Hi. I just lost one beloved 17 year old cat in June. I took my other 17 year old for a checkup and the vet found a heart murmur and enlarged heart
(I think the left lobe?) and the blood panel revealed anemia and possibly the very early stage of kidney disease. My cat hates going to the vet - they had to sedate him, which was unnecessary when he was younger. Ironically, when I first got him as a 1 year old rescue he was skittish and grumpy and in the last few years has become extremely mushy and loving at home.
Anyway his appointment was 3 days ago. The vet made an appointment for him this coming Wednesday to have a dental cleaning, echocardiogram, urine sample extraction, and an enema (which probably isn't necessary any more because the stool softener they gave me for him has been working. He was very backed up.) I decided to postpone it all for about a month because I'm giving him oral medication 5 times a day (which he hates) and I think he needs a breather. Also, I'm very frightened that at 17 with heart stuff he won't survive the anesthesia for the dental work (for tartar scraping and investigation of a retained root.) I'd actually rather have them skip the dental stuff and do the rest with him sedated but not totally under. I think they made the appointment for that soon because they have a special on dental cleanings this month and were trying to save me money.
I feel with this possibly being his last year, and given his age and his fear/hatred of going to the vet, I should make it as easy on him as possible - for example, have everything but the dental done in one visit to minimize his trips. At this advanced age, I wouldn't put him through anything invasive like heart surgery. I want him to live as long as possible, and for him to have any treatment that's not traumatizing and invasive (meds would be fine even though he hates taking them), but I also want him to have a happy and unfearful final chapter.
Anyway, I am heartbroken and overwhelmed. I just had to make a very difficult snap decision to put his buddy to sleep in June. I can't bear the thought of losing him so soon, too. I cry pretty much every day.
Shouldn't he be on something for his heart murmur? The vet hasn't prescribed anything yet.
thanks for listening.
(I think the left lobe?) and the blood panel revealed anemia and possibly the very early stage of kidney disease. My cat hates going to the vet - they had to sedate him, which was unnecessary when he was younger. Ironically, when I first got him as a 1 year old rescue he was skittish and grumpy and in the last few years has become extremely mushy and loving at home.
Anyway his appointment was 3 days ago. The vet made an appointment for him this coming Wednesday to have a dental cleaning, echocardiogram, urine sample extraction, and an enema (which probably isn't necessary any more because the stool softener they gave me for him has been working. He was very backed up.) I decided to postpone it all for about a month because I'm giving him oral medication 5 times a day (which he hates) and I think he needs a breather. Also, I'm very frightened that at 17 with heart stuff he won't survive the anesthesia for the dental work (for tartar scraping and investigation of a retained root.) I'd actually rather have them skip the dental stuff and do the rest with him sedated but not totally under. I think they made the appointment for that soon because they have a special on dental cleanings this month and were trying to save me money.
I feel with this possibly being his last year, and given his age and his fear/hatred of going to the vet, I should make it as easy on him as possible - for example, have everything but the dental done in one visit to minimize his trips. At this advanced age, I wouldn't put him through anything invasive like heart surgery. I want him to live as long as possible, and for him to have any treatment that's not traumatizing and invasive (meds would be fine even though he hates taking them), but I also want him to have a happy and unfearful final chapter.
Anyway, I am heartbroken and overwhelmed. I just had to make a very difficult snap decision to put his buddy to sleep in June. I can't bear the thought of losing him so soon, too. I cry pretty much every day.
Shouldn't he be on something for his heart murmur? The vet hasn't prescribed anything yet.
thanks for listening.