Do you know when your pet is sick?
Do you know when your pet is unwell? It may seem like a silly question, because of course you would know... wouldn’t you? They share your life, your home and you know them intimately, just as you do your children, husband, wife; your pets are after all members of your family.
What many people don’t see is the tell-tale signs that our animals are not well as they are very adept at masking signs of illness. Quite often, by the time we recognise there is a problem, our furry family members have been struggling for quite some time.
Recently whilst visiting my ageing mother, I realised that her cat was not around and that perhaps I hadn’t seen him for maybe the last four or five visits. On asking after him, mum said he was sleeping a little more than usual and had taken to hanging out at the back of the airing cupboard.
Mum dearly loves this little ginger rogue and since dad died six years ago, he has been her constant companion. So, it has been only the best for Tigger; best food, lots of grooming and pampering. But I did notice a sort of unease about my mother as I asked the question; had I imagined a furtive glance to Tigers empty bed and the shuffle of her position on her chair? ‘Is he alright?’ I asked casually not wanting mum to clam up and get defensive; and yes, there it was a tear in her eye as we looked directly at each other.
I can’t get cross at mum for not saying anything earlier as she thought as winter was drawing near he was looking for a warm spot for his ageing body to rest. However, cats love warm dark spots to snuggle down in, so why would she suspect anything untoward?
Mum was a nurse so she would notice if anything was amiss with Tigger, wouldn’t she? However, cats
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are great at hiding their illnesses and this behaviour goes back to their wild beginnings. A cat showing signs of illness is vulnerable to predatory attack and so cannot afford to show any weakness and so have learnt to keep ailments under wraps.
Pets tend to get on with it, they don’t whine, the most they might do is have a decreased appetite or curl up and sleep; this is common in pets suffering with arthritis, heart disease, kidney disease and more. Tigger is 14 so yes, he is getting on in years and was grossly overweight having been over indulged by a doting mom, so his behaviour was probably predictable.
However, when I went to check up on Tigger he was more than a bit sleepy, my husband is the vet but I have seen enough sick pets in the surgery to know Tigger was more than just a little tired. I suspected another ailment was lurking, that of diabetes.
Mum fussed and clucked; stating she felt he was under the weather but he was essentially ok. Mum like the cat just did not want to make a fuss assuming Tigger would bounce back to his normal self, I did detect a hint of guilt though.
Tigger did indeed have diabetes; he started treatment with daily injections, monthly blood glucose curve monitoring and a calorie restricted (but nutrient dense) diet. He was lucky to have survived there have been many that haven’t. Leaving a pet in the hope he/ she will pick up must be balanced; and Tigers life had been in the balance!
You don’t want to be rushing off to the vets every five minutes but if your pet is not ‘normal’ for him (be he cat, dog or rabbit) for 24 hours a phone call voicing your concerns may put your mind at rest. A caring surgery should listen and then advise if your pet needs to be seen.
To advertise in thewire t. 07720 429 613 e.
fiona@thewireweb.co.uk
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