Ashton: First of all, it’s important to all of us here to say that we’re absolutely devastated to hear the news that our friend Prancer Pie has passed away. We know that his Mom loved him so much, and that she’s just lost right now. All of us here are sending her lots of love in this difficult time.
The news hit home really hard because the head peep got it moments after getting off of the phone and telling yet another veterinarian that, no, she doesn’t want them to give me a Convenia shot, because a friend’s cat is in critical condition as a result of one. She was referring to Prancer.
Let’s review:
- Sunday: The head peep notices something is wrong with the skin on my stomach.
- Monday: I go through the indignity at the vet. I don’t even want to remember it all, but the vet tries to convince the head peep I should have a Covenia shot of antibiotics because I’m so hard to give liquid. The head peep confidently says that I will eat anything in a pill pocket. That night, I eat pills in the pill pockets. Barely.
- Tuesday: I sort of eat the pills in the pill pockets.
- Wednesday: Forget it. I am not eating the pills in the pill pockets. Or in cream cheese. Or ground up in my canned food. I am onto you now, head peep!
- Thursday: The head peep calls the vet for compounded medication, since I haven’t had antibiotics since Tuesday. The receptionist asks if we have heard of Convenia. The head peep asks her to write down that we don’t want it.
- Friday: The head peep calls the vet again and reminds them that I haven’t had antibiotics since Tuesday. Another vet from the practice returns her call and suggests Convenia. After much back and forth and several calls, I should have a flavored liquid Baytril on Monday.
Do I look impressed at how hard they keep pushing this scary medication?
As for me, I feel fine, but my tummy is still bare and inflamed. I’ll be okay until my new medication arrives on Monday, and then I will consider whether or not I will eat it. I’ll report back and let you know.
Meanwhile, I hope you’re all staying warm. We are Florida cats, and it is plenty cold here. The head peep is going to go play outside today at RescueFest. We cats have more sense than that and are going to stay at home and spend our Caturday where it’s warm and cozy instead.
Here’s hoping you have a warm and cozy Caturday, too!
Feel better sweetie…stick to your guns with regards to that scary medicine!
Aw, hope you heal up fast! purrs and hugs! We don’t blame you for refusing that stuff!
Oh Ashton, what an ordeal for you for sure. We will be purring that you will take the liquid baytril and for everything on your tummy to heal up quickly and completely. Purrs to your Head Peep too. (We too were devastated by the news of Prancer Pie, it is so, so sad.)
After losing my own sweet Ms. Phoebe to an auto immune disease this past Sunday, I feel the pain for Prancer Pie’s Family. It is so hard for we humans to know what is safe to treat our babies, especially at the stressful times they are sick. I had to choose recently what was an appropriate antibiotic for my girl and am thankful to have been a reader of so many blogs to know to be wary of Covenia. I am sure there have been many kitties who have taken it and been okay, but many have not too. I don’t know if it would be worth the risk, it’s a personal choice one makes with one’s vet. Phoebe had suffered from her condition for over ten years so we have had many ups and downs of other illnesses she developed as a result of her weakened immune system, so choosing what might be too harsh for a cat like her may be totally different for a healthier one.
Ashton: PLEASE take your medicine Monday, we want you well! Even if Mom has to wrap you in a towel as a purrito, the few moments of displeasure are worth your sweet health. I know medicine does not always taste good, but please try! And kudos to your Mom for being an informed pet parent not afraid to advocate for your best interest. If your current vet does not respect that, do not hesitate to find one who will. YOU are the most important!
Stick to your guns peeps! Ashton, get that Baytril in you and feel better soon.
We are teleporting down to Florida later today, as the drifts are getting so high that the birds will be able to walk right on to the feeders…
We were so sorry to hear about Prancer too. That was just too sad. Do they know for sure that the convenia shot is what killed him??? I have used it many times on quite a few of my cats and they were all fine. In fact that is what saved Split’s life when she was so sick. But that doesn’t mean that the shot is all right. Take care. Hope the medicine works on for Ashton. Take care.
Ashton, trust your mummy and just go for it. We know it is horrible but it is for your best and otherwise your mum will be forced to do the old bath towel and throat flick routine which is definitely best avoided.
We’ve never heard of this long acting antibiotic but this is so scary and so tragic for Prancer Pie.
