So, I’ve learned a new skill lately.
Giving a cat a shot.
Our girl Lizzy had been losing weight at an alarming rate these last few months, so we got her in to see her vet. That’s a chore right there, because Lizzy is, shall we say, not the best patient when she goes in for a visit. She gets kinda growly and hissy. So, before we take her in, we have to give her a pill to mellow her out.
Problem is, she ain’t too good with pill-taking, either. It’s a two-person job; my wife holds her while I try to shove a pill down her throat. (Lizzy’s, not my wife’s.)
Anyway, after several blood tests, a sonogram and an endoscopy (Expensive!), Lizzy was diagnosed with Inflammatory Bowel Disease, and was prescribed shots of B-12 weekly and steroids daily.
Now, neither my wife nor I had ever given anyone a shot before, so we got a quick lesson on administering injections, after the vet explained that many cats who have trouble with pills and liquids seem to do better with injections.
So my wife said, only later realizing her pun, ”Well, I guess we can give it a shot!”
It took a few tries for me to get the hang of it. I was nervous, at first, unsure of how Lizzy would react; I didn’t want to hurt her. By now, though, I feel like I’m pretty good at it. Once in awhile, she’ll wince or voice a mild protest, but usually, she acts like I didn’t do anything. And then, I can just go back to petting her to her heart’s content. (And mine.)
And yes, it’s way easier than pills or liquids.
And it seems to be working! The vet told us at Lizzy’s checkup yesterday that she’d gained two pounds. (Lizzy, not the vet.) This was great news. So the vet told us we were going to start decreasing the steroid dosage, and see how that goes.
We don’t like giving our girls medicine but, you know, we love ’em, so what’re ya gonna do, right? They may be 13, but they’re still our babies!
Get well soon, sweet girl.
just drive, will you? 
Crack me up. My cat — also named lizzy— also had to have shots, and fluids under her skin for months. Sounds like your lizzy is doing better than our lizzy did. I love your post and the pronoun corrections—- lizzy not my wife… etc. 😂♥️
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Is your Lizzy okay now? I hope so.
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Well unfortunately she had very short life. I got her late December 2016. She was a super companion through a bout w double pneumonia. A month later began to go downhill. She had kidney decease of some kind. I did all the things but she didn’t rally and died in June 2017. So a very brief visit w our family! 🥲
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I’m so sorry. My heart goes out to you.
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I would learn to do the same for any of our animals if I had to. Just glad I don’t have to… yet.
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Me, too.
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I’ve had to give cats shots. They seem more tolerant of shots than pills. Maybe it’s because the shot gives them relief more quickly than pills. Maybe it’s just that it’s less intrusive (and demeaning from the cat’s perspective) than having a pill forced down their throats.
I hope Lizzy is feeling better. ❤
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Thanks, Terry.
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I share a at with my SIL and I just love her. Cats are the best
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Absolutely.
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Reblogged this on Ned Hamson's Second Line View of the News.
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Thanks!
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I’ve done the shot thing and the pill thing. Shots are much better! Oh, you meant for a cat? Well, I’ve done that too.
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🤭
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