My Little friend is Dying

tabs · 09:26 PM

When I brought her home from next door, she could fit in the palm of my hand. I brought her in and set her on the kitchen floor, while I went out to the car to bring in groceries. when I came back in she was gone? Where could she have gone. For an hour I looked all over the house. Even upstairs, even though i knew she was too small to have gone up those stairs. After an hour I gave up and sat down on the family room sofa. Within a few minutes I heard a Meuw. I went into the kitchen and found she had found a small hole under the kitchen cabinets and had climbed in there. I said Oh my Gawd...how am I going to get her out, am I going to have to take my cabinet apart? I put some milk near the hole and she poped her head out to drink some. I then moved the milk a little ways away and was able to grab her.

She has been my GOOD friend for 8 1/2 years...wanting nothing more than to be close to me. Lying on the floor next to me or coming up next to me in the mornining. She always comes when I call her, which is more than I can say for her larger Sister the Airdale. She has given 110% of herself.

She has a Tumor under her Pelvis that is now obstructing her colon. I took her to the Vet again on Monday because she was trying so hard to go and nothing was coming out. She also was throwing up what she had just eaten. After a nights stay the vet said to put her on a special diet to keep her loose and gave me some medication to help slow the growth of the Tumor. But now that I have brought her home she doesn't want to eat. Today she ate a Tablespoon of Tuna. She seems more active today at least being out and about. I have been watching very closely if she is in any pain, and so far she isn't. She has become so skinny. It just breaks my heart to see her like this. I want to give her every chanch and I will do the best I can to make her comfortable. But I feel her time is short!

tabs · 09-19-2003, 09:27 PM

Milu · 09-19-2003, 10:44 PM

She might eat prawn or shrimp.

BlueSkyJaunte · 09-19-2003, 11:38 PM

We have four cats; I don't know how we're gonna deal when their times come. Our ol' girl the German Shepherd is slowing down...it seems like she can't hear in the upper registers anymore and she's getting forgetful. She tried to wander off for no apparent reason this evening.

This just reminds us to treasure the time we have to spend with them...

Adam · Adam's Garage

I don't know what to say, tabs. I've got 3 cats and I've done the night-long vigil thing, so I kinda know how helpless you feel.

Doug Zielke · 09-20-2003, 06:40 AM

tabs,
Since we lost our dog 20 years ago, we've always had cats. We are devoted to our animal friends, and we've had a couple die, so I know how you feel.

In my experience, when they refuse to eat, and try to avoid you, there is something very wrong. Often, the animal is so good at concealing it's distress, it's too late by the time you realize what's going on.

Hopefully, you've got a good vet to advise you as to what's best for your friend.

tabs · 09-20-2003, 09:04 AM

Last night was the first time she was out and about this week, she ate another tablespoon of food...but how to get those pills down her throat? They say to open her mouth and put it in the back of her throat....yeah...I'd do that with the dog...and putting pills in peanut butter works for a dog. I'm going to try and grind one up into powder and put it in some Nutrical paste and put it on her paws to lick off.

DA_MUTT · 09-20-2003, 11:24 AM

I'm really sorry to hear about your kitty, she looks precious. It seems you are doing the very best you can for her and that matters most. If you aren't sure of the the vet's capabilities than take her to another for a second opinion, especially if it means making her more comfortable or maybe even saving her from the tumor. You didn't mention surgery, did the vet? Please keep us posted on her health, I hope everything works out for her, and you...

~Lisa

island911 · 09-20-2003, 11:32 AM

"but how to get those pills down her throat? "

pills can be reformulated into more appetising forms, also, liquid forms of many types are available, as well as injectables. (ask your Veterinarian)

If you're spending the big bux on chemo, I hear, that a 12 month remission is common. .. .I take it surgery isn't an option.(?)

It makes sense that if the lower plumbing isn't working, then she won't eat. . .and what she does eat will be thrown-up.

Personally, I'm believe Euthanasia is often the right choice. . .it's really great you're keeping her pain in check.

Disclaimer: I am not a Veterinarian, nor play one on TV.

