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Sunday, September 20, 2009

Tigger goes to Hospital

Convalescent Cat


When we arrived home last week, Debbie, who has taken such good care of my home and pets, told me that, although Tigger's appetite was normal, he seemed to be losing condition. Together we examined him and realised he'd lost a bit of weight. Normally this is a sign that Tigger's teeth and gums were giving him trouble.
On Thursday Grant and I loaded Tigger into the cat travel cage and took him to our lady vet about 80kms/50 miles away. Dr Lienke asked us to leave him overnight and said she'd descale and clean his teeth. This is done under anaesthetic and because of Tigger's age, (he's thirteen) she wanted to keep him for post-op observation.
Once we got home that afternoon, I phoned to enquire after my cat. The doctor told me she had to extract four of his back teeth (are these called molars in a cat? Not sure) as well as a row of incisors in the front of his mouth. She had him on a drip and said we could collect him in the morning.
On Friday, once we had paid the R1200/ US$ 160 bill, she told us that he has a condition called gingivitis which is inflamation of the gums around the roots of the teeth. She said his mouth was badly infected and he suffered quite a bit of pain. We brought him home with a course of antibiotics for the infection and a syringe full of painkiller. I will administer these over the next few days.

This is a condition Tigger will be treated for at least once a year for the rest of his life.

Tonight Tigger is sitting at his normal place behind me on my office chair (while I perch precariously on the edge) At least he's on the mend and should be fine for the next twelve to fifteen months.

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12 comments:

  1. Poor Tigger. Seems like people get gigivitus also.

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  2. People may not realize that taking care of pets DOES cost us money... Glad Tigger is going to be okay. Poor little thing... AND since he couldn't tell you what was wrong, I'm glad that you and your daughter figured it out. Poor kitty.

    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  3. Poor Tigger, I wish him well. He looks wonderful for his age.
    Sunny :)

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  4. O the poor little guy! But he seems to be coping well because he has so much trust in you. He knows you will care for him!

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  5. Poor Tigger. Maybe Winnie the Pooh could give him some honey to ease the pain.

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  6. So glad to hear that your gorgeous cat is on the mend!

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  7. Awwww Tigger! Hope you're feeling better! Glad you have such loving people to make sure you get good care!

    Sylvia

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  8. My Lisa had the same she is now 18 ! It happened also when she was 14 or 15, then she lost a tooth, and the rest of them were so bad that our (lady) vet pulled them all out. I thought she would have troubles with eating now, but not at all, apparently the gums of a cat become so hard that they can bite with it. and it's true, she bit me in my finger, lol ! She only eats wet food of course. So if ever he suffers too long just let the teeth pulled out, it's not good either to give antibiotics and painkillers too long.
    http://gattinamycats.blogspot.com/

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  9. Poor Tigger. I hope he's feeling better today.

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  10. good convalescence sweet man sandy

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  11. get well soon tigger
    all of us at Pet Pride holding good thoughts for you
    take care

    bozo
    Pet Pride

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