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Post by deb193 on Oct 27, 2006 12:04:33 GMT -5
Well I thought my 12yr old female with the chronic lung inflammation would be the 1st to go, but today my youngest cat got real sick.
He has a heart worm and is on medication to control inflammation, but last night he was coughing and this morning he could not stop vomiting. After an hour or so I took him to the vet.
They think he "threw a clot" or has a piece of dead heartworm in an artery somewhere cutting off circulation to part of his GI-track. And the money meter is running.
He is in shock, has a low temp, bloody diarrhea, still vomiting, dehydrated and had some fluid in his lungs at the same time. They have him on Heprin and did x-ray to check for an obstruction. They are doing bloodwork to check for infection and whatever. I authorized ultrasound to look for a clot, but told them no exploratory surgery. If he has any dead tissue, I am just going to put him down. I am not really convinced of the ethics of intrusive surgery on animals. Sometimes I don't even think I would want it for myself.
If he pulls through, and they still think it was heart-worm related, I think I will have them kill the worms. We have been using a slow-therapy because there is a 50% chance of death when adult worms are killed, but if he is likely to have more of these episodes over the next two years, then I think the 50-50 thing is worth thinking about.
I know he is just a cat, but I am not getting a lot of work done today.
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181lizard
Cave Dweller 
Still lurking :)
Member since December 2005
Posts: 2,171
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Post by 181lizard on Oct 27, 2006 12:10:56 GMT -5
Aw Daniel - I hate it when our kids get sick. Just about breaks my heart.
Hopefully your kitty was strong & healthy before & this will just be a bump in the road. I'm rootin for ya!
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Post by deb193 on Oct 27, 2006 13:04:30 GMT -5
Thanks Liz - Except for the heart murmer caused by the heart worm, he is pretty solid. I hope to get good news in the next hour or so. My sister just got a new cat that seems a little too nervous to live with her 4 kids, and wants me to take it; but I think with two sick cats in the house I have to pass. Besides, after several bouts of male-territorial-pissing, I swork I would only have female cats from here on out. Here is a Pic of my sick Hacky Cat, and then a pic of My sister's new cat.   |
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Post by ladyt on Oct 27, 2006 13:30:39 GMT -5
Sorry to hear about your kitty. Praying for good news!! What kind of cat does your sister have? I've never seen one look like that. He's got a tiny head and long legs, LOL.
Tonja
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Post by deb193 on Oct 27, 2006 14:01:44 GMT -5
Tonja - Oriental Shorthair. Check out the cattery www.felitan.com/. My two older cats are OSH, but the features are not as exaggerated because they were "pet" quality. Tricky Mickey there was shown in cat competitions.   |
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Post by krazydiamond on Oct 27, 2006 16:23:45 GMT -5
oh, Daniel, i sympathize with you so much it breaks my heart.
KD
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181lizard
Cave Dweller
Still lurking :)
Member since December 2005
Posts: 2,171
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Post by 181lizard on Oct 27, 2006 17:01:33 GMT -5
I haven't had kitties since I left home I grew up in, but I still love them. My cats name was Tigger (orange tabby) & I'd wear him around my neck like a fur stole. We raised Arabians so we had a barn full of alfalfa hay. At nite, Tigger would come to sleep with me for awhile & I can still remember the smell of alfalfa on his fur. Wow! what a great memory that is! I haven't thought about that in a long time!
Gotta tell ya though...That's one crazy lookin cat your sister has! (LOL!)
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Post by deb193 on Oct 27, 2006 17:15:58 GMT -5
Well still no definative diagnosis, but the pancreas has cume under suspicion. Still vomiting in late afternoon. He is on an IV drop with anti-nausea, blood thinner, and pain medication. They will keep him tonight. $350 and counting.
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Post by rockyraccoon on Oct 27, 2006 18:17:11 GMT -5
oh daniel i am so sorry to hear your baby is sick. i hope you get good news by tomorrow. keep us posted. i will be praying for your kitty.
kim
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Post by akansan on Oct 27, 2006 18:26:18 GMT -5
Oh Daniel! I'm so sorry your cat is ill. It's so hard when the little furred ones get ill, because they can't tell you when they start feeling poorly. It always seems so sudden. Have you heard anything else on Hacky Cat? On another topic - I could see those OSH sitting beside Pharoah in Egypt. I think it's the ears... (...and I love the accompanying music.  ) |
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Post by Jurrasic Jonje on Oct 27, 2006 20:29:09 GMT -5
We have 4 kitties and we know exactly how you feel. Hope your news is good.
