Saturday, March 18, 2006, 21:45
Sophie!
I do believe that the antibiotic is starting to work and that little Sophie is feeling better!
She is not coughing nearly so much, and when she does cough, it does not sound like it is so deep in her chest.
Also, her purr does not sound so rattling as it did, either.
She has spent most of Saturday curled up on the bed with her big kitty pals. (Which is why I have not had the heart to make the bed yet!) She looks verrrrrry happy and has spent most of the day purring.
Sophie has been eating, some, too, and has gotten a couple of drinks, as well. Also a good sign, I think.
I shall keep my fingers crossed that she continues to improve.
LeAnn R. Ralph
Friday, March 17, 2006, 19:12
Emergency Trip to the Vet Clinic
I had to go back to the vet clinic Thursday afternoon. Sophie was developing pneumonia as a result of being under the anesthetic for her surgery.
After I had come back in the house from clearing my paths and blowing the snow off the driveway on Thursday, I heard a strange sound coming from the bedroom. It was Sophie. She was coughing from deep within her chest. And when she was not coughing, her breath rattled in her chest. She was gagging and choking, too, trying to cough up the junk in her lungs.
I called the vet clinic right away. All I could think about was our poor little Nightshade who went downhill overnight with pneumonia last fall and died the next morning.
I have enough animals and have done enough business at the clinic over the years that when I say an animal is developing pneumonia, they get an antibiotic ready for me. I didn't want to take Sophie back into town. She was sick enough as it was, without being dragged outside into the cold again.
As soon as I got home from the clinic, I gave Sophie her first dose of Clindamycin. The stuff must taste terrible because every kitty I give it to coughs and chokes on it.
In the blink of an eye, from the moment I gave Sophie the medicine, I turned from a *good person* to a *very bad person* -- Sophie wanted nothing to do with me at all after that. I can't say as I blame her. I wouldn't want anything to do with me, either, under the circumstances. Doesn't matter, though. Sophie can think I'm terrible all she wants to. But at least she'll be alive.
I also persuaded Sophie to eat a little more canned kitty food Thursday night. And Friday morning, she was curled up with her very good friends, Duke and Guinevere.
Unfortunately, Sophie was also still coughing and her chest was still rattling Friday morning.
Sophie must have the antibiotic for 10 days. They always tell me at the vet clinic that you can expect to see an improvement in an animal within 24 to 48 hours after starting an antibiotic if the medicine is going to help. Can't be soon enough for me. And I'm sure Sophie feels the same way.
LeAnn R. Ralph
