Why I LOVE My Vet (Gross Warning)

DH, who not only lives in a house with an invisible "suckers live here" sign
for cats must also have one tattooed to his forehead. He found a small
kitten nosing around the food dish that we always leave filled outside for
strays - we had to switch to a very cheap food for strays and save the
higher-priced foods for our clowder. The little lost one (probably just
weaned or even turned away from her mom, although we haven't seen any queens
around lately) was not only covered in filth, but had quite obviously been
suffering from *severe* diarrhea (do queens really reject feeding kittens
they think are ill and won't make it?). It was so bad that she was half
covered in dried feces but also had maggots covering the filth. She is very
small and weak. So, of course, Ben had to bring her to the vet. MaryL's
tradition of giving a donation to the Humane Society in lieu of sending
Christmas cards, seemed a lovely way to celebrate our Christmas so we were
prepared to give up something that would cover the cost of the vet to save
her life if she were savable.

Anyway, Ben cleaned her off as much as possible first (and the vet remarked
that he had done a surprisingly good job for a "layman"). He put her in a
cardboard box in case what she had was contagious, he didn't want to chance
using one of the cat carriers. The vet put on special magnifying lenses
and, using a tweezers, sat and patiently picked off any trace of worm, egg,
or maggot. She diagnosed worms (I didn't ask Ben a lot of details since I'm
not in a good place to handle this), and said that was probably what was
causing the diarrhea. She also gave her a dose of strong antibiotics, did
blood tests to see if what she had was contagious (not at all if we're
careful). She said that, in her present condition, she was not "adoptable"
so we'd probably be refused by any no-kill organization and asked Ben if he
wanted her humanely euthanized - um, didn't even need to ask *that*
question - I think, even in the state I'm in, I could have dealt with that
better than Ben could.

So the vet gave him antibiotics, worm medication, and kitten formula to take
home with him. We have one room, our "guest" bedroom even though we never
have sleep-over guests, that we keep closed and completely off-limits from
our babies. Ben is currently moving furniture and setting up our very large
d*g kennel and has to medicate her and feed her the formula every three
hours for about a week and then transfer to a high caloric canned kitten
food. After that we *might* have a chance of getting her into a no-kill
shelter. As much as it hurts, and as much as we'd like to take in another
stray, our present "reality" does not provide for that option, we're *WAY*
past the point of that. Ben asked me if I wanted to see her, but I
couldn't - self-protection has kicked in and I know what I can and can't
tolerate at the moment.

The "gist" of this novel (sorry it was so long) - our vet did *hundreds* of
dollars worth of care and medication, and charged us only $35.00
US!!!!!!!!!! So now when I think of this coming Christmas I think about the
little life Ben the vet saved and try not be so sad.

That's only a part of why I love my vet and I wouldn't take my babies any
other place unless they close the clinic.

--
Hugs,

CatNipped
See all our masters at: http://www.PossiblePlaces.com/CatNipped

See the RPCA FAQ site, by Mark Edwards, at:
http://www.professional-geek.com/rpcablog/

On Dec 3, 1:40*pm, "CatNipped" wrote:
DH, who not only lives in a house with an invisible "suckers live here" sign
for cats must also have one tattooed to his forehead. *He found a small
kitten nosing around the food dish that we always leave filled outside for
strays - we had to switch to a very cheap food for strays and save the
higher-priced foods for our clowder. *The little lost one (probably just
weaned or even turned away from her mom, although we haven't seen any queens
around lately) was not only covered in filth, but had quite obviously been
suffering from *severe* diarrhea (do queens really reject feeding kittens
they think are ill and won't make it?). *It was so bad that she was half
covered in dried feces but also had maggots covering the filth. *She is very
small and weak. *So, of course, Ben had to bring her to the vet. *MaryL's
tradition of giving a donation to the Humane Society in lieu of sending
Christmas cards, seemed a lovely way to celebrate our Christmas so we were
prepared to give up something that would cover the cost of the vet to save
her life if she were savable.

Anyway, Ben cleaned her off as much as possible first (and the vet remarked
that he had done a surprisingly good job for a "layman"). *He put her in a
cardboard box in case what she had was contagious, he didn't want to chance
using one of the cat carriers. *The vet put on special magnifying lenses
and, using a tweezers, sat and patiently picked off any trace of worm, egg,
or maggot. *She diagnosed worms (I didn't ask Ben a lot of details since I'm
not in a good place to handle this), and said that was probably what was
causing the diarrhea. *She also gave her a dose of strong antibiotics, did
blood tests to see if what she had was contagious (not at all if we're
careful). *She said that, in her present condition, she was not "adoptable"
so we'd probably be refused by any no-kill organization and asked Ben if he
wanted her humanely euthanized - um, didn't even need to ask *that*
question - I think, even in the state I'm in, I could have dealt with that
better than Ben could.