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Post by docone31 on Oct 27, 2006 20:32:30 GMT -5
Anyone who loves cats is ok with me. There is nothing more heart wrenching than an animal dying slowly. I really hope your cat makes it. A Russian Blue walked up to our door years ago. It was just skin and bones. My exwife and I had an habit of taking in strays, fixing them, getting them healthy, and sometimes finding homes for them. Mostly just haveing an home full of cats. We did not go out and catch strays, these walked up to us.
At any rate, the Russian blue showed up. He was nothing but bones and loose skin. He had an huge head. Something did not look right at all. We called our usual mobile vet and he came. Sir Lord Greystoke, we called him, had renal failure.
Our vet respected our love of animals and significantly discounted his rates. He had been in an accident and had been burned 80% of his body. With several fingers burned off and disfiguirement like I had never seen, he handled our cats with a touch I had never seen. He was miraculous with our cats.
Sir Lord Greystoke never made it. He was a very old cat. The renal failure took him. He came to us to die. He died on my lap, while I was holding his IV. I never knew cats had an IV, but he did. He wouldn't leave my lap, even to use the litter box. I had to come with him, then he tried to jump into my lap. He was too weak.
Daniel, I do indeed understand what you are going through. I do it also. Our Bengals were throwaways. Like every other throwaway I have been with, they have been like no other.
I hope your cat makes it. The short hair breed is an amazing breed. I love them. They like people a lot also. I had a cougar, which only let me touch him, I had a bobcat, which was the same way. Our mobile vet took care of them also. He loved Doggy, my cougar. Rodney, my bobcat he used to just come over to play with. They had a ball. Bartholomew, my coon cat, broke his leg. He set it, made a special brace for the leg so it could heal. It was pinned to the tibula, fibula, and femur. Barty hated it, but, he lived a long time after.
I really hope things work out with you guys. I will indeed be thinking of you cat.
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Post by BAZ on Oct 27, 2006 20:51:57 GMT -5
We have 4 dogs and 2 cats so we abviously can't stand animals! My heart goes out to you Daniel and I hope kitty gets better. We take in a lot of dogs and cats at our house that have "issues" like our 3 legged dog "Linus" who was hit by a car before we adopted him. We finally paid off our vet bill this summer, 4,000 bucks!
Get well soon Hacky Cat!
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Post by deb193 on Oct 28, 2006 11:40:16 GMT -5
Well Hacky Cat crashed and went this morning just after 11am.
He had a good night and revived enough to stand, purr, and pee. They processed his discharge and were sending him home with some meds.
But, when they wen to fetch him, he crashed pretty hard. Lots expelled blood, large drop in blood pressure, rapid breathing. He came back a bit on oxygen - enough to be aware and look around. I go to say goodbye and scratch his head while the euthanasia was administered.
It was kinda emotional, but I am glad it did not happen at home, and that the staff and oxygen service, and euthanasia was all right at hand.
Thanks for all the kinds words yesterday. It was good to have folks to tell what was going on.
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Post by hermatite on Oct 28, 2006 11:45:39 GMT -5
Aw I'm sorry about that Daniel...at least he's not in pain. I have two cats myself and feel for you.
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181lizard
Cave Dweller
Still lurking :)
Member since December 2005
Posts: 2,171
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Post by 181lizard on Oct 28, 2006 11:49:54 GMT -5
Jeez! Thanks for making my Halloween makeup run Daniel!
I'm glad for you & Hacky, this didn't drag out any longer than it did. (money be damned, it will be replaced somehow.) You were a good Dad. I also loved the fact you were there at the end. Now you can breath again Daniel.
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Post by BAZ on Oct 28, 2006 13:47:03 GMT -5
I am sad for your loss, peace be with you Daniel.
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Post by deb193 on Oct 28, 2006 14:12:19 GMT -5
Thanks guys. I'm enjoying the other two cats, maybe will go to see a movie.
Hacky was a rescue from a shelter. I'm glad I got to help out. He was a good buddy during six years I had him, and I know he had a good life.
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Post by rockyraccoon on Oct 28, 2006 16:46:49 GMT -5
i am so saddened with you daniel. i know it was for the best but it hurts so to lose them. i'm so glad you got to be there with him.
kim
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Post by docone31 on Oct 28, 2006 18:24:36 GMT -5
Wow, that must have been hard. I am so glad you were there at the end. He knew, and you helped him. I hope when it is my turn, someone cares enough about me to do what you did.
It is so hard no matter what.
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