|
|
|
|
8/16/00 We start searching the Internet for information and support. Most of the web sites deal with pregnant women and risks of Toxoplasmosis; but there is very little dealing with sick cats. We finally hook up with several excellent email groups (see Links section for details). Sandi is getting stronger, and her mind is clearing. She can even see a little better, and gets to the point she hates being shut up in the sickroom. Letting her out is traumatic to the other kids, so we let them outside whenever we need to see Sandi respond to normal surroundings. We are fearful that too much light will do further damage to the eyes, so we dim the house down and pull the shades. Nonetheless, progress is measured in what we called "baby steps". She follows us around like she always did, but can’t stay focused on anything, even her food. We have fed her by hand for a week, and now she’s about relearned how to eat on her own, but only if we’re with her at the time. We regularly have to wave the food dish in front of her as a reminder. She seems to have forgotten how to chew dry food, and the wet food is her only source of water at this point. She takes her awful meds by eyedropper pretty well and gets a treat of Nutrical after each dose. She really likes that part. Medication is accomplished by gently cradling her in our hands from the rear, getting hold of her head and pushing the dropper in between the teeth. A little push, she growls and swallows. A little more, and she opens wide to hiss…ZAP…in goes the rest. All done. Another treat of Nutrical. Such a good girl. "Let’s play now, okay Mom? Lets see, how DOES that game go?" Playing is furtive and mostly aimless, she misses the target a lot, and withdraws to sulk. She crashes into things a lot, too. Very embarrassing to a bright, agile kitty. We wonder how much of the real Sandi is really in there, suspecting there is a great inner war being raged from the mental standpoint. One week update email 8/17/00 It's heart wrenching to watch her stumble around and walk into walls and just stand there. Feeding her takes the better part of an hour (sometimes more) because her attention span is only about 5 seconds. I have to constantly wave the food dish to bring her back, or put food on my finger and almost shove it under her nose. But we count ourselves lucky that she is licking at food and not having to be force-fed with a syringe. She actually ate some dry food and chewed it last night and again this morning -- this is a first. I was afraid she had forgotten how to chew. (Actually, I guess she HAD forgotten how to chew!) She is still on antibiotics and Clindamycin; will be for the next 3-4 weeks. My vet called in a prescription to a local pharmacy that will do "custom orders", and he concocted a mix with flavors that are more palatable to a cat. They also used a stronger concentration (50 mg/ml rather than 25 mg/ml) that allows me to only force half the amount into her. Sandi's always had a bit of a temper, and that part of her behavior certainly hasn't changed -- fortunately it's mostly hissing, and I've learned to wait for the hissing to start and then get the syringe in and squirt!!! The remarkable thing is how alive she comes when we play with her one on one. She's always been fond of a feather (on the end of a string and stick), and as long as we keep it moving, her attention holds. She chases it, and grabs it by stepping on it; is beginning to "pounce" a little bit, and will keep it up longer than we can. Her other favorite toy has always been milk rings and while she no longer retrieves them for us, she really enjoys it when we throw them, and twice I've caught her batting at them by herself. We measure progress in the smallest of actions, and while she's far from recovery, she has improved considerably in the last week. And while we're thrilled with it, we also continue to mourn -- as a friend said when he saw her this week "That's not Sandi." The odds are well against a full recovery, and the vet has warned us we may still need to make a decision on quality of life. And then there's always the possibility of re-infection. 8/19/00 Sandi seemed to brighten some today. We pulled out a milk ring and started a familiar game. For so many years, we would throw the milk ring and she would bring it back for more. Lately she will chase the ring (if she sees it) and pounce, but usually misses by several inches. Amazingly today she not only chases it, but actually retrieves one and lays it in my hands. It is my most cherished birthday gift! But for the most part, her coat will not lay flat, and she abhors being touched or picked up. Her skin must be annoying the daylights out of her. Grooming has begun to a slight degree, but she falls over in the act, then quits. She actually came at my face twice in a rage at being picked up. No contact, but the last time, I immediately thumped her on the head like a Mother cat might as correction. All I wanted to do was snuzzle a bit. She had no idea what the thump was for and in her weakened condition she crumbled to the ground. Afterwards I was very hurt emotionally, and feeling guilty for correcting her. I never picked her up again except to bury her.
|
|
|
