Here is darling Little Whale, minus a toe and a nasty diggy nail. No problems from that nail in the future. I had to take him in at 8.30 this morning, and picked him up at 3.30. Poor chap had to go on a drip for a while though, because his blood pressure had dropped. However, I thought I would take back the unused antiobiotics (£52 worth) and got £48 credit, so that helped. Also, the bill had gone from the £413 quoted (1 hrs' surgery) down to £281, as they did a rapid surgery. I'm blardy glad about that, but it still had to come out of my savings . . . I am praying I have a good Antiques Fair this weekend as blimey, I could do with putting some of the £1000 back that has gone out on Vet's bills in the past two months.
He wanted his "scoff" as Keith called it, the moment he came out of the box, and has had Pippi's leftovers too, and has now managed to get upstairs and used the ablutions (litter tray) up there. I have just put the central heating on for him as he is laid on the floor near the radiator. Poor boy. He has to go back for a check up on Thursday. He ran away and hid when I got the cat carrier out this morning, what will he be like on Thursday?
I have kept very busy today, firstly out in the greenhouse, sewing various cucumber seeds purchased from Real Seeds (and now on the windowsill in my sewing room) and Tam's Cantaloup melons (to go in my polytunnel, so I shall have to give that a good clean up soon). Then I transferred my knitting from the too long circular needles to the proper length ones and knitted a row and a half, sat outside at my patio table and chairs. H.O.T. out there! Felt a lot more than 16 deg. I also sewed a bit more(mending) on the Victorian quilt and have done the big chunk at one edge now. Should hopefully finish it tonight or tomorrow.
I weeded around the bit of lawn with beds surrounding it (plain grass when we moved here) and put down bark chippings on the two sides I'd finished.
Today was also a worrying day for Rosie's health, as Tam took her to Carmarthen to see the Paediatric Rheumatologist there about her knee. It hasn't improved with keeping, and he said she has Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis :( She has to go to Cardiff and have a Steroid injection into the knee under a general anaethstetic. My poor little darling. She should have painkillers by now though, but she had to have more blood tests this afternoon at her local hospital in Aberystwyth. She also has to have regular eye tests as this can affect the eyes too. NOT what we wanted to hear. The positive news is that the steroid injection should work, but the downside is that it IS an auto-immune disease . . . Such a worry.
I had a walk along by the river in the Groe this morning. The trees have their fresh green leaves coming through and it was so beautiful.
I hope that you have had a positive day, whatever you are doing.
What a worry about Rosie, but at least they are keeping an eye on her. Iris has hyper-mobility, so her joints (mostly shoulder and elbow) keep popping out, one of her cousins has it, but as he's got older it seems to have stabilised. I don't envy her the steroid jab, even under a GA. Xx
ReplyDeleteWith Iris's hyper mobility, it can have an effect on pain control - as in dental injections not working at the normal rate, and also pain-killing injections for any medical treatments. Tam doesn't have hyper-mobility but has the gene. Sorry to hear she has this.
DeletePoor baby, but it has to be done. Vet visits are so extremely expensive here. have a great week.
ReplyDeleteHe will be much more comfortable now. He has insisted on going outside to listen to the birdsong - almost as if he is thinking thank God I'm home and back to normal.
DeleteAhh, poor Rosie, I hope that the shot and the pain killers are working for her. L Whale sounds like my son's cat. She hides every so often and when here we have to close every door in the house or spend a great deal of time searching for her. I hope that the check up on Thursday goes well.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
It is like that with the girls sometimes, who go under beds, or worse still, Lulu still loves to go and hide inside the sofa base! I am hoping Thursday won't be too stressful for me or LW. He hasn't lost his appetite anyway :)
DeleteI am hoping Rosie slept better with the painkillers she has now.
I'm so sorry to hear about Rosie - autoimmune disease is unpredictable, but at least you now have a diagnosis and therefore the medical team can/will keep a very careful eye on her. And steroid injections are , in my experience, miraculous, although the effects do wear off. Tam will be so worried - good luck with the anaesthetic.
ReplyDeleteIt's such a worry - I just want her to be pain-free again. I am hoping that the steroid injection helps straight away, but it's worrying that she has to be under a GA and not just a local one. I guess they have to be specific about where it goes in and can't have her moving.
