Another Visit to the Vet

 

Wesley Chapel, Florida (hot, humid, rainy)

 

Baxter seems to be feeling much better, but unfortunately Miss Kitty is not.  She is our old lady.  We picked her up as a stray years ago and we’re guessing she is nearing 20 years old.  She’s been getting pretty feeble lately, but as long as she’s eating, and we feel she has a reasonable quality of life, we’ll do what we can for her.  We have been thinking she might be at the end, but that is such a hard decision to make, as any of you pet owners know.  We decided we are not going to spend a fortune on vet bills and we are not going to put her through too much.  We decided to let the vet check her out.  We didn’t know if she would be coming home with us or not.  The vet checked her out and guessed she either had kidney failure, thyroid disease or cancer.  He said they could run some blood work and get a better idea.  I said, how about we treat her for what is the most likely problem (kidney) and go from there.   So that’s what we decided to do.

He gave her some subcutaneous fluids and suggested we continue to do that at home, a few times a week.  We hate to give fluids because it involves sticking a needle under the skin and pumping a saline solution into them.   We hate to do it, but we will. 

The fluids must have helped because she seemed to feel much better by the time we got home and she ate pretty well.  Getting her to eat has been an issue the past several days.

We decided to take Baxter along to the vet and just make sure he is okay.  The vet gave him a quick check and thought he was just fine.  Baxter hammed it up while there and showed his best personality.  He loves meeting new people, so he likes going to the vet.   Since he was doing well, the vet thought he could get his shots.  I was a little concerned about getting his shots when he had been sick, but the vet though he would be fine, and they didn’t seem to phase him.

After we dodged a few rain showers, we managed to get some time outside for wildlife watching.   Florida, and the entire southeast I guess,  is having above average rainfall this year.  We’re sick of rain.

Last night, this gopher tortoise was our first visitor.  He got scared off when he saw the neighbors dog.

Soon afterwards, a large deer appeared.  This is right behind our campsite.  You can see the water between us and the deer.  In the winter, this area was dry.  This is where we have seen the otters.

A little closer look.

Of course, there were the numerous two legged friends.

A Brown Thrasher.

A female Cardinal.  I think this is one of the many youngsters.

A Dove was not too happy sharing the feeder with the Blue Jay.

After the deer left, this beautiful gray fox came by.

 

Just look at that beautiful thick coat.

We have been a little down in the dumps lately from all the rain, the delays in being able to go back to Georgia, and the kitties being sick.   After a hour or so sitting outside watching the beautiful wildlife, we both felt so much better.  It might have had something to do with the drinks we had too.  :)

 

the end