Julia: infection on rhs lower face

[Godmother]

Julia hadn't been looking good for the last couple of weeks, and her balance was worse than usual, but there was no obvious sign of anything different until last night. Her right eye was reddish around the rim, and she seemed to be getting into minor squabbles with the others. This morning there was a swelling on her lower face, so I took her to the vet.

Good thing I did. Her eye had a dilated pupil, and the vet was afraid it could be a tumour. He put her under briefly to aspirate a sample of the lump, and I knew that if it was a tumour that she would be pts right away. So hard to contemplate losing her. The news was not as bad as we had feared: it was a massive infection.
We want to give her a chance, so I will be giving her Metacam and antibiotic and watching her closely.

He said that his drug of choice for her would be Metronidazole, but that it had been withdrawn from the market without any reason given. Second choice was Clavamox with Baytril. I suspected that I might have at least one tablet of Metronidazole at home (left over from when she was on it over Christmas), and it turns out I had three tablet left. That's enough for fifteen days, so I hope that it works.

Poor thing. I am giving her lots of pats and snuggles, although she is very wiggly and almost impossible to hang onto. I got half the meds into her and will now go to give her the rest.

She needs some healing vibes!

 

[lilspaz68]

Oh the poor little darling!!! That's a nasty and painful mess she's in. I am glad you have everything you need to give her the fighting chance. Give her whopping big doses of metacam for the first few days if you can.

((hugs)) to you and a gentle kiss to Julia.

 

[jorats]

She's in good hands. Sending her healing vibes.

 

[Godmother]

Thanks! I did give her a strong dose of Metacam, and I will give it to her twice a day until she starts feeling better. Healing vibes received! Kisses about to be given....

 

[Godmother]

Poor little Julia. She eagerly ate a Kamut puff, and then started grooming herself. She kept squeaking as she groomed, as if something was hurting her. I wonder if the motion of licking is painful right now. Luckily she had just eaten the rest of her meds, so I hope that the Metacam kicks in fast.

She is sitting in the litter box, looking quite miserable. I sure hope she pulls through.

 

[mamarat]

Aww poor sweetie. Sending healing vibes to her, hugs to you.

 

[Godmother]

Julia was looking less puffy this morning, and her eye looks way better. she has been eating, and I leave mushy lab blocks in the cage at all times in case it is hard for her to eat blocks.

but what a battle to get her to take the meds this morning! It took almost an hour, so i was late for work. I don't know why she objected, because she liked the taste of it and would sometimes eat it willingly.

anyway, here's hoping!

 

[lilspaz68]

Glad you have some improvement on sweet Julia. Probably everything to do with her mouth/swallowing etc hurts right now. Hopefully tonight even more swelling will be down and she will be more accepting of her meds.

 

[Godmother]

I sure hope that meds go easier in the morning. I have to go for fasting blood work at 0700, so Jules will be getting her meds at the crack of dawn tomorrow!

I rushed up to see her when I got home, scared that she would be in bad shape. But she is looking not too bad, and she was sleeping.

 

[lindsayfawn]

I hope she's feeling better soon!

 

[Godmother]

Julia is definitely livelier, and she takes the meds with ease now that I have switched from Metranidazole to Clavamox. Her lower face still has some puffiness, but nowhere near as bad, and she is eating normally.

So I will hope for continued improvement.

 

[mamarat]

Fingers crossed it's all uphill from now on.