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Sami is at the vets..

post #1 of 26
6/9/11 at 6:25pm
Thread Starter 
Sami, (18 years old) has been on a steady decline, health-wise, for the last several weeks. I finally convinced my room mate to take her the vet. She was suppose to go in Monday for a blood test but last night I noticed she had pure liquid diarrhea and vomit that looked and smelled the same, no appetite and just looked unwell in general.

I am convinced she's hyperthyroid. She has most of the common symptoms. So we managed to sneak in appointment today, despite how busy it was...

Vet said she is very dehydrated, has lost a whopping 2.5lbs and is in poor condition. They are keeping her for tonight, giving her fluids, some meds and will see how she is tomorrow. If there is not much improvement, they will do a blood test. I think they plan on it anyway.

My vet will not euthanize any animal that can be saved...but my question is, if she is hyperthyroid, is there a point where treatment is useless, or can it be reversed at almost any stage?

I'm sure there are plenty of people here who are and have dealt with this. I just don't want to see her go through the stress of tests, pills and regular vet trips if she may not even live that long. She HATES being in the carrier and in the car. The 25-30 minute drive to the vets office is so hard on the poor old girl.
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post #2 of 26
6/9/11 at 6:42pm
Well, I've been there a few times. And it's very hard. Eighteen is an old age for a cat. When I'm as old as that, in human years, I hope that I'm allowed to pass on with dignity and without extraordinary measures to keep me going.

If I have any regrets about my cats who reached the end of their lives, it is not that I released them too soon. Some I kept alive too long.




Robin
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post #3 of 26
6/9/11 at 8:53pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by bastetservant View Post
If I have any regrets about my cats who reached the end of their lives, it is not that I released them too soon. Some I kept alive too long.
That's how I feel right now. I think she deserves to go peacefully and comfortably, you know...not be forced into stressful situations to keep her alive for US. She's had a long, healthy life...I really feel like its her time to rest. I can see it in her eyes.

I just have to convince my roommate of this. My heart is aching for her right now.
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post #4 of 26
6/9/11 at 9:24pm
Only you know when she has had enough. As hard as it is sometimes it is best to let go.
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post #5 of 26
6/11/11 at 2:32pm
Thread Starter 
We brought her home today. We got some nasty looking pills in case she gets diarrhea again, some vitamins and syringes to give her some extra water if she's not drinking enough.

The results of her blood test will be in Tuesday.

My vet never said if she ended up sedating Sami to get blood, but she is having trouble walking. Her back legs are not cooperating very well. Is that more of a sedation side effect? Or could that be from her being stuck in a small cage for 2 days?

She's had a rough day. She ended up peeing in her kennel on the ride home and had it all over herself, so she had to get a quick bath. The water made me see how much weight she really lost. Scary looking.
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post #6 of 26
6/11/11 at 2:41pm
Aww, these are tough times for you and Sami.

Lots of going out to you, and.


Robin
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post #7 of 26
6/12/11 at 4:54am
My prayers are with you and Sami and your roommate.
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post #8 of 26
6/12/11 at 3:36pm
Thread Starter 
Thank you.

She seems to be doing OK today. She scarfed down all her breakfast. Her back legs are still a little wobbly but she's in good spirits anyway. She appreciates the vibes as much as me
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post #9 of 26
6/12/11 at 6:19pm
Poor girl. I'm glad she's doing a bit better. It's so hard to see a pet in any kind of distress. Like someone else has said, only you will know when and what to do for her.
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post #10 of 26
6/12/11 at 7:52pm
Poor Sami, I am sorry about all of these health issues. Eighteen is very old for a cat and you and your roommate have taken superior care of her all these years End of life care is so hard on our pets and especially us. I wish you the best as you care for Sami. Hope the blood test will give more solid answers
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post #11 of 26
6/15/11 at 7:37pm
Thread Starter 
Blood test came back. Her white blood cell count is low, she's anemic and her calcium is down. She said Sami's liver isn't doing well. She didn't even really say what we are to do now. Is that her way of saying "just take care of her until it's time to go" ??
We are giving her the anti-diarrhea medication, but its not really stopping it. She said if its not stopped by Saturday, we are to bring her back in.
I can tell she is still dehydrated. She's stopped drinking on her own, so now its down to the water we put in her food and what we give her with a syringe.
She is still not walking very well. She is sooooo thin around her hips. She looks terrible...

I just don't know what to think. The vet didn't say what's next. It's getting REALLY hard to keep her going and is so hard on her. As tired as she is, she fights with all she has to avoid taking the medication and getting the water.

