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When Kittens Help
Feb. 7th, 2011 03:47 pm
Look, I don't want to do this lab report either, but you are Clearly Not Helping, Maerzen Oliver.
Look, I don't want to do this lab report either, but you are Clearly Not Helping, Maerzen Oliver.
The news on Marzy's heart is both bad and hopeful.
Technical version: he has hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy.
His heart murmur is real, and it's disease-related rather than "functional" (the kind a cat can just live with). Basically, one of his heart valves isn't working correctly. Because of this, his heart is overworking, which means the muscle is thicker than usual (a bad sign). This thickening has pulled one of his valves into the wrong position. It doesn't close properly (causing the murmur), and it also gets into a weird position when open, blocking a lot of bloodflow in his heart.
The hopeful news is that often, blockages like this can be helped with medicine. The meds can help calm his heart down, which will both thin the walls AND help that valve "reset" itself to the right position. So today, Marzy has started beta blockers. LOL.
He'll go back in two weeks for another evaluation, during which they'll check his response and possibly re-titrate his dose. And if nothing has happened... we'll discuss further options. But the doctor seemed moderately hopeful that the valve would respond to the meds, so I am too.
We caught this early. He's only 1yr 4mo, and the doctor said that she doesn't see any signs of the chambers of his heart actually enlarging (a really bad sign). If he responds to the pills, chances are he's going to be okay. ♥
He'll be on the drug for life. He takes a dose twice a day. I'm not yet sure what this means for me - can I still travel? Can I go somewhere overnight? Is he going to be okay? Am I going to have to pay for a pet-sitter every time I want to go to Pittsburgh? Do I have to take him into a vet for overnight? Is it going to cost me hundreds of dollars just to see my family?
But these things aren't worth worrying about right now. All I'm focused on is making my poor kitty better.
Technical version: he has hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy.
His heart murmur is real, and it's disease-related rather than "functional" (the kind a cat can just live with). Basically, one of his heart valves isn't working correctly. Because of this, his heart is overworking, which means the muscle is thicker than usual (a bad sign). This thickening has pulled one of his valves into the wrong position. It doesn't close properly (causing the murmur), and it also gets into a weird position when open, blocking a lot of bloodflow in his heart.
The hopeful news is that often, blockages like this can be helped with medicine. The meds can help calm his heart down, which will both thin the walls AND help that valve "reset" itself to the right position. So today, Marzy has started beta blockers. LOL.
He'll go back in two weeks for another evaluation, during which they'll check his response and possibly re-titrate his dose. And if nothing has happened... we'll discuss further options. But the doctor seemed moderately hopeful that the valve would respond to the meds, so I am too.
We caught this early. He's only 1yr 4mo, and the doctor said that she doesn't see any signs of the chambers of his heart actually enlarging (a really bad sign). If he responds to the pills, chances are he's going to be okay. ♥
He'll be on the drug for life. He takes a dose twice a day. I'm not yet sure what this means for me - can I still travel? Can I go somewhere overnight? Is he going to be okay? Am I going to have to pay for a pet-sitter every time I want to go to Pittsburgh? Do I have to take him into a vet for overnight? Is it going to cost me hundreds of dollars just to see my family?
But these things aren't worth worrying about right now. All I'm focused on is making my poor kitty better.
[30Days]: CATS CATS CATS
Nov. 1st, 2010 07:21 pmSo I have three cats. Let me get this out there first: I love cats. I have always loved cats; I love dogs too - I don't think you have to like one or the other; some people do but there are plenty of us who like both - but my lifestyle isn't really appropriate for a dog. I work 10-hour days and I'm already out of the house for 11.5 hours straight because of it; add in grad school, the gym, and the errands it takes to be a damn adult, and it's easy for me to be out of the house for 14 hours. That's only an average day. That isn't fair to do to any dog - dogs take a lot of commitment and responsibility (to get a good dog, anyway) and that just isn't feasible. So, I have three cats.
I love my cats.
I love cats in general. They are affectionate and friendly, but not clingy or needy - just like me. They want things when they want them and no one can really convince them otherwise, unless it's food - just like me. They actually need space and alone time and will be sure to get it whenever necessary - just like me. They are fuzzy and cute and make adorable noises, which I am not and don't, but hey, a girl can't do everything.
I love pets and I talk to mine all the time, like people. Because I come from crazystock, the cats talk back (yes, they all have 'voices'). They all have personalities, they all have habits, and they all have places in my heart.
( So these are my cats. Lots of photos, guys, made small for easy access! )
I know my photos are old -- I think they max out at 6 months, and they are so much bigger now; I want to take a video (HAPPY KITTY VIDEO, Y/Y?) and even if I can't I'll try to get some of the photos off of my phone so that you can at least see how freaking gigantic the kittens are now. WHY DO KITTENS GROW. :(
They're small and cute and so very adorably MINE, and I am so very glad that I can provide a good home to three cats who really needed it. "Cat dreams do some true" is what Jeff and I say to them, and it's so very true. They are the luckiest fuckers in the entire world.
And those are my cats!
EDIT: I came upstairs after reading this post, and Marzy had knocked every single bottle of vitamins off of my dresser and onto the ground (that's like 5 bottles) and Porter was sleeping in a laundry basket. That should tell you everything you need to know.
I love my cats.
I love cats in general. They are affectionate and friendly, but not clingy or needy - just like me. They want things when they want them and no one can really convince them otherwise, unless it's food - just like me. They actually need space and alone time and will be sure to get it whenever necessary - just like me. They are fuzzy and cute and make adorable noises, which I am not and don't, but hey, a girl can't do everything.
I love pets and I talk to mine all the time, like people. Because I come from crazystock, the cats talk back (yes, they all have 'voices'). They all have personalities, they all have habits, and they all have places in my heart.
( So these are my cats. Lots of photos, guys, made small for easy access! )
I know my photos are old -- I think they max out at 6 months, and they are so much bigger now; I want to take a video (HAPPY KITTY VIDEO, Y/Y?) and even if I can't I'll try to get some of the photos off of my phone so that you can at least see how freaking gigantic the kittens are now. WHY DO KITTENS GROW. :(
They're small and cute and so very adorably MINE, and I am so very glad that I can provide a good home to three cats who really needed it. "Cat dreams do some true" is what Jeff and I say to them, and it's so very true. They are the luckiest fuckers in the entire world.
And those are my cats!
EDIT: I came upstairs after reading this post, and Marzy had knocked every single bottle of vitamins off of my dresser and onto the ground (that's like 5 bottles) and Porter was sleeping in a laundry basket. That should tell you everything you need to know.
This is part of my 30 Days of Posting meme - feel free to check out the schedule of posting and contribute if there are any spaces! DW || LJ
