A few weeks ago, my beloved little cat, Thistle, received the terminal diagnosis of chronic renal failure. He had suddenly lost his spark, was dehydrated and losing weight, and was in dire straights with a systolic hypertension of 220 mmHg. Although CRF in cats is treatable to an extent, the treatments designed to get the body back in balance are necessarily delicate and varied. One of the things that has helped me the most, aside from obtaining excellent veterinary advice, is joining an international online community of fellow cat caregivers who also deal with the disease. Being able to share techniques for delivering subcutaneous fluids, troubleshoot ways of giving medications and stimulating the appetite, and having a safe place to voice fears and anxieties has been enormously stabilizing, come what may.
Today in PT wants to provide a similar resource to you, the therapist. This is a safe place to vent frustrations, compare treatment techniques, and renew hope for the future of the profession. So in between caring for your patients, drop me a line and let me know what’s on your mind! Perhaps we can solve it together.
Thistle’s current status? His BP is back to 125 mmHg, he’s got his purr back, and he chased a butterfly around the garden today at lunchtime. My sick feeling of dread has been replaced with cautious optimism and a fresh appreciation of being grateful for each moment I get to share with him, with thanks to my online community for their wisdom and willingness to help during some of my darkest hours.
How is everything going with you?
Anne Ahlman, MPT
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