Update on Roxy: inconclusive

Roxy spent today at the animal hospital having tests. The doctor is
now certain that herpes is not causing this, but he doesn't know what
is. Her eye itself is fine, though. The problem is in the
conjunctiva. She was anesthetized while they poked and prodded at the
conjunctiva. He did something called a "CT stain", which analyzes
cell tissue from a swab. He saw some weird cells in the stain, and
wasn't sure what they were - some kind of infection, but he didn't
recognize it. So he gave the data to a pathologist to have it
analyzed. He didn't want to biopsy her flesh right now because it's
so swollen and inflamed, and it hurts her a lot. He's hoping to get
some answers without having to do that.

Meanwhile, he sent her home today with 3 new meds: an oral
antibiotic, a topical one (drops), and some pain medication.

And I'm $550 poorer. And we don't even know what it is! Her eye
looks worse, probably because of the tests.

Right now she's under my bed and won't let me near her. If I try to
reach under, she hisses and growls. She must have had a really
terrible day. I went into my bedroom a little while ago to try to
give her pain meds, but I was unable to lure her out. I don't want to
get her all upset and stressed over a struggle to drag her out from
under the bed. But I'm sure she'd feel better if I could just give
her a dose of the pain stuff. I'm not even going to try to give her
the other meds until I succeed in numbing her pain a bit. Poor girl,
this is heartbreaking...

At least her bloodwork was fine. She had that done before being put
under. Kidneys are fine, other levels are normal.

I should find out tomorrow what the pathologist has to say about the
stain.

Joyce

wrote:
Roxy spent today at the animal hospital having tests. The doctor is
now certain that herpes is not causing this, but he doesn't know what
is. Her eye itself is fine, though. The problem is in the
conjunctiva. She was anesthetized while they poked and prodded at the
conjunctiva. He did something called a "CT stain", which analyzes
cell tissue from a swab. He saw some weird cells in the stain, and
wasn't sure what they were - some kind of infection, but he didn't
recognize it. So he gave the data to a pathologist to have it
analyzed. He didn't want to biopsy her flesh right now because it's
so swollen and inflamed, and it hurts her a lot. He's hoping to get
some answers without having to do that.
snip

Poor Roxy, I hope the pain meds are helping. Purrs for her problem to be
diagnosed and cured asap. Purrs for your nerves and your wallet.
--
Adrian (Owned by Snoopy and Bagheera)
Cats leave pawprints on your heart.
http://community.webshots.com/user/clowderuk

Poor Roxy. However, the vet is doing a great job getting a specific analysis
of the infection. There are many that won't do that and just throw broad
spectrum antibiotics at it and I think you have a lot better chance of
getting somewhere with the specifics. I really hope she calms down for you
soon. Poor baby.


wrote in message
...
Roxy spent today at the animal hospital having tests. The doctor is
now certain that herpes is not causing this, but he doesn't know what
is. Her eye itself is fine, though. The problem is in the
conjunctiva. She was anesthetized while they poked and prodded at the
conjunctiva. He did something called a "CT stain", which analyzes
cell tissue from a swab. He saw some weird cells in the stain, and
wasn't sure what they were - some kind of infection, but he didn't
recognize it. So he gave the data to a pathologist to have it
analyzed. He didn't want to biopsy her flesh right now because it's
so swollen and inflamed, and it hurts her a lot. He's hoping to get
some answers without having to do that.

Meanwhile, he sent her home today with 3 new meds: an oral
antibiotic, a topical one (drops), and some pain medication.

And I'm $550 poorer. And we don't even know what it is! Her eye
looks worse, probably because of the tests.

Right now she's under my bed and won't let me near her. If I try to
reach under, she hisses and growls. She must have had a really
terrible day. I went into my bedroom a little while ago to try to
give her pain meds, but I was unable to lure her out. I don't want to
get her all upset and stressed over a struggle to drag her out from
under the bed. But I'm sure she'd feel better if I could just give
her a dose of the pain stuff. I'm not even going to try to give her
the other meds until I succeed in numbing her pain a bit. Poor girl,
this is heartbreaking...

At least her bloodwork was fine. She had that done before being put
under. Kidneys are fine, other levels are normal.

