Progress Continues...

I spoke with Dr. Smith from VCA Animal Hospital on the phone after work this morning. She and the doctor from last night still have little conclusive evidence for what is actually wrong with Flower right now. All we seem to know is that she won't drink much on her own. Last night, apparently, she urinated copiously with the IV although I'm not sure whether she ate or not. We also had the veterinarian at the urgent care take x-rays which came up with no significan findings. When I spoke to Dr. Smith this morning Flower still didn't seem to be eating much and so she wanted to try using Valium in order to increase Flower's appetite. I don't know yet if that has happened. The doctor last night began a course of antibiotics that will be continued today at VCA. I may go in today to learn how to administer sub-q fluids to Flower in the event that she not begin eating and drinking again on her own. I asked Dr. Smith several questions today, and from our conversation I learned many things. The A/D food is high in both protein and fat and has antioxidants and is designed to be highly palatable for animals. I may give some low-sodium chicken broth, milk, soy-milk, or lactose-free milk to her to try to keep her drinking if she still does not want to drink water. Milk can be hard on cats intestinally, although there is little difference between the effects of dairy on humans and cats. But it may help Flower get the fluids that she needs. The best way for me to monitor her fluid level is simply from urine output. I asked also if there were some way to assist in grooming other than brushing and the doctor said that that was about it. She had no other recommendations to assist Flower in grooming herself.

Ashley made a good point today; why did we not start her on antibiotics in the first place? I don't recall now whether the vet recommended this in the initial consultation or not. I was definitely confused after receiveing the bill and then trying to go over each item individually, and I just hope that I did not make an error in judgment and decide to postpone antibiotic treatment should it prove effective at this point. Ashley is concerned that the veterinarian may not have presented this initially and that we have gone on a wild-goose chase with so many tests, x-rays, etc.