Help can my cat be saved?

It's just occured to me that before all this constipation started, my cat had IBS injection cos most of the time brought his food straight up, plus would have very loose or hard poos. used to go upstairs and howl. He had IBS injection 9 mths ago and all above stop until 2 months ago, so had another injection (2 in all).

he has slight heart murmer (at least 5 yrs).

Marie000 said:

 
It's just occured to me that before all this constipation started, my cat had IBS injection cos most of the time brought his food straight up, plus would have very loose or hard poos. used to go upstairs and howl. He had IBS injection 9 mths ago and all above stop until 2 months ago, so had another injection (2 in all).

he has slight heart murmer (at least 5 yrs).

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IBS injection?  So some sort of something to calm him?  An anti-stressor perhaps?  And, sorry, my mistake, I thought he had a blood test this last visit, but I see you said he had one last September (per your post #14 in this thread)which was to test his Pancreas and that came back abnormal.  So what was done about that?  Pancreatitis is VERY painful!  Did he get any treatment for it?  Also, was that Sept 2013?  Whether 2013 or 2012, you need those results as well, I would think.  And I STILL think any new Vet would want to see that xray, just to see it, to SEE that mass or whatever it is. 

For crying out load, they sedated him and removed some feces from him, took an xray and found a mass, and they say they don't have any notes that another Vet might be interest in?  I just don't get it.

Not sure the IBS shots would have anything to do with anything else, actually.  Are you thinking they are causing the constipation or mass in his abdomen?  How IS his constipation at this point since his sedation at the Vet's and "manipulation"?  You mentioned he is using the litter box ok, but may be thinking just or urination. 

I am confused as what was done when as the stress of it all is scrambling my brain.

But it all began with constipation they kept him in cos 1st suppository did nothing, the second one very little, I took him home and at least a day went by before it all came out hard as rock.

Blood test was done sep 2013 which showed pancreas problem.

Think the steroid injection was for the pancreas and was booked for the next one on 26th Nov 2013

They gave him antibiotics same time which was for the gummy eye and gunged from nose (of the same eye) other side ok.

He was ok for a while but then the constipation was back again although was on vet special cat food for 2 weeks.

They gave him two sup posies up the bottom and I took him home with some lactose to give by month, nothing came out so went back to vet that’s when after a long wait on my part in the vets holding my cat worried whether to have the light sudation to remove the poo, as they told me it could be harmful as he is old with heart tremor but also said they have used it on older and sicker cats that been ok.

But see no other choice, he came home empty bowels but was not well I took him back and was told he was saying he had enough, head flat on table, I insisted they put him on rehydration drip and after he was at least holding his head up, and would eat for me. I left him another day for more drip as it was weekend and could only do it for time vet was open 2hrs a day, she said she went back in her own time to do an extra 2 hours, they willing to take time and talk to me and all caring but I wonder how expert they are,

‘The Cat Protection League’ use them and one of the people in the league took his cats there, I asked him should I trust their word he said he had too as recently lost his 2 girls.

Iphoned them again today for the notes and they phoned me back saying they would send within next 2 minutes via email, but no email. I emailed them but comes back undelivered.

I phone 2 other vets nearby and they want to see him 1^st for consoultaion and then make appointment for tests, that will take ages and mote stress on my cat.

He is peeing has tried to poo but nothing, should I give the lactose or paraffin stuff they gave me for him or will it upset his belly?

I am in the UK it's 10pm Saturday evening so not alot I can do till Monday. I will go vet in morning and get his notes. I was going say to them, that if they are that sure the mass will kill him soon then I will go ahead with the op pn Monday. I want to know wot they say.

my Avatars pic is of my cat taken this afternoon, just after a little food and a brush (got him a baby brush he loves it)

Very handsome boy!  I'm glad he enjoyed getting brushed.  Good to hear he still enjoys some things.

I honestly don't know what to tell you.  As far as the constipation, I'm not familiar with the parafin treatment.  I always use Miralax for my furkids, but prior to that used Lactulose, which I think is what you may have?  I don't see why that wouldn't hurt. 

I don't think they can give you any guarantees on that mass.  Even if they do a biopsy and determine it is cancer, they still cannot tell you how much time he has.  And then it would depend on whether it is small cell lymphoma, or large cell, or exactly what.  Some cancers respond well to chemo, some don't, some cats just do better than others.  .  I think age and overall health have a lot to do with it. 

Have you opened up that link I sent you with the Quality of Life Scale in it and filled it out to see how he is scoring?  Just wondering overall how he seems to be doing

Stool build up can cause a lump in the belly- so can many things. Impossible to say with the limited info we have here.  Cancer is very rare. I would not immediately assume cancer. 

Get a second opinion. If it is a mass, an MRI will show exactly how big it is, an ultrasound is a good second, if an MRI is not available. Is there a vet hospital near you?

Got rocords...

