The Dulsey Report

[rolanni]

The results of the biopsy are in. Dulsey has Irritable Bowel Syndrome, which is not the news we were hoping to have, but is consistent with the symptoms. It's looking like steroids and/or special food -- we're not sure what other options there are, but we're obviously not taking any steps until the stitches are removed. We'll talk to the doctor then and see what seems best to do.

I got a bit behind today by reason of taking a couple hours off this afternoon to go for a ride with kinzel. It was quite warm -- upper sixties -- blue and sunny. Summer has come to Maine!

Thanks to those who made suggestions on keeping Scrabble to house. We did have a couple cats who would willingly walk on a leash, so we'll give that a try first.

Progress on the Book Without a Name

46,258 / 98,000 (47.2%)

Comments

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry about the diagnosis. I hope it's readily manageable.

[connerybeagle.livejournal.com]

Mymom has tried lots of foods for me. I like them all! But she doesn't. She's too fussy. She's fussy about my prednisone, too. She DOESN'T LIKE IT. I don't know why. It always comes with COOKIES. What's not to like?

Some of those food places have special kitty things too. If Uncle Vet says Dulsey Cat should try some...you could email...

I would like to sniff Dulsey Cat's BUTT.

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

She's fussy about my prednisone, too. She DOESN'T LIKE IT.

Yourmom is a very smart person. Prednisone is scary medicine. Brandee Cat took prednisone for awhile, and we didn't like it either. Even with cookies.

I would like to sniff Dulsey Cat's BUTT.

I'm sure you mean that in the nicest possible way, Connery, but I think Dulsey Cat might not understand, and you'd get your nose scratched. She hasn't known any dogs. That's our fault, we don't take her to the Best Places.

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

At least for humans, steroids can have side-effects that include loss of bone density. Given Dulcinea's habit of jumping without a parachute, this could be a problem.

[elbales]

Poor kitty. My best wishes to your whole family.

[alfreda89.livejournal.com]

Poor Dulsey. I would not wish that disease on anyone. Have you called the breeder to find out if she's had any other kittens with the condition? Or are you just biting down and heading forward?

On the other hand, I live with a pretty restricted diet. Mostly, live well. However, D may need a parachute that opens after two seconds of brisk air.

(This could mean tearing around the house becomes very interesting if level air hits it the same as downdraft.)

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

We're certainly keeping the breeder in the loop. None of Dulsey's kin have this problem, which is good news. And, yeah, we've had to feed Special Diets before and managed to do it with a minimum of mayhem.

The joker in the deck this time is Max!, who is extremely frail and who has been a bit off-center, cognition-wise (and he never was the sharpest knife in the drawer) since his stroke. Small changes throw him. Big changes -- like new! weird! food! (or, say, a! kitten!) -- kind of put him in a whirl, and he Forgets to do Stuff, like eat, or drink water. So, whatever we do to alter the cat arrangements to make Dulsey's life easier, they're going to have to be done slowly, so Max! can assimilate them.

[alfreda89.livejournal.com]

Poor Max! I've seen stroke in a cat only once, our 12 year old Persian. They tried him on drugs, but it didn't take -- the circling behavior started again, and finally he died in his sleep. I hope you have Max! under control, and he has many fine years left.

I can see where a kitten might be a real shocker. People have suggested, only half-kidding, that we get a kitten or puppy to shock our three into siding with each other against the newcomer. All I can think is, what if neither side took in the newcomer? I could NOT deal with three groups to keep apart. Not on your life.

Here are my Max and Merlyn, enjoying the heated basket.