Monday, January 8, 2018

Unexpected and Unwanted Excitement

Mommy here: Our week started off with a trip to the emergency vet for Angel. I heard her getting sick in the entry way and just sat still until it was over so she didn't run throughout the house. When I thought it was over I went to clean it up and she was sitting on the stairs getting ready to throw up again. I got stuff out to clean up the first mess on the tile (first time ever!) but then I heard her again and it didn't sound normal. I dropped everything and ran upstairs where she had a lot of clear drool coming from her mouth and she was gurgling trying to breathe. She tried to throw up but nothing came out except the drool and she was struggling to breathe. I tried to open her mouth to see if something was stuck but she turned into a wild cat. She'd look at me and her eyes were pleading for me to help but I didn't know what to do. Her tongue was turning blue and she laid down like she was giving up so I picked her up, ran downstairs, put her in the carrier and went straight to the vet. No shoes, no purse with ID or money, going 50 all the way through town while she was gasping for breath. I did bring my phone to call J so he could meet me there. I ran in the vet and everyone immediately got up and called 'Triage, Triage" into an intercom and rushed her in the back. A couple of vet techs stayed with me while I completely freaked out saying things I don't even remember and pacing all over the room they put me in until J got there. 

Awhile later they came in and said two vets were working with her and they took three x-rays, gave her a sedative to calm her so she could breathe easier and they put her in an oxygen tent. I kept asking if she was going to be okay and they assured me she was breathing easier and doing better. After an hour we were able to see her and she was huddled in the corner of the cage but came towards me when I said her name. She even climbed into my arms which the vet said was a very good sign. We waited another hour for the radiologist to report back on the x-rays but the vet told us she thought a hairball covered the opening of the stomach to the esophagus. She said this would explain the hyper-drooling and not being able to breathe. There was also a lot of air in her stomach but on a later x-ray this had dissipated. The bloodwork showed her heart is fine too. She let me bring Angel home but she's under observation for the next 24-48 hours. She's very skittish from any sound but I did open windows for her:
See her huge eyes and her little tongue sticking out? The vet later called back and said the radiologist couldn't determine any other cause but did notice an opaque spot on her lung which might be pneumonia from inhaling liquid during this episode. She has no fever or high white blood cell count so it wasn't prior pneumonia. They want to do x-rays on her tomorrow to see if there's any change before putting her on antibiotics. Plus they could see if what they think is the hairball is still there. She also said that Angel was in a life threatening situation when I brought her in so she was very optimistic in her getting better because of her dramatic turn around. She has to get better. There's no other option.

This was my last Monday off until after April 15th and I woke with a tremendous headache and then had the biggest scare with Angel. Let's hope that we made it through the worst day ever and from here on out it's much less excitement.
~Sharla

27 comments:

The Army of Four said...

That is NOT the kind of excitement you want!!! Thank God you got her to the vet so quickly and they were able to help her!!! Please give her a tiny kiss for me and the girls!!!
KZK

ByNanasHands said...

We will continue to pray for her speedy recovery Sharla! Princess Grace and Sophia Louise send soft "woofs" to Angel too....keep us posted as to her progress.

Summer at sparklecat.com said...

My human and I are so relieved that Angel got through that scary episode and I'm purring lots to make sure she gets ALL better soon with nothing more showing up.

♥♥ The OP Pack ♥♥ said...

So NOT the way to start the day. Thankfully you were able to get sweet Angel to the vet so quickly. We hope she has a quiet rest of the day and night and that the morning brings only good news. Please give her some gently hugs and kisses from all of us.

Hugs and Woos - Lightning, Misty, and Timber and Mom

JB's Big and Small Worlds said...

Purring x6! ❤❤❤❤❤❤

Lin said...

Thank god you were home to take her immediately. Please keep us posted. We are saying prayers that this is over for all of you and it was a one-time thing. How scary!

The Island Cats said...

OMC! What a scary ordeal for all of you! We’re so glad you got Angel to the vet quickly and that she is doing better now. We purr that whatever it was, it’s over now and Angel will be just fine.

The Florida Furkids said...

