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Post by smilesbetter on Apr 7, 2015 16:16:59 GMT
Well Carlotta is still in her box in a huff and refusing to go to the toilet, so no poop sample. I'm just back from the doctors with my hand in a bandage because I have blood poisoning from the bite and now need to take penicillin (urgh I hate medication) every 8 hours and keep the swollen bite area moist with this stinky antibacterial solution till my next appointment on Thursday. I have to say I was quite relieved when I went in the doctors and she didn't immediately start strangling me and squeezing my neck then grabbing my skin and jabbing me with a big needle like the vet did to Carlotta haha. I'd have probably bitten someone too. At least we know what is wrong with me, still no answer for Carlotta. She vomited up her tea last night although I think that's cause she ate it super fast in a rush to get back to her hiding place and was actually regurgitating the food rather than vomiting (which would have rendered the vet appointment completely useless). However I noticed her regurgitation had no blood in it, so perhaps the blood is from further down her digestive system. Or it could be something getting cut open as she strains to vomit. No idea. Anyway last night she eventually came down and snuggled in to me all night long, so I think I'm forgiven for the ordeal, as she'd normally sleep on top of my man who provides a much higher lying place and is generally squishier and cosier than bony old me. Thanks so much for all your replies! tonib he didn't put his hand out for her to sniff or anything first so I think that's why she didn't like it. The second she got out her box he grabbed her neck and started very roughly squeezing it, and had his hands right round her neck. She probably thought he was trying to kill her, unsurprisingly, and so she was petrified. And she usually quite likes the vets, she is so eager in her box, peering around to see everyone in the waiting room and eagerly marching out her box for a look around when she gets on the table. He said the lump was normal and wouldn't explain any more. He didn't even feel it or answer me about the bald patches from over grooming. I will have to take her to another vet but I'm having a horrible time finding one, and I don't want to stress her out as she is a stress vomiter and since vomiting is the issue then I don't wanna stir it up even more. I have been looking up local catteries and seeing what vets they recommend on their websites (although no luck so far haha). Surely a cattery wouldn't stick with someone who doesn't even seem to like cats!
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Post by cazypops on Apr 7, 2015 21:29:09 GMT
Poor you, I hope your feeling better soon.
Is it possible that Carlotta is suffering from stress for some reason? Especially as you say she is a stress vomiter, plus this added to the over grooming. It's just a thought.
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Post by smilesbetter on Apr 7, 2015 21:44:01 GMT
Thanks cazypops , I hope I am better soon too, mostly cause my man is going mad haha. He's had to do all his least favourite jobs today and even just had to pick up Carlotta's poop and put it in the sample bottle (she finally did one, bwahaha). I have to take it in though. Hope it's the same vet so he can see my bandaged up hand, he'll probably just think I'm being a hypochondriac though haha. And the over grooming could have been stress, but not sure about the lump or the lymph nodes, plus the other nights vomit was totally out of the blue. She had been sleeping in her absolute favourite place and just sat up suddenly, puked blood and then ran off licking her lips (which she often does when a vomit is coming) but didn't vomit again. Usually I can pinpoint a reason behind her vomiting but that time there was nothing, she'd had a nice lazy day in her favourite sleeping spot, breakfast had been at the right time, it was two hours still before tea. Can't think of any trigger for that puke :S
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Post by lotsofcats on Apr 8, 2015 9:12:29 GMT
Glad to hear that smilesbetter,just bathe them well in the meantime.I am allergic to cat scratches,they turn into huge ugly itchy wheals.Hope dozy vet hasn't put Carlotta off future visits. I am allergic to cat scratches too - when I get scratched I need to put antiseptic ointment on it straight away to keep the swelling down. If I don't I end up with a scar.
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Post by lotsofcats on Apr 8, 2015 9:23:49 GMT
I've only seen this thread today. Poor Carlotta and poor you - awful that you got bitten and scratched and now have to be treated for blood poisoning. Very frustrating for you trying to find a vet that seems to care. You could phone up a cattery and ask them, explaining about your problem in finding a good vet. I hope that both you and Carlotta are better soon.
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Post by migsy on Apr 8, 2015 14:14:04 GMT
Sounds like good idea re asking cattery as they will surely want the kindest treatment for them.
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Post by smilesbetter on Apr 8, 2015 15:51:40 GMT
Yup, I'll get phoning catteries tomorrow since I have my first ever in my entire life doctors orders day off (since I was already off today anyway haha).
Also decided not to bring the poop sample into this vets, because he's not even said what he's doing it for and I'd rather bring one in to the new vet after speaking to them about what is wrong, if they request it. The vet on Monday only asked for the sample as an afterthought and I've no idea why he didn't just take a blood test while she was there.
The swelling on my hand seems to be going down thankfully, although hard to tell as since it has to be constantly wet with antiseptic stuff it has gone all horrible and looks and feels very much like brains haha. Got the doctors again tomorrow so will see what they say then.
Carlotta has been sleeping in a big box next to the radiator (which on on for my seedlings and sickly plants haha) for the entire day and looks quite happy, except she is very annoyed that I've stuck her in a cat harness haha. I prefer them to be in their harnesses when in the cat carrier so just in case something happens and the carrier pops open or something, I still have them on harnesses and on the lead, and just got them new harnesses so she's having to have it on for the afternoon haha. If she gets used to it, I might even try taking her out to the back garden in it (and if she likes that we can go elsewhere!).
