La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
Moose is not smiling. He gave us quite a scare yesterday. For a few days, we had noticed he wasn’t eating much of his wet treats. He still expected a treat every there hours (or less) but he then left most of the larger (bite-sized) pieces on the plate. Saturday when I gave the cats their 12:00 treats, Moose came in, sniffed and left the kitchen with the plate untouched. That was a major concern. He then sat in the living room under the chair and I noticed he was drooling. He walked out to the terrace with his mouth open and unmoving, and the drool continued. (When the drool finally dropped to the tile floor, he stopped to inspect it.) He didn’t make a sound. Silence in itself is rare for Moose.
I worried and wondered. San Geraldo immediately got the phone number of a vet that handles emergencies. I called. When we were ready to leave, Moose was still drooling but he was at least moving his mouth. He complained in the travel cage all the way to the vet. Even that was a relief. The vet pulled wide Moose’s mouth and immediately saw the problem. An obvious infection around one of his canine teeth, which had now gone crooked making it painful for him to close his mouth. His teeth had been cleaned a little over a year ago.
The vet gave him a powerful antibiotic and a pain killer. If all goes well, we’ll take him in Tuesday to have the tooth pulled. We just have to make sure he eats in the meantime. I mashed up his treat when we got home and he ate more than half. But this morning, he’s hardly touched his two treats. And now Dudo, in solidarity, isn’t eating his either. He sees Moose leave and he then leaves. We’ll keep trying. Meanwhile, Dudo has been very sweet. When Moose was yowling in the travel cage, Dudo ran over to help. When we got home, Dudo was anxiously waiting at the door. He gives Moose gentle nuzzles and licks. No fights. We’re still anxious but hugely relieved. We both thought he had had a stroke and that we were going to be saying good-bye yesterday.
Moose no sonríe. Ayer nos dio un buen susto. Durante unos días, notamos que no comía muchas de sus golosinas húmedas. Todavía esperaba un bocadillo cada horas (o menos), pero luego dejó la mayoría de los trozos más grandes (del tamaño de un bocado) en el plato. El sábado, cuando les di a los gatos sus golosinas a las 12:00, Moose entró, olfateó y salió de la cocina con el plato intacto. Ésa era una gran preocupación. Luego se sentó en la sala debajo de la silla y noté que estaba babeando. Salió a la terraza con la boca abierta e inmóvil, y la baba seguía. (Cuando la baba finalmente cayó al suelo de baldosas, se detuvo para inspeccionarla). No emitió ningún sonido. El silencio en sí mismo es raro para Moose.
Me preocupé y me pregunté. San Geraldo consiguió inmediatamente el número de teléfono de un veterinario que atiende emergencias. Llamé. Cuando estábamos listos para irnos, Moose todavía estaba babeando pero al menos movía la boca. Se quejó en la jaula de viaje hasta el veterinario. Incluso eso fue un alivio. El veterinario abrió la boca de Moose e inmediatamente vio el problema. Una infección obvia alrededor de uno de sus dientes caninos, que ahora se había torcido, lo que le hacía doloroso cerrar la boca. Le habían limpiado los dientes hace poco más de un año.
El veterinario le recetó un potente antibiótico y un analgésico. Si todo va bien, lo llevaremos el martes para que le extraigan el diente. Sólo tenemos que asegurarnos de que coma mientras tanto. Trituré su golosina cuando llegamos a casa y se comió más de la mitad. Pero esta mañana apenas ha tocado sus dos delicias. Y ahora Dudo, solidariamente, tampoco se come el suyo. Ve a Moose irse y luego se va. Seguiremos intentándolo. Mientras tanto, Dudo ha sido muy dulce. Cuando Moose estaba aullando en la jaula de viaje, Dudo corrió a ayudar. Cuando llegamos a casa, Dudo estaba esperando ansiosamente en la puerta. Le da a Moose suaves caricias y lamidos. Sin peleas. Todavía estamos ansiosos pero enormemente aliviados. Los dos pensamos que había sufrido un derrame cerebral y que ayer nos íbamos a despedir.
Click the thumbnails to enlarge.
Haz clic en las miniaturas para ampliar.
Take care of yourself and the boys. Hoping everyone heals fast.
David:
Thanks. Moose is already doing better after the shots. Poor boy doesn’t know what’s coming tomorrow.
aww glad it was something that could be identified…poor guy. when my cats won’t eat any of their food I can usually get them to lick some tuna juice. I have to take them both to the vet even if just one needs attention as there will be hissing upon return. I’m a long time reader with 2 kitties , Dijon (yellow) and Gris Gris (gray) and a daughter who lives in Spain (Valencia). I’m in western NC trying to turn my state blue again.
Anon in Western NC:
Thank you for doing your bit for the blues.
Dudo and Moose hate “people” tuna and tuna juice. I tried again just in case and still no luck with that. But he’s eating a least a little, so we’ll be ok until the extraction. We haven’t been able to get Dudo back in the travel cage since we moved down here in 2013! I was shocked he was concerned enough to check on Moose when he was yowling for release. So nice to know you’re a long-time reader. If you don’t want to give your real name, you should choose a nickname so I don’t have to think of you as Anon in Western NC! Thanks!
