oh, Cho-cho

Chloe has been diagnosed with chronic renal failure... Yesterday we went to the vet because she hadn't been eating or drinking and was acting lethargic after an episode of vomiting and diarrhea. I thought that this was it, but the vet encouraged me to try giving her subcutaneous (sub-Q) fluids to see how she would react, then come back in a week to see what I decided. Chloe handled the administration of fluids pretty well, with just some low moaning as the 100 mL was injected under her skin. She was quiet the whole way home, then went to bed straightaway. This is a shot of her post-injection with the fluids gathered around her chest:I really didn't see any improvement until this morning, when I realized she had let me sleep through the entire night without waking me with her yowling or putting her whiskers in my face. She seemed as refreshed as I did; perky even. 100 percent Chloe again. So, I've decided that I will go ahead with this treatment, even though it is kind of frightening for me. Why frightening? Because I get to become a home-nurse of sorts. Upon the next vet visit, I will receive training on administering the sub-Q injections to Chloe at home, on an as-needed basis.

When the vet first posited this option, I freaked out, to be honest. I don't like needles, or causing Chloe pain, or the two combined. So I have been reading up on the procedure, and finding that owners in similar situations found ways to cope with the reality of shooting their cats up with fluids, and some whose cats lived for many months or even years while under treatment. I was hesitant until I read this; I have said for some time that I would only do comfort care for Chloe, and have been feeling confused as to what sub-Q treatment would be, comfort care or drastic measures? I am pretty certain that, seeing Chloe so perked up today, this is really a form of comfort care.

I'm curious what y'all would do in my place... Would you do sub-Q's, or would you let your pet go?

colors?

I'm leaning toward green...

decisions, decisions

Which would you pick? I'm leaning toward the rocker...

how to climb down a tree: a tutorial for raccoons

Step one: Survey the situation from up high:
Step two: Begin your descent:
Step three: Waiver, but continue on:
Step four: Run away! Run away!

oh spring...

sneezes aside, I love you, Spring.

my little old lady

Chloe is slowing down gradually... She's now only eating turkey baby food mixed with water. She quit drinking water and eating in the kitchen about two weeks ago, so I've been sneaking water into her diet my making mush with the canned food and feeding her in her wonderful heated bed. That worked for a while, but then she started throwing it up. So. Watered-down baby food is the next, and probably final step. She's (vet-confirmed) 20+ years old now, and there are limits to what science can do, so I'm bracing myself for a personal experience in the cycle of life.

I'm so very lucky to have had her in my life for the last decade, and am grateful to her for choosing me, in that special way that cats have of choosing their owners. Please think good thoughts for both of us in the coming days and weeks that she will have a peaceful experience of the last stages of life. And, who knows? Maybe she's faking again, and she'll be around a while yet. But in any case, have us in your thoughts. Thanks.

A birthday skirt for Sarah!

fresh off the needles!