The Story Continues...
Following the first of many visits to the vet, Ginger underwent a 2-week course of antibiotics to clear up the remnants of cat flu and to control the infection that resulted from his decaying teeth. And he responded very well. He started grooming properly again and all of the matted hair around his rump was replaced by sleek smooth hair. His coat was again shiny and well looked after rather than being matted and dull, lifeless and unclean. The skin allergy was also addressed by the antibiotics and the fleas killed off with a flea control treatment. The antibiotics also cleared up the septic lip although the lip appears to be slightly damaged from the prolonged sepsis. As a result, he dribbles a bit! He's also now interested in playing - savaging bird feathers is his current fun activity.
After the antibiotics treatment was finished, we returned to the vet so he could undergo some blood tests to determine if he suffered from feline leukaemia or feline aids and I'm happy to report that he didn't have either.
That then left the way clear for him to undergo the dental treatment and have the six rotten teeth extracted. He was put on antibiotics again as the infection from the teeth was starting to reassert itself and he was on the tablets until the surgery (15 days later, when the vet determined that he was ready to undergo the extractions).
The operation went smoothly and he returned home later that day. Naturally, with such a large number of extractions, he found eating to be somewhat comfortable. But you can't keep a good cat down! After a couple of days, he was eating normally again. A week after the surgery I took him back to the vet for his post-operative check-up. His gums had healed over nicely after the extractions but he still had a bit of gingivitis. The vet was a little concerned that Ginger might be carrying the cat-flu virus - apparently prolonged gingivitis is a symptom. On the other hand, the inflammation may just have been the last remnants of the chronic infection he suffered last year from his teeth. He was put on a further two weeks of antibiotics which, we hoped, would finally clear everything up.
Aside from that, he was in fine fettle. He must have been a lot more comfortable with the teeth removed as his purring became much louder over the following week. And he was much more playful.
After the latest two-week antibiotic treatment, it was time for another check-up visit to the vet. The good news was that Ginger was in good health. His gums had healed perfectly after the extractions. He'd even put on weight, weighing in at 5.2kg (11.5 lbs) which is pretty hefty for a cat. His gums, in general, (i.e. not related to the surgery) remained inflamed even after all the post-op antibiotics. The vet came to the conclusion that Ginger was suffering from persistent cat flu. His only current symptoms were the gingivitis - while no other symptoms were present, he is a cat-flu carrier. Aside from that, he's very healthy. The downside is that he cannot be placed in a home where cats already reside. The vet was adamant about this saying that any household that takes him in will just introduce long term problems for their own cats.
Ginger's still living at his old house. My buddy is still care-taking out there and is giving Ginger lots of care and attention. We're on the lookout for someone who'll be willing to give him a home in the next couple of months. He's such an affectionate cat that I don't think that'll be a problem.
I'd like to thank all those who took the time and effort to send in donations, but the following people in particular who provided substantial donations to cover Ginger's medical bills:
It's life-affirming to know that there are caring people out there. But the story's not over. Ginger still needs to be re-homed but at least we have a few months to line up a new residence...
One final note: I only recently learned Ginger's real name. Apparently, it's Redpuss!
Gary Nugent, a software engineer by profession, has been a life-long animal lover, especially of cats and is the webmaster of http://www.just-pet-cats.com - a site that helps you make the best choices to keep your cat healthy, happy and long-lived. Information about cats in general, health issues that can affect them, some of their weird and wonderful behavior patterns, their history, and how to choose various products, supplies and toys for your feline furball. And, not to forget about you...there are a few things on the site to keep cat owners amused as well.
Batchtown Chicago prom limo .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareMany cat owners believe that their good little kitty would... Read More
Scientific Name: Botia macracanthus Other Scientific Name(s): Cobitis macracanthus, Botia... Read More
The American Humane Society estimated that last year alone; fifteen... Read More
Training your dog to obey commands is an important part... Read More
Chihuahua Training is Easy! You may be wondering if Chihuahua... Read More
We've recently moved into a new apartment complex that really... Read More
Training Tips for a Happy and Healthy Relationship with Your... Read More
Aggression behavior in a dog is a normal form of... Read More
Which is the noisiest species of all? Nope, not the... Read More
Boy or Girl?How can you tell whether your Goldfish is... Read More
If you're reading this I think it's safe to assume... Read More
Most dogs live between ten and seventeen years. The relationship... Read More
How to Deal With Anxiety in Your DogAnxiety in dogs... Read More
Occasionally watching Animal Planet does have its advantage. You can... Read More
All breeds and sizes of dogs can be taught easily... Read More
For some 25 years I have alerted the public to... Read More
When pondering whether my neurosis is learned or genetic, I... Read More
Show an uninformed dog lover a photo of a Westie,... Read More
There is nothing more adorable than a new puppy. Large... Read More
1) Why should I crate train my dog? ... Read More
So you're thinking about trying cichlids. A good choice. In... Read More
Training your dog to "sit" is probably the first thing... Read More
Bringing home a Pug can change our life, but it... Read More
It's no secret that Americans love their pets. In fact,... Read More
Boxer Dogs Information - What Are Boxer Dogs? Boxer dogs... Read More
shuttle from Midway Munster are ..Which is the noisiest species of all? Nope, not the... Read More
Okay, so it's not the cleanest or most appealing of... Read More
As dogs grow older, their senses become less sharp and... Read More
Dog training is not rocket science and is not as... Read More
If you are seriously considering keeping fish as pets or... Read More
Flea control can be a very hard thing to do... Read More
How important is a dog name? Well let's think about... Read More
Gain some insight into how your favorite feline actually feels... Read More
When it comes to the art of giving, a gift... Read More
Pets are people, too. At least, that's the way they... Read More
Vitamins for Pets - How Essential Are They?A vitamin supplement... Read More
Do you have some adult discus fish and want to... Read More
Many dogs today suffer from itchy skin caused by a... Read More
Mention the word "video" and different people would come up... Read More
I've been around many people who try to lead a... Read More
* Lock things up that could cause harm* Keep the... Read More
Is your dog one of those that pulls at his... Read More
Cats are known for their curious and adventurous nature. Curiosity... Read More
Nervous cats hide from people, they do not readily present... Read More
Opening your heart to a Pomeranian can be fun, but... Read More
Selecting a Kitten It is best to choose your... Read More
They say the eyes are are the gateway to the... Read More
Parrots are becoming more popular as pets with each passing... Read More
This may come as a surprise...but if the tables were... Read More
For those pet owners who do not know what a... Read More
Pet |