My baby Titus is curled up next to me as I write this purring. And in 7 days he will be put to sleep if the vet says it’s time which I am sure he will. I’m running on emotional fumes. He has a burst of energy because I force fed him with my finger tonight. He was diagnosed with hypothyroid 4 weeks ago after a visit to the ER when he suddenly stopped eating 4 days after a forced rabies vaccine. Maybe it exasperated the illness He seemed normal before that although he had dropped some weight over the summer but he was overweight so I just thought my husband fed him less as we had discussed. . Due to Covid there was a very agonizing delay in getting him seen, a week that may have cost his life. He lost 4 pounds in less than 2 weeks. I was horrified and frantic. I spent 7 hours sitting outside in the cold rain in Oregon in my car in line at a busy ER. Many other dire cases kept coming in. I was there until 5am.
I’ve tried absolutely everything to save him. Thyroid, nausea and apatite pills all seem to make him worse. I got the compounded topical thyroid cream and lowered the dose and that did seem to help. He still would not eat. Bought every food there is. Tried people food. I started syringe feeding him and he was like his old self. Figured he just needed help for a while to get his strength. He did not like it but tolerated it. Until lately. He now will not open his mouth and runs from me. I decided to back off for today and see if he would eat on his own, he takes a few bites here and there and becomes lethargic. We have been doing this for 3 weeks.
I am torn. He’s so skinny. Depressed but still has good moments, drinks and goes to bathroom fine. The only thing keeping him alive is me force feeding him which he is starting to strongly reject now. So If I force feed him, he somewhat seems like his old self and how in the world can I bring him to be PTS in that state? If I stop force feeding him he will suffer and die slowly. Surgery is not N option in his current state. I am torn to bits. The attached pic is from 3 weeks ago. He’s much thinner and has lost 2 more pounds. At this point I have decided to let the vet decide when we go in 7 days. I’m not sure I am able to understand what I am dealing with or how to deal with it. But my heart is telling me he will not recover from this illness. I am so scared to feel like I will make the wrong decision. I already canceled one apt to possibly put him to sleep. I can’t let him go. Does anyone know is there a time frame for force feeding and if they start to refuse should I stop and let it be what it will be? I am so confused. I have had time to process this and I am at least willing to allow him to pass at this point but I can not watch him suffer by starvation.
I’ve tried absolutely everything to save him. Thyroid, nausea and apatite pills all seem to make him worse. I got the compounded topical thyroid cream and lowered the dose and that did seem to help. He still would not eat. Bought every food there is. Tried people food. I started syringe feeding him and he was like his old self. Figured he just needed help for a while to get his strength. He did not like it but tolerated it. Until lately. He now will not open his mouth and runs from me. I decided to back off for today and see if he would eat on his own, he takes a few bites here and there and becomes lethargic. We have been doing this for 3 weeks.
I am torn. He’s so skinny. Depressed but still has good moments, drinks and goes to bathroom fine. The only thing keeping him alive is me force feeding him which he is starting to strongly reject now. So If I force feed him, he somewhat seems like his old self and how in the world can I bring him to be PTS in that state? If I stop force feeding him he will suffer and die slowly. Surgery is not N option in his current state. I am torn to bits. The attached pic is from 3 weeks ago. He’s much thinner and has lost 2 more pounds. At this point I have decided to let the vet decide when we go in 7 days. I’m not sure I am able to understand what I am dealing with or how to deal with it. But my heart is telling me he will not recover from this illness. I am so scared to feel like I will make the wrong decision. I already canceled one apt to possibly put him to sleep. I can’t let him go. Does anyone know is there a time frame for force feeding and if they start to refuse should I stop and let it be what it will be? I am so confused. I have had time to process this and I am at least willing to allow him to pass at this point but I can not watch him suffer by starvation.
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