Callie's home...but...

This update brought to you by The Callie Noos Station! All Callie, All the Time!

So, Callie is home now. Which is a good thing! I missed her terribly. But oh my poor baby...she's not looking so hot. She's not quite skin and bones, but she's noticeably skinnier. And she lost a lot of furs on one arm, one leg and her belleh because of the various IVs and for the ultrasounds. The poor dear is just looking a little pitiful right now.

As for the 'but'...at least so far, after one evening and one morning, the intensely-hoped-for appetite increase hasn't happened. She's had a little milk and a little water and that's it, no interest in food whatsoever. She's never much cared for stinky goodness (I hear you kitties gasping in horror) and she's extremely picky with her dry food too, which is why I hoped having her home with her regular familiar food would be helpful. But no go. Mr. Hendrix in a comment yesterday suggested baby food; I'm willing to try anything so I'll go by the store on the way home tonight and get some.

I've got a better idea of what's going on, sort of, but not really in a way that I can explain it. It really is a lot up in the air as to exactly what the problem is and how to fix it. It's pretty clear that it's a blockage of sorts in the gallbladder/biliary tract, but exactly what and why isn't known. It's possible that it could clear on its own (Dr. Vet has seen that happen) or surgery may be needed. If surgery is needed, it may be that draining the blockage will be enough or it could be that a re-routing of tubes will be necessary (or something like that). And even if the draining or the re-routing surgery is done, the problem could come back, or there's a real 50/50 chance she won't survive the surgery. This is a pretty serious thing. And that's assuming she doesn't get too weak from lack of food/nutrients before surgery can even be attempted.

And, as much as I hate to even mention it, there's the expense involved. Don't get me wrong, I'll do everything I can do to get her well. But after spending several thousand on Bugsy since the summer with his medical issues, and nearly a thousand just for this past week on Callie with the tests and meds and all, looking at potentially a few thousand more for surgery makes the ol' savings account squeak loudly. (That's not a request for help, just a comment.)

For now, we'll have Callie home for at least a couple of days, trying to get her to eat, giving her a couple of meds twice a day, and seeing if we can love her back to health. I'm looking for a genuine Christmas miracle here...