So the vet gave him antibiotics, worm medication, and kitten formula to take
home with him. *We have one room, our "guest" bedroom even though we never
have sleep-over guests, that we keep closed and completely off-limits from
our babies. *Ben is currently moving furniture and setting up our very large
d*g kennel and has to medicate her and feed her the formula every three
hours for about a week and then transfer to a high caloric canned kitten
food. *After that we *might* have a chance of getting her into a no-kill
shelter. *As much as it hurts, and as much as we'd like to take in another
stray, our present "reality" does not provide for that option, we're *WAY*
past the point of that. *Ben asked me if I wanted to see her, but I
couldn't - self-protection has kicked in and I know what I can and can't
tolerate at the moment.

The "gist" of this novel (sorry it was so long) - our vet did *hundreds* of
dollars worth of care and medication, and charged us only $35.00
US!!!!!!!!!! *So now when I think of this coming Christmas I think about the
little life Ben the vet saved and try not be so sad.

That's only a part of why I love my vet and I wouldn't take my babies any
other place unless they close the clinic.

Someday that kitten will be on rpcc telling about the Christmas
Miracle Human(s) who saved her and allowed her to find her forever
home. And complaining about the service.

--
Will in New Haven

On Fri, 3 Dec 2010 11:10:08 -0800 (PST), Will in New Haven
wrote:

On Dec 3, 1:40*pm, "CatNipped" wrote:
DH, who not only lives in a house with an invisible "suckers live here" sign
for cats must also have one tattooed to his forehead. *He found a small
kitten nosing around the food dish that we always leave filled outside for
strays - we had to switch to a very cheap food for strays and save the
higher-priced foods for our clowder. *The little lost one (probably just
weaned or even turned away from her mom, although we haven't seen any queens
around lately) was not only covered in filth, but had quite obviously been
suffering from *severe* diarrhea (do queens really reject feeding kittens
they think are ill and won't make it?). *It was so bad that she was half
covered in dried feces but also had maggots covering the filth. *She is very
small and weak. *So, of course, Ben had to bring her to the vet. *MaryL's
tradition of giving a donation to the Humane Society in lieu of sending
Christmas cards, seemed a lovely way to celebrate our Christmas so we were
prepared to give up something that would cover the cost of the vet to save
her life if she were savable.

Anyway, Ben cleaned her off as much as possible first (and the vet remarked
that he had done a surprisingly good job for a "layman"). *He put her in a
cardboard box in case what she had was contagious, he didn't want to chance
using one of the cat carriers. *The vet put on special magnifying lenses
and, using a tweezers, sat and patiently picked off any trace of worm, egg,
or maggot. *She diagnosed worms (I didn't ask Ben a lot of details since I'm
not in a good place to handle this), and said that was probably what was
causing the diarrhea. *She also gave her a dose of strong antibiotics, did
blood tests to see if what she had was contagious (not at all if we're
careful). *She said that, in her present condition, she was not "adoptable"
so we'd probably be refused by any no-kill organization and asked Ben if he
wanted her humanely euthanized - um, didn't even need to ask *that*
question - I think, even in the state I'm in, I could have dealt with that
better than Ben could.

So the vet gave him antibiotics, worm medication, and kitten formula to take
home with him. *We have one room, our "guest" bedroom even though we never
have sleep-over guests, that we keep closed and completely off-limits from
our babies. *Ben is currently moving furniture and setting up our very large
d*g kennel and has to medicate her and feed her the formula every three
hours for about a week and then transfer to a high caloric canned kitten
food. *After that we *might* have a chance of getting her into a no-kill
shelter. *As much as it hurts, and as much as we'd like to take in another
stray, our present "reality" does not provide for that option, we're *WAY*
past the point of that. *Ben asked me if I wanted to see her, but I
couldn't - self-protection has kicked in and I know what I can and can't
tolerate at the moment.

The "gist" of this novel (sorry it was so long) - our vet did *hundreds* of
dollars worth of care and medication, and charged us only $35.00
US!!!!!!!!!! *So now when I think of this coming Christmas I think about the
little life Ben the vet saved and try not be so sad.

That's only a part of why I love my vet and I wouldn't take my babies any
other place unless they close the clinic.

Someday that kitten will be on rpcc telling about the Christmas
Miracle Human(s) who saved her and allowed her to find her forever
home. And complaining about the service.


What a wonderful story.

And the vet is nothing short of a SAINT, doing all that work, and
charging almost nothing.

Obviously she is far more interested in saving the poor little kitten,
than making money...or even breaking even.

Sending purrs for the tiny kitten to survive, and thrive.

~~~~~~~~~~~~ ^..^

"Life without cats would be only marginally worth living."
-TC, in loving memory of the unmercifully, relentlessly, sweet calico
kitty, Kenzie.

Every day was a treasure with Kenzie; I tried to treat them that way.
There would only be so many, and now, there will never, ever, be any
more

How you behave towards cats here below determines your status in Heaven.
- Robert Heinlein