A very bad cameraphone pic of a very unhappy vet-bound Beano. He has such plaintive crying that it sounds like I’ve got him in a torture device all the way to the vet, which is about half an hour away. I know I could find a vet nearby, but everyone at the office knows Beano and his history with Arliin. I’m not about to introduce him to new handlers (he already has me!).

Morning came all too soon, and I woke up to a persistent Xena poking at me with her claws as if to say, “Hey, we’re up — feed us!”

I got ready, fed the beasts and cleaned out the litter tray before putting Beano — under protest — in the carrier to head off north to The Hall of Beastly Hell otherwise known as the vet’s office. Beano wailed like a banshee through morning rush hour.

THE VERDICT

Beano’s hind left leg had no specific areas of bone pain, so the vet thinks it is likely soft tissue damage, perhaps some bruising from a bad landing. Or maybe arthritis. Beano was putting weight on it, so it wasn’t fractured. I foregoed the x-rays, as I didn’t want to put him through anything unnecessary.

Beano’s kidney levels are good (WHEW), actually better than in November. His blood pressure was checked, and it’s good. He now has a heart murmur, though, which he didn’t have on his last visit. Could be an indicator of hyperthyroid. He’s also lost half a pound, which doesn’t sound like much, but he’s a small cat.

By the time I picked Beano up after work, whatever displeasure he’d had on reserve was unleashed on the way back, like he’d just HAD ENOUGH. By the time we were halfway home he was pounding and rattling the carrier with his paws.

All in all, it was an expensive day of tests but it could’ve been much worse. I’m going to keep an eye on Beano’s leg, and if it doesn’t improve completely I’ll take him in for x-rays. For now, he still has a limp but at least his kidneys are holding up!