Towards the end of my tapas tour yesterday (with a lovely couple from London, Alison & Michael) I got a call from Nog saying that Azar was “in distress”, going to the litter box and crying, etc. And so I got home as fast as I could and the poor thing really was looking sad. He was also throwing up, which he’s done before when straining to go in the box. He didn’t seem hungry at all but remained very thirsty. This is a photo I took a couple of weeks ago when he started only wanting to drink water from “my glass” so I got out a different glass for him and since then it’s been his own private one. But I could tell that he was drinking and peeing a lot more than usual and feared the worst – chronic kidney disease like Sunny had. I was actually planning to take him in for a full check-up (blood tests, the works) after the holidays, but now looks like I’ll be going tomorrow.

After a very fretful night with poor Azar up and down (and leaking poop everywhere – eww!) I was almost ready to take him in to the emergency vet service this morning, because I hadn’t actually seen him pee since I got home yesterday and when I called them yesterday I was told the primary problem may actually be a blocked urethra. But just now, after yet another long drink, he peed in the box no problem. Then strained again to poop and ended up throwing up all the water. So… I dunno. I think he’ll be okay waiting to see his own vet tomorrow morning. Not only does the emergency vet service cost a lot more, but it’s a vet who has never seen Azar before, doesn’t know his history, etc. Meanwhile, am going out to the pharmacy to ask about a mild suppository, like they give to babies, to see if this might alleviate the immediate problem.

My beautiful boy. Ever since his “mystery illness” last year every day with him has felt like a gift, and I have worried every time he sneezed or seemed a bit out of sorts. But perhaps this will also turn out to be just another glitch in the “old age” thing and he’ll stay with us for some time to come. Hoping with all my heart that this is so.