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We wanted to give an update on Ruggles, the 18-year-old white cat with a gray “cap” who came to us after his owner moved to a memory care facility.
A few nights after he arrived, we noticed he was having trouble breathing and rushed him to the veterinary ER. There, they immediately placed him in oxygen, and he was hospitalized for two days.
Tests revealed Ruggles had a number of health issues: thickened heart tissue and a heart murmur, thickened small intestines (from IBD or lymphoma), pancreatitis, possible nodes on his spleen, and hyperthyroidism. Poor Ruggles just can’t catch a break.
After leaving the hospital, we took him to Blue Cross Animal Clinic, where our wonderful vet, Dr. Hamel, felt he had a good chance to recover and enjoy a good quality of life. She started a comprehensive treatment plan right away.
After just a few days on his new medications, Ruggles has started eating again. He’s exploring his foster home. He’s batting at toys. The light has returned to his eyes.
It’s moments like this that remind us why we do this work. But Ruggles’ story also underscores something important: senior rescue is rarely simple, and it is almost never inexpensive.
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