Akira 0.1 (10) and Bujang 1.0 (5) Acupuncture Protocol

This is now what our sessions are like if these 2 are together. Akira is always concerned about Bujang and would try to stay as close to him as possible. Even when he yells loudly and turns about wildly in his carrier, she remains cool and calm. As she thinks the sessions 'are not too bad' for herself, I hope she can convince Bujang that it will be the same for him in the long run. 

Bujang continues to be upset at the acupuncture sessions. Dr O and I thought it wiser if he uses the towel to prevent Bujang from lunging at him during the needle-in session. It has worked somewhat, but the doctor must always be aware of where Bujang's head is as, like  a snake, he can lunge out from under the towel to take a bite. But this has not happened yet and yesterday Dr O thought he was a 'good boy' as eventhough he was turning about and growling the doc managed to put in all the necessary needles. 

He has about 7 needles (only 6 shown here) and these are for his back and kidney. He told Fern that he 'could tolerate' his back pain and didn't like being disturbed. But he is already 12 years old and I don't think I like the idea of him even having to tolerate back pain if I can make it less painful or even help him get rid of it. It's a good thing Dr O is used to cats and knows how to avoid getting bitten and he allows Bujang time to rest and relax in between the needles. Bujang likes the heat and would move about to get as much heat as possible on his back. It's just the beginning and the ending that is fraught with danger. 

At home I see him running about with Tanaka but he no longer jumps up on things as much as before. It may be his back pain is affecting him and he cannot jump up as much but at least he is running about although for shorter periods of time. 

Akira continues to do well and there is new fur slowly growing on the outside of her limbs and even at the back of her ears. Dr O noticed that she had very little fur on the back of her ears on the first day we started these treatments. I think it's because she scratches them really hard. She has however bitten through her skin once or twice again. Nevertheless her fur has grown much softer. The doc said its the effects TCM and acupuncture. He said sometimes the colour of the animal would also get brighter. That seems like a good thing but I am content if she stops biting through her skin. The fur is still very short and fragile though and I hope she doesn't lick them off any time soon. 

                                       A: I will try san but I don't promise. 

We will end out post for the last day of 2014 with wishes of light and joy to everyone for 2015. Happy New Year. 

Akira 0.1 (8) and Bujang 1.0 (2) Acupuncture Protocol

Akira was as usual a champion with the needles. This afternoon she comforted Bujang who was very upset at his acupuncture session. He yelled and hissed at Dr O several times and the doc called him 'Little Tiger'. 

                           It's ok Bujang. I am here. It's not to bad if you relax a bit. 

He allowed the doctor 2 needles on his head and only these few to begin with. Dr O allowed Bujang to rest for a bit between needles. It took him almost 15 minutes to complete the rows. It was only when the doctor pierced the part of his back that he felt the most pain that he growled. It may also be that he felt trapped in the carrier. We wanted him to feel safe and thought that if it was done in his carrier he would be more comfortable but not so. He hissed and yelled and turned round and round. 

After 15 minutes the doc managed to get all the needles in the right positions and left Bujang under the lamp. He enjoyed this part a lot and turned round and round so that his back could feel the heat. After the next 15 minutes, the doc and I took turns distracting him so we could remove the needles. This coming Friday he would have his 3rd session and we would try to put both Akira and  Bujang in the hard carrier to see if he will allow the doc to put the needles in without hissing. The doc said that if one is calm, the other one would also be calm. We shall see what happens or even if he would allow Akira to be in the same carrier.

Akira was calm throughout and she stayed close to him, sometimes sniffing at him through the mesh. I hope she was telling him to relax and that he would feel better afterwards. Since he had eaten his TCM for his kidneys very well, the doc gave him the full dose with TCM for his kidneys, liver and spleen.  This combination is also supposed to make him feel less stress. 

Bujang resting at home after his acupuncture session.

Update: He did not like his new mixture. I think because it has multiple herbs and the smell is different. We will try until Friday. If not we will have to go back to just the kidney mixture.

Checkups and Acupuncture for Bujang (long post)

When san told me it was my turn to go to the vet I thought she was kidding. But when she didn't give me any food for a long long long time, I knew she was serious. When we went out to the vet's it was raining. San told me that the rain should not stop us from going. Hmmmm there would only be bad things from here on. 

The vet looked at my teeth, stole my blood and actually bundled me in a towel. I told them loudly 'NO WAY YOU TERRIBLE PEOPLE ARE TAKING MY NAILS!' But they did anyway. I fought and yelled and tried to scratch everyone. San said this was the worse I had ever been where my nails were concerned! Then san said that I had been having back pain and that may also be the reason I had yelled so much as the vet helper had to put me in a towel as I was a big kitty and could hurt them (I would not hurt them as I am gentle but I was in pain). So the vet touched my back to check and at one point I hissed at him and warned him to stop it. San did not want any painkillers for me as I would not take it ( and I know she is afraid of my teeth). Since I was also going to the osteopath, she said she would get Adrian to help me as well as he has been very good at helping my back pain before. 

The blood test was not as good as before. The vet told san quietly that I had kidney problems (CRE 2.4 but BUN was not so bad at 21) I was glad when san just told the vet that she would take care of that and it would be ok. 

But as I said before I thought there would be dark clouds and so there were. It rained very heavily and we couldn't find a taxi to take us home. San and I were stranded. But san thought that since we were stranded, she could send me for acupuncture for the pain in my back. WHAT!!!! I DON'T WANT NEEDLES LIKE AKIRA!! But she did it anyway!

She told Dr O that I had pain in my back and showed him where the pain was worse. Dr O saw  my blood test and discussed some stuff with san about my kidneys. I knew something was up and I didn't like it. He made me walk about and said that the pain was worse on my left and I walked with my back lower than the rest of my body. He said back pain was easier to take care of than kidneys. San as usual said we would be there to see it through. (Notice that she didn't ask me for my opinion). Dr O did say that he thought I had very beautiful eyes which were round and very bright. I was glad he noticed that at least. 

He poked the needles in my back very quickly. I was not too concerned until he put one right on the spot and I hissed at him to leave me alone. Dr O told san that one of the points for the back would also take care of the kidneys. I knew that I should not bite him (yet) but it was over very quickly. I didn't have those electrodes like Akira but only the warm light. I liked that a lot. I was there for half an hour. 

Here I was just sitting with san with the light on my back. It was over very quickly. 

Dr O then gave san some TCM for my kidneys and advised her to put it in my food. She had to warm the food first and mix a little of the powder in it. I am glad to say that as of this morning I had eaten all my food with the powder in it. 

That was what had happened yesterday. In the afternoon my sister Akira had her acupuncture session as well and we went home together in a van that san had called as no taxi would take our call. It was the Pet Mobile. We were able to be home safe and sound and very dry.