Tigger goes to Hospital

Convalescent Cat

When we arrived home last week, Debbie, who has taken such good care of my home and pets, told me that, although Tigger's appetite was normal, he seemed to be losing condition. Together we examined him and realised he'd lost a bit of weight. Normally this is a sign that Tigger's teeth and gums were giving him trouble.

On Thursday Grant and I loaded Tigger into the cat travel cage and took him to our lady vet about 80kms/50 miles away. Dr Lienke asked us to leave him overnight and said she'd descale and clean his teeth. This is done under anaesthetic and because of Tigger's age, (he's thirteen) she wanted to keep him for post-op observation.

Once we got home that afternoon, I phoned to enquire after my cat. The doctor told me she had to extract four of his back teeth (are these called molars in a cat? Not sure) as well as a row of incisors in the front of his mouth. She had him on a drip and said we could collect him in the morning.

On Friday, once we had paid the R1200/ US$ 160 bill, she told us that he has a condition called gingivitis which is inflamation of the gums around the roots of the teeth. She said his mouth was badly infected and he suffered quite a bit of pain. We brought him home with a course of antibiotics for the infection and a syringe full of painkiller. I will administer these over the next few days.

This is a condition Tigger will be treated for at least once a year for the rest of his life.

Tonight Tigger is sitting at his normal place behind me on my office chair (while I perch precariously on the edge) At least he's on the mend and should be fine for the next twelve to fifteen months.

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