Royce update, Through the Window Metro Study #6,899,043; the long way home
Tuesday, February 9, 2010 at 4:00AM ;)
Royce did not smell nearly so foul this morning as he has for the past two days. So I figured that maybe the leaking had stopped and that he had cleaned himself up in the way that cats do. This was not pleasant to think about, seeing as how just the odor had made me sick to my stomach.
I kept the appointment anyway. To be on the safe side, Dr. Nance drained his anal glands (although I know that smell, too, and what was coming out of Royce was different than what I am familiar with). Royce was put on a scale, where he weighed in at nine ounces less than the first visit.
And when you are only a few pounds, nine ounces is a tremendous loss.
Dr. Nance suggested that I try some expensive, very moist, high-caloric, prescription food that is not available in pet stores and that I add a quarter teaspoon of Metamucil to it, as the old orange boy was packing some hard turds.
Royce has to come back in another week for some more blood work. Depending on what that shows, and whether or not he is still losing weight, the dosage of the thyroid medicine that he is taking might be increased.
There is another treatment, "the gold standard treatment" that actually destroys the thyroid and then its function is replaced with medicine.
But that treatment is not available in Alaska.
We would have to put Royce on a plane and send him to Seattle, or some other southern city, where he would have to be quarantined from our contact for a full week.
I don't think we are going to do this.
Plus, he could still be suffering from kidney or other problems that have not yet been detected.
The yellow thing beside him is the carrier that I brought him in. He doesn't like it.
;)
All the way to the vet's office he made a fuss in that carrier. On the way home, he got out of it and I let him be. As I neared home, I looked in my rearview mirror and this is what I saw.
;)
No - I am not a person who drives with a cat or any kind of animal on my lap. That is simply too dangerous, to both the cat and me and the occupants of other cars. But, as I turned onto our street, he crawled over the seat and onto me. There was only about 300 yards to go and no traffic at all, so I let him stay.
;)
At the usual time, I headed to Metro Cafe, where I found these kids, who were very happy to become the subjects of Through the Window Metro Study #6,899,043. Or something like that. Their names are, left to right, Justin, Jake and Ashley.
;)
This was their first time ever in Metro Cafe, and Carmen was very impressed with them. "They're nice kids, good kids," she said. "Really good kids. I hope Baranson grows up to be good like that. When they came in, they said, 'thank you for welcoming us into your establishment.'"
;)
As I took the long way home, I saw these three in my rear view mirror.
;)
This rider was traveling with two others, all of whom appeared to be having fun.
Reader Comments (13)
Poor old Royce. Buddy was also hyperthyroid and they offered the radioactive iodine treatment. I refused it at the time because he would have had to be isolated for 3 to 5 days. Buddy did quite well on tapizole tablets for the rest of his life, although his other problems were numerous. And metamucil works great for a cat! 1/4 tsp a day is exactly what I used and old Bud was regular as a clock, and he had occasionally had the same yuck you described. I think you're doing it all just right for him, Bill. Aww our beloved pets as they age.
Love the Metro "study"!
The numbers of the Metro study seem to increase exponentially each time :D
I think next time I am in Wasilla I will show up at the Metro Cafe and get my photo taken for your blog.
Just think of the photo-op Sarah is missing. LOL
I hope this latest round of treatment helps Royce. I've shown my two orange kitties, Sunny and Ginger, his picture and told them to send good thoughts to him.
Aw, I do hope Royce gets better!
Love those kids in the cafe. They shine with goodness. Carmen too, she's one of my favorites! Always a big smile from her :)
I just did a little catch up, watched life in Wasilla on fast forward...whew, kind of exhausting! I love the images of Gracie exploring your house then running and jumping and running some more, looks like the best Super Bowl party ever.
I hope Royce is ok. My old dog had a smelly behind problem for about a month...turns out those treats she used to be able to eat, the oh so healthy ones, aren't so good for her now. It's hard to have an elderly pet, they seem to get more dear every day.
When Royce rides in a car, is he quiet or does he make a ruckus? I once had to move a cat from Baltimore Maryland to Midland Michigan. I tried to get a tranquilizer for the cat. The vet snottily told me that the cat would get used to the car. "After all," she said, "he can't squall all the way from Baltimore to Midland." Yeah. That vet? She lied.
I hope Royce feels better soon. My 10 yr. old Irish Terrier ,Ruby has been under the weather. It just makes you feel so helpless when you can't find the reason for their discomfort. ........I thank you for giving me another perspective of Alaska. Sarah Palin ,I think, has given many people a bad feeling of your beautiful state. I have recomended reading your blog to many so that they may see all the beauty of your surroundings and the beauty of the people in your community,that you have shared with your readers. Thank you
Mocha - Yep. It is hard. And we have to go through it, so many times.
Ash - And, as you are about to see, the numbers can decrease exponentially as well/
Whitestone - I will be delighted to take that photo. I would take one of Sarah, too, should she ever show up.
ManxMamma - Once again, Royce seems to be doing better. He is so skinny and frail, though.
Mikey - Yes. Everyday that I go to Metro, Carmen makes me smile.
Kelly - I hope that I didn't exhaust you, too much. It all kind of exhausts me, too.
Debby - He makes a ruckus. There is a very good story involving Jacob and Royce in the car and a cop that I must one day tell here.
linda - My best wishes to Ruby. I'm glad I can show you another side to Wasilla and Alaska.
oh, the things that happen to all us 'cats' as we age.
I wish Royce the very best!!
I have been reading your blog and enjoying your pictures for several months now, just wanted to thank you. Congratulations on your new grandbaby!
I have fallen way behind on responding to comments. I was already too busy and now our new grandbaby. Once again, I will probably never catch up, but I will try a ittle bit.
Yes, Ruth, true.
Heidi! Glad you found your way here! Grahamn Kracker keeps wanting to update No Cats Allowed, but I spend so much of my time on this blog and then have so many other things to do, that he hasn't been able. But, as you can see, cats are appearing here on a regular basis.
Thank you, Ginger.