16th Nov

long discussion re:QOL pain, 5 freedoms.

strongly adv PTS

Poss underlying CKD

massively dehydrated placed on IVFT at 1.4 until 6pm-returned to pratice to turn off.

14th Nov.

x-ray abdo shows fluid---sample taken proteinatious fluids. sedate and given enema lube and warm water some faeces removed. Palpate large mass felt with cranial abdomen. Advise o feels like tumour. will probably need PTS soon.

13th Nov

Has not pressed faeces in few days-seems to be straining a little and then licking back end. has not got as bad as previous with back end around anus bulging. Appetite stil good but has lost further 220g since last seen 9d ago! Abdo full of faeces today. doesn't sound as if o ready to PTS yet.

Adv sed manually evacuate colon but o reluctant. Micralax seemed to work last time but took a few days. Given 2 micralax rectall today + increase dose lactulose to 2mls BID + start liquid P 1ml BID. if not passed significant amount of faeces by tomorow then back for sed for proper warm water enema and manual evacuation OR euthanasia on welfare grounds.

said they did gravity test on fluids,and fluid looked was frothy, yellowy red.  she said mass was huge and can only be a tumor, she go very loud/almost shouting at me, she also questioned why i wanted his records. 

It's 7pm sunday evening, he don't look good, still no poo, eat a little but no water, not got alot of energy, but did wash his front legs but in a strange way almost out of habbit to wash his face. I think I need to say goodbye but I just can't do it. I can't ask the vet to stop his little heart.

by the way she took a while to print up notes, I think she was adding or taking something on/off. she was typing but I could be wrong.

Go to a different vet. This needs to be done soon, even if you have to march in and plop the cat on the receptionist's desk and say "I need help."

But is it fair to let another vet poke and prod him about to prob do tests already done, or will they look at notes and go straight for scan or blood tests or fluid test? current vet says let him die peacefully at home. which he will --but maybe from constpation. his belly is uncomfortable but his not hudging up in pain, he just walked to litter try, well outside of it trying hard to poo but nothing!

I am so sorry that you and your kitty are going through this.    For your own peace of mind, a second opinion would help you in making a decision as to your next step. But it really needs to be done as soon as possible. Is there an emergency vet you could go to today? Lots of hugs for you and your kitty.    What is the PTS referred to in the vet's notes?

PTS is Put to sleep

Marie000 said:

But is it fair to let another vet poke and prod him about to prob do tests already done, or will they look at notes and go straight for scan or blood tests or fluid test? current vet says let him die peacefully at home. which he will --but maybe from constpation. his belly is uncomfortable but his not hudging up in pain, he just walked to litter try, well outside of it trying hard to poo but nothing!

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Is the problem money, or emotions? I have to ask because you're mad that a vet won't do surgery to somehow fix your cat, but you're worried about poking and prodding from a new vet?

Dying from constipation is anything but peaceful. It's a terrible way to go.

But please don't let him suffer.  If another Vet says the same thing and that he is suffering, please let him go .  The greatest gift you can give them is to release them from suffering, when the time comes, even as you own heart breaks

It's not money or emotions really I don't want to put him down for no reason, if 2nd vet tomoro says nothing can be done and he really does have a mass and fluid is giving him pain etc. I will do the humane thing.

It's a roller coaster, one min he looks like his going and I wish I had of ended it for him yesterday next he is ok again and eating enjoying brushing and watching me.

I think the thing you must always remember is that it is better to put him to sleep a little too soon than a little too late.  When you look to his future and his quality of life is unlikely to ever be better than it has been, it's time to consider sending him off with love, purring in your arms as he goes to sleep, rather than putting him through surgery and pain with no guarantee he will ever be happyy and healthy again.  This may seem like an odd thing to say but a friend just went through that kind of decision with her husband.  He was very clear that if he were not going to get significantly better, he wanted to be set free, not held here.  The only thing that would have prolonged his life was a fairly serious abdominal surgery to remove a section of his bowel that had died.  The doctor said there would definitely be a long painful recovery, and there was no guarantee he would ever feel any better as the problems that caused it were still there.  You cannot euthanize a human, but you CAN put them into a comfortable sleep and keep them there while their illness does the rest.  He was 76, not all that old by today's standards, but what is that in cat years?  The family opted to keep him comfortable and let him go, because he had already said that's what he wanted.  His wife (my dear friend) stayed with him in ICU the whole time.  It took six hours for him to pass, but he slept peacefully, no more pain, no more suffering, no more fear. It takes courage to do that.  That was real love. 

I get mixed replies, some people say make sure he can't be safe before doing the last resolt, others say do it now sooner than later, the vet says better he dies at home. I have a feeling I am too late he looks like he is going tonite. He is not crawled up in servere pain, I have standby pain killer from vet.

Good that you have standby pain medication from vet.  If he's comfortable at home, that's always best.  If he's still with you in the morning, there are also mobile vets in most places -- costs a little more, but it's obvious you have spared no expense in caring for him thus far.  Wishing you both a peaceful and pain-free night, whatever happens.