I just lost my sweet black kitty, too. Isn't there something just so beautiful and special about them? Your little panther was such a handsome boy. :redheartpump:
It is 24 hours since I had to say goodbye forever to my sweet Bijou girl. She had been very ill for a month and an ultrasound confirmed her deterioration this past week. We knew this was a likely outcome, but always held out hope for a miracle recovery.
Bijou's final day and half were spent...
Honeybee
I was only two years old when my family adopted Honeybee, so I didn't contribute to her naming, but I know that my mom named her that due to her honey-colored coat as a flame-point Siamese mix.
:blackcat2: Bijou :blackcat2:
My grandmother adopted Bijou as a stray when I was 11...
We said goodbye to our girl about 24 hours ago. So strange how fast the time has flown since then. It has mostly been spent crying, reminiscing, and looking at the million photos and videos of Bijou that we've taken over the years. :blackcat2:
It was quick and quiet and calm. Bijou was...
Hi Jason,
These symptoms (e.g., "She smacks her mouth when sleeping/dozing, When she eats she makes a strange grinding sound, it is very noticeable) are definitely nausea. Perhaps it comes in waves so sometimes she still has an appetite and can eat on her own?
That is amazing that she has made...
This is the post I feared having to write. :( Bijou's ultrasound today showed a very enlarged spleen, very thickened intestines, and thick fluid in her abdomen (probably blood). We talked at length with our vet who described this as "three strikes" in terms of the severity of these findings. The...
My sweet girl has not been well these past few days, despite a vet visit yesterday for another steroid shot and sub-Q fluids. Last time with the steroid she perked up within the next day or so, but not this time. :( Her energy is still low, almost lethargic. She can still walk and jump up and...
We're back to syringe feeding her today, she has basically zero appetite (other than some half-hearted licking at wet food this morning). On the other hand, no vomit today. My preferred vet is back in town tomorrow so I'll be calling to update her on Bijou's post-steroid decline and talk through...
The reason is apparently that the ultrasound person does several pets in a row when they come in, so they can't tell us exactly when Bijou will be done? We are just supposed to drop her off in the morning. This info came from my boyfriend who spoke to the vet's office on the phone, so I may call...
I am not really sure about your first question...the Vet has primarily been working with us in terms of managing Bijou's vomiting and appetite, but no longer term conversations about direct treatment of the pancreatitis. We still don't know the "cause" of the pancreatitis but Bijou is scheduled...
Not that I can tell, no. The biggest difference in reducing her vomiting seems to be Cerenia and Pepcid AC.
The wet food is Purina ProPlan True Nature, and the dry food (she probably gets ~5 kibbles on top of her wet food) is Merrick's Before Grain.
Ups and downs, ups and downs. :frown:
Vet called yesterday to inform us that the ultrasound had to be rescheduled for next Wednesday, instead of Monday. They use a mobile ultrasound specialist, and they do not allow pet owners to be present for the procedure. :\ I'm really still wondering how...
Alright, she is all scheduled for the ultrasound on Monday... feeling nervous and sad about her going through that stress. She will be mildly sedated. :(
I realized that I had not mentioned in this whole thread that two years ago she developed a lump on her ear that turned out to be a mast...
Yes, she has been on daily Cerenia and Pepcid AC for 3 weeks now (and Mirtazapine every other day). My boyfriend and I were out of town for 1.5 days (past Sunday and Monday), so I'm wondering if the friend we had looking after her maybe wasn't so successful in fully dosing Bijou as needed, and...
We have been transitioning her from exclusively dry food for years to wet food (Purina ProPlan True Nature) over the past month since her pancreatitis diagnosis. She currently is served the wet food "topped" with a few dry kibble pieces to entice her, plus powdered FortiFlora (probiotic).
Thank you for your honesty. My boyfriend and I could put together the money for the ultrasound, but I am more concerned about the next step -- if it is IBD or cancer or something requiring surgery, then what? How to continue to pay for more procedures that may ultimately undercut her quality of...
I am trying to think of her situation in terms of "good days" and "bad days" -- How good is a "good day"? Is "blah", kinda lethargic, eating a little, not playing mean just a neutral day? For sure her "bad days" are when she has had no appetite and vomited multiple times a day. :( I feel so...
Well, I guess I'm the opposite of what a fair-weather friend would be! Only coming around when I'm feeling nervous or down in the dumps about Bijou. :cringe:
Anyway, for a general update: It's been almost 2 weeks since her steroid shot that seemed to help her so much in terms of returning her...
I am so sorry to hear about Gizmo :(:redheartpump: That is so devastating, especially when it comes on fast like that. I'm sure there are places that would appreciate his goodies and help other kitties in need.