Hi guys,
I dropped my cat, Snickers, off to the Vet Monday morning. I could tell he was having trouble peeing, and he was not his 'usual self'. Just laying around and well when he'd try to pee just a little dribble came out. The ER Vet Sunday afternoon told me Snickers did NOT have a blockage in his wee-wee, because they expressed some urine; they sent me home saying just call your Vet in the morn.
So I dropped Snicky off. They put a catheter in him because by this time, he was blocked off with these icky crystals. He couldn't pee at all and his bladder was distended. He was also dehydrated; I tried to get Snicky to drink but he just would scoot around away from the water bowl.
Snickers is 14 yrs old, he came to live with me last October after my ex-husband decided he didn't want Snickers any more. I REALLY LOVE this cat, I hated parting with him 10 yrs ago when we divorced, but well I had no choice. Anyway that's Snicky's history...
Tues morn they called and said, we are removing the cath, he had a lot of crystals; we will see if he can pee on his own & eat something. Well the day went by and last night I visited Snicky at the Vet. He was ALREADY blocked up by the time I reached him.
They said, you can have us cath him again and put the IV back in ... but I wouldn't do it a 3rd time.
They said Snicky is old, frail, and in pain. This is SO SUDDENLY! I mean out of the blue. And I do not / did not consider my loving lapcat, who plays more than my 3 yr old boycat, OLD or FRAIL. Snicky's a nut! Fun & spritely.
Well last night when she told me one more time and then we have to talk. Talk about putting him to sleep.
She said that there is no reason on earth he should have crystals forming as badly as they are and blocking him up. She xrayed him and found nothing; no tumors or polyps. After so many pokes, prods and exams, Snickers is still iffy and they just don't know what's causing it.
I'm going to see Snicky tonight; they are once again removing his cath at 5pm. Vet called me this morn and said, he's cleared out again and the urine is flowing clear. She said he even ate & was purring and acting lively. Okay, so, I told her to please keep the cath in as long as possible. She said it'll be removed tonight.
Then she says: if he blocks overnight / during the day Thursday, we really should not cath him again. I understand putting them under this much and putting that cath in is painful, and I DO NOT want to do this to my Snicky any more. He is in pain, dang it, when they do these things, and he has trouble coming out of the anesthetic.
So Thursday night, if Snickers is peeing clear & nothing is blocked up: I get to bring him home to recover with oral meds & keep a watchful eye on my boy. If he is blocked again: I have to put him to sleep, bring him home and bury him in my backyard.
She said I could send him off to some place in Cincinnati and have a barrage of tests done... dyes shot up into him... more needles, more putting under. I don't get it. No one can tell what's causing the crystals, and the Vet firmly tells me that "14 yrs old is old in a cat".
I'm really distraught because Snickers just came back into my life 6 months ago and I am so not ready to lose him again, especially, like this. I know 14 yrs old in a cat equals 85 years old in a man. Still I just wish there was some miracle that could happen and I could have a few more years with him. Heck even just a few more months.
I do think it is inhuman and cruel to put a pet through the barrage of tests she described. I wouldn't wanna go thru it, if I was 85 yrs old. Mom says it's hard but I have to do what's best for Snickers (put him out of his pain if it's irreversible).
I'd like info from anyone who has made "the decision". Just how you felt and what led to it??? I want to be prepared.
--- Stephanie
I dropped my cat, Snickers, off to the Vet Monday morning. I could tell he was having trouble peeing, and he was not his 'usual self'. Just laying around and well when he'd try to pee just a little dribble came out. The ER Vet Sunday afternoon told me Snickers did NOT have a blockage in his wee-wee, because they expressed some urine; they sent me home saying just call your Vet in the morn.
So I dropped Snicky off. They put a catheter in him because by this time, he was blocked off with these icky crystals. He couldn't pee at all and his bladder was distended. He was also dehydrated; I tried to get Snicky to drink but he just would scoot around away from the water bowl.
Snickers is 14 yrs old, he came to live with me last October after my ex-husband decided he didn't want Snickers any more. I REALLY LOVE this cat, I hated parting with him 10 yrs ago when we divorced, but well I had no choice. Anyway that's Snicky's history...
Tues morn they called and said, we are removing the cath, he had a lot of crystals; we will see if he can pee on his own & eat something. Well the day went by and last night I visited Snicky at the Vet. He was ALREADY blocked up by the time I reached him.
They said Snicky is old, frail, and in pain. This is SO SUDDENLY! I mean out of the blue. And I do not / did not consider my loving lapcat, who plays more than my 3 yr old boycat, OLD or FRAIL. Snicky's a nut! Fun & spritely.
Well last night when she told me one more time and then we have to talk. Talk about putting him to sleep.
She said that there is no reason on earth he should have crystals forming as badly as they are and blocking him up. She xrayed him and found nothing; no tumors or polyps. After so many pokes, prods and exams, Snickers is still iffy and they just don't know what's causing it.
I'm going to see Snicky tonight; they are once again removing his cath at 5pm. Vet called me this morn and said, he's cleared out again and the urine is flowing clear. She said he even ate & was purring and acting lively. Okay, so, I told her to please keep the cath in as long as possible. She said it'll be removed tonight.
Then she says: if he blocks overnight / during the day Thursday, we really should not cath him again. I understand putting them under this much and putting that cath in is painful, and I DO NOT want to do this to my Snicky any more. He is in pain, dang it, when they do these things, and he has trouble coming out of the anesthetic.
So Thursday night, if Snickers is peeing clear & nothing is blocked up: I get to bring him home to recover with oral meds & keep a watchful eye on my boy. If he is blocked again: I have to put him to sleep, bring him home and bury him in my backyard.
She said I could send him off to some place in Cincinnati and have a barrage of tests done... dyes shot up into him... more needles, more putting under. I don't get it. No one can tell what's causing the crystals, and the Vet firmly tells me that "14 yrs old is old in a cat".
I'm really distraught because Snickers just came back into my life 6 months ago and I am so not ready to lose him again, especially, like this. I know 14 yrs old in a cat equals 85 years old in a man. Still I just wish there was some miracle that could happen and I could have a few more years with him. Heck even just a few more months.
I do think it is inhuman and cruel to put a pet through the barrage of tests she described. I wouldn't wanna go thru it, if I was 85 yrs old. Mom says it's hard but I have to do what's best for Snickers (put him out of his pain if it's irreversible).
I'd like info from anyone who has made "the decision". Just how you felt and what led to it??? I want to be prepared.
--- Stephanie