ot: Update on Antonio

[ETrent]

Poor little big Antonio.   Took him back today for his checkup - he looks like he's been hit in the butt by a missile.  Those glands are just so inflamed and his backside looks awful.  So red and irritated...draining -- we never missed a single dose of antibiotics but he looks so much worse than when I took him in last week  (although he seems to be feeling much better).   The vet didn't dare try to even express his glands or take his temp -- apparently Antonio has been scooting around in his spare time and that hasn't helped.  He gave Antonio a long-acting steroid shot and since we finished a week on Clavamox we're starting a week of Cefa-drops.    I asked the vet what I could do to make him more comfortable...told him I wanted to keep him clean but I don't want to irritate his already sensitive backside.  He said to just apply a cold compress from time to time.   We may have to have surgery.  They won't evaluate, however, until the inflammation calms down.   Antonio is such a big boy.  He's too big for any known cat carrier...and even though I bought him a dog carrier good for 35lbs - the handle broke off the first time I put him in and picked it up.  I just sling him over my shoulder and go.  So funny at the vet's today...typical comments from other patients are -- "OMG!  That's the biggest cat I've ever SEEN!"  yeah...he's a big baby....he's bigger than some people's children.  He's my baby though and I'm doing everything I can to take care of him.   Please say a prayer for my big boy, elizabeth