Milu · 09-20-2003, 12:02 PM

Mine will take pills if they're wrapped in bacon. Might be worth a try

Doug Zielke · 09-20-2003, 04:30 PM

The vet gave me a "Pill Gun". It's a little spring-loaded gizmo that shoots the pill right into kitty's throat. It worked for our cats.

The bacon/pill trick sounds excellent....unless you have a Siamese. They are so damn smart they'd eat the bacon and then, spit out the pill.

pbs911 · pbs911's Garage

Sorry to hear this. I've lost several pets after years of friendship. Each one is special. I lost my one and only cat that traveled all over with me a couple years ago to luekemia. Just keep in mind that cats do not do well under anesticia. Enjoy her while she is here.

pwd72s · 09-20-2003, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Milu
Mine will take pills if they're wrapped in bacon. Might be worth a try

try liverwurst. Amazing stuff. A cat will tear your hand off to get to it. A pill mixed in means nothing,

BlueSkyJaunte · 09-20-2003, 08:58 PM

One of ours goes nuts for nori, the seaweed wrap used for maki sushi.

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

We've lost 3 cats over the last couple of years...one stolen (yes, stolen...beautiful Abyssinian), one hit by a car (best cat I ever had), and one lost to feline leukemia. We had him (Sparky) put down in order to end his suffering.

It all sucks, but I hate to have one of our family suffer and waste away. And while this may sound callous, there are literally millions of other cats out there that would love a place in your home (all our current 3 cats are pound rescues).

tabs · 09-21-2003, 10:29 AM

My basic alternative with the cat is Chemo Thearpy. Not only is it costly, but when people take Chemo they don't feel well, how is a cat going to feel. Your buying a year of up and down misery for her? No, I think it's best to watch her and make sure that she doesn't suffer. If she does than it will be time to take her to the vet give her a kiss and say goodbye ole friend, You are a Good Cat.

BTW I tell all three of them that they are either good dogs or a good cat. I tell George my Airdale rescue...that I am proud to know him, that he is a good man...he's too ole to be a boy he's gona be 9 this week...when I first brought him home, he would go into the Living Room and sleep...he would let out a loan moan...and I would go over to him and lay down next to him telling him it was OK. I was also very delibrate with regards to the household routine...to make sure he was comfortable with it and not get spooked. As a result they all get along... virtually without any squabbling at all.

My other Airdale Misty (8.5 years) is totally incorrigble, she has a will and mind of her own. She is my dog, and is totally devoted to me but she never shows it. Well almost never! Thats one dog where if I'd stay out late, I'd come home and find the Garden Hose in 6 inch pieces....after I started apologizing to her for staying out late guess what...no more Garden hose chewing.

I am going to try the Liverwurst...

speeder · speeder's Garage

I recently had to bring my ex-GF's 12 y.o. Collie to be euthanised(sp?), I gave her the dog 12 years ago and he was mine too. This after 2 surgeries and thousands of dollars to attempt to allieviate a spinal/disc condition that ultimately left him crippled. It was gut-wrenching, I had disc surgery myself 1 year ago and could almost feel his pain, and he was a beautiful, proud dog. When he lost control of his body functions, he was demoralized.

We waited too long to put him down out of selfishness, avoiding the inevitable pain of it, it was one of the more difficult things that I have been through. It sounds like you have your cat's interest in the foremost, just listen w/o selfishness and they will tell you what to do, so to speak. Of course if there is hope for recovery or remission w/ decent quality of life, by all means go for it. Good luck, I'm sure that you will do the right thing.

tabs · 09-22-2003, 04:37 AM

Thank You Paul the Braunswager worked she ate it, and I was able to slip the pill in. I am up early this mornining due to the fact that she woke me up to feed her...Tuna....I also bought her some...me some Turkey which she likes....so shes eating...

tabs · 09-22-2003, 04:37 AM

Thank You Paul the Braunswager worked she ate it, and I was able to slip the pill in. I am up early this mornining due to the fact that she woke me up to feed her...Tuna....I also bought her some...me some Turkey which she likes....so shes eating...

tabs · 09-22-2003, 04:37 AM

Thank You Paul the Braunswager worked she ate it, and I was able to slip the pill in. I am up early this mornining due to the fact that she woke me up to feed her...Tuna....I also bought her some...me some Turkey which she likes....so shes eating...