I really feel like its more kind to put her down but I am outvoted right now. What would you guys do? Is 18 just too old to put a cat through all this? I am so stressed right now. I imagine she is too.
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post #12 of 26
6/15/11 at 8:31pm
I'm really very, very sorry you're going through this. You have an 18 year old baby who in human years would be around 80 to 89 years old, depending on what chart you look at. I believe it's quite possible your baby has a health problem that, because of age related problems with the immune system, cannot be fixed. If I were you, I would have a long talk with my vet and follow his/her guidance. I'm writing this with tears in my eyes, but it's possible that at this point the kindest thing would be to allow Sami to leave.

Hugs, much love and many tears for you and Sami.
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post #13 of 26
6/15/11 at 9:07pm
I have been in your shoes a few times. It is the hardest thing to have to do. For me after it was over with, my biggest regret was I did not let them go soon enough. One good day was not worth the very bad days and for selfish reasons I wanted them to have another day with me another week with me.
18 is a good long life for any cat.It sounds like it is getting time. And its time for you and you room mate to sit down and make the right choice for your cat! Not for you but what is best for her. Hugs I know how hard this is.
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post #14 of 26
6/15/11 at 10:08pm
Thread Starter 
Well, that was scary...

I smelled something foul, so I went and checked the litter box. There was A LOT of diarrhea...so my roommate picked her up and brought her in the room so we could give her another pill. When she went to set Sami down, her back legs stayed stiff, then she just fell over. We gave a bunch of water, but it looks like the pills are useless. I did the skin test at the base of her neck and her skin doesn't even go back down all the way.

My roommate is in tears and I am almost there myself. I think Sami's body is shutting down faster than we can keep up with. This doesn't look good. For her sake, I hope my next update is that Sami is resting peacefully over the rainbow bridge...
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post #15 of 26
6/16/11 at 1:29pm
How incredibly sad. I'm so sorry, LuvMyParker. God bless little Sami and you and your roommate, as well.

AC
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post #16 of 26
6/16/11 at 1:35pm
I am so terribly sad to read the update, my thoughts are with Sami, you and your roommate
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post #17 of 26
6/16/11 at 2:06pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by LuvMyParker View Post
Well, that was scary...

I smelled something foul, so I went and checked the litter box. There was A LOT of diarrhea...so my roommate picked her up and brought her in the room so we could give her another pill. When she went to set Sami down, her back legs stayed stiff, then she just fell over. We gave a bunch of water, but it looks like the pills are useless. I did the skin test at the base of her neck and her skin doesn't even go back down all the way.

My roommate is in tears and I am almost there myself. I think Sami's body is shutting down faster than we can keep up with. This doesn't look good. For her sake, I hope my next update is that Sami is resting peacefully over the rainbow bridge...
I'm so sorry to read this
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post #18 of 26
6/18/11 at 11:20am
I'm just hoping that Sami is comfortable right now.
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post #19 of 26
6/18/11 at 7:35pm
Thread Starter 
She is still at the vet. We will find out how she is tomorrow. They haven't called with any bad news, so she must be comfortable.
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post #20 of 26
6/19/11 at 7:39am
She's been there for days now?
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post #21 of 26
6/19/11 at 9:28am
Thread Starter 
Yes, she has been there since Thursday night. Now the vet isn't answering her phone even though she said she'd be there all weekend. We may have to wait until tomorrow to hear anything.
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post #22 of 26
6/19/11 at 7:51pm
and more vibes for sweet Jack
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post #23 of 26
6/19/11 at 8:20pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Feralvr View Post
and more vibes for sweet Jack
Jack? You mean Sami? Or did you mean to send it for Jack in another thread?
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post #24 of 26
6/20/11 at 3:02am
What a rough time this is for all involved.

18 is a milestone for a kitty. You are in my prayers.
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post #25 of 26
6/20/11 at 4:48am
Just sending lots and lots of and .
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post #26 of 26
6/21/11 at 12:58pm
Thread Starter 
Called yesterday and they said Sami was eating good, her BMs were normal and that we could get her tonight.

Just called and they said her diarrhea is back again. So I don't know. I am really frustrated. The vet said that if she wasn't any better by Saturday, we could discuss putting her to sleep. Now they are saying "call back tomorrow". She's been there since Thursday night and still isn't better. If she is not better tomorrow, should we push euthanasia? I keep picturing her stuck in the cage there, alone, scared and uncomfortable. It's not fair to her and its not fair to bring her home to get sick again.

I'm gonna pull my hair out...
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