Thursday, March 23, 2023

Thankful Thursday: My Surprise Vet Visit

Meows from Mudpie! 

Monday afternoon I was napping innocently on the bed when Mommy scooped me up, brought me into the bathroom where my cat carrier was waiting, and out to the car we went. I sang the song of my people throughout the 10 minute ride, and in spite of my hopes she was taking me on a field trip to the squeezie factory, we ended up at the V-E-T.


We had to wait in the parking lot until an exam room was ready for us, and the entire time Mommy promised me she would never leave my side, and we would be going right back home as fast as we possibly could. That helped to calm me down some.

Truth is, I haven't been feeling great for a couple weeks. Even longer than that my right ear has been driving me nuts. I've had many episodes of it being super itchy over the past several months, but usually after Mommy cleans it out with a cotton ball it feels better. Lately nothing has brought it any relief though.

Then two weeks ago on Sunday night I was meowing at Mommy before bed, and my voice had changed! It was no longer sweet and melodious, it was deep and raspy! For the next week I coughed and gagged. Chatty tortie that I am, I became very quiet. Then I started sneezing, and my eyes and nose became runny. 

All of that cleared up in a few days, but my ear kept itching. Then over the weekend I started retching up a little of my food like I was feeling something in my throat. 

Mommy kept hoping it was my asthma, allergies, or a URI that just needed to run its course, but I was making her a nervous wreck, which is why I landed at the vet.

This was my first time seeing this doctor as my previous vet retired, but she was very nice. She said my heart and lungs sounded good - she couldn't even hear any wheezing from my asthma - and thinks my nose and eye issues stem from a herpes flare up. I was likely exposed when I was a stray, and all the stress in our home right now reactivated it. She swabbed my ears, ran some tests, and discovered I have an ear infection. She put some medicine in them and I have to go back next week (UGH!) for a second dose of it. (As we write this on Wednesday they're already feeling lots better.) She isn't sure why I'm regurgitating pieces of food, except maybe the ear infection has affected the Eustachian tube between my ears and throat.

I also had to get my rabies vaccine, even though Mommy was opposed to it. Thankfully it was in my chart that I had a bad reaction to a previous one (a lump formed for a month at the vaccine site) so the vet understood our hesitancy, but we were happy to know they now use the non-adjuvanted Purevax vaccine.

All in all Mommy was very relieved by the end of the visit, but was horrified to learn that I now weigh in at 20 pounds!!! The vet said my teeth are pretty bad, but I'm not a good anesthesia candidate because of my weight, so we need to get serious about taking some pounds off (slowly, of course). The good news is the vet is happy I love squeezies so much because they're excellent hydration, and said it would be okay if I ate more of them and cut back on my kibble! SCORE!

That's a diet plan I'm truly thankful for!

19 comments:

Zoolatry said...

My goodness, Miss Mudpie ~ quite a bit of excitement going on there, but it seems that all is on the upswing with a pretty good vet report. Paws together that your ears will be all better soon, along with everything else ... that a few ### will fall away naturally and your Mommy will have no worries ... take care, sweetie!

Mickey's Musings said...

Well Mudpie, if you have to diet , it's good that your squeezies are recommended by the Vet ! With more squeezies and less kibble, maybe your weight will improve :)
Purrs your teeth do not hurt and that your ears feel better.
Purrs, Julie

Lynn and Precious said...

Mudpie, the old human saying is when it rains it pours. And your poor Mommy has had so much going on and now you're not very well at the moment. We hope things are under control and then when you go back for your second dose of your medicine it happens very quickly. Precious can tell you about being a little bit too overweight. She had to work at losing a couple pounds and she's still not happy about it 3 years later. You take care of yourself.

My GBGV Life said...

Even we pups don't like to go to the vet, but it is necessary to keep everyone healthy. Glad you are doing better and nothing serious is wrong.

Patricia T said...

Oh, Mudpie, you and Mommy have been having a rough time! I’m glad things worked out okay. Aren’t you glad you found out you can eat more squeezies? Win..win!! ;-)

The Island Cats said...

Oh no, Mudpie! I'm sorry you had to go to the vet. But I'm glad that you are doing okay and I sure hope your ears feel better. Thank cod the vet didn't take your squeezies away!

The Florida Furkids said...

We're sorry you had to go to Dr Stabby but more having squeeezies sounds great!

Catscue Cat Mom said...

Oh poor Mudpie and poor Melissa! What a time you have had!! We're sending purrs and POTP that everything will settle down soon.

catladymac said...

We hope you are soon much Better Mudpie ! We send purrayers and purrs and POTP to you and your Mommy !

Kathe W. said...

Oh deary me sweet Mudpie! Hope all goes well and that you lose enough weight to take care of your teeth! BIG HUGS

Brian's Home Blog said...

Dear Mudpie, we're glad you are feeling some better already and I know first-paw what it's like to have bad teeth. We understand about the scary anesthesia thing, the last time I was under I quit breathing but fortunately the Vet was able to bring me back.

pilch92 said...

I am sorry you had to go to the vet, but glad you are on the mend. And yay for more squeezies! XO

Mr Puddy said...

Miss Mudpie,
I'm sorry you are not yourself too. I hope your your ears and teeth's problems are gone very very soon
Purrs
x

if you are interested in holistic medicine for kitties, I do recommended 'Bestlife4pets'. It's a tiny size of pill, 100 % natural ingredients, None GMO, no taste you will never know you eat it.

Three Chatty Cats said...

Oh no, Mudpie! Sounds like you've had a rough few weeks. I'm glad that you're already feeling better. Your poor mom needs a break from worrying! Hugs to you both.

The Adventures of The Bell Fur Zoo said...

So glad da vet gots you all fixed up and hopefully you will be feeling even more pawesome soon. Dat diet sounds fabulous by the way :)

xoxo,
Matilda

Adorapurr said...

Dear Mudpie, I was born with herpes, and unfortunately I infected everyone at my house. So sad. But misery loves company, right? My sisfur Peaches seems the worst, always blowing her nose and wiping it on anything close by, including Daddy's arm. He really loves that. But we get a pill when it's bad. It seems the pollen from pine trees is bad here in FloryDa, so we are always suffering. Mom and Dad too. Time to move, I think. I wish yoo well. Enjoy yoor pudding in a stick. I love Churus very much. Love, Dori

Peachy, Stippie, Angel Binky and Granny said...

Oh, sweetie, we hope effurrything gets better for you asap🙏Healing Pawkisses to feel better soon and for your mommy too🐾😽💞

Katie Isabella said...

Honey, I am SO glad you are better now. And that you got the Rabies shot too. When we are indoor family we don't see the need, but...you never know. I was reading something, or mommy was I mean, from Tufts University Veterinary School about horrible itching in the ears and to get to the Vet. Glad you got there and you know what it is. XXX

Leah said...

Sorry about the vet trip, Mudpie, but glad you got some health issues sorted and you feel better now. And yay for more squeezies!