It's been a long day, but the end has been sweeter that the endless day of waiting with worry. Merry is home, tucked away, sleeping after a good dinner. We took her this morning to the ER Clinic at the local VCA Hospital. We dropped her off after wait in the car for our turn. It wasn't too long and she was silent once the car was parked. That was after 9 this morning. We received an email treatment plan(Covid makes everything virtual) okayed it, paid 75% and were told that the bloodwork would be done quickly, but the ultrasound(her 3rd) would take 2-3 hours to arrange. It took a lot longer, it was after 4 when the vet finally called. It just happened to be the liver specialist that we have an appointment with in late June. We felt we couldn't wait that long and tried the ER route and ended up with her today as Merry's doctor, a small miracle. She didn't realize, but saw it was a liver case and snapped it up.
The bottom line is that the ultrasound showed what the others showed, a very normal liver, pancreas and gall bladder, relief once more. The only way to left to check the liver is a biopsy, very costly and perhaps not needed. The specialist thinks that the culprit COULD be her severe dental disease. We have been watching her teeth(Abyssinians are known for poor teeth), but until January our vet was concentrating on her skin issues. At her yearly check up in January we made the tooth appointment, they were booking out into April. When she went in April it was canceled due to the high liver enzymes discovered in her blood panel before the extractions. The vet canceled her surgery out of caution. Since then, her liver enzyme values have continued to rise. So, today she was hydrated and had an antibiotic injection for the tooth decay and we need to get them extracted soon.
Now the next issue, due to Covid there is a backlog of pet dental procedures absolutely everywhere. The VCA Hospital is booking in December now! I have to talk with our vet tomorrow to see if she can squeeze her in or suggest something. They have a traveling dentist, so we'll see.
If it is not her teeth she may have a chronic liver issue that can only be diagnosed by the biopsy, but not liver cancer, or anything totally untreatable. The vet is leaning to it being her teeth. A nurse friend told me that poor teeth in humans can raise liver enzymes as well.
We shall see, but we are relieved tonight with a much lighter pocketbook, but very grateful. Grateful for all the good thoughts from friends, family and my lovely blipmates. xxx
For the Record,
This day came in lovely with sun and breezes.
I retired from public school teaching after happily spending twenty eight years playing in Kindergarten. Now I fill my days watching cat antics, taking endless...