That had to be super scary. Were sending purrs and prayers to Angel and to you. ((((hugs))))

The Florida Furkids and Mom Sharon

Cathy Keisha said...

Sending a lot of healing purrz for Angel. Hope that hairball goes away and that she'll be fine.

Melissa, Mudpie and Angel Truffles (Mochas, Mysteries and Meows) said...

My blood pressure skyrocketed just reading this so I can't even imagine how you felt going through it. Your first paragraph reminds me so much of my experiences the night I lost Truffles - the way the vet tech just grabbed her from me when I said she couldn't breathe. So very happy she's back home where she belongs and we're purring for a complete recovery.

Grace said...

So frightening you, I can’t imagine what poor Angel was feeling. I hope this gets resolved soonest. {{huggiez to all of you}}

Just Ducky said...

Oh goodness. Sending lots of loving purrs to Angel and you, glad she should be OK.

Milo and Alfie Marshall said...

How awful. Sending huge rumbly purrs for our friend Angel. Keeping all paws crossed. X

Ann said...

What a scary day for both of you. I'm glad to hear she's doing better and sending prayers for her to continue to improve

Kea said...

OMG, Sharla, I'm sick just reading this. Absolutely terrifying. Purrs and prayers that it was/is "just" a hairball and that something like this never, ever, ever happens again. Keep us posted if you can! Sending Universal Light to Angel and to you (all) too.

Hugs!

Kim and the boys

Susan at West of Mars said...

Oh, Sharla -- score a million and five for your quick thinking and getting her to the vet (and add another couple million for having a great vet, too!). Hang in there; you done good, Cat Mama.

Sandee said...

What a day. Horrible for you and J and even worse for poor Angel. Thanks for letting us know what's going on. Angel was the first thing I though about when I woke up this morning.

Tons of prayers for Angel and big hugs to Isabella, mom and J. ♥♥♥

pilch92 said...

That is very scary. Good thing you moved fast and rushed her to the vet. I will be praying she has no more problems.XO

Katie Isabella said...

That is the scariest thing I have read. I haven't had anything that frightening happen. When they are struggling like that and you are helpless in a way...thank heavens for the Vet. But getting Angel there had to have been the worst ever experience. XXXXX

da tabbies o trout towne said...

angel; we R troo lee sorree.......we send de manee blessingz oh St Francis yur way N hope it waz just a hairball...we noe ewe were scared; we noe mom waz scared, we were scared reedin thiz ~~~~~~ we R buzzed happee mom getted ya ta de vet in time... N yea, noe mor dayz like thiz...EVER

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

catladymac said...

So glad this turned out all right ! Blessings on your vet and staff ad purrayers and POTP for you and Angel (and J and Bella). Hoping everything is cleared up after this terrifying episode.

Fr. Tom Fish said...

We held our breaths the whole time we read this. So glad you rushed her over to the vet and could get her in the nick of time. Purrs for her and hugs for you

Julie & kitties



A hairball? That's scary. ~ Tom

Karen and Gerard said...

How scary for both of you! It sounds like she'll be okay, good thing you got her to the vet so quickly! Glad they were able to help her.

Connie - Tails from the Foster Kittens said...

how unbelievably frightening. I am so sorry you both had to go through this. Purrs that this is transient and doesn't happen again

Duni said...

Oh no! What a scare! I'm glad your Mommy reacted quickly and took you to the vet straight away. Whatever it was, purrraying that all is well now.

Sammy had to be operated again this past Monday, so our Mommy is on nurse duty this week...

Ms. Phoebe said...

Unfortunately I know how devastating this experience is as the day angel Ms. Phoebe went to the Bridge four years ago I had to rush her in respiratory distress to the Emergency vet, in my pajamas at 4 am. She had been sick for a few weeks but seemed to be doing better, but it was her time. Thank Bastet it ended differently for you- I have never felt so helpless or scared as a mother. I am so relieved Angel will be okay and Pearl and I are sending healing purrs her way from nearby Eugene. We love our fellow OR kitty friends.

AntiquityTravelers said...

Oh Sharla - I'm so sorry to hear you had such a scare with Angel! but so glad to hear that she is ok. Wow you acted fast - and likely saved her life! well done mom!