The Perils Of Google

Originally posted on my private blog- posted to http://indikon-tonkinese.blogspot.com/ on 06/01/11

You know how it is. You have a health problem, you don't know what it's all about and instead of making an appointment to see the doctor, like a normal person, you go online, Google, and scare yourself silly. Or you go to the doctor and get referred on to a specialist, and THEN you do the google-searching. And scare yourself silly.

It's exactly the same with pets. It's a bad idea, but of course I've been doing it... and asking online... and I even emailed another breeder. The latter two were very helpful... the googling? I really should know better. I've now discovered a few things that it could easily be... and one isn't looking good at all.

My fear, discounting the most outlandish and obscure diagnoses as unlikely? Ringworm.

Ringworm's not a serious condition as such, it won't harm Indigo irrepairably, but it is infectious, can be transferred not just to other cats but to other animals and HUMANS as well and... the treatment Indigo will need will kill her developing babies. As a secondary issue, the cost of treating Indigo, the other cats and the house will be fairly spectacular, but somehow that seems irrelevent. If we have ringworm there will be no kittens. They will all die as a result of the treatment.

Worrying times here. I'm trying not to look at Indigo's belly for signs of pregnancy because until I have some conclusions on what's what with her skin, and what treatment she will have to have, I just don't want to know.