Alternate title: My cat's heart condition is giving me one, too.
Yeah, I can smile about this now, because it's somewhat stablized, but OY! the past two weeks have been one helluva emotional rollercoaster.
My 18 year old cat, Sheba, was first diagnosed with kidney disease summer of 2005. Just early stages, so all we had to do was switch her food to Science Diet G/D. The first year, she stayed about the same, losing some more weight, sometimes having bad days where she wouldn't eat or was vomiting, but her numbers remained steady. As her appetite and weight dwindled, we started doing subq fluids first once a week, then twice a week. But overall, she was doing great. She played with catnip toys and was still the bully of the house, beating up her younger sisters who weigh twice as much as she does.
Two weeks ago, I started to try to work some of the tangles out of her fur, and noticed her breathing heavy. At first, it felt like she was purring - there seemed to be a rattle in her chest - but then I noticed she was opening her mouth just a teeny bit. Not panting, not gasping, but definately not breathing right. I work for a vet. I know that could be anything from asthma to a respiratory infection to heart and lung problems. So I rushed her to the 24 hour emergency clinic. Of course, once we were there, she was breathing just fine, so the official diagnosis seemed to be "Paranoid Mother." They offered to hospitalize her and do a full workup, but I felt more comfortable taking her into work with me, and being the one to hold her for bloodwork instead of some strangers.
The next day at work, we ran bloodwork and while her breathing wasn't very bad, it was a bit heavy. She now has full blown kidney failure, not early stage kidney disease.
I've seen cats do well who were much worse off, so while it's saddening, it's something I know we could deal with. But she also has heart failure. She needs subqs for her kidneys, but she can collect fluid in her lungs. The medication for her heart puts a strain on her kidneys. So we have a delicate balancing act to keep her hydrated without putting any extra strain on her heart.
Twice over the past two weeks, I thought she was dying, most dramatically Monday night. I even called my husband upstairs to tell her goodbye. She was just laying in a very uncomfortable position, gasping for air. If I didn't think she'd die en route from the extra stress, I would have taken to the ER to be euthanized. But I did what I could for her (another dose of furosemide), and soothed and petted her until her breathing seemed a little better. I didn't know at the time if it was "better" or "slowing and eventually stopping." A few hours later, much to my surprise, who comes strolling into the bedroom, but Miss Sheba! She hopped up into bed with me (for the first time in weeks) and snuggled up next to me. I was overcome with emotions, from happy to see her up and about, to wondering if she was just coming to say her last goodbye, to feeling that despite all the poking and prodding and pilling I've done to her, she still loves her mommy, to the probably most realistic "it's kinda cold in the house, and you're a warm body."
The next day, she still seemed weak, and wouldn't eat. I gave her the appetite stimulant and her other medications, but she still wouldn't touch any food. Not even the disgusting Crab, Shrimp and Sardines Fancy Feast that no cat can ever resist. I took her to work with me, and her breathing and heart rate were good. She drank a little, and a full 8 hours after getting her appetite stimulant that's supposed to kick in after 45 minutes, she starts eating. And eating. And eating. And she still hasn't really stopped.
The vet mixed up an extra dose of vitamins (B-12 and B-complex) and dextrose to give with her fluids, and it's really seemed to perk her up. Now, she's not acting like a kitten or anything, but it just amazes me that this cat could go from what looked like dying one night, to eating and purring and headbutting the next.
She's a trooper, alright. Like I told my vet, I know she's very old. I know she's in very poor health. I'm not expecting her to really "get better" from this. But I just can't give up on her when she won't give up. Every time I think she's done, I tell her how much I love her and how we've had such a good life together and that it's ok if she wants to go, she just seems to say, "Screw you! I'm not going anywhere!"
Yeah, I can smile about this now, because it's somewhat stablized, but OY! the past two weeks have been one helluva emotional rollercoaster.
My 18 year old cat, Sheba, was first diagnosed with kidney disease summer of 2005. Just early stages, so all we had to do was switch her food to Science Diet G/D. The first year, she stayed about the same, losing some more weight, sometimes having bad days where she wouldn't eat or was vomiting, but her numbers remained steady. As her appetite and weight dwindled, we started doing subq fluids first once a week, then twice a week. But overall, she was doing great. She played with catnip toys and was still the bully of the house, beating up her younger sisters who weigh twice as much as she does.
Two weeks ago, I started to try to work some of the tangles out of her fur, and noticed her breathing heavy. At first, it felt like she was purring - there seemed to be a rattle in her chest - but then I noticed she was opening her mouth just a teeny bit. Not panting, not gasping, but definately not breathing right. I work for a vet. I know that could be anything from asthma to a respiratory infection to heart and lung problems. So I rushed her to the 24 hour emergency clinic. Of course, once we were there, she was breathing just fine, so the official diagnosis seemed to be "Paranoid Mother." They offered to hospitalize her and do a full workup, but I felt more comfortable taking her into work with me, and being the one to hold her for bloodwork instead of some strangers.
The next day at work, we ran bloodwork and while her breathing wasn't very bad, it was a bit heavy. She now has full blown kidney failure, not early stage kidney disease.
Twice over the past two weeks, I thought she was dying, most dramatically Monday night. I even called my husband upstairs to tell her goodbye. She was just laying in a very uncomfortable position, gasping for air. If I didn't think she'd die en route from the extra stress, I would have taken to the ER to be euthanized. But I did what I could for her (another dose of furosemide), and soothed and petted her until her breathing seemed a little better. I didn't know at the time if it was "better" or "slowing and eventually stopping." A few hours later, much to my surprise, who comes strolling into the bedroom, but Miss Sheba! She hopped up into bed with me (for the first time in weeks) and snuggled up next to me. I was overcome with emotions, from happy to see her up and about, to wondering if she was just coming to say her last goodbye, to feeling that despite all the poking and prodding and pilling I've done to her, she still loves her mommy, to the probably most realistic "it's kinda cold in the house, and you're a warm body."
The next day, she still seemed weak, and wouldn't eat. I gave her the appetite stimulant and her other medications, but she still wouldn't touch any food. Not even the disgusting Crab, Shrimp and Sardines Fancy Feast that no cat can ever resist. I took her to work with me, and her breathing and heart rate were good. She drank a little, and a full 8 hours after getting her appetite stimulant that's supposed to kick in after 45 minutes, she starts eating. And eating. And eating. And she still hasn't really stopped.
The vet mixed up an extra dose of vitamins (B-12 and B-complex) and dextrose to give with her fluids, and it's really seemed to perk her up. Now, she's not acting like a kitten or anything, but it just amazes me that this cat could go from what looked like dying one night, to eating and purring and headbutting the next.
She's a trooper, alright. Like I told my vet, I know she's very old. I know she's in very poor health. I'm not expecting her to really "get better" from this. But I just can't give up on her when she won't give up. Every time I think she's done, I tell her how much I love her and how we've had such a good life together and that it's ok if she wants to go, she just seems to say, "Screw you! I'm not going anywhere!"
