoping that we are able to keep him from pulling the catheter out. Maybe, since he'll be at home, he won't be as stressed as he was in an unfamiliar environment and he'll just be happy to be around his family that he won't be thinking about the huge collar around his neck or the catheter up his.... yea. You get the idea.
Until next time.
We've all got our junk, and my junk is you!
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