Erik update

[cellio]

Erik is still lethargic and largely uninterested in food. I talked with my vet today and, after establishing that there are no unusual emissions, she speculated that it's probably something that'll pass soon. I asked what she would do if I brought him in and she said "run blood tests just to make sure". Since she had nothing more specific (or immediate) to suggest, and today's only appointments were during the work day, I made an appointment for Wednesday evening that I hope to be able to cancel.

He doesn't seem to be in any distress. But I hope things are back to normal soon!

Comments

[schulman.livejournal.com]

Sorry to hear Erik's not eating. Is he still drinking?

[cellio]

I saw him drink a little tonight, yes. Can't tell if he's up to his usual levels, but his mouth doesn't appear to be overly dry.

Best Wishes For Kitty

[(Anonymous)]

I hope things go well for Erik. I hope it's nothing serious.

Stupid question: he's drinking -- is he peeing as well?

[schulman.livejournal.com]

You can check whether he's dehydrated by pulling up on the skin above his shoulders. (Get the vet to demonstrate when you're there.) If he's dehydrated, the fur will take a little time to move back into position; if he's fully hydrated, it'll snap right back into place instantly. Test one of the other cats for a control sample.

And if he's peeing, he's probably not dehydrated.

(Disclaimer: I am not a vet; I've just gone through an extra helping of veterinary crap this year. I may have no idea what I'm talking about.)

[cellio]

Thanks for that tip. Recognizing that my control cats are (1) a long-hair and (2) a fatso, by that measure it appears that he might be dehydrated. I also, this morning, saw him drink a little water (after lots of coaxing), only to throw it back up a few minutes later. (There were no solids in the output.) I have a 10:30 appointment with a vet.