I should find out tomorrow what the pathologist has to say about the
stain.

Joyce

wrote in message
...
Right now she's under my bed and won't let me near her. If I try to
reach under, she hisses and growls. She must have had a really
terrible day. I went into my bedroom a little while ago to try to
give her pain meds, but I was unable to lure her out. I don't want to
get her all upset and stressed over a struggle to drag her out from
under the bed. But I'm sure she'd feel better if I could just give
her a dose of the pain stuff. I'm not even going to try to give her
the other meds until I succeed in numbing her pain a bit. Poor girl,
this is heartbreaking...

At least her bloodwork was fine. She had that done before being put
under. Kidneys are fine, other levels are normal.

Awww - hugs to both of you and purrs that she's feeling better soon. I know
that TED trips can take a lot out of a kitty but she'll come around. I hope
that you get news ASAP.

Susan M
Otis and Chester

wrote in message
...
Roxy spent today at the animal hospital having tests. ... I should find
out tomorrow what the pathologist has to say about the stain.
Joyce

It sounds like you have a good vet who will find out what the problem is so
that Roxy can get the treatment she needs. It is expensive, but less
expensive than just guessing and trying one ineffective treatment after
another and Roxy will recover faster.

I know what you mean by heartbreaking. It's terrible when they hide and
don't trust you and worrisome because they need the medication to get well.
Maybe you can bribe her with treats.

Best wishes to Roxy and to you.

Annie

Karen wrote:

Poor Roxy. However, the vet is doing a great job getting a specific analysis
of the infection. There are many that won't do that and just throw broad
spectrum antibiotics at it and I think you have a lot better chance of
getting somewhere with the specifics. I really hope she calms down for you
soon. Poor baby.

Yes, I should have just gone to this vet from the start! They are very
pricey, and at different times I've felt like they were just generating
cash flow by doing a whole bunch of extra stuff. In this case, though,
I think the extra stuff is justified, and it's worth the cost. She does
seem to have a mysterious problem, and no way around it, it's going to
cost to find out what's causing it.

I thought it would be a good idea to put her in my bedroom with me for
the night, and separate her from the other two cats. So I set up a litter
box, food and water for her, but then I couldn't get her to come in! She
growled, hissed, and ran away from me several times. Poor thing, I think
she was just so anxiety-ridden, in pain, and probably angry as hell about
the day she'd just been through, that she wasn't putting up with one more
thing from a crazy human. So I gave up and went to bed, allowing all the
cats to come and go throughout the apartment as they pleased.

When I woke up in the middle of the night, guess who was sleeping on
top of me?

Then when I got up this morning, she was back to her sweet-natured
self, the little darling. Her eye still looks funky, of course, but she
seems to be in much better spirits. She was even rolling around and
rubbing her head on a catnip mouse, so I broke out the dried catnip for
everyone. She ate her breakfast, let me pet her, let me give her her
medicine, and sat gazing at the room calmly as she always does. What
a relief!

Thanks for all the purrs, everyone!

Joyce

When I woke up in the middle of the night, guess who was sleeping on
top of me?

Then when I got up this morning, she was back to her sweet-natured
self, the little darling. Her eye still looks funky, of course, but she
seems to be in much better spirits. She was even rolling around and
rubbing her head on a catnip mouse, so I broke out the dried catnip for
everyone. She ate her breakfast, let me pet her, let me give her her
medicine, and sat gazing at the room calmly as she always does. What
a relief!

Thanks for all the purrs, everyone!

Joyce

Oh good! I"m glad she took her medicine fine and seems happier.

wrote in message
...
Roxy spent today at the animal hospital having tests. The doctor is
now certain that herpes is not causing this, but he doesn't know what
is. Her eye itself is fine, though. The problem is in the
conjunctiva. She was anesthetized while they poked and prodded at the
conjunctiva. He did something called a "CT stain", which analyzes
cell tissue from a swab. He saw some weird cells in the stain, and
wasn't sure what they were - some kind of infection, but he didn't
recognize it. So he gave the data to a pathologist to have it
analyzed. He didn't want to biopsy her flesh right now because it's
so swollen and inflamed, and it hurts her a lot. He's hoping to get
some answers without having to do that.

