The Milli Watch

[lavendertook]

My eldest kitty at 11 years, pretty Milli, in this pic here from last fall, is not doing so well. She started eating lightly a few days ago, then yesterday her breathing got really labored and she got to looking quite frail. So I rushed her to the vet, got her blood works done and got her a dexamethasone (cortisone-like steroid) shot. It took a few hours for the dexamethasone to bring back up her strength, though it hasn't eased her breathing.


Last night, I found that she could rest if she hung her head like this:


But if she got too comfortable, she'd try curling up with her head upside down, and then she'd start panting like a fish, so she's learning what she can and can't do with this lowered state of lung capacity. Today, she is eating well, so I was able to give her prednisone and a bronchiodilator ground up in her food. And I got a prescription asthma spray that I've sprayed at her nose, much to her displeasure. Her blood work came back to day all normal. And her vet called long after hours this evening to check in on her, for which I'm very grateful. I'm taking her in for x-rays tomorrow.

A year ago this time of year, she was in bad shape like this:


and I thought I was going to lose her. Her weight dropped over the winter from close to 11 pounds down to 8.5 before I got her stabilized. We did a ton of tests on her, and medications in her, but never found exactly what was wrong except there were some abnormalities in the lungs and intestines. And the specialty vets had tons more tests they would do and kept repeating the same tests over, and I had to stop, which was what Milli's stress levels needed as well. Only then did she get in better shape and I got her to stabilize at 9.9 lbs and a happy cat again. She's down a couple ounces right now--still way better than this time last year. Except for her lungs heaving and her mouth going like a goldfish when she holds her head the wrong way or moves too vigorously.

Right now, Milli's looking just like this on top of the sofa behind my head, happily making biscuits and purring, despite the labored breathing:


I was going to go swimming this evening, but she crawled into my lap and we had an hour-long brushing session. Then I got down some sprigs off the catnip plant and all the kitties partied. After which, Milli got the munchies and ate some more, to my great gladness. Saki is being very uncharacteristically watchful and respectful of her.

If this is the downhill slide, at least she's having some really good last days. I'd like her to make it to her 12th designated birthday in April, but she's really had a lot of fun this year once she started to recover last spring, adapted to the new place and the new pair of cats. She has had a blast having her own dining perch and watching with relish as Saki gets scolded every time she tries to invade it, and adores running me about for as many helpings as she wants each day and deeming which helping are or are not acceptable. She eats a ton just to maintain her weight, so there's something wrong in there, but she has been having fun with it anyway. But here's hoping this current problem is an episode we can find a cure for and get her past.

I like this pic of her from last winter because you can see the red dot at the end of the black cap on her tail:



Changing the subject, aramintamd pointed out that today is the 40th anniversary of Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood. It should also be noted that today is the day that Castro resigned. Coincidence? Did Mr. Rogers die 5 years ago, or merely an alias, sans facial hair and cigar? You decide.

Comments

[lavendertook.livejournal.com]

Thanks--I hope this is something that can be managed.

*hugs*