Sunday morning, August 23, 2009

Hello Everyone,
Thanks for stopping by and visiting. On this website is valuable information to help you. Or, to pass on to others so they can get help. We can only fix us, we cannot fix the abusers. They have to do that!

Last Thursday morning hubby got up at 4 a.m., his usual time to get up and mine too! His final class at Kent was that morning. We give the cats a teaspoon of baby food (turkey & turkey gravy)each morning to put soft food in their diet as it helps with bladder and kidney stones. Well, when Tigger (the new kitty-about a year old now), came out to the kitchen, hubby noticed she was wobbly and having trouble walking and falling over. She didn't eat the baby food. I woke up shortly after and he was telling me about Tigger. I observed the symptoms he described right away. I told him I would take her into the vet as soon as I could get an appointment.

I felt so sorry for Tigger. She would try to walk then fall over on her side. It was terrible to watch her struggle. She seemed so disoriented, scared, confused, and more than likely terrified as she didn't know what was happening to her either. The night before she was fine. In fact, she even found a little moth on the wall and was watching it until I got a Kleenex and got it and disposed of it. She was certainly fine then.

The veterinarian assessed her and watched her try to walk on the floor. Tigger's head was cocked to one side and she seemed unsure of her steps. The Vet also found some brown debris in her right ear and thought it was a fungus of some kind, but not ear mites. So she said either it is the fungus in the ear, or an unusual problem called "Idiopathic Vestibular Disease." No known reason for the onset, no known cure, and not a lot of information regarding it. (I checked on the Internet when I got home.) Seems like the latter and not really the former (fungus) that is causing her balance problems. Plus, there is nausea with it and rapid eye movement, sensitivity to touch, and disorientation. Articles say it can happen to cats a year or older and in the late summer or early fall. Weird, very weird.

Tigger hid under the bed for about a day and a half. She did come out to use the litter box but was not eating or drinking that I could tell. I gave her extra baby food and put water dishes here and there. It seemed she was also having trouble with her neck and being able to reach the floor or a dish. It would end up sideways at times, but that could be to her eyes not focusing well.

As of this morning, she jumped on the bed and is doing a little better. She has trouble in the litter box as if she is not squarely on all four paws, her balance is off. Plus, she is not allowed to go up or down stairs. The duration is anywhere from 2-6 weeks until she gets back to normal, but the head tilting may remain slightly.

Hubby finished his two Master's classes and was he relieved they were over. They were very grueling. He got and 'A' on his first class, and I'm sure he got an 'A' on his second one. Now he has to do his 16 week on-line class and he will be done by the end of December. Yeah! Now the students start back to school here on Tuesday. He is looking forward to another good year of teaching and good students.

Finally picked some green beans on Friday. Never had green beans fail to produce all summer like that. Must have been bad beans or something, even though the bushes were beautiful! After blanching them, I filled one quart bag, that is it! I did some tomatoes, and also cored some green peppers and froze them.

Another busy week coming up with work and meetings and CCAPL stuff. Have a great week everyone and stay safe.

Blessings to you,
Becky :)