Tuesday, April 07, 2009

Stripey’s medical woes continue…

Whether due to complications from his liver disease and medications or from something else, Stripey has developed thrombosis causing circulation to his lower body to be blocked. He is unable to use his hind legs normally.

We first thought perhaps it was a toxin (neurotoxin perhaps) due to ingesting too much plastic from grocery bags, because he threw up a whole bunch of it right after he began to act funny.

The vet was out for a couple of hours this afternoon, and so we were trying to remain calm (without much success) while we waited. I called the vet in Juneau but his only advice was to go see a vet ASAP.

On our way to our Tuesday evening supper, I decided to swing by the vet office, just in case. The door was locked, but just as we were about to pull away, I saw the vet come out and quickly talked with him. The kids and I were dropped off at the church and then Elise went to get Stripey and take him to the vet.

Apparently Stripey has a heart murmur and that could have helped contribute to the clot that traveled down. He received a dose of Heparin, and Elise came home with two more injections to give him over the next day in the hopes that it will somehow loosen things up and restore circulation.

During his liver episode, Stripey was very calm and quiet. But in this new case, he is quite vocal and unhappy. It must be awful having lost circulation, unable to get about normally, probably not having all his sensations in his legs, not knowing what is going on, and unable to comprehend that all the pokings, proddings, shots, etc. are an effort to try to help him.

I sure don’t need more sermon illustrations from suffering and pain, and a possible tragic incident, but Stripey’s cases are pregnant with them.

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