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alfreda89 ([personal profile] alfreda89) wrote2012-08-16 10:30 pm
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The senior cat...

Bloodwork this time for the Merlyn, who is now 17 but pretends to be much younger. Slight uptick in thyroid and blood pressure, probably caused by how difficult it is for me to get his dose and half dose in his ear 12 hours apart. Any less time and he throws up.

I've tried everything else. Going to have to get up at 6:30, do his ear, and set an alarm for 6:30 pm.

*Sigh.*
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[identity profile] sheilagh.livejournal.com 2012-08-17 04:16 am (UTC)(link)
Could you ask Merlin to help you with the timing? Cats are uncanny with timing when it comes to food....

[identity profile] alfreda89.livejournal.com 2012-08-17 04:24 am (UTC)(link)
Actually, once he learns the new schedule, I expect he will help. I think he's tried to help when I was aiming for 10:30, but I have had too many fuddled days to always remember why he's talking to me.

[identity profile] http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/ 2012-08-17 09:56 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, how difficult. Very good wishes.

[identity profile] aishabintjamil.livejournal.com 2012-08-18 03:17 pm (UTC)(link)
Poor guy. I hope he improves. We've had two thyroid kitties, but luckily neither of them were terribly sensitive about timing on their meds. We've currently got a diabetic who's getting insulin twice a day, and that's a scheduling nightmare, so I feel your pain. But having them with us longer is so worth it.

[identity profile] alfreda89.livejournal.com 2012-08-18 03:31 pm (UTC)(link)
He looks like he's doing amazingly -- has gained weight, very talkative (he's a Burmese -- they always have something to say. If you talk to them, they learn to talk back!) But he had slight upticks this time. The doc hates to do anything else, since he looks amazing and seems to feel the same, so I'm trying to be as orderly as possible on the meds.

Getting up at 6:30 is not fun, however. Merlyn is not wild about being grabbed and having stuff in his ear first thing, either. But we are surviving the transition.

As soon as I turn down the dose alarm. Even jazz at 6:30 is a bit much.

Merlyn hates to be photographed unless Max is there to provide moral support. I'll have to wait until Max's ghost shows up for a good shot. Here's his half-brother the late Max, however!
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[personal profile] pameladean 2012-08-19 03:26 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, gosh. My 18-year-old guy is also getting thyroid medication in his ear twice a day, and he was having a lot of episodes of vomiting and is losing weight. I didn't think it might be the medication. I'll have to try a strict 12-hour schedule and see if it helps.

So think of me when you get up at an ungodly hour. I hope your Merlyn breaks the feline longevity records.

P.

[identity profile] alfreda89.livejournal.com 2012-08-19 03:40 am (UTC)(link)
And I missed his treatment tonight -- it ended up being at ten. That means I can give him his next treatment no earlier than 9 am tomorrow.

Merlyn couldn't take the pills, he kept throwing them up. He gets a full dose at night, and a half dose during the day. When he gets them, he seems to do well. He also gets blood pressure meds in triple fish emulsion, which he loves. That's his reward for the ear treatment!

So I am not getting up at an ungodly hour tomorrow - turned off the special alarm. Maybe I'll push it back, and save the early hour for when it's needed?

I hope for our boys that they live as long as they enjoy living. I think I tried to hang onto his brother too long -- I won't do that again. But it's going to tear me up to lose him.
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[personal profile] pameladean 2012-08-19 04:50 pm (UTC)(link)
Ari gets half a dose twice a day. He didn't throw up the pills, but he hates Tapazole passionately. He won't eat a pill pocket with Tapazole in it and he would not swallow the tiny 1/8th pills, either; he just pretended to and then he would wipe his tongue on something and eject them.

Saving the early hour for necessity sounds very sensible.

Of course you are right about the wish for longevity. Ari is still having a very good time, so I hope they both break the Still Having a Good Time Record.

It's very hard to lose a companion who has been with you so long, longer than some friends. It's a hard decision to make.

P.

[identity profile] alfreda89.livejournal.com 2012-08-19 06:09 pm (UTC)(link)

I joke that my boys stayed with me longer than my marriage or any other couple relationship. But it's not a joke. The cats are friends, and important to me.

Once Merlyn goes on, the first thing I will do, when I am in a living situation that can safely support a Burmese kitten, will be to find another companion.

It's very hard to lose a companion who has been with you so long, longer than some friends. It's a hard decision to make.
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