kistha

Sadly today Oba, who's had some issues that turned out to be Wobbler's syndrome got to the point where she couldn't walk and was very uncomfortable. Our beloved kennel put her down this morning. We both got to talk to her on the phone, and poor Cathi and the rest of her staff were as miserable as we are. They were a second family to her, thank the gods, so she was petted and cosseted and loved the last couple of months.


I hate this move.

And I miss my dog.

Last night, Tayet went into final renal failure. After a midnight speed drive to the local emergency vet, we made the decision to stop the suffering. Really he would have passed on his own, but it would have taken longer, and he was definitely in great distress.

More later when I can write about him.

We lost the best cat. One in a billion for so many reasons - the heart of our home is silent.

I am so sick of loss, grief and pain.

Wow. Poor Tayet's butt looks like hamburger. Mostly bruising, really, but whoa that looks painful. The abdominal incision looks like it usually does. Last time they sent him home on lots of pain-killers, this time he's on the patch. Only for another three days though. He's wearing a collar like cmpriest's cat had, which is a stiff fabric, and since it allows him to groom his legs, we may actually get through this without sewing one to his head. (Kidding, might actually sew the e-collar to a real collar, but we'll see.) Currently he stinks of astringent hospital, fear and pee. In a bit we'll take off the collar and give him a supervised grooming experience so that he feels (and smells) better.

We're just glad to see him home, and stunningly glad to see the bill to be much less than we had feared.

Also, Oba finally stopped her bleeding cycle (yes, yes the damn dog should be spayed but there's been problems and she's gone into heat right before her scheduled appointments. Come this January - it's happening, even if I have to do it in the basement) and so now she's no longer locked in the kitchen and has roam of the house again.

Ankhet is less than pleased with this particular turn of events.

Especially the part about the dog.

So. It's not just one stone - it's multiples.

They are just on the edge of too big (and multiples) to go for the "manual" option*.

They're going to try using a probe and claw under ultrasound and pull them out, since they should fit through the opening. If this is unsuccessful, they will go to Sx. We'll get the call one way or the other later this evening.

Assuming all goes well, and he recovers, the new plan (since he just won't be normal, damn it) will be to go in every six months for an ultrasound and if there are any small stones at the time, they'll do the "manual" option.

I am very scared, but the vet hasn't brought up any gloom and doom on the recovery end, so that's definitely a good thing. Here's hoping. Any good thoughts anyone can send would be helpful.


*This involves basically filling the bladder with water via catheter, putting kitty out then manually squeezing all of the water out of the bladder at once (flaccid muscles help here) rushing the stones out.

Watch the fur fly.

Ankhet isn't so pleased that her 'brother' is back out of isolation. We've spent a good portion of our day making sure that they don't kill each other. Things pretty much settled down with a big mutual nap on the bed. Tayet was under, Ankhet was over the blankets both lying on dthon.

Thanks to argentyne's loaning of the holy camera cord, we can now bring you:



Check out the new Galleries - There's normal pictures of Tayet and Ankhet here too.

Job Hunting
Since I started looking last week I've gone to two job interviews so far. Both immediately after applying. I've been mostly hunting on Craig's List and apparently somehow I'm getting fast responses for the jobs I apply for. The first job was for a Warranty Clerk (of all things) and she wanted me, but I wanted more money. *shrug* It was a nice chat, and I had her in stitches. Today's interview was less spectacular, but it's possible they may pay me my bottom line for an Admin/Receptionist kind of gig. That would be nice. It's a casual place, the owners are a family who bring their kids in, and have a playroom space behind the office. I'm hoping that if it all works out, they may allow me to bring Oba with me. That would be an extra special bonus round. Apparently they had someone do this job for six years, who moved on and since then they have gone through several people in the last few months, and can't find someone trust worthy. The few people that she discussed were *spectacularly* bad, and so far I'm the only one who said "I can do this job" rather than "I think so". So here's hoping.

Cats.
Still waiting on Ankhet, Tayet's butt is scary, scary but doesn't appear infected. He goes in today for his 2 week check up, and will probably be in the cage for longer than the two weeks, since open sores are not a "run of the house" kind of injury for me and it hasn't healed closed so far. I hear at dthon's work a "Free Tayet" movement has begun. Well, we all hope he gets out soon. I keep meaning to get pictures up - will need to borrow argentyne's camera cord..maybe this Thursday.

General Mayhem.
Trying to find a landscaper that will bring in topsoil, lay sod and put up 8 fence posts has proved to be impossible. Apparently if it doesn't have a water feature, it isn't worth their time. So we're buying the fencing materials and getting the custom fence guy to come up from OR and put in the posts. *ohforshrissake* And we still don't have anyone for the dirt and sod. Fucking Bellevue. On the plus side however, we have managed to get Craft Room unpacked. Spare Bedroom is put together, if not totally unpacked, Pool Room just needs the cat cage out and the stuff up on the walls. Which leaves us with: Dinning Room dish unpacking and sorting and such, art sorting and hanging, base boards, closet doors, one hell of a good cleaning and we should be ready to do the House Warming thing. (And maybe even the garage will get done!)

So it's been busy here...here's hoping the vet visit goes well tonight!

Go here

Personal favorite "He'll be fine he's been a doll here, no problems with the confinement at all" and "He's so wonderful, PU's never purr."

(The first confinement crate was sized for the Dobe - towel, food bowl, water bowl, litter box & one pissed off cat)
Time to first "confinement crate" destruction and removal of hard e-collar = under 15 minutes.

I am so tired. I can't believe dthon's making it to work, even at this late hour. I'm so bleary eyed and sore I don't know how I'm going to get Ankhet to her ultrasound.

Pets can be pains in the ass but I love the little buggers dearly. And as dthon mentioned, pictures will have to happen.

....and if I ever harbored feelings of inadequacy of a pet owner, I don't think it's possible to continue at this point...