# I Must Share The Good News **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 26, 2008, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-share-the-good-news/465303 "2008-09-26T07:16:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![nonacetone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonacetone/32/2819_2.png) [@nonacetone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nonacetone)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2008, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-share-the-good-news/465303/41 "2008-09-29T22:46:41Z")
Thank you for asking, **Shayna**. I talked to our vet twice today. The first time, it was for him to tell me that Bob does NOT have CRF. So, that was good news. The second time, was for him to call to tell me that they are doing a test for his thyroid, and they’re pretty sure that is going to be the problem, as all the other tests they’ve done, have turned up nothing. I should be able to bring him home tomorrow, if he continues eating and drinking well, which he has been doing while staying at the vet’s office. We won’t get the results from the thyroid test until later in the week. I just hope he can fix Bob, and get him well. Thirteen years with the furry, little guy just isn’t nearly enough, in my opinion! ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2008, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-share-the-good-news/465303/42 "2008-09-29T22:59:36Z")
> [@nonacetone](#): > > The second time, was for him to call to tell me that they are doing a test for his thyroid, and they’re pretty sure that is going to be the problem, as all the other tests they’ve done, have turned up nothing. Thyroid has been the easiest of the chronic cat diseases we’ve dealt with so far. We used the ear gel and my Ichabod did really well with that. So here’s hoping it’s nothing more serious than that. There are treatments that are permanent, but I couldn’t afford it when we were looking at treatments. The gel worked for us. ---
**Author:** ![nonacetone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonacetone/32/2819_2.png) [@nonacetone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nonacetone)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2008, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-share-the-good-news/465303/43 "2008-09-30T18:32:57Z")
I just talked to our vet again. Bob is doing ok. Still eating, drinking, is continuing to be hydrated, moving around fine, doing fine in all other manner of his usual daily routine, and has no fever. His white count is a little bit higher today than it was a few days ago, too. That’s not good. Our vet has prepared a slide, which should be ready to read later this afternoon, and he said he wants to ‘see how the distribution of the white cells are’…Whatever that means. His thyroid test came back fine, so it’s not that. He’s also not in any pain at all, Doc said. It could be cancer, or just an infection in there somewhere. Doc will have a better idea after he looks at the slide later on today. He won’t be coming home today, though. I’ll find out more when I call back tomorrow, I guess. That’s all I know for now. Please send Bob good thoughts. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![janis\_and\_c0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janis_and_c0/32/21_2.png) [@janis\_and\_c0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janis_and_c0)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-share-the-good-news/465303/44 "2008-10-01T06:36:42Z")
Sending good mojo Bob-ward. Did they rule out the hairball thing? ---
**Author:** ![nonacetone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonacetone/32/2819_2.png) [@nonacetone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nonacetone)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-share-the-good-news/465303/45 "2008-10-01T06:47:18Z")
Thank you, **janis\_and\_c0**. I honestly have no idea if they’ve ruled out the hairball thing or not. I hope to have some more intricate details tomorrow. I’d really like to get Bob back home, and get him better, if possible. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-share-the-good-news/465303/46 "2008-10-03T17:21:58Z")
Any update on Bob? Is he home yet? I’ve been worrying about him (and you). ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-share-the-good-news/465303/47 "2008-10-03T17:31:49Z")
Kitty K, 14 and spleen cancer survivor, sends headbutts to Bob and says, “Don’t take no for an answer. Keep in there kneadin and pawin. BTW, I’ve had my goodies out years now, but you is cute kitteh!” ---
