Someone asked about Abigail here a couple days ago, and I promised an update soon. I have to say it has been challenging getting her healthy, and we're not there yet. Thank goodness this cat is the soul of sweetness and though she minds some of the care, she isn't difficult about it, so I'm quite grateful for that.
She is walking better, which is the good news. She still has a limp, and maybe always will...hard to know...but she walks around freely and even goes after the cat dancer for playtime. She doesn't climb up on anything yet, but she moves around the floor freely.
The challenging piece has been her upper respiratory problem which just doesn't give up. She was on an antibiotic that is super strong; I've only been prescribed this one twice in ten years. They don't like cats on it longer than 7 days, but she was on 9 days. It was, however, interfering with her eating, which is problem #2, so she is off it now. But her nasal passages are full of discharge and she gets totally congested many times a day. Because she can't smell anything she isn't eating much, so we are force feeding at this point. I'd usually do that with a slurry in a large syringe, but because it is hard for her to breathe through her nose right now, and she's breathing through her mouth, I don't dare feed her that way because of the risk of aspiration. So she's using a baby spoon and eating that way; it takes awhile, but it works.
Because eating is a high priority right now, she's off all oral meds, but did get an injectable antibiotic today, one she had when she first came in, but we are beginning to think this is viral and the antibiotic might not help much. She's getting some Lysine in her food, and saline drops as best I can get them in her nose, along with Tobrymycin drops in her nose (her teeny tiny little nose, so drops are put on top of it and we have to hope she draws some in) and some anti-nausea meds too., and a humidifier to help her too. It is a good thing that Ben, Jerry and Tiramisu are all fine, 'cause little Miss Abigail is a fulltime job!
She is, however, one of the sweetest cats ever. If she's not doing better with the congestion by my next vet appointment Tuesday they will probably start her on an anti-viral. So wish me luck over the weekend...paws crossed she shows some improvement on the respiratory issues soon!
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