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August 30, 2004
An Update on Irving
I have fielded a few questions about this; The RNC might be taking up many of my non-work hours for the next few days, so I thought I’d post this update, albeit a little early.
As I noted on Friday, my kitty, Uncle Irving, is sick. I took him to the vet thinking that he had the flu, however once there was met by a concerned doctor and a laundry list of things that I/we will need to try in order to make him better.
Irving has allergies, something that I never thought animals could develop. His allergies are severe—so severe that he has become allergic to his special diet, which is causing his intestinal system to reject food (to throw up, diarrhea, all that fun stuff to be found on my rug when I get home). The vet took a lot of blood and a urinalysis to try to figure out how we could best normalize his GIS; in the end, he told me that Irving probably has irritable bowel syndrome (yet another yuck human disease).
Nearly $300 in vet bills later, I arrived home with another, blander special cat food, some medication that smells suspiciously like liquid roast beef, and a very sad, barfy, swollen eyed cat. He wasn’t allowed to eat or drink for a day, which was torture on my normally porcine feline. Now he is on a small portion, 5x a day diet, which I have no idea how to implement while I am at work.
All of these things will work out, I hope. If they don’t, the vet wants Irving to have an ultrasound to make sure that he doesn’t have any internal damage. We won’t even talk about how much an uninsured ultrasound for ANYONE might cost. I will say that I cannot, under any circumstance, afford an ultrasound for Irving. So let’s just hope that we don’t get to that point.
Let’s also hope that I stop dreaming of a phone call from the vet, one in which the voice sadly and calmly informs me that Irving has passed away. It makes my heart explode into a million pieces each time I dream or think about it.
Yes, let’s hope that everything is okay.
Posted by callalillie at August 30, 2004 7:19 AM | La Familia
I hate to hear that, it breaks my heart too.
Posted by: ccs178 (Chris) at August 30, 2004 9:46 AM
first off, i found this for you
http://www.properpet.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=PP1&Product_Code=SW-203
second - you know my heart is breaking, even if irving doesn't like me much, he is a good boy, and i love his mother so, that i don't want her heart to break
i completely understand, watching my baby go through this awful cancer, that it is heart breaking to imagine what might happen. but i am greatful for the time we have, and know that he is loved, and he loves me.
keep some good thoughts... i will do the same
Posted by: skutchie at August 30, 2004 9:56 AM
I'm so sorry. I'm sending you and Irving all kinds of hugs from London.
Posted by: Maddie at August 30, 2004 10:07 AM
I think the key will be figuring out how best to treat him. From what I read, IBS/D is not curable but managable...so I just need to learn how to manage it. In the meantime, Irving just gets cuter nd cuter, despite his peeing on the bath mat.
Posted by: corie at August 30, 2004 11:16 AM
at least there's a lot of special-diet cat food out there these days to help manage such ailments. i bet once he gets going with the new food he'll get better. and maybe you can get an automatic feeder, tho i dunno how you'll keep the kitten out of it :)
Posted by: ChrisG at August 30, 2004 11:47 AM
Well, I can offer a few words as I can relate to this to a certain degree. Rufort had a seriously debilitating disease for the greater portion of his life before he passed, though you wouldn't know it by his bastardic behavior. (yeah I made up a word, so what?)
I think it is the primary instinct of all pet owners to assume the worst when thier animal companions begin to show signs of anything less then purrfect physicality. The first time Rufort dislocated his leg joint I nearly burst into tears. As the years went on, so did his ailments and I became less and less sensitive to them. An animal's life is just that, a life. And as we all come to know life affords itself many obstacles that for the most part we prevail against. Irving's alergies, though considered severe, are just alergies. He may experiance a little discomfort and you may be cleaning poop for a while, but I am confident he will overcome them, as most do.
It is sad that cost has to play such a strong role in pet care. I have had to live with the guilt of my frugal perspective on Rufort's meds for a long time. Consider this, Rufort's remains and urn cost close to $400. How much is an ultrasound?
Hope for the best but prepare for the worst is the best advice I can offer you. Be strong and keep your head clear to make the best decisions possible. I will be thinking of you.
Posted by: Jason at August 30, 2004 3:15 PM
Time for a Paypal "Irving needs an ultrasound" account!! We (me, Beavis & Iko) are sending you & Irv all the best vibes the universe has to offer!!!
Posted by: carrster at August 30, 2004 6:16 PM
Thanks for all the comments/support. I'm hoping to speak to the vet about Irving's lab results today. Don't get me wrong-- I'm not going to mortgage my apartment to give him top-of-the-line care. If I could, I would, but I can't. I can barely afford my own medical expenses at the moment. What I will do is everything in my power to help make him comfortable. Sigh. If that means cooking him meals of bland chicken and rice (I kid you not) for the rest of his life, I will. I will not, however, shell out $600 for an ultrasound and then perhaps even more for a biopsy..I just can't. Not on a non-profit salary with a mortgage to leverage.
Posted by: corie at August 31, 2004 10:38 AM
Isn't there pet insurance you can get?
Posted by: sherry at August 31, 2004 6:06 PM
I'm happy to chip for the ultrasound PayPal account.
I'm serious C.
Posted by: Jerry at August 31, 2004 6:46 PM
