I had to say goodbye to my sweet 16 yo Tortie two days ago who had small cell lymphoma that progressed to large cell lymphoma. It took about two weeks to figure out what the problem was and she didn't eat much during that time, but never developed hepatic liver. Two days before giving up, we found the cancer in ultrasound and immediately started CHOP.
I regret not having insisted on an ultrasound sooner in the process, to allow treatment to be given sooner - even if it still wouldn't have worked by starting sooner, maybe she could have suffered less in the end. I also regret taking her to the vet the last time instead of in home euthanasia. She was so stressed out by the last visit that she collapsed after getting the catheter. She was so limp I thought maybe they had given her something to sedate before bringing her to me, but after looking at the invoice I don't think they did.
I know from reading other posts that I am not alone in my regrets. I don't think anything I would have done would have felt right - even with in home euthanasia I think I always would have wondered if I should have given CHOP more time to work. But it is so hard to have the final moments with my loved one be filled with her suffering. She was my favorite cat of all and I miss her so much.
I do have a few questions in case anyone has insights.
1) I have dosages of chlorambucil leftover. How do I dispose of them? I can't find any info online but it doesn't seem like I can donate them and it also doesn't seem like I can throw them in the garbage.
2) a few months ago, she started adorably fairly loudly snoring sometimes when she slept. Was this a sign of the cancer progression that I missed? She had GI cancer, so I didn't think it was related and I really hope I didn't miss that.
3) is it normal for cats to get as stressed as she did at the vet? Where she basically went limp? Is it possible she had some kind of cardiac event?
thank you for your time in reading our story!
I regret not having insisted on an ultrasound sooner in the process, to allow treatment to be given sooner - even if it still wouldn't have worked by starting sooner, maybe she could have suffered less in the end. I also regret taking her to the vet the last time instead of in home euthanasia. She was so stressed out by the last visit that she collapsed after getting the catheter. She was so limp I thought maybe they had given her something to sedate before bringing her to me, but after looking at the invoice I don't think they did.
I know from reading other posts that I am not alone in my regrets. I don't think anything I would have done would have felt right - even with in home euthanasia I think I always would have wondered if I should have given CHOP more time to work. But it is so hard to have the final moments with my loved one be filled with her suffering. She was my favorite cat of all and I miss her so much.
I do have a few questions in case anyone has insights.
1) I have dosages of chlorambucil leftover. How do I dispose of them? I can't find any info online but it doesn't seem like I can donate them and it also doesn't seem like I can throw them in the garbage.
2) a few months ago, she started adorably fairly loudly snoring sometimes when she slept. Was this a sign of the cancer progression that I missed? She had GI cancer, so I didn't think it was related and I really hope I didn't miss that.
3) is it normal for cats to get as stressed as she did at the vet? Where she basically went limp? Is it possible she had some kind of cardiac event?
thank you for your time in reading our story!