Re: 2/19 Rusty AMPS 146, +8.5 121, PMPS 166; back from vet
Hi again,
Rusty is home and getting back to normal (he was hungry and had 2 small meals after returning home--at +8.5 and +10.5 and later his dinner and some fd chicken treats.
He had several x rays. His vet was concerned about his noisy breathing, his occasional coughing, and his congestion. She had suspected that he might have polyps in his nasal area, but the x ray of his skull was clean. The lungs, however, were not normal: they appeared "fluffy" on the x rays (too light--instead of dark--and with what looked to me like swirly "stuff" inside). She thinks this could suggest either an infection (bacterial or fungal), an asthmatic condition resulting from an allergy, or cancer (hopefully NOT!). She took cultures and sent two tests to the IDEXX Labs: "Anaerobic & Aerobic Culture" (with a C&S); "Cytology w/Desc. (1 site)" (I don't know what this means). Results may be back this week. His heart is good. So we will see what we will see. Rusty has had noisy breathing and congestion for as long as he has lived with us and we always thought he had some kind of chronic condition. But the vet thought he sounded noisier when he went in for his recent exam and that is why she wanted to do the x rays.
We are keeping fingers crossed that whatever it is, it will be treatable. Maybe it will just "go away". His blood work and urinalysis are both good (latest blood work is on the Labs tab of his spreadsheet; I got the urinalysis results today and will add them tomorrow).
Rusty actually came upstairs this evening to sit with me in my study while I type this. He opened the closet door, dug around in a box, sat in my camp chair, licked plastic bags in the waste basket, and is at the moment watching something intently in the bookcase (a spider?)
He is such a joy.
Everyone have a good evening. We'll be watching "Smash".
Ella & Rusty
p.s. Rusty needs KTSS to help get the vetty smell off!!!