July 2011-Tanner S.
Tanner (aka Tanner boy, Teenie B, Teener, Teenereen, TB)
July 2011
I love my Tanner boy. I love the way he hops up and mews me awake promptly at 6:15, how we then banter back and forth, how he answers all my questions… I love that he makes a b-line for my lap when I don a throw in my chair (even in the summer!) and how he accompanies me all stretched out as my heels hug the ottoman. I love that he has hung in there with Dr. Berger (as well as the rest of the staff who have helped) and me as we have tweaked and implemented changes many times to his intricate, complicated medical care. We are a patient bunch! (He is worth it!)
I love in the last year how he and I have successfully negotiated his pill taking. da da dum…….
If you would have told me a year ago that I would be giving my boy multiple pills twice/day, I might have said, you’re nuts….
But it’s true. Tanner is a happy, active, playful 8 yr old boy but he also has multiple medical issues (allergies, kidney disease (resulting in high BP and low potassium) and irritable bowel syndrome) AND we have found a way of ‘being together’/working together regarding his care and these pills….
After much initial struggle with pilling, it came to me (Eureka!), truly, in a flash thought…….It can not be ME doing this to HIM; It needs to be a mutual thing, (like most things in life). So when I put him in his pill taking place (on the couch on a towel), I’ve learned to love him for a while. I pet him, talk to him, kiss him, you know, the stuff you do when you love a cat. And then I focus on rubbing his jaw and neck. We go for the first pill and if he turns his head, I.E., I do not want that pill, I respect that, no struggling, I simply return to loving him and really being with him. We do this together. I give him time so that it is partly his idea, that it is okay with him too. I go for another try and yes, it works (most of the time). We are on a 4 pill morning and night regime so I give us at least 5 minutes each day and night to go through this process. Is it easy? No. Is it doable? Very much so, YES.
PS- Thanks to the Cat clinics staff for your incredible and unwavering support and wisdom in taking care of my Tanner, the cutest boy in the world (what I tell him frequently)
PSS If you need support w/ pilling, the vets and vet staff are very supportive. With Tanner’s issues, Dr. Berger reminded me that I’d need patience as we found the mix of care that worked. I appreciated that reminder! If you need additional support or an extra ear, feel free to email me too at stenrun@comcast.net
Our road has been long, from the human society as a kitten (with his brother & littermate Orange) to a happy, relatively uneventful life, full of the usual love, fun, food and play...…His brother developed kidney disease at age 3 and died 4 yrs later (last yr) at age 7. Tanner’s medical concerns began about 1 ½-2 yrs ago. He is currently doing well, so loved and enjoying his summer…..Lisa S.
