Have an appointment for him tomorrow morning. It is not an emergency, so far as I can tell. No fever or pain or licking... he's just a bit sluggish; slept most of the day. didn't get up for the daily canned food dollop - but then, he doesn't always (dry chow is his thing.) There doesn't seem to be any litter box problem, but that's hard for me to tell for sure. Pinto had a bout with UTI a year or so ago - no trouble since; he still receives 1/2 UTI prevention chow with 1/2 natural. Will not touch any other sort of extra-moisture food or broth - just the ONE variety of Medley chicken, and not much of that, once a day.
I do not drive at night, but DD lives a few blocks away. Pinto seems fine right now -snuggly and purring, then wandering around the apartment as usual. Maybe it's just the weather? High 90's today - though of course we have the a/c on 24/7. Anything special I should check for tonight? I no longer have the equipment or the strength to take temp or look in ears or whatever.
Concerned about Pinto
Re: Concerned about Pinto
The only thing you describe is "sluggish" and "slept all day", these are too vague to really recommend beyond waiting until morning to get him seen by your vet. Has he eaten AT ALL today? Drinking?
If you don't have a rectal thermometer, you don't know what his temp is, however, and I do NOT recommend doing this as a general rule because it isn't accurate, but if Pinto happened to have a fever, his ears would probably be very hot to the touch. Again, this is NOT an accurate method to determine internal body core temperature, but whenever you feel the ears are very hot, something is usually amiss.
You can also gently peel back his upper lip and check the color of his gums, they should be a healthy pink, and moist. Not dry or tacky or discolored (red, pale, white, yellow, blue or purple). Pink, moist gums indicate hydration is (usually) sufficient, and that blood flow is (usually) normal.
You can also gently pinch and raise up slightly, his skin from between the shoulder blades, release, and if the skin snaps back to the body immediately, he is probably not dehydrated. If it takes more than a second or two to snap back against the skin, he could be dehydrated.
If he has indeed eaten today, is drinking, using the litterbox and otherwise acting normally, I'm sure this can wait until morning, but should anything else unusual occur, call your doc to at least get his advice on the phone until Pinto can be seen.
Just to play it safe, I'd opt for a urinalysis at the appointment, especially if you haven't had one done for Pinto in over 6-8 months.
If you don't have a rectal thermometer, you don't know what his temp is, however, and I do NOT recommend doing this as a general rule because it isn't accurate, but if Pinto happened to have a fever, his ears would probably be very hot to the touch. Again, this is NOT an accurate method to determine internal body core temperature, but whenever you feel the ears are very hot, something is usually amiss.
You can also gently peel back his upper lip and check the color of his gums, they should be a healthy pink, and moist. Not dry or tacky or discolored (red, pale, white, yellow, blue or purple). Pink, moist gums indicate hydration is (usually) sufficient, and that blood flow is (usually) normal.
You can also gently pinch and raise up slightly, his skin from between the shoulder blades, release, and if the skin snaps back to the body immediately, he is probably not dehydrated. If it takes more than a second or two to snap back against the skin, he could be dehydrated.
If he has indeed eaten today, is drinking, using the litterbox and otherwise acting normally, I'm sure this can wait until morning, but should anything else unusual occur, call your doc to at least get his advice on the phone until Pinto can be seen.
Just to play it safe, I'd opt for a urinalysis at the appointment, especially if you haven't had one done for Pinto in over 6-8 months.
..........Traci
Re: Concerned about Pinto
Thanks Traci. His ears are cool and he seems just fine. Thank you for reminding me about the urinalysis... yes, we will have the whole test thing.. Trouble is, I keep having to go to new vets (not my fault or theirs - just the way things worked out for this New Orleans refugee LOL) but Pinto is in the computer here in Austin; this vet is not connected with UTexas, but is near campus and has been my DD's vet for many years, cats and dogs both. This will be my first time to take a pet there. Then if I just get ole Q Babe in his carrier one of these days, we'll be all set 
db
Austin
db
Austin
Re: Concerned about Pinto
Hopefully, nothing wrong at all, maybe just a slightly off day. Please let us know when you know, ok?
..........Traci
Re: Concerned about Pinto
Thanks again, Traci. I will probably post part of this on the vets site above, but thought I would put it here tonight - I have been to the tiny vet clinic with DD a couple times, hope I get to meet Dr.Cotnam himself tomorrow - seems he is a legend...
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&clien ... qgjQP_su0I
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&clien ... qgjQP_su0I
Re: Concerned about Pinto
Tuesday afternoon - Pinto is fine - eating, drinking water, playing etc. We did not get to have the tests for him... stormy weather Saturday and now one of DD's cats is at the vet's... a more serious case. "Always Something" right? I am going to take Pinto in for his annuals later this week.
Re: Concerned about Pinto
Glad Pinto is ok ! Hopefully the annual exam will show that also.