Saturday Morning

and the livin’ is easy.. finally!!

This morning I start my stretch of four days off… and that always has me feelin’ good.   But especially this week.. as it has been a bit of a rough one…  Bear has been sick.

He started vomiting Monday morning and stopped eating at much the same time.   The strange thing is… not meaning to be too graphic here… but I found a somewhat chewed 1/2 almond in his first emesis.  ????   Whatever was he doing eating an Almond!  We did have a small bowl of nuts on the kitchen counter. He must have taken it from there, but still the question remains… why would a cat eat a nut.. an unsalted one, at that.

Anyways.. he vomited several times over the next three days.  I kept hoping he would just get better but he didn’t, so Wednesday we took him into the vet.

He ended up staying in kitty hospital for two days.  He needed an IV and fluids.  They also did a barium x-ray.. and poor Bear… he aspirated some of the barium into his lungs.   The vet explained that barium in the lungs can never be removed and will always be there.  Lucky for Bear  his respiratory status so far does not appear compromised.   It just seems ironic that sometimes the cure is worse than what ails ya.  I admittedly was a bit upset about this.. but again.. what can you do.

It took over a day, but the barium finally traveled through his system… alleviating  the fear of an obstruction (from the other 1/2 of a suspect almond).  Blood tests indicated that he did have  pancreatitis.

By day two in hospital he had stopped vomiting and had started eating  so I brought him home yesterday morning.   He seems pretty good.   He now is on a new special food for cats with tummy issues and he does seem to be liking it.   Thank goodness for this.. as Bear is one  stubborn and very finicky feline when it comes to food.

Our biggest challenge now is the fact that I have to give him a pill three times a day for a week.    Believe me.. giving a pill to Bear, or any cat for that matter,  is not an easy feat.  But, thanks to the advise I have been given, we are managing… at least I think we are.   So far no strange little blue pill remnants have turned up on the carpet or on the couch.   Cats are notorious for cheek storing and then spitting.

This little episode cost me over $700…  but again…what can you do.   I am just glad to have him home and feeling better (both him and me).   Not sure what I will do if he has another ‘little attack’ but we will cross that bridge  if and when we come to it.

Any ways.. today every thing is good and I am going to meet ‘The Girls’ for brunch.  It is still very cold here… but, the people that are supposed to be in the know, are promising warmer days for the week ahead.   Here’s hoping.

post note:

Roland and I braved the elements last Tuesday to witness the Olympic Torch Relay as it made it’s way over the Provencher Bridge here in Winnipeg.  What an awesome experience that was!!

Some pictures: