Sick kitty at the vets, I need a hug

[Cass]

Hi everyone, I feel so bad - we have a cat named Smudge who was so sick 2 years ago with a condition called Feline Lipidosis. She went into seizures and I had to rush her to the emergency animal clinic she was convulsing in my arms it was a horrible thing as I had my 10 year old DD with me.

Anyway, she had surgery and almost died, eventually recovered and they had a feeding tube put in her stomach that came out her side, I had to use a syringe to feed her through the tube for about 3 months. She recovered eventually but was never the same cat psychologically & physically it was like she aged and became dotty & fraill.

All that treatment cost over 5700.00.

Well, a couple of days ago I noticed I hadn't seen much of her, usually as soon as I get up she is there looking for food and she sleeps at the foot of our bed and sits with me inthe evening.. I hadn't really seen her for a couple of days. So I went looking and found her under my daughter's bed, she looked terrible and had pee'd under there.. I tried to pull her out but she went further back out of reach. I took her some food and water and this morning when I checked she was in the same spot and hadn't touched the food/water/

So I took her to the vets tonight -they checked her all over and said they would have to run tests. The vet gave me the estimate for the tests and it was $1575.00.

I said 'look, I love my cat so much but I don't want to pay another $5000.00 an have to go through that feeding tube ordeal again" The vet said "well do you want her to die? we have to do these things" so I look at the estimate and they have all these procedures listed. an xray for 300.00 a ultrsound for 280... and some other things I don't even know what they were.

I said 'look, I will authorize the hospitalization, the fluids intervenous & the bloodwork, but don't do anything else until the bloodwork results come back" So I handed over my Visa and it was 560.00.

So as they are processing my payment, they all made me feel like a big cheapskate and that I didn't care.

I felt so bad leaving her there tonight thanks for letting me vent.

Poor Smudgey

 

[Serena]

 

[slo]

Many, many, many hugs to you

Please keep us updated on how your kitty is doing.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

You're right to take it one step at a time. Chances are it won't be the nightmare of your previous experience. Keep us updated. Hugs for you and your kitty.

 

[ImarriedGrumpy]

I so understand - I just lost my beloved 20 year old cat, Simon, in June to kidney failure, over-active thyroid, and two kinds of skin cancer. It's so hard to have to make decisions about what is best for the kitty even without the high costs of medical care.

Take it easy on yourself, and you did the right thing to go step by step with this. If you need to, find a more compassionate vet!

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your kitty!

 

[Aidensmom]

I'm sorry.

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

Hopefully, this time it won't be as bad as the last time. Bastet bless.

TOV

 

[denisem]

Hugs and kitty-licks from Millie & Rocko.

It's heart-breaking to see our pets suffer in any way. You're doing all you can at the moment for Smudgey. Please try not to worry too much. Hope tomorrow shows improvement!

 

[epcotfan]

I'm so sorry. I think you made the right decision for now. Your kitty is being cared for and that is all that matters. Take it one step at a time. I will keep Smudge in my prayers.

 

[LoveWDW]

I am sorry. The kitty must be suffering, and you are suffering, too. I suppose it comes down to quality of life for the furry friend. Good luck, and please keep us informed.

 

[gr8tpanther]

 

[Pea-n-Me]

If you need to, find a more compassionate vet!

I agree the vet could have responded better to your concerns.

 

[eclectics]

So sorry you have to go through this. Prayers for you and Smudgey.

 

[almacdonald]

Hopefully your kitty will be alright. When he gets better I'd start looking for a new, more compasionate vet, maybe one who will do one test at a time.

 

[CheshireVal]

I'm so sorry-- I've been in your situation before and it doesn't help at all when the vet is mean on top of everything else you're dealing with.

Sometimes you really have to ask yourself if it's worth all that money just to essentially prolong your pet's suffering. Only you know what is right for you and your kitty, but when faced with similar decisions, I decided not to spend thousands of dollars on treatments that would allow him to live, but with a MUCH decreased quality of life. It was the hardest thing I've ever had to do. Did I do the right thing? I still don't know......

 

[jacksonsmom]

I am so sorry

Please keep us updated.

 

[Cass]

Finally heard back from the vet, Smudge had a quiet night, she still won't eat on her own but will take food off their fingers so they have been feeding her that way.

Her white blood cells are down and there is something going on with her pancreas. They need to do more tests and keep her another night. They said she is very sweet and good natured, even though they are poking and prodding her and had to put her on a fluid drip.

Thanks for all the hugs...

 

[Jockaroo]

Sending good thoughts to Smudge and her family. I hope she will get good results from her tests and be home soon.

 

[Cass]

Thanks Jockaroo

 

[alliecats]

Hi. So sorry you are going thru this. Were any of her other values off? Your cat may have pancreatitis. If that is the case, it causes them some discomfort and nausea, that is why they go off food (been dealing with this for almost a year). I give my kitty meds to control her nausea and and low-fat food to control the pancreatitis. My vet gives fluids and pain meds as needed during a flare-up. The rest of the time we rely on diet and some steroids.

Hepatic Lipidosis is caused by a cat not eating--the body goes into starvation mode and starts breaking down fat to fuel it. A cat's liver is not made to handle this breakdown of fat, so it gets sick. This is a very simplified explanation, but you get the idea. The inappetance is usually the result of something else (infection, pancreatitis, stress, etc), and then the fatty liver (Hepatic Lipidosis) is a result of the inappetance. If they keep her eating and get her to eat enough, she should not develop Lipidosis. I will pray she doesn't.

Good luck! I know this is scary!!