On Mikey's birthday, April 23rd, I make an appointment for Tierna to see the vet. I checked the Rat Fan Club Webpage for a good rat vet. (That reminds me to email the lady to update the vet names). I found a few places and called one. The first one I ended up calling could take me that day, so that's what I did. I wanted to make sure I got there on time, so I left the house early.
I was nervous for Tierna. I didn't know what else to do. I lined a box with paper towel and then put bedding on top of that. I put a food bowl and a Nylabone in it for her. Then I put her in it and she was kinda panicky because there was no BOX in her box to hide in. I found a small box (Microwave popcorn to the rescue) and put it in the larger box. She ran inside and was happy.
The actual trip was fine to the vet. She is a very good traveller, even if she was feeling really really ucky. Ryan dropped me off and parked the car (turns out there was a parking spot right in front of the vet's afterall).
She sat in her box while we waited. She was very well behaved. I petted a few doggies that came in. Tierna didn't even seem to notice later when I held her, that I had touched other animals.
When it was time for Tierna to go to the room, Ryan and I got up and walked her in. There was the normal stuff in the room, although it seemed we were in another doctor's room than the one that we were going to see. He came in shortly, and asked what was going on with her and then he saw her.
Right away he said she was pretty (and the lady at the front desk said she was cute!! hehe). He asked if she was a nipper, and I told him no. She likes people. I'm glad she's so well-behaved with other people, I never have to worry about how she will be with them.
He asked if she was drinking enough water, and then he wanted to weigh her. He took her (and her box) outside the room with him. I told Ryan that I was trying to hold back tears the entire time. I felt like such a baby, because I couldn't control my emotions better. He told me that she was fine, and he thought the doctor was very knowledgable.
When he came back in the room with her, he told me that she weighed... (wait for it).... a whoppin' fifteen ounces! She's a little on the porky side lately! Whoops! He said that she also had to pee. I found that amusing the he could tell. We talked about her tumor, and he agreed with me that it's benign and most likely a mammory tumor. He was very gentle with her when he was feeling it.
I think Tierna wanted to be in her box more than she wanted to be in my arms. She kept trying to jump into the box. The doctor said that she seemed healthy, other than the obvious diarrhea, and I should consider getting her tumor removed after the diarrhea issue is all cleared up. I told him of the tumor growth, and he said that it seemed normal. I think he was impressed at how much attention I paid her, enough that I knew of the tumor growth, when it appeared, and exactly what sorts of food she was getting. (He also said that the "book" that I got the tumor info from was very accurate! Way to go Rat Fan Club Webpage!)
He said the diarrhea was probably the culprit of some bacteria in her colon or intestines (lower than her stomach, he knew that much for sure). He prescribed some medicine that I'd get out front and he was glad to have seen her. Overall, I got a good feeling from the doctor. He was knowledgable, friendly to me and Tierna (and Ryan who didn't say much), he was prompt, and didn't make the visit longer than it needed to be, and he was young enough that I know he's not going to croak anytime soon (to make me have to find a new doctor). I'm wacky. I know.
Now, the lady out front told me that the medicine takes icky, so I'd probably have to just shoot it right down Tierna's mouth. Turns out the first night I gave it to her, she was UBER-WILLING to drink it all up. (it comes out of a syringe). The next morning was a bit of a different story. She didn't readily grab the syringe and try to eat it and the contents, she just scooted herself back away from it. Now, I just wrap her in a towel, open her mouth as quickly as I can, shoot it in her mouth and let her run around as a reward.
We only have a few more days of the medicine. So, after I'm done with the medicine (which has already made her better), I have to consider getting her tumor removed. The first visit was $60 for seeing the doctor, and $11 for the medicine. I don't know how much surgery would be, or if they would do it at that vet clinic. I'd have to check on those things. That will be part of the deciding if it's going to help or not. One bit to consider, the doctor said getting the tumor out earlier is better, just because it's easier to do, it doesn't ever become a problem of mobility for the rat (if you let it get too big, it could become an issue of even walking around), and it's better for the health, in case the tumor were to become malignant.
Now for the dream about Maxine last night. Maxine is the pinnacle of cats. She becomes what every person in America wants in a cat. A fluffy, toilet-goin' kitty. She becomes famous because of her amazing-ness. hehe.
I'm called to a meeting to go over someone's background story of Maxine. I take the lovely fluff-machine with me. She just lays on the ground sniffing stuff mostly during the meeting. People with cameras are taking pictures of her, and other people are jotting stuff down about what she's doing or whatnot. I think a few people are there just to make sure my story gets told about the wonderful Maxine.
I'm looking at this article they have so far on her life story. I'm here to fill in the details, but they think they have everything right except for the personal side of things. I stop reading when I notice they have said the shelter she came from was inadequate. It was a cramped, kill shelter (or the likes). I'm upset. I start telling them about how it was a no-kill shelter and how cats were seen several times a day to get played with or just petted or brushed.
The editor laughs as he realizes what a mistake he's made. I tell him that when inspectors came to check the safety of the cats and whatnot, that if there were too many cats, NONE of them ever got put to sleep, they just had employees or volunteers "foster" them until room was made available in the shelter again. NEVER killing any animal.
The editor is more concerned about telling Maxine's story, in all of her fluffy glory. So, he tries to skip ahead to other things. I take my time reading and see that everything else seems to be in order. They are making a cliff-hanger about how to potty train your cat, so I will meet with them again soon.
We are all finished up, so I put Maxine's harness on and the cameras go wild again. They are so amazed that a cat will walk around with a harness on, let alone put on a harness! I just smile and tell them that she's a good girl and she knows that she gets to go outside if she wears it.
After exiting the building, we are in a parking ramp. I don't know where Ryan parked, since he dropped Maxine and myself at the door. I start walking out onto the second level of the ramp, hoping to find the car. Ryan was still in the stairwell. (Don't know why I didn't ask him where he parked... that's a dream for ya).
Maxine trots ahead of me a few times and then she'll stop. She's acting normal. I'm still searching around for Ryan's car. I notice that Ryan is still in the stairwell, just standing at the door trying to say something, but I don't hear what he says because an engine starts up near me. Maxine gets startled by the engine (as she did when I started my car with her in it) and she tries to bolt.
She gets free of the harness in her panic. I scream Ryan's name so he can help me find her. She's running away, very, very quickly. As I turn back to tell Ryan that I need his help finding her, she gets out of my sight. I don't know where she is!
I think she's under a car, hiding. But I don't have any clue where she could be. She could be running off, and get hit by a car for all I know. I panic because she doesn't understand cars, or a parking ramp. She doesn't know to stay hidden.
I don't like where this dream is going, so I wake my self up. I notice that Maxine, in real life, is sleeping at my feet. When I sit up, she rises her head and says, "mmmph". That's Maxine! She's safe! She's here! She's fluffy!
She doesn't have to be famous for me to love her and care about her and worry if I don't know where she is. She just has to be herself. :)
Carisa
Happy idea for today:
having loved ones to be with
Next