Gotcha Day

TnT

13 years ago today, we adopted Tyler and Trinity.  What a perfect fit for our family!

TnT visit their not-favorite person

I took both of the babies to the vet while I could still carry both carriers. Mostly the same stuff they’ve been doing their whole lives but they are getting up there in age and I wanted a full CBC to go with their annual. I called back right after we left to ask them to make sure to run Trinity’s potassium too. It’s probably included but hers has been borderline low before. Trin still breathes hard, has bladder issues, sneezes and sometimes holds her left foot up when sitting. Tyler still looks to have all bad dreams, tucks his head in what we call a face plant, has anal gland issues, looks like his nerves get him and his jaw or teeth still clicks shut at the end of a yawn. Both have eye goop and overlick their nipples. Tyler seems to overlick his shoulders behind his front legs too.

 

Poor Trinity seems to have veins like mine… hard to get in, then hard to get blood out of – they had to stick my poor girl six times. She came away with a clean bill of health and lots of cuddling and treats when we got home.

I was a little concerned with Tyler because he started losing his balance a little bit. I was hoping it was just an ear problem but his ears were fine. Thankfully no more FLORs was visible. It’s mostly when he gets up from our laps, but I’ve seen him stumble a bit stepping over Trinity to share (hog) the bed. It also looked like it was harder for him to jump on our bed. Well, I guess 2 things, because he’s always started getting under the covers more during his daytime cat naps on our bed and he’s never been cold natured before. I just pull back the covers so he still gets some air. The vet said he had some arthritis in his back left leg.

I’m already giving them treats for their joints. So now I just wait for the blood work results. I’m curious about the kidney levels, thyroid, and Trin’s potassium.

 

The vet called back later in the day to say all their bloodwork looked fine. Trin’s glucose was high but he said with the amount of stress she was under after how hard it was to get blood from her that was probably the reason.

When I went to pick up the actual results though both had readings (IDEXX labs) that were not in the normal range. Not sure why those were not addressed?

Tyler’s results
RETIC was low at 1.8 K/ul. Normal is 3.0 to 50.0 and last January it was 11.0
EOS was low at 0.13 K/ul. Normal is .17 to 1.57. Last January it was 0.20
under BASO it says nRBC *suspected. All I can find on that is it stands for nucleated red blood cells but don’t know what that means.
I Googled RETIC and it has something to do with bone marrow not making enough red blood cells fast enough. The EOS said it was eosinophils white blood count -excessive cortisol like in cushings and that it almost always goes with diabetes but his glucose was in the normal range at 136 mg/dL down 2 points from last January.
He had 5 marks on the low end of normal: WBC, NEU, LYM, MONO, and PLT. His BUN was still in normal 25 mg/dL last year and 19 this year.

Trinity’s results
She had lots of marks right on the low side of the normal line: RBC, HCT, RETIC, WBC, MONO, EOS, BASO, and GGT. Several were close to the low line but not right on it: LYM, PCT, BUN, PHOS, and  ALKP.
Her Glucose was 250mg/dL (see note above).
Her NEU was low at 1.26 K/uL. Normal is 1.48 – 10.29. Hers was 1.55 last year. Google says it’s neutropenia – a low level of neutrophils WBC that fight infection.
Her PLT was really low the low side of center in the low column at 81 K/uL. Normal is 151-600.  Last year it was even lower at 38 K/uL. Google says it is a low platelet count. With thrombocytopenia, a blood clot can’t form.

With ranges out of normal, I wonder why only Trin’s glucose was addressed?

The shoulder verdict

This is my 2nd post on my shoulder. I had the MRI on Monday and opted for the cheaper closed one at Blue Ridge Bone & Joint (now EmergeOrtho). I probably breathed too heavy. The more I tried to control my chest heaving up and down and try to picture myself on a mountain instead of an enclosed tube, the less air I felt I had. I shut my eyes before they stuffed me in but they had to stop and restuff the arm holder pads because they quit going in with me when they hit the opening. After just a few minutes my neck and both shoulders were tense and tight but they told me not to move so I didn’t adjust. About half way thru I realized when they put me in my right arm was no longer by my side but they told me not to move and I guess they could see what they were capturing. I’m glad it’s done and I guess they got what they needed because surgery is scheduled for next month.

 

Crumbs. Chunks. Cold Cat Food Trick. Tracked, Dusty, Litter. Valentine’s Day with my two furbabies and lots of pics.

Wishing you all a purrfect Valentine’s Day.

So yep, it’s a recycled pic from last year of my cats… but I still love it, and I’m too far behind to do a new one. Maybe next year.<3

First December 2017 snow

10 year adoption anniversary

They bring love, laughter, and smiles every day.

Happy Birthday dear Tyler & Trinity

My sweet furbabies turn 10 today!

Feline Friday

???????????????????

???????????????????

???????????????????

???????????????????

It’s been over a month since I shared what’s up with my two furbabies. I absolutely can not get a look in Tyler’s mouth but it seems his removed tooth bothers him more than the FLORs tooth. Not like he’s not eating or anything that extreme but he sure does more with his tongue. The extraction didn’t change his jaw popping at the end of a yawn. In the photo above he’s doing his face plant pose. If it was new with his tooth I’d be worried but he’s been doing face plants since he was a kitten. Drooling when happy too.

Trinity is doing great except for sneezing a lot with her spring allergies. I just keep out water for added humidity, add Lysine to her food, clean her nose and eyes and give omega oil. In the one pic above you can see she prefers to see the world upside down even if she doesn’t love a belly rub like her brother.  The other one is caught mid-yawn or sneeze. I love that nose crinkle.

Tyler dental update and sibling strife

In the past Trinity has always really cared and watched over her brother. This time she didn’t seem to miss him while he was at the vets and she doesn’t seem all that sisterly now that he’s home. Guess it’s payback for how he treats her. She has also become a real pain with my mouse cord!

Tyler looks dopey from the oral Buprenex and he’s shaking his head and licking his lips quite a bit.

He wasn’t head shaking or anything before, there was no change in eating etc to give me a clue he had FLORs.  Typically, nothing to do with FLORs or the extraction, lip licking is followed by both Tyler and Trinity with vomiting, but I imagine his mouth just hurts. I’ve been more successful getting the pain meds in him than the oral Azithromycin antibiotic. He’ll be fed soft food only for at least 3 days. I’m hoping he just sleeps and heals.

Vet Checkup 2017 and a few pics

Despite the fact that hubby shot a nail 16 penny ring shank galvanized nail from a nail gun through his finger this week, as in an entry and exit hole, without going to the doctor. His back and feet are in almost constant pain, from broken ribs and vertebra that would put most people on a disabled list top it off with way too much arthritis.

The fact that I have not been able to smell anything for about 3 years, my left ear has been ringing for over 2 years, the left side of my jaw is catching and popping, a tooth that has had a root canal and cap hurts even though it shouldn’t have pain and my right arm  hurts.

 

I made Tyler & Trinity an appointment for this week, mostly because it’s just been awhile. Plus unlike us, they have a doctor. Mostly for a full CBC and possible urine pH test, because they’ll be 10 in a few months. I’ll let you know how it goes.