Hi everyone. It's a very sad day for me since my 14 yr old cat died. About 2 weeks ago I noticed he was not eating well, I took him to the vet a couple days later. They tested his blood for pretty much everything and the only abnormal result was his rbc's, they came back at 4.6 and the range is 5-10. I was given antibiotics because he also had a fever. When he still wasn't eating much after a few more days I took him back for xrays. His fever was gone by then. He had a lot of fecal matter, so I was given lactulose. He also had an enlarged liver which was not lumpy or asymmetrical so the vet said it probably isn't cancer or anything serious especially since his liver enzymes were normal. His kidneys were a bit lumpy but normal kidney levels on his bloodwork. I was giving him baby food through a syringe and also he would eat a bite or two of food, I was fearful of hepatic lipidosis. A week after the bloodwork I questioned the vet about him possibly having that but again, his liver enzymes were normal so she said that wasn't what he had. A few days later, still no change in appetite. Yesterday I was told to give him 5 mg of pred and liquitinic because I noticed his pads and gums were pale. During the night he crashed, couldn't walk and was breathing heavy. I got him to the emergency and he died a horrible death in my car as soon as the vet pulled in. I noticed he was jaundice at that point also. I was hoping someone would be able to give me info as to why his blood was nearly perfect, yet it seems he died of liver disease. I feel like I failed him, I tried so hard to get him well and feel like I overlooked something that could have saved him.
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My Cat Died This Morning, Hoping Someone Can Help Me Understand Why
- Thread starter stacy_s
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The only way you will know for certain what happened is through a necropsy.
The guilt is clearly misplaced. You did all the right things. From your post I count four vet visits, two rounds of bloodwork, a set of x-rays and medication over the last two weeks. That's a heroic effort.
Sometimes things can't be helped. Its hard to diagnose something when all the tests are perfectly normal.
If you can't afford or don't want to do a necropsy but still want some peace of mind, maybe a second vet would be willing to review the tests. However if you go down that route, remember that hindsight is 20/20, two weeks is not nearly enough time to have the leisure of a second opinion, and even if you had gotten a second opinion and it had been different it was too close to the end to change the outcome.
The guilt is clearly misplaced. You did all the right things. From your post I count four vet visits, two rounds of bloodwork, a set of x-rays and medication over the last two weeks. That's a heroic effort.
Sometimes things can't be helped. Its hard to diagnose something when all the tests are perfectly normal.
If you can't afford or don't want to do a necropsy but still want some peace of mind, maybe a second vet would be willing to review the tests. However if you go down that route, remember that hindsight is 20/20, two weeks is not nearly enough time to have the leisure of a second opinion, and even if you had gotten a second opinion and it had been different it was too close to the end to change the outcome.
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Thank you, arouetta. I just feel as though I let him down, especially since his passing was so terrible. Had I called the vet 10 minutes earlier he would have been euthanized and I'm sure it would have been peaceful. My gut tells me he did end up with hepatic lipidosis from not eating and the blood test didn't show it since it was so early on, or maybe he developed it after the test, which would have been my fault for not feeding him enough. I just feel like this could have been prevented. I thought about a necropsy but I don't think I want to have him cut up. Also, if the findings are something that I could for sure have prevented I would feel more terrible, but now I will always wonder and I'm not sure which is worse. Thank you for your reply, I didn't even think about it being too close to the end to change the outcome, that makes me feel better.
arouetta
said exactly what I was going to say. You did everything humanly possible given the time frame. I can't think of a thing you might have done differently. I'm at a loss as to what might have been the issue, But my heart goes out to you.Rest you gentle, Little One, dream you deep. You are never forgotten,
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Please don't blame yourself. You were very proactive, and since the bloodwork came up ok, it likely came on very quickly. I know it is awful to have them die rather than be put down peacefully, as I experienced this too. (I was waiting for my husband to get home to take her in as she was in distress, but I didn't want her to die while I was driving alone) What people pointed out to me was that at least I was there to comfort her as she passed. Remind yourself often of that, and that you did what you could. Think about the happy days instead. Trust me, that's hard i know, but do try not to beat yourself up.
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One final thought about the possible fatty liver - I have often said that cats are like toddlers and food battles is one of those areas where the comparison fits. If the cat doesn't want to eat it, it's not going down. Food wars will *always* be won by the cat. So no, not succeeding in making him eat is not your fault, period.
I am very sorry for your loss. As others have said it was not your fault, and the outcome would have not changed if the disease or whatever it was, was already in an advanced stage. I just lost my cat similarly, blood tests were always perfect, nothing flagging, one day he would not eat enough, started loosing weight, took to emergency care and the diagnosis was advanced lymphoma, which was not detected by any other tests or x-rays. Three weeks later he died, too fast, I blame myself sometimes for not having done something else. I feel your frustration. Liver or kidney disease seems to be hard to diagnose in some cats when everything else is normal. Don't blame yourself, you did nothing wrong and did everything you could to help him. Try to find comfort on your happy memories with him, may he rest in peace.