**Author:** ![nonacetone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonacetone/32/2819_2.png) [@nonacetone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nonacetone)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-share-the-good-news/465303/48 "2008-10-03T23:38:20Z")
Thank you for asking, **Shayna**. Thank you, **Beware of Doug**. Well, the vet thinks it’s a serious gastrointestinal inflammation. He’s done very test under the sun. He is keeping him in the hospital, and he’s changing his meds to a different combination of antibiotics in hopes that it turns him around. We’ll see how it goes. If this doesn’t help, he’s probably going to have to be put to sleep. I’m really too upset to talk about it right now, but he wouldn’t have much of a quality of life if we just ‘kept him going’ like he is. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-share-the-good-news/465303/49 "2008-10-03T23:52:39Z")
> [@nonacetone](#): > > Thank you for asking, **Shayna**. Thank you, **Beware of Doug**. > > Well, the vet thinks it’s a serious gastrointestinal inflammation. He’s done very test under the sun. > He is keeping him in the hospital, and he’s changing his meds to a different combination of antibiotics in hopes that it turns him around. We’ll see how it goes. > If this doesn’t help, he’s probably going to have to be put to sleep. > I’m really too upset to talk about it right now, but he wouldn’t have much of a quality of life if we just ‘kept him going’ like he is. Oh, I’m sorry to hear he’s still not doing well, but at least there’s some hope. Best wishes. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2008, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-share-the-good-news/465303/50 "2008-10-04T02:18:04Z")
**{{{{nonacetone}}}}** It does sound like it could be something treatable, though, so I’m crossing my fingers and saying purrayers for you and Bob. ---
**Author:** ![Find\_Friends](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@Find\_Friends](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Find_Friends)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2008, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-share-the-good-news/465303/51 "2008-10-04T19:16:25Z")
> [@nonacetone](#): > > Well, the vet thinks it’s a serious gastrointestinal inflammation. He’s done very test under the sun. > He is keeping him in the hospital, and he’s changing his meds to a different combination of antibiotics in hopes that it turns him around. We’ll see how it goes. > If this doesn’t help, he’s probably going to have to be put to sleep. > I’m really too upset to talk about it right now, but he wouldn’t have much of a quality of life if we just ‘kept him going’ like he is. **{{{Many hugs for you, nonacetone!}}}** How are you doing, today? I hope you have good news. If not, I am here with your other friends here to listen. I’ve lost two queen cats in 1995 and 1997. The first time I came home to find the first pet I ever owned dead. The second time I had to make the decision to end a pet’s life that couldn’t be saved. I don’t think it’s ever an easy decision. Again, I hope it doesn’t come to that. Be well. 🙂 - “Jack” ---
**Author:** ![Debon\_Err](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ea924/32.png) [@Debon\_Err](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debon_Err)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2008, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-share-the-good-news/465303/52 "2008-10-04T19:28:09Z")
We’re hoping for the best with you, nonacetone. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2008, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-share-the-good-news/465303/53 "2008-10-06T00:46:57Z")
**nonacetone** , still sending good vibes and hoping for the best for you and Bob! ---
**Author:** ![nonacetone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonacetone/32/2819_2.png) [@nonacetone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nonacetone)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2008, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-share-the-good-news/465303/54 "2008-10-06T20:21:03Z")
Thank you so much for all the good wishes, Dopers! I have an update. Our vet called me, and he is thinking that maybe Bob might do better at home, so we went to pick him up. He’s been in the hospital since September 23rd, so he was ready to get out of there, we think. He’s still on antibiotics (Baytril and Clindamycin), and I have to give him 3 pills a day, for the next several days. I have to stop at CVS tomorrow, and pick up his appetite stimulant pills (I don’t know what the name of those are until I pick them up). There are only two pills, but they will be cut into fourths. 1/4th pill is to be given once every three days. He’s also eating the canned Science Diet Kitten food, too. Doc said that he checked his bloodwork, and he won’t be compromised at all by eating it, and it will help him to gain weight faster than regular food, as the kitten food is higher in calories. He also got a steroid injection before we left the office, to help with his arthritis. He may end up getting that each week, if it helps him, and everything else goes well. He goes back on Monday to have Doc check him out and do another round of bloodwork, to see how his white count is. Then he’ll be able to tell if the antibiotics are working. Or not. We’ll go from there with seeing what else can be done, if anything. All I know, is that he’s VERY happy to be home, and we’re very happy he’s home, too. We just really hope that he continues to improve. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2008, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-share-the-good-news/465303/55 "2008-10-06T21:00:50Z")
