"Dan M" wrote in message
...
A few days ago I noticed Harri doing some coughing. She stopped after a
minute or so and it didn't repeat. Yesterday she had another coughing
fit, and that concerned me. She has also been a little bit listless and
lethargic. When I got back from my doctor appointment this afternoon I
saw that Harri has breathing very heavily, and she hadn't been doing
anything strenuous. By this time it was getting near 4 PM, and her usual
vet is over an hour's drive away at this time of day. I did some quick
research and located a vet in nearby Redlands, and remembered that I
have heard good things about that vet.

I had the feeling that Harri needed to see the vet immediately, and that
waiting until tomorrow might not be a good idea. I loaded Harri into the
carrier and we made the fastest trip to Redlands we've ever done. The
vet looked her over and found that she has a very high temperature. When
he listened to her breathing he found that she at least has a very
advanced case of pneumonia, and might have a collapsed lung. He did
mention that if I had waited til tomorrow, I probably would have had a
dead kitty.

The vet is reasonably sure that Harri will survive. She's spending the
night at the vet, getting IV fluids, antibiotics, and steroids. She's
also getting a lot of blood work done, and is getting some x-rays taken.
I'll find out about 10:00 AM tomorrow what the lab work shows.

The vet's assistant went over the vet's treatment plan before I left.
Turns out that Harri's treatment ought to cost almost exactly the amount
of my short-term disability checks for the last two weeks

Anyhow, purrs for Harri's recovery would be greatly appreciated.

Many purrs for her recovery. You were so smart to take her today.