Monday, August 23, 2004
How to Hydrate a Cat
Making a very long story short, the initial diagnosis was that there was not anything seriously wrong with him, but a secondary effect of his illness was mild dehydration. The vet recommended a "hydration course," after which Lou would be sent home for continued observation.
Opting for the hydration course I expected that they would sedate Lou and put him on a fluid IV for a few hours before releasing him, but instead they took him into a back room and injected several ounces of water under his skin. He was returned to me minutes later with a hump on his back, which to the touch was not unlike a water balloon (or perhaps one of Tigerhawk's head bumps, although I am not a primary source on that topic). Within a relatively brief span of time, Lou's water balloon was absorbed into his body and now manifests itself as nothing more than extremely thick ankles for a cat.
I am once again amazed at the tricks one can do with a cat. Would this procedure be effective with other mammals? Inquiring minds want to know.