Thanks for the update! I, too, will be hoping that Bob will continue to improve and that being home is just what he needs! ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2008, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-share-the-good-news/465303/56 "2008-10-06T23:50:00Z")
I’ve been following this thread, though I haven’t yet posted. Yay for the good news! Go Bob! :: scritchies :: ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-share-the-good-news/465303/57 "2008-10-07T02:30:03Z")
I’m so happy to hear that Bob is home! I hope he starts feeling better really soon. If he ends up having as difficult a time on the appetite stimulants as Mew did, ask your doctor about giving him Pepcid AC – that might settle his tummy enough to make him interested in eating without the stimulants. And let me know if you have any problems getting him to take his pills 3 times a day – I have a possible solution for that, that worked wonders for us. Wishing you and Bob all the best! ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-share-the-good-news/465303/58 "2008-10-07T02:35:01Z")
> [@Shayna](#): > > And let me know if you have any problems getting him to take his pills 3 times a day – I have a possible solution for that, that worked wonders for us. Yeah, I meant to mention Pill Pockets earlier. Great for short term pilling (though we ended up eventually unable to get the Pill Pockets into our cats as well. Did you have another good method, Shayna? ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-share-the-good-news/465303/59 "2008-10-07T02:46:46Z")
We got a mortar and pestle, ground the pills into powder, mixed them with 5 ml of either [Nutri-Cal](http://www.amazon.com/Tomlyn-Products-Nutri-4-25oz-tube/dp/B00063KI8A) or [Nutri-Stat](http://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?pgguid=30e07108-7b6a-11d5-a192-00b0d0204ae5) (they’re the exact same thing, made on the exact same assembly line and put into different tubes at the end – I phoned the manufacturer), added a couple of drops of water to thin slightly, then put it in a medicine syringe and squirted it quickly into the back/side of her mouth while holding her head back until she swallowed. Fast and easy! Having to give pills twice a day, every day for 5 years, we had to figure something out, because just putting the pill in her mouth didn’t work (she’d hide it in her cheek and spit it out later, that fink!), and she’d sooner starve herself than eat food that was contaminated with a pill. And the Nutri-Cal/Stat is a high calorie vitamin supplement that will also help with keeping weight up. It may take a little practice – when we started she ended up with goo all over her mouth the first few times. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-share-the-good-news/465303/60 "2008-10-07T02:50:39Z")
> [@Shayna](#): > > We got a mortar and pestle, ground the pills into powder, mixed them with 5 ml of either [Nutri-Cal](http://www.amazon.com/Tomlyn-Products-Nutri-4-25oz-tube/dp/B00063KI8A) or [Nutri-Stat](http://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?pgguid=30e07108-7b6a-11d5-a192-00b0d0204ae5) (they’re the exact same thing, made on the exact same assembly line and put into different tubes at the end – I phoned the manufacturer), added a couple of drops of water to thin slightly, then put it in a medicine syringe and squirted it quickly into the back/side of her mouth while holding her head back until she swallowed. Fast and easy! Having to give pills twice a day, every day for 5 years, we had to figure something out, because just putting the pill in her mouth didn’t work (she’d hide it in her cheek and spit it out later, that fink!), and she’d sooner starve herself than eat food that was contaminated with a pill. And the Nutri-Cal/Stat is a high calorie vitamin supplement that will also help with keeping weight up. It may take a little practice – when we started she ended up with goo all over her mouth the first few times. 😃 Cool. I’m going to keep that in mind for my beasts. Dickens has asthma and we can pill her, but it’s not much fun. The big problem with Dickens is catching her in the first place. Gah! Best wishes to Bob and you, nonacetone! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-share-the-good-news/465303.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-share-the-good-news/465303.md?page=4)