DeleteHow worrying about Rosie. She's so young still. I'm sure the injection will help, though. And I hope poor Little Whale recovers quickly. You've certainly had a lot to deal with.
ReplyDeleteL. Whale keeps trying to kick his dressing off, and wants to be outside in the fresh air, but it's a bit cool having the doors open so I can make sure he doesn't wander off. I have just tempted him back inside again.
DeleteI am praying that Rosie will soon be better again, poor little mite. I wish I had a working magic wand.
I have never heard of a child with arthritis
ReplyDeletePoor thing!
I am amazed that you were able to keep a bandage on that cat's paw.
The bandage /dressing still in place (sticky tape up to hock) but he keeps flicking that foot out behind trying to get rid of it.
DeleteUnfortunately it can present early like this, but I am praying it won't be a lifelong affliction.
What a worry for you all about Rosie. Hope the injections do the trick
ReplyDeleteGood that Little Whale is sorted for the future .£1,000 is a heck of a lot of money.
Vet's bills - wouldn't have been anything like as much even 3 years ago. That said, one practice in Carmarthen was "taken over" and when dear old Lucy had to have her eye removed, all in all it cost £400. That would have been about 2012. We left the practice then.
ReplyDeleteI hope that Rosie will get relief in the meantime from the painkillers they have prescribed, and she won't have to wait too long for the injection.
So sorry to hear about Rosie - such a worry and I hope the steroid injection works well for her. I also hope Little Whale recovers soon. Those vet bills sound extortionate :(
ReplyDeleteVet's just seem to charge ridiculous amounts these days. At least they reduced it a bit. L. Whale a bit dot and carry, obviously, but managing to jump up on bed and sofa ok. I am hoping he will be able to have the dressing off tomorrow.
DeleteWe are now waiting to get an appt. I hope she is considered an urgent case . . .
I feel for you all with the worry of Rosie’s diagnosis, good that it’s treatable. Also the puss cat, ouch, good thats over with, hopefully all healed up soon.
ReplyDeleteSeeing your lovely photos and reading about your busy days reminds me that , despite challenges we can always find some positives. TQ
Alison in Devon x
I have the big Fair on the showground this weekend, so hoping to earn some money to put back in my savings. Rosie and Tam, and Gabby here this weekend to help with the Fair. It will be lovely to have them here.
DeleteAww, poor Rosie, at least she has a definite diagnosis quite early and planned treatment, but it is a worry isn't it. I hope it all goes well for her.
ReplyDeletePoor Little Whale too, but now the offending toe has gone hopefully he will be on the mend. It was good that the bill was slightly less than you thought. The vet was trying to talk us into having Ginger operated on to remove half of his thyroid gland, with the possibility that the other half would have to removed further down the line. But he is responding so well to the medication that we refused, and happily the repeat blood tests showed that his kidneys were tolerating the Thyronorm medication well.
You never expect little ones to have health problems and I just hope this can be nipped in the bud.
DeleteGosh, I imagine an operation to remove half Ginger's thyroid wouldn't come cheap, or be pleasant. I don't blame you for sticking with the medication.
Poor Rosie, not something that should happen to a young child. She will have to be a very brave little girl with all that is going on. Glad the vets bill was less than expected, it is wicked how much they have soared up now.
ReplyDeleteI am upset about this happening to her. She doesn't let it stop her but it's awful to see her with that bad leg so stiff and sore.
DeleteSo much to deal with. It is so hard when a child is ill. I hope the condition becomes manageable. Poor Little Whale too, hope he is one the mend.
ReplyDeleteThank you anon. L. Whale getting about, though he keeps trying to kick the dressing off.
DeleteI will be glad to see Rosie at the weekend and cuddle her to bits.
Doesn't it seem that auto-immune conditions are on the rise in any age group? You have to wonder if this is due to better diagnostics or if. as the saying goes, 'there's something in the water.' Hopefully this is something that can be 'out grown' but surely a worry.
ReplyDeleteGood that Little Whale is happy to be home--not good about the roving Tom--I have no patience with people who don't spay/neuter their animals and let them run the neighborhood causing mayhem.