Back when Whiskers had his minor surgery a few months back, I thought the .... uh, fun.... of giving him his butt baths for a week or so twice daily could not be topped. What could possibly be more fun to do than that? I think I may have found it.
Athena, for a while, has had a situation involving her mouth. Irritiation or something involving her teeth and gums has been giving her problems for well over a year now. I can't recall off the top of my head what her previous weight was, but this past fall her weight according to the vet visit was in at about 8.5 pounds. (I'm guessing that this is down from the past.) She's had visible signs of discomfort, but yet she's still been able to eat well and seems like a happy cat. Last month at her checkup she got put on some prescription for an anti-biotic that I had to pick up at the local pharmacy. (Which was unusual.) For about three weeks I had to give her a small dose of a liquid medicine every other day. All this hoping to avoid having to go the extreme route of getting some of her teeth pulled.
This past Monday was her 1-month re-check after that visit and the initial set of antibiotics. Some improvement, but also yet not enough. Bottom line: she's going back on the antibiotic for another month (with the possibility of another month of refill beyond that). And...further at-home treatment I have to give her. Part of it involving making sure to wash the outside corners of her mouth with slight soap and water to clean off the irritation. Then apply a special bit of ointment that I had to purchase there at the vet's office. That's all and fine. But the kicker? Instruction of brushing her teeth.
Have you ever tried to brush a cat's teeth??? Brushing a dog's teeth wouldn't be too hard as dogs tend to be more easy going to whatever is happening to them. But cats? Cats DO NOT like change or new things. They hate water, and they certainly hate someone trying to make them do something they don't care for. One of those things is teeth brushing. I've only had to do it once before for one of my other cats in the past, but this is always a challenging thing. Let me say that if you ever have to do this, by all means go the route of getting the small rubberized finger brush that you can use by putting on the end of your finger. The fun I've had the past 2 days? Trying to use an unused toothbrush I had to apply the specially-made feline toothpaste - seafood flavored! - and then trying to do a multitude of things at once: hold down Athena with one arm, open up her mouth with that same hand, and use the other hand to operate the brush to try to brush the teeth and gums on either side of her mouth. Can I say.... nearly impossible?! I suppose it could be more difficult. At least it's not Sylvester that's having to have this done. If it was him then I'd REALLY be having enjoyment doing this. (Of course I say that sarcastically.)
I have no idea how long I am to do the brushing, but maybe until her re-check up the first week in February. So at least for the time being, I get to: apply ointment to the corners of her mouth after washing it twice daily.... brush her teeth using seafood-flavored cat toothpaste twice daily.... and then after my next payday tomorrow and I get the prescrip from the pharmacy I get to every other day give her a small dose of medicine.
Fun, fun, fun. I doubt anyone is envious of me for this.
It is obviously costing me money for each vet visit and medicine and product I am needing to give her, but... maybe its a futher sign of what kind of responsible pet owner I am by doing whatever it is I need to do to take care of my cat(s) and make sure that they're well cared for by getting the needed treatment.
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