Grendel (my pet Cat, not my comic strip character) is at the vet.

I noted loss of appetite and puking with loss of balance over the weekend. morgan1 and I ran him to the vet's last night. The X-Ray showed a clear area at the head of his colon. They kept him overnight, took more films, and the area hasn't budged. Here's a transcript of a MS Messenger session I had with a coworker today:

richardf8 says:
Grendel seems to have some kind of blockage at the head of his colon. They're going to do a barium series to see if it is an actual blockage.

Coworker says:
This is familiar ground to me. Andy had barium, then two surgeries (three, if you count the hernia repair a year later.) I feel for all of you.

richardf8 says:
What did he need the surgeries for?

Coworker says:
He'd eaten a yard of crinkly curling ribbon right before F & my wedding. We spent our honeymoon at the emergency vet clinic, and then at our regular vet's, waiting for outcome.

richardf8 says:
Cripes! I wouldn't be surprised if Grendel ate some newsprint that Cuchulain shredded.

Coworker says:
That might mush up in his gut from digestive juices. The ribbon was retrieved somewhat intact from Andy's gut.

richardf8 says:
How much did it end up costing?

Coworker says:
Hundreds. And the vets gave us a huge break. They charged about 350 or 450 for the first surgery, then threw in the 2nd and 3rd. They are wonderful. I kiss the hem of their garments.

richardf8 says:
Who is your vet?

Coworker says:
One of them is retired. The other is [Name of Veterinarian] DVM
They used to be with Airport Pet Hospital, but that is no more. The freeway by Hugedale was widened.

richardf8 says:
By "Hugedale" to you mean the Maul of America?

Coworker says:
Yes, Mall of America. Airport Pet Hospital was down by 66th street and the hiway going south into Hugedale. I'd give Dr Boschert a call.

richardf8 says:
I'm actually pretty confident in my vet.

Coworker says:
Oh, good. The barium may be all that is required. (May show it to be a passing thing, that is...)

richardf8 says:
Yes, if only he passes it.

Coworker says:
I've got my fingers *and* toes crossed for you guys!

richardf8 says:
Thanks,

Coworker says:
You betcha. Let me know how it goes. (Poor kitty!)

Grendel Update

Thanks to all of you who are sending happy healthy cat-vibes Grendel's way.

Well, he's home right now. He flees food and if pressed about it, gaks. The vet does not have a solid diagnosis yet. Tomorrow there will be a report from the radiologist who will look at his X-Rays (including 3/4 of the barium series). I looked at the 4th piccy tonight. It successfully passed the small intestine (yay) but had not gotten very far in the colon. Ominously, the barium that was in the colon appeared to have a fibrous edge to it. What the hell? What can pass through the duodenum and then form a blockage in the colon? Is it like an acccumulation of hair or something?

He's home because he was terrified at the vet's and Dr. Casey did not feel that was a therapeutic environment. He did not gak while there (at least not that anyone observed), he held his urine, and if he's going to poop at all, he seems disinclined to do it there. So he came home and I gave him fresh litter. If he poops, I'll have no way of knowing it's his.

We were given the tools and materials to force feed him, but I cannot do this to a cat that is holding nothing down. He'll rolf it and I will have only added to his stress. He's a solid cat, and isn't nearly in danger of starving yet, so it isn't urgent.

I'm wondering if the whole colon thing is the wrong angle anyway. His symptoms are nearly identical to what I experienced when I had an inner ear infection two years ago. And now that he's moving more, he's gakking more which fits with that theory. Ah well, we'll know more after the radiologist's report tomorrow.