Meanwhile, he sent her home today with 3 new meds: an oral
antibiotic, a topical one (drops), and some pain medication.

And I'm $550 poorer. And we don't even know what it is! Her eye
looks worse, probably because of the tests.

Right now she's under my bed and won't let me near her. If I try to
reach under, she hisses and growls. She must have had a really
terrible day. I went into my bedroom a little while ago to try to
give her pain meds, but I was unable to lure her out. I don't want to
get her all upset and stressed over a struggle to drag her out from
under the bed. But I'm sure she'd feel better if I could just give
her a dose of the pain stuff. I'm not even going to try to give her
the other meds until I succeed in numbing her pain a bit. Poor girl,
this is heartbreaking...

At least her bloodwork was fine. She had that done before being put
under. Kidneys are fine, other levels are normal.

I should find out tomorrow what the pathologist has to say about the
stain.

Joyce

Poor little girl!! What an awful time for her. Purrs that they find the
problem and soon!!

wrote in message
...
Karen wrote:

Poor Roxy. However, the vet is doing a great job getting a specific
analysis
of the infection. There are many that won't do that and just throw broad
spectrum antibiotics at it and I think you have a lot better chance of
getting somewhere with the specifics. I really hope she calms down for
you
soon. Poor baby.

Yes, I should have just gone to this vet from the start! They are very
pricey, and at different times I've felt like they were just generating
cash flow by doing a whole bunch of extra stuff. In this case, though,
I think the extra stuff is justified, and it's worth the cost. She does
seem to have a mysterious problem, and no way around it, it's going to
cost to find out what's causing it.

I thought it would be a good idea to put her in my bedroom with me for
the night, and separate her from the other two cats. So I set up a litter
box, food and water for her, but then I couldn't get her to come in! She
growled, hissed, and ran away from me several times. Poor thing, I think
she was just so anxiety-ridden, in pain, and probably angry as hell about
the day she'd just been through, that she wasn't putting up with one more
thing from a crazy human. So I gave up and went to bed, allowing all the
cats to come and go throughout the apartment as they pleased.

When I woke up in the middle of the night, guess who was sleeping on
top of me?

Then when I got up this morning, she was back to her sweet-natured
self, the little darling. Her eye still looks funky, of course, but she
seems to be in much better spirits. She was even rolling around and
rubbing her head on a catnip mouse, so I broke out the dried catnip for
everyone. She ate her breakfast, let me pet her, let me give her her
medicine, and sat gazing at the room calmly as she always does. What
a relief!

Thanks for all the purrs, everyone!

Joyce

*Phew* Glad to hear she i feeling better

I've missed a lot of what's been happening with Roxy but what I have read
sounds like quite a trial -- purrs for you and Roxy, Joyce.
Christine
wrote in message
...
Roxy spent today at the animal hospital having tests. The doctor is
now certain that herpes is not causing this, but he doesn't know what
is. Her eye itself is fine, though. The problem is in the
conjunctiva. She was anesthetized while they poked and prodded at the
conjunctiva. He did something called a "CT stain", which analyzes
cell tissue from a swab. He saw some weird cells in the stain, and
wasn't sure what they were - some kind of infection, but he didn't
recognize it. So he gave the data to a pathologist to have it
analyzed. He didn't want to biopsy her flesh right now because it's
so swollen and inflamed, and it hurts her a lot. He's hoping to get
some answers without having to do that.

Meanwhile, he sent her home today with 3 new meds: an oral
antibiotic, a topical one (drops), and some pain medication.

And I'm $550 poorer. And we don't even know what it is! Her eye
looks worse, probably because of the tests.

Right now she's under my bed and won't let me near her. If I try to
reach under, she hisses and growls. She must have had a really
terrible day. I went into my bedroom a little while ago to try to
give her pain meds, but I was unable to lure her out. I don't want to
get her all upset and stressed over a struggle to drag her out from
under the bed. But I'm sure she'd feel better if I could just give
her a dose of the pain stuff. I'm not even going to try to give her
the other meds until I succeed in numbing her pain a bit. Poor girl,
this is heartbreaking...

At least her bloodwork was fine. She had that done before being put
under. Kidneys are fine, other levels are normal.

I should find out tomorrow what the pathologist has to say about the
stain.

Joyce