I am so so very sorry to know that your kitty passed away. I too have a 14 year old kitty & she was about 6 months ago found to have Congestive Heart Failure. I give her meds, but she has started to slow way down. I feel like after they reach about 12, we're in Bonus Years. Please don't think you didn't do everything possible. You took your kitty to the doctor many times and treated him like a King. Fourteen years is a long life, and you will never forget him. Nine years ago, I lost my "Life Cat" (she was and is like no other!) She lived for 17 years. She had stopped eating, then stopped drinking, and developed a tumor in her jawline. The decision to let her go was excruciating. To this day, I think of her all the time. I even have two pictures up of her. She died ten years ago! Don't be hard on yourself. You have many happy memories you always have, just like my Amber. And don't let anyone tell you there's no kitty heaven! You have a true loss to mourn, and of course they are all valid feelings. In kitty heaven, your kitty is whole and new and we'll again. "All creatures, great & small." And just like my Amber, when you go to heaven in God's time, your kitty will be right there waiting for you!
Gosh, I'm tearing up just writing this! Take things a day at a time...but I promise, you will never forget the love he shared to you. God Bless.
Gosh, I'm tearing up just writing this! Take things a day at a time...but I promise, you will never forget the love he shared to you. God Bless.
The low RBC's followed by the very pale gums at the time of passing would lead me to believe there was some pretty bad anemia going on, and most likely a non-regenerative anemia. If the kidneys were OK, then there could've been some bone marrow suppression happening, possibly a cancer. If there was internal bleeding, that could've caused it as well, but it seems like you didn't see any overt symptoms. (Pain, bloating, dark or bloody stools, etc.)
If I had to guess, I would guess an aggressive form of cancer formed somewhere and spread to the bone marrow, or perhaps even originated in the bones, causing low to no production of red blood cells which led to anemia and death. Most likely there was very little you could have done to prevent or stop this from happening and I am sorry for your loss.
If I had to guess, I would guess an aggressive form of cancer formed somewhere and spread to the bone marrow, or perhaps even originated in the bones, causing low to no production of red blood cells which led to anemia and death. Most likely there was very little you could have done to prevent or stop this from happening and I am sorry for your loss.
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Thank you everyone. All of your comments and thoughts really helped. I'm trying to think of the happy days and that's making it better. Sadly another one of my cats is not doing well and that is taking up a lot of time and keeping my mind occupied. I will be posting a question regarding her since you have all been so helpful in the past. Thank you again. <3
It is mind boggling how fast they can go downhill especially when they've had recent blood work and exams. We see it in our cats and sometimes family and friends.
Here is what I learned about liver disease in cats.
Cats hide their pain or even illness.
The liver can function at a near normal level until it is at about 30% at which time you are almost beyond recovery.
Was your cat given enrofloxacin or any drug of that class ?
Here is what I learned about liver disease in cats.
Cats hide their pain or even illness.
The liver can function at a near normal level until it is at about 30% at which time you are almost beyond recovery.
Was your cat given enrofloxacin or any drug of that class ?
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Seems like each time I have had blood work on my cats, when they are obviously ill, they die soon after.
No, my cat was not given any drug except biomox because he had a fever and runny nose, which cleared in a couple days. I think since his liver levels were normal the vet didn't give me any medication. Maybe things would have been different if she had?
We think that everyone and every pet gets better. Sometimes they don't no matter what. I am not a medical expert, professional but because of what happened to us I spent almost 6 months doing some pretty interesting research. Just because the liver might have been failing doesn't mean it wasn't functioning properly. In our case Kitten was playing like a kitten one day. sick the next taken to the vet ER where a very observant vet detected just a hint of jaundice in her gums. Despite trying it was too late. She was neon orange jaundice in less than 3 days and we made the decision to euthanize after it became evident things were not going to get better. ( extreme condensed version). Some things are out of our control and out of the control of the best and most caring competent veterinarians. Sometimes we have to accept that we are not in control and no one is at fault not you or your vet. It just hurts.Seems like each time I have had blood work on my cats, when they are obviously ill, they die soon after.
You DID NOT fail him. I know he knew he was loved, and that, along with the care he received, matters.
I wish I had an answer to give you. I lost two cats myself, and it's all the harder when you don't know WHY. It took me quite some time to cope with the guilt etc that I felt. But sometimes, in the end, you can do everything right and it still ends horribly...but they were loved. That matters.