Yes, what a scare! Poor Moose! I hope the extraction goes well on Tuesday and that soon he’ll be back to his usual self.
Debra:
The shots helped. He was running around like an idiot last night and even tried to overpower Dudo by biting down on the nape of his neck… until he remembered he couldn’t bite down.
As soon as you said drool I suspected what was happening. We had the exact same thing happen with MaxGoldberg and he was much better, and happier, when the crooked tooth was pulled.
And how sweet of Dudo. Those Boys!
Bob:
Dudo has really surprised us. Moose is doing a lot better. He should be fine tomorrow for the extraction. Can’t wait.
Cats are usually SO good at telling us something is wrong through their sudden
unusual behaviors.
Sending healing energy to Moose……
Jim:
For us it was, “Moose doesn’t want food? There must be something wrong.” The shots helped and he’s much improved today — although still drooly and not eating much.
I wondered if something had got stuck. I’m glad it will be easily resolved. When that happened to my 17 year old Marigold she was too old and frail to tolerate anesthesia, and it was sadly the end. Very glad your boy has a much better outlook.
He’ll be nagging you again soon!
Boud said that!
Boud:
So glad Moose is up for this. He’s already improved with the shots, even before the extraction.
Our friends’ elderly tabby had similar – in both canines. He prefers soft food these days 😄. Jx
Jon:
With no canines, I would think soft food would be preferred. We’ll see if we have to adjust diet for Moose.
Oh that poor baby! I know just how he feels!
Deedles:
I know you do!
I hope by now the antibiotic is kicking in and he’s feeling better. I bet he’ll be back to his normal self, minus one tooth, within the week. One of my granddogs has a canine that needs to be extracted. (maybe all dog teeth are canines?) I’ll be thinking about ALL of you this week.
Kelly:
By last night he was so much better. Running around and playing, trying to attack Dudo (the jerk). Shouldn’t all cat teeth be felines´
Thanks heavens!!!!! I adore my Moose!!!! You must be relieved. The most sad thing would be Dudo without his brother. They are both so sweet…and again shows animals have feelings and memory. Im happy for you all
Mistress Borghese:
We were both thinking the worst until we saw the vet. And, yes, Dudo warmed our hearts with his behavior.
Poor Moose! It’s sweet that Dudo is watching over him and fasting in solidarity. When you mentioned the open mouth and the drooling, I immediately thought, “teeth!” My Peace Corps roommate and I had a cat in Morocco who had severe gingivitis and she did the same thing from time to time. At least in Spain, good veterinary care is an option.
Steve:
We do have a lot of good vets nearby. And Moose is a surprisingly good patient. Getting him in the travel cage is a challenge! SG did it on his own. Dudo has been a huge surprise to us. I didn’t know he was empathetic.
Poor Moose! Hopefully, the antibiotics will work effectively and quickly, even if the tooth has to be pulled. The most important thing is to ensure Moose gets lots of fluids (canned tuna or salmon juice is a good idea) to prevent dehydration that could worsen an infection.
They may fight like two cats in a sack sometimes, but Dudo and Moose would be lost without each other!
Tundra Bunny:
Moose is eating a little bit. Better than nothing. I tried tuna juice again yesterday. They both hate it. They turn up their noses to “people food.” Dudo continues to be a sweetheart. Moose was feeling so well last night that he tried to attack Dudo!
The last time I saw a cat drool it was minutes away from giving birth, obviously not was wrong, or will ever be wrong, with Moose. Glad the vet figured out the problem.
Kirk:
Yeah, I’m pretty certain Moose isn’t pregnant. The vet immediately knew where to check.
Poor Moosey Goosey! I hope his teefer gets fixed ASAP!
Sassybear:
He’s eating a little and he’s playful again so the shots helped. Thanks!
Oh, my goodness! How frightening! I hope all continues to heal up. It’s amazing to think of Dudo being so aware that Moose needed love and special attention.
I’m glad your bandage didn’t get wet in the rain (previous day’s post)!
Judy C:
I’m impressed with how well the bandage has held up these nearly two weeks. Today, the first viewing! Dudo’s behavior has warmed both our hearts. I never expected that kind of empathy. Moose, the ingrate, was in the mood to play again last night and tried to overpower Dudo with his jaws clamped around the back of his neck. Of course, he then remembered he couldn’t do that. Dudo let him do whatever he wanted.
Yikes! There is nothing so scary as seeing one’s pet in distress. I am glad things are better.
Urspo:
We both went down that dark path. So glad it’s just a tooth.
Oh, poor Moose! We’re all sending good thoughts for a full and speedy recovery.
A puzzlement: aren’t all a dog’s teeth canines?
Walt the Fourth:
I actually felt odd talking about the cat’s canine. Shouldn’t it be a feline? Then again, add an apostrophe and all dogs teeth ARE canine’s.
Oh, I know you must have been so very, very relieved! And peace and normality will be restored for all when your little man gets that tooth pulled.
Ms. Moon
We can’t wait for tomorrow! (And getting him back in that travel cage. Argh.)
I’m glad it wasn’t a stroke and I hope the antibiotic works quickly!
Love,
Janie