My poor Duchess

[cjsmith]

My big fluffy friendly diabetic kitty was acting odd this morning, so she's at the vet clinic now, waiting for an open slot on the schedule.

She was holding her head twisted around to the left, walking in tight circles to the left instead of straight ahead when offered a treat in "front" of her, leaning on a wall occasionally, and giving up and lying down occasionally. She doesn't seem to be in pain; she purrs when scritched, and she's not tender anywhere I found. Her eyes track wiggling fingers... a little. Her pupils react equally to light. She'll eat a treat if it's held under her nose, but if it's placed on the floor, she'll overshoot it and not be able to find it.

This is a slightly milder version of what Princess did just before she died. (In her case, we didn't even diagnose; she was over twenty-one and weighed about five pounds by then. We let her go peacefully.) I am not looking forward to this phone call.

When I had her in the carrier at the clinic, she turned her head to the right, and that was the first time I'd seen that all morning. She may be doing the "car doesn't make odd noise in front of mechanic" trick. That would probably bode even less well for her eventual recovery, sadly.

Comments

[citore.livejournal.com]

I feel your pain. It doesn't hurt any less just because they don't walk upright. They are still a part of your family.

Hugs and well wishes.

~~c

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Amen to that. I love the little fluffbrain. Thanks.

[platypus]

Poor Duchess! I hope she gets better. One of the cats I had growing up, when she was younger, had similar symptoms and it turned out to be some bizarre random thing that she spontaneously recovered from -- I wish I could remember what the name was.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Oh weird! That's good to hear. It could be just an inner ear infection affecting her sense of... well, not quite balance, but something. Though where she'd have gotten an infection from I have no clue.

[tryslora]

Oh hon, I hope she's doing better soon! Had you given her insulin this morning? That is very reminiscent of what my parents' cat Gila did on low blood sugar -- she'd start walking in circles in one direction, or randomly wandering. The head tilt can also be a simple ear infection (we had a cat who had vestibulary disfunction -- he had a permanent head tilt, and his balance was never all that good... he had a habit of racing through the halls and missing turns...). I hope it turns out to be something simple and easy to help/correct!!!!

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

I hadn't, so sadly the obvious choice is ruled out. But you're right that it could be any number of simple things. It could also be something drastic. I just don't know.

[recordersmith.livejournal.com]

Oh no! Keeping my fingers crossed for Duchess, I hope it's something easily treatable.

*hugs*

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I hope so too.

[portia.livejournal.com]

Oh no, poor Duchess! We are all hoping for an easy answer and a speedy recovery for her.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Definitely worried.

Is that cat eating your finger or are you giving him a pill?

[msmichelle.livejournal.com]

Oh, poor kitty girl, and poor you!
I hope you get good news from the Vet.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Thanks! It'll be hours I'm sure; they were booked all morning. Gah, I hate waiting.

[datagoddess.livejournal.com]

Poor Duchess!! I hope it's something simple and she's back to herself soon.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Fingers crossed.

[ken_r]

*hugs*

I hope she recovers soon. Keeping my fingers crossed...

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Seems like your fingers did the trick; she recovered before even seeing the vet. *sigh* :-)

[ericainohio.livejournal.com]

Oh, I know how stressful it is to be waiting on news about your furkids! I'm thinking of you!

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Apparently she's okay as long as it doesn't happen again. Eh. Fingers crossed for that, I guess!

[ladycelia.livejournal.com]

Keeping appropriate body parts crossed for a good prognosis.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Thanks! "A small stroke" - hope her blood pressure is okay and she's not likely to have a bigger one.

[juverna.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry. Hoping for the best.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Thanks! She acted TOTALLY NORMAL for the vet of course. Little troublemaker. Verdict seems to be "a small stroke" and we're just hoping she doesn't have another.

[iridium.livejournal.com]

Eep. I hope it's something easily-treatable. Luck & hope & all the good wishes I can send...

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Thanks! The vet said it seemed she'd had a small stroke that she had already recovered from (more of a TIA than a stroke, I wonder??) and that as long as she doesn't have another, she's fine. They're taking blood pressure now to see if she needs bp meds.

[billeyler.livejournal.com]

Good luck! You have a HUGE support group for this.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Verdict = "a small stroke". Poor fluffbrain... but it seems she's okay for now.

[daphnep.livejournal.com]

Simon sends good healing kitty-thoughts your way. See, the internets don't just bring people together, they let the fluffy rulers of the world unite, as well.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

I, for one, welcome our new feline overlords!

[kimatha.livejournal.com]

Poor kitty, and poor you. I hope she gets better.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Seems she got better before seeing the vet. Little twit! But it sounds like she's basically going to be okay.

[eeyore-grrl.livejournal.com]

*good health kitty vibes coming your way*

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Apparently they worked :)

[sfleatherbear.livejournal.com]

Best wishes that it turns out to be something minor and for a quick recovery!

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Apparently it is - minor, that is - as long as it doesn't happen again. She sure does cause her share of trouble, that cat.

[shoutingboy.livejournal.com]

I hope it turns out all right. Keep us posted.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Thanks. It's looking good for now! She gave me a scare, though. Sheesh.

[aelfie.livejournal.com]

Oh dear, I hope she's okay. Good thoughts out to the both of you.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Thanks. She seems to have recovered. My fingers are crossed that it doesn't happen again.

=^..^=

[rampling.livejournal.com]

*HUGS* and *MORE-HUGS* and supportive *kitty-purrrrrrs* and hopeful wishes for the best.

Re: =^..^=

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Thank you! You've probably seen the update by now: a stroke. My poor little fuzzbucket! And she's got high bp, too, so now she's on bp meds.