Thursday, April 07, 2016

Trip to the Vet

Dragonheart here!

So yesterday I had to go and see the vet.  We go to a very cool veterinary practice that is affiliated with the veterinary college.  We get seen by a fourth year vet student and then a full veterinarian, and they consult together on our care!  So we get double the attention.  We Sphynx are always a big hit with the students, and frequently students who are in the clinic, but who aren't busy at the moment, come and ask if they can see us and pet us.



So why was I at the vet?  Well, nothing serious, but I had a bit of unusual discharge from my eyes. You see, we Sphynx, because we don't have any eyelashes or eyebrow whiskers, tend to have a little bit of clear discharge from our eyes.  It's normal for us.  However, every now and then, my discharge will get a little thicker, will become coloured (yellow or greenish), and/or my conjunctivia will look a little red.  When that happens, my mom takes me to the vet.



They have fishies at the vet!




So I was at the vet and I was very well behaved.  At one of the conferences our vet attended, they learned that a small dose of Gabapentin can help keep cats calm at the vet.  It doesn't sedate us and is very safe.  It just helps keep us calm, and makes us a little sleepy, but that's it.  I used to get stressed at the vet (unlike Merlin, who loves going to the vet and getting lots of attention).  The Gabapentin allows me to be relaxed and I don't get upset or growl when they poke and prod me, and look at my eyes.



The good news is that my eyes look very healthy, they are just a little swollen, and the conjunctivia are a little red.  The vet student and vet think it is likely just bacterial conjuctivitis, probably because I got something in my eyes due to not having those protective eyelashes and whiskers.  So I have to have eye drops put in my eyes for the next ten days.  I'm not a huge fan of the eye drops, but at least I get treats after them.



So our mom writes a final exam tomorrow for one of her grad courses and then, although she still has some projects to finish, we should be back to visiting more of our friends.  Then once April 15th is come and gone, we'll have lots of time to visit everyone again!  Thanks for all the supportive messages, and all the purrs and prayers for Merlin.

16 comments

wildcatwoods said...

Thanks for stopping by a few posts ago. Mom is feeling better and back online we hope. Glad the vet visit went well and thanks for sharing about the Gaba stuff. Our Sweetpea fights like a banshee at the vet and they have to sedate her. We will ask for this. Good luck on hte exam.

Cats of Wildcat Woods

pilch92 said...

Good luck to your Mom on her final. I am glad your eye problem isn't too serious. Sorry you need drops though :(

Catio Tales said...

Good luck to your mum on the exam - Äiti had loads of study stuff of years ago so we know how they ruin things for us poor felines. Dragonheart, we cannot believe how you are just sitting there, on a lap, at the VET! Goodness. You are a very cool dude (and the drugs are clearly pretty good). We know all about gunky eyes - and also lots of sneezes - from the nekkids, you guys are pretty sensitive really. Paws crossed the ye drops are not too horrible for you and the treats make up for them.

ANGEL ABBYGRACE said...

Good luck to your Mom!!!
So glad to hear the eye situation was simple and easy to remedy!

The Menagerie Mom said...

I'm glad your eyes are okay, Dragonheart, even if you have to get eye drops in them. But, like you said, you get treats afterwards! And, good luck to your mom on her final! Purrs!

Pretinha said...

Dragonheart eu não sabia que gatinhos Sphynx tem problemas nos olhos por não ter cílios.
Mas fico contente que você está bem e não era nada grave.
Boa sorte para sua mamãe!

da tabbies o trout towne said...

dood....sorree ya had sum crazee nezz with yur eye but we iz happee yur on de road ta ree coveree...ten dayz willna seem two bad if ya think oh de way kewl snax....ooopz...we meen de way kewl fish...... that waz at de ewe noe wear place...!!!

hope yur mom getz like an A ++++++++++++++++++++++++++ on her exam

we iz out til monday…sew heerz two a Baikal oilfish kinda week oh end ♥♥♥

Anonymous said...

I'm glad you're doing well! What a great vet you have!!

Memories of Eric and Flynn said...

I am glad that your eyes are healthy and hope the drops quickly clear up the discharge.
Good luck to your mum in her exam.

Melissa, Mudpie and Angel Truffles (Mochas, Mysteries and Meows) said...

Glad you were easily taken care of and best of luck to your mom!

The Island Cats said...

We're glad it wasn't anything serious, Dragonheart. We hope your eyes are better soon. Good luck to your mom...we know she'll ace it!

Tama-Chan, Benny, Vidock, Violette, Ollie, Heloise, Momo, Ryu said...

We're glad the visit was minor and went well. Interesting about the Gabapentin.

We send lots of purrs to your Mom for her exam.

Purrs,
The Chans

The Swiss Cats said...

We're glad your eyes are OK. Good luck to your mom ! Purrs

Hannah and Lucy said...

We are delighted your eyes are healthy Dragonheart and some drops will keep them well lubricated.

Cat and DOG Chat With Caren said...

so glad that all is ok and once again, sending the best of luck to your Mom! catchatwithcarenandcody

Kitties Blue said...

Are you also prone to allergies. Our mom was thinking that would be the case this time of year. Most of us are better behaved at the vet than we are at home. Thanks for the hint abut the gabapentin. XOCK, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo