Do You Have Any More Treatment Ideas For My Dying Cat?

Status
Not open for further replies.

myfamily

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Feb 12, 2017
Messages
146
Purraise
92
He has been to the vet. The cat is a stray probably around 16 years old years. He showed up at my door 2+ years ago with a bad sinus infection and very frail. The infection was treated and it got better but he has never been in good health and was prone to coughing. Recently his sinus infection flared up came back with a vengeance, and he stopped eating. I took him to the vet. They didn't think he could recover. But they also didn't know what was wrong with him without doing tests. I couldn't afford test because my credit cards are maxed out. They gave me prednosione. He is largely comatose , but he still eats pretty good. And he's maintaining his 8 pound weight. So I don't think it's cancer. I have had a cat die of cancer, and she lost weight. He went blind in one of his eyes literally overnight this week. So that's a clue. Maybe it's his liver, or a tumor? I'm wondering if there's any other treatment we can try? I am willing to try and save him if it won't break the bank.It will cost me another $62 just to walk into the vet office to ask this question. Any ideas?
 

FelisCatus

RIP </3
Super Cat
Joined
Dec 27, 2018
Messages
879
Purraise
1,156
Hi, do you have photos you are able to post of his current state and compared to a few weeks ago when he was well-ish?

Have you tried a low-cost vet clinic?

16 years is already older for a cat, so a lot of things could be wrong. On top of being a stray he probably picked up some things or had a hard journey before you took him in.
 
Last edited:

FelisCatus

RIP </3
Super Cat
Joined
Dec 27, 2018
Messages
879
Purraise
1,156
I am not sure of prednisone, but blindness is a side effect of one specific antibiotic (Marbofloxacin) I gave my cat so I had to be careful with the dose.

Considering you mentioned he went blind in one eye overnight this week... that would have been after the prednisone? I will do some research...
 
Last edited:

FelisCatus

RIP </3
Super Cat
Joined
Dec 27, 2018
Messages
879
Purraise
1,156
I don’t see anything about vision mentioned but lethary keeps coming up, or as you said ‘comatose’.
 

mazie

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jan 11, 2015
Messages
1,558
Purraise
1,416
Location
south Georgia
You are going to need more information on what is going on with him and that can only come from a veterinarian. The gentleman above mentioned taking him to a low-cost veterinary clinic. If you live in a city, there should be one you can go to. Right off, he will probably need some blood tests to tell what is going on with him.
 

babiesmom5

TCS Member
Super Cat
Joined
Jan 24, 2017
Messages
820
Purraise
1,001
I am so sorry about your kitty. I too had a cat with a bad reoccurring sinus infection. Unfortunately for your wallet, getting to the bottom of this will cost, but here is where I would start that won't break the bank.

Ask your vet about doing a "Nasal flush/exploration". The fact that your kitty went blind in one eye leads me to think that perhaps there is one or more polyps up in the nasal/sinus cavity, that are pressing on the ocular nerve. The blindness may perhaps be temporary. Polyps can and should be removed as they can become infected and create further problems.

Your kitty stopped eating because it could not smell its food, perhaps due to growths in nasal cavity. A nasal flush, plus perhaps an x-ray too should reveal any growths or mass up there that is causing problems. I would start there.

I wish you and your kitty all the best!
 

FelisCatus

RIP </3
Super Cat
Joined
Dec 27, 2018
Messages
879
Purraise
1,156
You are going to need more information on what is going on with him and that can only come from a veterinarian. The gentleman above mentioned taking him to a low-cost veterinary clinic. If you live in a city, there should be one you can go to. Right off, he will probably need some blood tests to tell what is going on with him.
Yep, and if you post your location we can look one up for you.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #8

myfamily

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Feb 12, 2017
Messages
146
Purraise
92
Yep, and if you post your location we can look one up for you.
I live in Nampa, Idaho. I think the Humane Society of Idaho's vet clinic would be considered a low cost clinic. I talked to my veterinarian today to ask her if there is anything else we can do. She said, there wasn't. Not even if she could pinpoint what he is dying from, there wouldn't be any reasonable treatment for it. It it was kidney failure, for example, she said there would be nothing she could do. I just want a few more days of quality time with him.
 