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Post by migsy on Apr 8, 2015 21:03:08 GMT
OUCH!! sounds nasty smilesbetter,be absolutely sure to take your medication and it's MOST important to finish the course.Stupid vet could have saved you all this pain and hassle.
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Post by cazypops on Apr 8, 2015 22:07:08 GMT
Did you get a tetanus jab too? Hope the doctor is happy with how it's healing tomorrow. x
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Post by smilesbetter on Apr 9, 2015 7:16:23 GMT
Not had jab yet, I phoned my Scottish doctor and I last got all my jabs in June 2005. They last 10 years (wish pet ones did!) so they are still valid but only just. Might get them today or the doctor might wanna wait till my blood poisoning is better (I mean if I'm already fighting off one infection then getting a bunch of jabs wouldn't be ideal). In Germany you get a "vaccination pass" which is a little vaccination book thing, exactly like the ones you get for pets (you do get those in the UK, right?). Considering my doctor back home only had my vaccination by chance (they are meant to delete all information over 5 years old but still had it from the palaver system), a vaccination pass book sounds quite useful actually haha.
Hand is quite sore today, but the rest of me feels fine. Had a bit of a panic attack last night coz my man was out and everyone I told I had blood poisoning was like "ohmygosh so glad you're better coz that can be fatal" and then I'm like "but I'm not better yet..." haha, and began to get worried that every little feeling in my body was some organ failing or something.
I have been faithful with taking the penicillin every 8 hours, even the 4 o'clock in the morning one, and my hand has had the antiseptic stuff on keeping it moist permanently, and I've even been avoiding sugary stuff and grains and anything else I know to be inflammatory foods, and instead eating lots of garlicky stuff and tangy berries and other anti-inflammatory, cleansing foods. I have to say, the anti inflammatory diet is delicious haha, plus since it's my useful hand that's out, my man has been making the delicious meals for me. I'm currently having breakfast in bed berry salad. This is the life haha, except the being ill part.
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Post by lotsofcats on Apr 9, 2015 9:22:21 GMT
Yes, blood poisoning can be fatal! I think I read not long ago that one of the old cat forum members was scratched and bitten by her son's cat at the vets and she ended up in hospital for 3 days. You're lucky that your treatment has allowed you to recover at home. Glad you are feeling a bit better. Do you think you will have a scar?
How is Carlotta today? That's a good idea of yours to put her cat harness on her when she goes to the vet. I think I will do that when I next take my cats to the vet.
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Post by scallywag on Apr 9, 2015 9:40:14 GMT
Good Luck at the doctors Erika, hope all goes well, and hope you feel better soon. keep us updated, then again why not, you have nothing else to do except sit on here LOL Just joking
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Post by smilesbetter on Apr 9, 2015 11:04:34 GMT
Waiting around to go to the doctors. My mans brothers family arrive to Berlin today and I've never met them before, so I've put in an effort and even managed to make my hair look so far lovely with only one hand! My bandage is looking dead manky though as the yellow antiseptic stuff has stained it despite my best efforts to keep it nice looking Hans. Not meeting them till after the doctor though so maybe I won't have to wear the bandage anymore and I'll have the awkward moment of shaking hands as they look down in horror at my brain-hand (seems to take a good few hours to return to normal, based on my experiments with brain-finger yesterday when I moved the antiseptic bit as the finger wasn't actually affected). I will bring new bandaging just in case I have to keep wearing it haha as I look a bit like something out a zombie movie at the moment. Ironic that antiseptic makes me look septic haha. Don't think I'll get a scar lotsofcats as it was just one tiny tooth puncture wound and it seemed to heal up really fast, which is apparently one of the reasons cat bites lead to blood poisoning - if it bleeds then that can allow the toxins to leave your body, but when it heals up quickly the saliva and stuff is still in there and trapped inside. Carlotta is hiding in her box again. I'm going to have to turn off the radiator or keep her out of the living room I think, because she's hardly come out at all. This seems to happen a lot on warm days, and I don't know as not asked my man, but I think she missed breakfast this morning because of it. In any case she is going to a different vets again next week for a different opinion on the matter.
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Post by smilesbetter on Apr 9, 2015 11:26:21 GMT
Carlotta has briefly come out of hiding...
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Post by tonib on Apr 9, 2015 12:10:43 GMT
Also decided not to bring the poop sample into this vets, because he's not even said what he's doing it for and I'd rather bring one in to the new vet after speaking to them about what is wrong, if they request it. The vet on Monday only asked for the sample as an afterthought and I've no idea why he didn't just take a blood test while she was there. I believe there are things that can be tested for that show up easier in poo. A couple of obvious ones would be whether there is any blood in it & how well food is being digested. Also seeing how Carlotta was at the vets, after his handling of her, getting a blood sample might have been a bit difficult!. Sorry to hear you've got blood poisoning from her bite smilesbetter, I must admit I've been lucky with ours as I've been bitten (rarely) & scratched (frequently) enough to draw blood. Even the vet was concerned when Penny scratched me once whilst her claws were being trimmed. Apparently in the past , one of the other vets had to spend time in hospital as he didn't clean a cat scratch. He'd got cat scratch fever but that is different to blood poisoning so don't panic. As to catteries, boarding catteries (here) tend to use the cat owners' vets where possible but if you're talking about contacting breeders then they should be able to recommend suitable vets.
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