Happy Joe has been mentioned before...a book should be written about him and his journey, but for now...
Episode # ?? "The Most Troublesome Almond".
One dark, but not stormy, night, I noticed that HJB was more quiet and clingy than usual, and seemed heavier and despondent. Something was wrong. I called the communicator who had adopted him long-distance, and she said that he was "heavy" from his diaphragm to the end of his body.
I took him to the new and excellent (!) Urgent Pet ER in El Cerrito: no travel, much less waiting. They had seen Perry when he was failing. Xrays were taken, bloodwork, and a mini-ultrasound. The don't have a radiologist on site, as most ERs don't. The doctors suggested that he might have an intestinal blockage, and to give him fluids and see if it unblocked over night.
I did, and it didn't.
Next morning, I took him to the also excellent (!) Pet Emergency and Specialty Clinic of Marin (PESCM) and Joe got the ultrasound, and a lot of loving attention.
He did have a blockage, and his intesines were greatly distended. Ouch and Oy Vey! Poor baby!!
He stayed at PESCM for surgery, and....when the surgeon called, she said that they had removed a whole almond from his duodenum, which is between the stomach and the small intestine. Brilliantly, the surgeon cut into the stomach- less friable and stronger than the disturbed duodenum, and had retreived the almond from there.
Due, I believe, to HJB's past life, he was obsessed with chocolate. (another story!) I had brought chocolate-covered almonds home from Costco. Wish I had not. One had gotten onto the floor, apparently.
He stayed in hospital for several days. Complications arose: fluid in the chest, heart trauma, pneumonia from aspirating vomit while blocked...He was not eating, and had a fever. The doctors were all wonderful about keeping me updated. I knew that he was in the best of hands.
Blessedly, happy Joe loves to meet new people, and even in his unhappy state, enjoyed engaging with the nurses and doctors!
He had gone in to PESCM on April 9, and was released April 12, with several medications. At home, he ate a bit, but wasn't too comfortable, emotionally or physically. He spiked a fever on the 14th, 103.7, and I took him back to the closer ER. He saw a lovely young, smart, caring vet there (Urgent Pet El Cerrito, Dr. Julie Lowe DVM). She gave him pain meds, more blood work & x-rays, some IV meds, and stayed with him until 11:30, even though the clinic closed at 7:00!
Next morning we went back to PESCM. Another ultrasound showed fluid around his heart. He also had developed pneumonia, due to aspirating vomit during the blockage. Poor HJB!! Lots more details, pages of treatments and tests, but bottom line, he came home again on April 17, 2024. Whew!
He was given two different antibiotics and a blood thinner for home use. His incision looked just beautiful: tiny stitches, no redness or swelling. I made the decision not to have him use the e-collar.
Worry about HJB was coupled with worry about how we could pay his bills. They had to be paid upfront, and exceeded twenty thousand dollars. So even though Joe had insurance, thank goodness, we had to scramble to get the money together. Healthy Paws insurance has already approved our claims, a separate claim for each hospital visit. Recommended!
I can't emphasize enough my admiration for the many doctors he saw--their expertise and obvious love. At both hospitals. Their level of care made an extremely stressful situation SO much less so!
Our guy goes back tomorrow to PESCM for stitch removal (YAY!!) and another look-see. And goes back the Wednesday after that for another ultrasound, to see if his pneumonia is gone.
I have every confidence in his having a full recovery!! Much love cat, and of course, deserving of the best care. They all are.
Episode # ?? "The Most Troublesome Almond".
One dark, but not stormy, night, I noticed that HJB was more quiet and clingy than usual, and seemed heavier and despondent. Something was wrong. I called the communicator who had adopted him long-distance, and she said that he was "heavy" from his diaphragm to the end of his body.
I took him to the new and excellent (!) Urgent Pet ER in El Cerrito: no travel, much less waiting. They had seen Perry when he was failing. Xrays were taken, bloodwork, and a mini-ultrasound. The don't have a radiologist on site, as most ERs don't. The doctors suggested that he might have an intestinal blockage, and to give him fluids and see if it unblocked over night.
I did, and it didn't.
Next morning, I took him to the also excellent (!) Pet Emergency and Specialty Clinic of Marin (PESCM) and Joe got the ultrasound, and a lot of loving attention.
He did have a blockage, and his intesines were greatly distended. Ouch and Oy Vey! Poor baby!!
He stayed at PESCM for surgery, and....when the surgeon called, she said that they had removed a whole almond from his duodenum, which is between the stomach and the small intestine. Brilliantly, the surgeon cut into the stomach- less friable and stronger than the disturbed duodenum, and had retreived the almond from there.
Due, I believe, to HJB's past life, he was obsessed with chocolate. (another story!) I had brought chocolate-covered almonds home from Costco. Wish I had not. One had gotten onto the floor, apparently.
He stayed in hospital for several days. Complications arose: fluid in the chest, heart trauma, pneumonia from aspirating vomit while blocked...He was not eating, and had a fever. The doctors were all wonderful about keeping me updated. I knew that he was in the best of hands.
Blessedly, happy Joe loves to meet new people, and even in his unhappy state, enjoyed engaging with the nurses and doctors!
He had gone in to PESCM on April 9, and was released April 12, with several medications. At home, he ate a bit, but wasn't too comfortable, emotionally or physically. He spiked a fever on the 14th, 103.7, and I took him back to the closer ER. He saw a lovely young, smart, caring vet there (Urgent Pet El Cerrito, Dr. Julie Lowe DVM). She gave him pain meds, more blood work & x-rays, some IV meds, and stayed with him until 11:30, even though the clinic closed at 7:00!
Next morning we went back to PESCM. Another ultrasound showed fluid around his heart. He also had developed pneumonia, due to aspirating vomit during the blockage. Poor HJB!! Lots more details, pages of treatments and tests, but bottom line, he came home again on April 17, 2024. Whew!
He was given two different antibiotics and a blood thinner for home use. His incision looked just beautiful: tiny stitches, no redness or swelling. I made the decision not to have him use the e-collar.
Worry about HJB was coupled with worry about how we could pay his bills. They had to be paid upfront, and exceeded twenty thousand dollars. So even though Joe had insurance, thank goodness, we had to scramble to get the money together. Healthy Paws insurance has already approved our claims, a separate claim for each hospital visit. Recommended!
I can't emphasize enough my admiration for the many doctors he saw--their expertise and obvious love. At both hospitals. Their level of care made an extremely stressful situation SO much less so!
Our guy goes back tomorrow to PESCM for stitch removal (YAY!!) and another look-see. And goes back the Wednesday after that for another ultrasound, to see if his pneumonia is gone.
I have every confidence in his having a full recovery!! Much love cat, and of course, deserving of the best care. They all are.
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