Two Vet Visits

TBT:  Well, I got behind on pictures, so we had 2 Vet visits a few weeks apart.   Lori had a 2nd visit for a followup shot for something,  I don't ask a lot of questions, I just let the Vets do whatever they think necessary.  I took a few pictures...  The place is nicely-designed and well decorated.  I liked the picture of cats all wearing headphones.

The place is nice.  It's also a busy place, well well-staffed and organized.  I mentioned before the Head Vet as won awards.  I don't mind that he posts those on the walls (not seen here).  But the several Vets and the technicians are also very friendly, knowledgable, and caring.

So Lori got great care and accepted it well.

Though, of course, she would rather have not been there.

Marley and Ayla had their turn at the new Vet Friday.  Naturally, I forgot to bring my camera.  I am sorry to say that did not go as well.  Marley hissed and struggled some and that was unlike him.  Not that the Vets were not equally kind and caring, but we got some bad (but not horrible) news.

First (and least), Ayla (15) and Marley (12) both have some dental issues.  Both have some gingivitis problems and both have 2 teeth that will (probably) need to be extracted.  When they return for tooth-cleaning in a week or so, the Vet will know more, but she said the extractions are "likely".

I can handle that (about $1500 for the worst possibilties), but I regret them undergoing surgery and losing some teeth.  Still, it's not like canned cat food requires much chewing...

The sadder news is that Marley tested positive for FIV.  The Vet gave me a summary of FIV and I've looked it up on a few trustable sites.  I know some of you have FIV+ cats.  Any experience about that is welcome.

So far as I can tell, Marley (at 12+) has a good chance of living a normal life for a normal length of years.  "BUT" maybe not.   He is otherwise very healthy, so unless he catches some other disease, he is OK to 16 and that is about normal for a DSH cat.  

He shouldn't go outside, the Vet says, to protect other cats.  Well, he doesn't really go out much these days anyway and hasn't had the fight off an intruder cat in years.  He mainly stays on the deck, so he isn't going to spread it to intruder cats.  

If Ayla gets it from him, it won't really matter much.  She turns 16 in April and FIV does take some time to affect a cat.  It's the younger  Mews I worry about.  Lori tested negative as did Ayla.  Laz tested negative in June last year.  He will have a regular Vet visit for annual shots in June.  I will bring him in soon just for an FIV test.

I didn't post Saturday or Sunday because I was trying to understand this FIV diagnosis.  I think we are ready to go go on posting regularly.  I've never had a cat with a known disease, so this is new to me.

But oddly, I can't stop thinking of Iza and (back in the 80s - Mischief) now.  Mischief (12) was simply dead one day when I returned home from work.  Iza (12) was two days not seeming hungry and wanting to lay on the heated cat mat.  Then suddenly one morning, her backside was covered with blood and the Vet couldn't save her.  I had a "wellness" check scheduled for her that morning about the lack of appetite.

I don't want another surprise at 12 quite yet...

Later today, I will schedule Marley and Ayla for the dental work, and add Laz for an FIV exam.  I think I should find out if Laz is FIV+ ASAP!