Thursday night

So Bootsy's back home and I was glad they'd discovered the thyroid problem (through blood tests) and got pills to treat it, when I picked him from the vet's today. Was reading all about it online tonight and it appears to be a common problem in older cats (often in tandem with the kidney problem). The thyroid pills are cheap and supposed to be better than what they used to prescribe (fewer side effects).

Apparently they'd determined Bootsy's kidneys were healthy enough for him to undergo the possibly dangerous (and expensive) Cefazolin antibiotic treatment, and he got 3 of those during his stay (vs. the estimated 4). On the bill, it says they were shots (vs. IV). He also got vitamin B-12 to stimulate his appetite. (Working.)

The thyroid pill has to administered twice daily, along with the Clavamox (for his mouth infection and possibly also the sniffles, which can affect appetite if cat can't smell the food -- wasn't told). Until the Clavamox runs out (course of treatment comes to an end), I'll be waking up 5 minutes earlier in the a.m. to administer the medicines. Administering the Clavamox involves immobilizing (and comforting) Bootsy in a towel burrito. After that's over, I can wake up 5 minutes later and only have to pop him the thyroid pill in the Pill Pocket.

The thyroid pill might have to be administered twice daily for life. I have three weeks' worth of pills to administer and then have to schedule an appointment with the vet to do another blood test to see how the pills are working. Meanwhile, he should start gaining some weight back and be healthier.