Paging Dr. Kayo
Posted by Lanea on Tuesday, February 20th, 2007
I meant to take all sorts of lovely photos of new knitting, but things got a little dramatic.
Yarrow, our perpetual kitten, made a horrible, terrifying, heart-breaking cry on Saturday. I gathered him up and tried to find the cause, but he’s not the most compliant of cats. I figured I’d keep an eye on him for a while and see what was injured. Yarrow started drooling in a new way–he drools when he’s happy, but this was different. And then he didn’t want to eat the blappiest of wet food.
And then Kayo demanded I take the cat to the emergency vet.
See, Kayo was the one who insisted I take our seemingly healthy cat Scath to the vet for what was apparently a little cold. Well, it wasn’t a cold–it was lung cancer. And Kayo’s frantic, whining, nose-poking intervention helped us get an early diagnosis for Scath and extended his life by at least a few months. Months during which we got to spoil the hell out of the best cat we had ever met. I am so grateful to Kayo for his intervention that I will continue spoiling all hell out of him for as long as I possibly can–heroism should be rewarded.
So when Kayo demanded I take Yarrow to the emergency vet, I listened. Our poor cat either tried to poison himself with something caustic, licked an electrical socket (I really don’t think he’s that kind of dumb), came down with a cat illness that’s very rare in indoor cats, or some combination of the three. He had a pretty bad lesion on his tongue, consistent with one of those three options, and a really really high fever that came out of nowhere. Because of Kayo’s demands, I got Yarrow to the vet in time for them to save his little kitten brain. They got his temperature down to a safe level, hooked him up to fluids, and gave him some pain killers so he would be willing to eat and drink on his own. And then the perpetual kitten started playing with his IV tubes and trying to eat the techs. When I explained my dog’s roll in Yarrow’s trip to the vet, they were suitably impressed and offered to send home some treats for Kayo. I don’t think it’s the same as a vet’s salary, but it’s nice to see him earn his keep in such a wonderful way.
So now Dr. Kayo can relax, and Yarrow is almost back to normal. If I’m not mistaken, he’s very very grateful to Kayo and to me. Kayo isn’t used to the perpetual kitten trying to groom and snuggle with him–that’s Speedwell’s job. And I’m not sure I needed Yarrow to express his gratitude to me for a full hour starting at 2:00 a.m., but I’m happy to accept his love whenever he decides to give it. Especially if he’ll agree to groom a bit less of my skin away from now on.
Filed in blather | 11 responses so far
rho1640on 20 Feb 2007 at 1:20 pm 1Oh my GOSH — give Kayo a hug for me too – if he ever tells you that you or hubby have to go to the Doctor – remember this and listen immediately…
Junoon 20 Feb 2007 at 2:19 pm 2Kayo is the most excellent of dogs and deserves some people food. Maybe butter?
Love to Yarrow and to Speedwell who must feel lonely and of course to the diagnostic dog for keeping your family safe.
Thornyon 20 Feb 2007 at 3:05 pm 3Wow, Dr. Kayo is pretty darn awesome.
So glad you were able to get Yarrow to the vet in time, and now he’s safe and happy and fine again. What a relief.
Minnieon 20 Feb 2007 at 3:35 pm 4i keep hearing the might mouse theme “here i come to save the day!”. goodness, yarrow really did get himself in trouble.
give Kayo an “atta boy” from me, will ya? maybe he can figure out what’s going on with my Joplin. She’s 13, and in the last 3 months has gotten crochety as hell. hisses if you even get any where near her, unless she’s in the mood. i don’t know if it’s just old age or senility. she’s healthy otherwise (if overweight).
--Debon 20 Feb 2007 at 6:58 pm 5Hurray for Kayo! It’s good to know he’s taking care of the family . . . dogs DO love to do that. So glad everyone’s okay!
Janeon 20 Feb 2007 at 7:33 pm 6Amazing Incredible Kayo! Annabelle says Get Well Soon to Yarrow, too.
Megon 20 Feb 2007 at 11:48 pm 7Scritches behind the ears for everyone! Hooray for smart beasties and people who know to pay attention.
lellaon 21 Feb 2007 at 3:56 am 8Wow, what a good in house vet you have, Lanea. That was a very close call for your perpectual kitten. Interesting adventure, and expensive I bet, too. I know about all that.
rachelon 21 Feb 2007 at 11:19 am 9Awwwww…….
Just….awwwwwww…….
Lauren (and Bodhi too)on 21 Feb 2007 at 8:45 pm 10Kayo is a hero! You should make him some snow for being such a good boy!
Annieon 22 Feb 2007 at 11:43 am 11I’m so glad everything turned out well!!