Vaccination: To Titer or not to Titer?

[admin]

Thank you Sheena

The vet said the exact same thing as you about Total Protein, and that they work it out from that if the figure seems a bit different. I will read your link on that as didn’t know about this. Definitely worth knowing, especially with a PCV of 73%!! Crikey!

You are right of course about catching things early where possible, and thank you for reassuring me that it’s not total and complete paranoia. I’m really not sure if there is a direct inherited cause of this illness, but I was thinking about breed disposition in dogs and so think there must be some sort of genetic tendency. That said, Molly had a different blood group to Mable, and I suspect they may have had different fathers (quite possible apparently, even in the same litter of kittens!) I think I will just always be super alert with Mable, even if its totally unnecessary.

As for how to check a cat’s gums… Molly was easy, because her mouth was completely pink and it was her bottom lip I first noticed was pale. Mable has black markings in her mouth so is much more difficult! The vet explained it was best not to check the sides as opening her mouth puts pressure on them so they look more pale than they really are. So, you have to actually open the whole mouth…one hand over the head, the other opening the lower jaw etc etc. Sounds awful, but it’s relatively easy and gentle. The vet explained that allowed me to see her whole mouth, and not just the sides. We also talked about the natural changes in colour when resting etc. What I have noticed is that they look much pinker in artificial light. In daylight, they look more pale to me.

No A&E trips yet, but I did notice blood on Mable’s carrier at the vet. It was not coming from Mable. It was not coming from the vet. Apparently I’d sliced into my thumb, but have no idea how. Thankfully, a minor slice. I’ll take that over the cat claw through the lip any day!

What we go through for these creatures ‘eh? And we wouldn’t change them for the world.

Sleep well, and love to all,

Mary and Miss PinkGums x

[admin]

Hi Vally

I’m sorry to hear you’ve been so worried about Bingo. Has he been any better? What do the vets think is the cause? It’s so worrying. I don’t know why I get so emotional about it. It’s always worse when people are kind! I was ok earlier in the week with the more abrupt vet! This disease just does something to us I think. I’m just not quite sure how we get past it. I am convinced there is a big red flag on Mable’s records with ‘owner is a nutcase’ or similar on it. If there isn’t, there probably should be.

Gum checking is the same – she agreed about the blood being stored in the spleen when sleeping and that her gum colour would change based on her blood pressure.

I looked at Brewer’s yeast and diatomaceous earth before but when I asked the vet (last year, not this one) she’d not heard of either. I’d be reluctant to give it orally but had thought of putting a little on her bedding, or combing a bit into her fur. How do you give it? Reckon I need a trip to the health food store…! (By the way, I’ve started preparing the ground for the pumpkin patch!)
I wish we had a holistic vet I could consult, but when I looked it up I only found one in the entire country. It’s definitely not a thing here, sadly.

Do keep us posted about Bingo boy, and tell him to stop giving his Mum a fright.

Lots of love,

Mary and Mabes x