Just got back from another vet appointment. The follow-up urinalysis from last week’s visit showed there was still blood so we brought Hobkin back for more tests. Today’s results: x-ray was clean (no kidney stones, whew), waiting on the urine culture results. And we’re $340 poorer. Sigh.
But I’m glad we could confirm that Hobkin doesn’t have stones. And he was really well behaved. Although obviously anxious. Poor lil guy.
Spent the last several weeks working on a website commission. Paying work comes first and all. But it’s almost at wrap-up and launch.
Time to break out The Stupid Novel again, I think. I just want to finish the damn thing before 2010!
In other news, Slate.com did an article on skunks with some excellent links, including to this BBC video on YouTube:
And I have the urge to write another skunk story.
Back from a four-day weekend with less to show for it than I would’ve liked.
Went to check out elemess‘s new house on Saturday and worked on a website commission, but otherwise the last four days were decidedly unproductive.
Results came back from the vet’s and they found white blood cells but no bacteria from Hobkin’s urine sample. The lil guy is on Amoxycillan—which when given with a dollop of whipped cream is, thankfully, a nummy treat—and is on the mend. I think we caught his UTI much earlier this time around than the one last February. He never really got sick this time, just out of sorts. Wish I knew what was causing these, though.
He is also a very silly beastie. When he sleeps with me, sometimes his fangs puncture the blanket where he’s resting his head. His fangs are quite pointy; they’re long and protrude from his mouth, so when he lays his head flat, they dig into whatever surface he’s resting on (which I experience first-hand when he uses me as a pillow). Last night, they pierced the blanket (again) but in his half-asleep state, he thought the blanket had trapped him.
I woke up to a flailing fuzzy animal at my side, pawing at the blanket attached to his tooth. Bemused, I tugged the blanket off his fang, freeing him from the scary blanket-monster. Was Hobkin grateful? Of course not. He huffed at me and trundled off as though it were my fault.
I tell myself he probably felt embarrassed.
On my day off, taking Hobkin to the vet. Think he has another UTI. fosteronfilm has been fighting minor flu-like symptoms all week. And I’ve been achy and generally feeling blah. Seems like everyone in the house is under the weather. Sigh.
My day off: writing/working downstairs on the couch because after lunch, Hobkin insisted I be his pillow. I’m pinned by an 8lb fuzzy animal. Oh well. He’s a decent mousepad.
Got awakened at 2:30AM by Hobkin grousing “lil help already!” while trying to climb up beside me. Seems the hubby moved the doggie steps…
Hobkin is officially blowing his coat. The Furminator helps tons (thank you aimeempayne!), but there are still tufts of undercoat fuzz drifting throughout the house. Wonder if the vacuum cleaner will survive.
Am feeling pampered. Hubby is baking brownies for dessert while Hobkin curls up in my lap.
Taking advantage of a minor lull in bill editing at the capitol to post this.
It’s now been two weeks since Hobkin’s emergency vet visit, and he’s got one more day of amoxicillin to go. He seems to have fully recovered from his UTI (thank all the deities who watch over fuzzy beasties) and is in downright frisky spirits.
Skunks, or at least Hobkin, display a pretty radical personality shift between spring and winter. In winter he’s fat, lazy, and generally laid back. In spring, he becomes frolicsome and downright attitudinous. And apparently, it’s now spring.
On Sunday, I’m reaching down to pet the deceptively mild-mannered plush critter curled up beside me, and he decided it was an invitation to wrestle. He latched all four paws around my forearm, grabbed my index finger with his teeth, and rolled (think crocodile ambushing a deer).
Now, Hobkin knows better than to bite me, but he considers it fair play to grab my forefinger right between his two top canines (which, ’cause my hands are small, is a perfect fit) where there’s a little ridge of front teeth. Not sharp enough to cause damage or break the skin even if he presses down, but enough to make me go “Ow, no bite! Leggo, no bite!” while he drags me about by one finger and gleefully assures me that he’s not biting.
And, once again, 8 lb fuzzy animal wins over stupid human. Yes, I think it’s safe to say that Hobkin’s all better.
During the times when I wasn’t losing at wrestling matches against the fuzzwit, the weekend was spent editing and burning the limited edition audio MP3 CD of Returning My Sister’s Face and getting the first shipment of autographed books mail-ready (which book Amazon is offering at a juicy discounted price of $21.55 right now). I’ll be sending out email notices shortly to let folks know to expect them. I anticipate the second batch will be going out later this week. Thanks to everyone who ordered during the launch party!
fosteronfilm got a urine sample from Hobkin to the vet’s for testing the other day, and the results just came in. Elevated white blood cells and some blood. Also some cells that could be bad if there were more of them, but are normal to see in cases of inflammation.
The vet is now sure Hobkin has an infection. We just need to keep him on the amoxicillin, and all should be well.
Vasty gobs of relief and happiness.