FelisCatus

RIP </3
Super Cat
Joined
Dec 27, 2018
Messages
879
Purraise
1,156
I live in Nampa, Idaho. I think the Humane Society of Idaho's vet clinic would be considered a low cost clinic. I talked to my veterinarian today to ask her if there is anything else we can do. She said, there wasn't. Not even if she could pinpoint what he is dying from, there wouldn't be any reasonable treatment for it. It it was kidney failure, for example, she said there would be nothing she could do. I just want a few more days of quality time with him.
If you’re purely looking at palliative/end of life care and not treatment, your vet should have offered an anti-inflammatory like Metacam. It’s cheap and would give you the few days of quality time you are looking for.
—————-
If you’re looking for treatment options, I found this page that lists low-cost services in/around your city:
http://www.boiseid.net/LowCostVets.htm

Considering you said they are a stray you could count them as a feral and this person (bottom of the page) might be able to help you get low-income help.

“SICK FERAL CATS?
Contact Lou Ann at [email protected] for helpful information”

Yes I saw the humane shelter listed as low-cost.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #10

myfamily

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Feb 12, 2017
Messages
146
Purraise
92
If you’re purely looking at palliative/end of life care and not treatment, your vet should have offered an anti-inflammatory like Metacam. It’s cheap and would give you the few days of quality time you are looking for.
—————-
If you’re looking for treatment options, I found this page that lists low-cost services in/around your city:
http://www.boiseid.net/LowCostVets.htm

Considering you said they are a stray you could count them as a feral and this person (bottom of the page) might be able to help you get low-income help.

“SICK FERAL CATS?
Contact Lou Ann at [email protected] for helpful information”

Yes I saw the humane shelter listed as low-cost.
thank you the vet has him on prednisone.
 

Margret

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jul 17, 2014
Messages
6,497
Purraise
8,927
Location
Littleton, CO
Just looked up Metacam online and found this page: Metacam for cats - safe? Meloxicam safety. Renal failure concerns?. Don't let the title scare you; this vet has concluded that judicious use of Metacam doesn't cause renal failure, and since it's an NSAID it may do a better job of giving you some quality time to say "Goodbye" than prednisone.

Also, perhaps this article will help: No Money For Vet Care? How To Find Help And Save Your Cat's Life.

I also think that, given the sudden blindness, in one eye, a search for polyps might be quite productive, as B babiesmom5 suggested.

Margret
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #13

myfamily

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Feb 12, 2017
Messages
146
Purraise
92
ty i wish my vet would have mentioned it but now it's too late
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #16

myfamily

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Feb 12, 2017
Messages
146
Purraise
92
Thank you for your help and your empathy. I took Stray in today to be euthanized, and he is gone now. It has been a very hard day, I think it is the saddest day of my life. His appointment was at 1pm. He had a good appetite this morning and ate twice. I didn't get any pre-euthanizia instructions so perhaps I shouldn't have fed him in retrospect. Because he vomited when they sedated him. It really upset me because I wanted him to go peacefully. He choked and threw up twice. Sigh. It's water under the bridge now.
 

FelisCatus

RIP </3
Super Cat
Joined
Dec 27, 2018
Messages
879
Purraise
1,156
Thank you for your help and your empathy. I took Stray in today to be euthanized, and he is gone now. It has been a very hard day, I think it is the saddest day of my life. His appointment was at 1pm. He had a good appetite this morning and ate twice. I didn't get any pre-euthanizia instructions so perhaps I shouldn't have fed him in retrospect. Because he vomited when they sedated him. It really upset me because I wanted him to go peacefully. He choked and threw up twice. Sigh. It's water under the bridge now.
I am very sorry for what you went through. Emergency euthanization can happen at any time so don’t feel bad for feeding him, at least he got to enjoy a couple meals. You showed him one last moment of kidness after living a hard life on the street. For that, I thank you.
 

Kflowers

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jul 28, 2018
Messages
5,772
Purraise
7,617
The best that any of us can ask is that we go with a full belly, in a warm place surrounded by those who love us. That is everything and you gave it to him. He knew then, he knows now and he loves you for it as he did every day you cared for him. Let your heart rest easy, you gave him everything you could.

I think his throwing up was just chance. I've had to help 28 fur babies across the bridge. No vet ever said don't feed them. The vets said give them want they want. None threw up. That he did was just chance. It didn't lessen his pleasure in eating or being with you at the end. He's fine now.
 

AbbysMom

At Abby's beck and call
Staff Member
Moderator
Joined
May 18, 2005
Messages
78,298
Purraise
19,406
Location
Massachusetts
On behalf of the TCS Team we are very sorry for your loss. We lock threads after such a loss as a sign of respect. Please consider writing a memorial thread in the Crossing the Bridge Forum when you feel up to it.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top