WHEN A BEST FRIEND IS AILING

  Over the course of my life I have had numerous friends. Some I remain in touch with, others are taken away forever. I miss them. But OTHER friends, the kind with paws and tails, are the kind I love or loved in special ways, and when THEY are ill it often hits me very hard. Many years ago when my collie, despite precautions, became infected with heartworm, treatments failed and she died. She was my love and owned my heart. Since that time my husband has realized my attachment and provided me with another dog, a little Shih Tzu, for my 53rd birthday. Since being in a wheelchair I could not play with him outside as I wanted to, a buddy was procured, a second Shih Tzu. The two are best friends and become very upset when they are separated. I also become very upset when separated from them, so they sleep with me, or near me, and follow me around everywhere.

Then one afternoon when I was in search of dirty clothes to put into the wash, Skittles made his usual leap into the bed, but fell back down with a yelp of pain. There was no object to hit himself on, and he was clearly hurting. My husband was home at the time, and when I told him about the incident his response was "do not pass go, just get into the car and go to the vet's". And so he did. This vet was a young lady, new to the main practice, but she was very thorough. She did an exam, took many tests, and pronounced Skittles' malady as LYME DISEASE! He was immediately put on a course of pain killers and antibiotics. Soon he began to feel better (I think) because he behaved like his own self again. That incident was scary because we had both dogs on a monthly preventive medication against ticks (which carry Lyme disease) and against heart worm as well. The administration of these medicines are written down on my calendar and checked off as they are given. What happened? The vet said we could have been 1 day AFTER the tick medicine, and Skittles got bitten then. We have deer that visit our orchard, so that could have been a factor as well.

The pet situation didn't end there, however. The Siamese that had belonged to my older son was exhibiting symptoms of a bad cold or something like that. So Sanchez was taken to the vet's as well. He was diagnosed with asthma and given prednisone. The poor cat was sneezing, wheezing, and dripping mucous from his nose and eyes. Clearly, something else was wrong! We went back and learned that our "Gentle Giant" had lost over a pound and was working hard to breathe. Somehow an infection had come into the mix of ills, and he was started on antibiotics to fight it. As a liquid, the antibiotic goes down easily using a syringe. One we get the mouth open, just squeeze! Pills are a different story. I'm not the only person who thinks so, thus I am sharing an article, found on the Internet, you may enjoy as well.

HOW TO GIVE YOUR CAT A PILL IN FIFTEEN EASY STEPS

  • Pick cat up and cradle it in the crook of your left arm as if holding a baby. Position left forefinger and thumb on either side of cat's mouth and gently apply pressure to cheeks while holding pill in right hand. As cat opens mouth, pop pill into mouth. Allow cat to close mouth and swallow.
  • Retrieve pill from floor and cat from behind sofa. Cradle cat in left arm and repeat process.
  • Retrieve cat from bedroom, and throw soggy pill away.
  • Take new pill from foil wrap, cradle cat in left arm holding rear paws tightly with left hand. Force jaws open and push pill to back of mouth with right forefinger. Hold mouth shut for a count of 10.
  • Retrieve pill from goldfish bowl and cat from top of wardrobe. Call spouse for help.
  • Kneel on floor with cat wedged firmly between knees. Hold front and rear paws. Ignore low growls emitted by cat. Get spouse to hold head firmly with one hand while forcing wooden ruler into mouth. Drop pill down ruler and rub cat's throat vigorously.
  • Retrieve cat from curtain rail, get another pill from foil wrap. Make note to buy new ruler and repair curtains. Carefully sweep shattered figurines and vases from hearth and set to one side for gluing later.
  • Wrap cat in large towel and get spouse to lie on cat with head just visible from below armpit. Put pill in end of drinking straw, force mouth open with pencil and blow down drinking straw.
  • Check the label to make sure pill not harmful to humans, drink glass of water to take taste away. Apply Band-Aid to spouse's forearm and remove blood from carpet with cold water and soap.
  • Retrieve cat from neighbor's shed. Get another pill. Place cat in cupboard and close door onto neck to leave head showing. Force mouth open with dessert spoon. Flick pill down throat with elastic band.
  • Fetch screwdriver from garage and put cupboard door back on hinges. Apply cold compress to cheek and check records for the date of last tetanus jab. Throw T-shirt away and fetch new one from bedroom.
  • Ring Fire Department to retrieve cat from tree across the road. Apologize to neighbor who crashed into fence while swerving to avoid the cat. Take last pill from foil wrap.
  • Tie cat's front paws to rear paws with garden twine and bind tightly to leg of dining table, retrieve heavy duty pruning gloves from garage. Push pill into mouth followed by large piece of fillet steak. Hold head vertically and pour 2 pints of water down throat to wash pill down.
  • Get spouse to drive you to Emergency Room, sit quietly while doctor stitches fingers, forearm, face and removes pill remnants from right eye. Call furniture shop on way home to order new table.
  • Arrange for ASPCA to collect the 'cat from hell' and phone local pet shop to see if they have any iguanas. ....

    They go in, and we think "oh, good". Then they slyly get spit out again. "Not good". So my husband bought a pill grinder from the drug store. Then Sanchez had his pill as a powder mixed with water and put down his mouth. Better results. But now the vet said that we should be "tapering off" the prednisone while continuing the antibiotics. So far, so good. Our vet is a great guy who calls the day after to check on his patients. I was in the garage with the day's mail when the phone rang. I said that so far he is losing less mucous, but it is too soon to tell, and does he (the vet) like apples? And could I bring him some on our return visit? "Yes! Great! Thank you!". I will bring plenty since the techs and office workers may like some as well. Now I just have to wait and see if Sanchez gets better as hoped. Should I write another article about more encouraging ways to give a cat a pill?

    Just Mom

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