Ellie and Allie have both had the shot but it still scares Mom. Now, with Prancer Pie’s problems, we’re even more concerned.
We’re cold too….we know everyone laughs at it but, like you, we’re Florida cats!!!
The Florida Furkids
We hope you’re feeling better soon and that you’ll take your new medicine.
We just hate that news about dear Prancer Pie. We have told our Vet that if she ever, ever suggests that evil medicine that she will be fired on the spot.
oh, you are sneaky, Ashton! our mom is grateful we are oblivious and she can break up pills and such in our food 🙂 we hope you’ll like your new medicines and get better soon! Have a great weekend!
Pip, Smidgen, Minnie, Hollie
We don’t know enough about the medicine to make a judgement, but it is so scary because we want what’s best for our pet, and when a vet recommends it, we take that at face value. When Mr. Jazz was sick it was offered to him and I declined it. I just felt that he was too old and too far gone to jeopardize his body with something that he might react badly to. But as some have said, for some cats it does work. So very, very confusing…
We do know about Covenia and Mom will never allow them to give it to any of us. Everyone must make their own evaluation, because it seems Vets push it. I am not indicting Vets but there is a lot that they recommend when it clearly isn’t good for your cat. Makes the Momma’s blood boil. I just don’t know, we do the best we can to be educated and truly by having our community we are our own experts. Miss Ashton we all hope you feel better very soon, especially Mr Jinx.
xoxoxxo
For the record, I had a Covenia shot years ago and survived it BUT I’m now axing my furrends not to get them after Prancer Pie. Have you cut the pill pockets into small pieces and given her some pieces without the pill and one with? Ashton, you should take your meds. It wasn’t easy but the peeps did give me the liquid once.
Oh no I didn’t know the Convenia was the cause of Prancer’s passing. Dear me
it just breaks my heart. Mom will have to do some research on that mess.
Thus far I’ve only had to have nasty eye drops twice never any pills but I’m sure I’d love the pill pockets.
Hugs madi your bfff
We sure hope ya like the Baytril!
Ashton, our Moms can NOT be too careful–our grandpeeps kitty was deathly ill from a “regular” vaccine! The Baby has had several convenia shots, but Mommy is thinking Never Again. Good luck with the liquid meds…spraying them all over, that is! MOL.
We are beyond sad about Prancer going to the Bridge. Ashton, we sure hope the meds help you feel better.
As for Convenia, until recently the mom didn’t know how bad this med could be. She went back through some of our records and found out a couple of years ago, Ernie had a shot of Convenia when he burned his paws. Thank cod, nothing bad happened! But the mom says that she will think twice before ever letting the vet give us a shot of this stuff again. Why risk it?? We’re easy to pill, so we don’t need that. Too bad vets seem to want to push this on cats.
Ashton you must be good and take your medication.
I am very sad that Prancer Pie has gone to the Bridge.
Please co-operate, Ashton! We need you to get better soon. Now, don’t listen while I tell the Head Peep something…
Dear Head Peep,
My Tommie won’t touch the pill pocket. I use Whisker Lickin’s Tender Moments treats.
I get them at Petco. I give one to Tommie just plain and then when he’s all excited, I slip him the one with the pill squished into it. Don’t tell him.
I am so sorry to hear that Prancer Pie is gone… especially due to a shot of Convenia. I had never heard of it before and our little Jackie has just had a shot of it 3 days ago for an upper respiratory problem! We are watching very closely now… and hoping it will go well for him. We did call our Vet today and tell her how he is doing to see what she thought. She thinks he is okay thus far and did say that a bad reaction is very rare with Convenia. But we won’t do it again. She was going to give him Clavamox but that caused one of our cats to go lose his sight, another rare occurrence so we declined it and got the Convenia instead unaware of the possible side effects from it. It is so hard to know what to do and it makes me feel all the worst for Prancer Pie’s mom who tried so hard for him. How very sad.
Ashton, Honey, I so hope you will take your flavored Baytril. We have used the flavored liquids before and our kitties took them fine on their food. Best wishes for you and your Mom to be successful! Go for it, Sweetie!
Love,
Lily, WA, USA
Jackie Boy and Gracie Belle
Honey what is wrong with your tummy?