Yesterday morning I took Terra and Polly for their annual vet check-up. Last year the clinic sent me home with Gabapentin for their next visit. It irked me that I was expected to drug my cats.
Worse, the listed expiration date was sometime last summer, so no way did I plan on using it. I told the technician they hadn’t been given this expired (!) medication but that I’d trimmed their front claws the day before. Well, the girls did great other than some hissing and growling.
Apparently they have a reputation, though, as the veterinarian I’d never met before mentioned Terra climbing on top of the wall mounted computer monitor and heading for the built-in high cupboards last time. She didn’t try any stunts yesterday.
He did have to wait until her lengthy low growl subsided in order to hear her heartbeat. lol They each received a CVR booster shot and we came right home.
My husband is equally confused by the vet’s diagnosis of mild obesity and thought perhaps it was to sell me some expensive diet pet food. But the doctor’s sole suggestion involved set feeding times. In agreement, I can’t convince my spouse to stop leaving kibble constantly available. ~sigh~ Meanwhile, neither gained weight over the past year.
Our athletic Terra remains at eleven pounds, her sister at eight. I do agree that Polly’s long coat needs more attention. For that matter, so does Dandelion’s; she will get her check-up sometime in late spring.
Should I be more open to sedating my pets? For experienced cat caretakers, do you think the vet rightly judged them overweight by feel despite lack of any gain?
I hate how the vets are always pushing to have pets sedated when they come in. Joanie got a little feisty one time and they wanted me to drug her, but I refuse at her age. I will drug Brody because he gets so scared that I don't want him to have a heart attack. They give me a dose for the night before and one for that morning, but I only use half the morning dose and it sedates him plenty. I think your cats are both good sizes, no diet needed. XO
ReplyDeleteI really appreciate your input, as do the girls from their beloved Auntie Ellen. Hugs, my dear.
DeleteI'm with Ellen in her comment up there above mine, they certainly don't need attention with obesity. BUT regular meal times are always recommended and I wish I had done that. I got to give Gaba to Katie once. She got my number after that and no matter how I tried to disguise it...she refused. I can't pill her, so that's out too. I have to take her there early to have the Gabapentin.
ReplyDeleteIt is difficult to switch from free feeding to regulated meals. ~sigh~ Katie Isabella is a dear but I understand that some kitties do need medication for anxiety. I hope she never needs daily meds. Blessings and hugs, my dear.
DeleteYikes, your cats have a reputation? At least they got through it this time.
ReplyDeleteComputer records probably detailed what happened last time. It amuses me, even when I witnessed that 2023 stunt, at least in retrospect. ;)
DeleteWe don't sedate our babies here. They are doing fine coming and going to the vets office. We're happy about that. I do think they try to push food and other things for us to buy. That's the way of life.
ReplyDeleteGlad your babies are doing fine.
Have a fabulous day and week. Scritches to the kitties and a hug to you. ♥
Thank you. Your kitties are so precious, as are you. :D Blessings and hugs, my dear.
DeleteSedation is a last resort and it doesn't sound like either are anywhere close to that. Vets tend to just against the perfect BMI for kitties. If you stand over them and look down you should see their waist line, not bones, but a lean shape. That's perfect. The only ones here who meet that criteria is Titan and Tyler LOL!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your kind words and input, not to mention the giggles. I think that a cat with an inherent cobby body is exempt from the leaner shape. What do you think?
DeleteAll of our kitties ( so far 11) never ever have been sedated for any Vet visit! Don't like the idea as we must consider their BMI for any affects—negative or positive. We ONLY feed them twice a day and they get a noon snack. Well, they remind us what time it is, they're smart. Speckie was a bit obese as she loved to 'clean' the dishes of all her siblings...
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Mariette + Kitties
I appreciate your input. Hugs and blessings to you and yours, my dear.
DeleteThey look healthy to me. I just took in a five year old feral to be fixed who weighed in at over 10 pounds. For comparison. Now he gets quite a lot of exercise I'd say. He's always running the top of my cat yard, or up on my roof. Not Bob--Cisco, freshly neutered. The drugging is for staff safety I suppose. Maybe they had an incident and in this age of lawsuits, well.....
ReplyDeleteThank you for what I consider your excellent opinion. :) And your final note makes sense. Hugs, my dear.
Delete- Darla Sands
Hmmm, my mom and dad have certainly questioned vets' methods in the past. The weight thing is occasionally brought up in our house, both involving me and dad. As for dietary restrictions, my mom says at my age, if it makes me happy, it's all good, though we know some will beg to differ.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing and please be well. You know you scored in the loving home department and your adoption makes *me* happy.
Delete- Darla Sands
Don't know anything about pets but maybe a second opinion.
ReplyDeleteThanks for offering a suggestion, my dear. :) Be well!
Delete- Darla Sands
No one knows your cats better than you.
ReplyDeleteNot the vet, not the vet techs, not folks on the interwebs.
Trust your judgement. You can always change things.
Thank you! I appreciate the words of support.
DeleteBlessings, Darla
No on the drugs. Now I had to do it once with Lily when she pulled something in her leg. She was a mere kitten and would not rest for it to get better. It only took one dose to knock her out a bit and that allowed her to get better. Weight....ouch! Lily is a little thing, 7 lbs and 4 ozs but Misty, she is a grazer and I need to do that with her food. I read that about Russian Blues and I should have started it already. She is a BIG 14 lbs. But there again, reading up on her breed, they tend to get that big....but at the reading, 14 was the highest. I did however change their food to a natural, no grain dry food. I changed Lily's wet food a couple weeks before that. I want them to eat better. I prob pay more for their food then I do mine. lol........At first, I did not think Misty would change easily, I mixed the old and new for the adjusting, she picked out the new, placed on floor and ate the old. No more mixing, old is gone, its eat it, or don't. Course, I prob need to stop sharing my treats with her. She loves the inside part of sunflower seeds.
ReplyDeleteOh, best wishes on caring for your kitties. You're a loving person, my dear, and I wish you all the best.
Delete- Darla Sands