Please help!!!!

imisssnowball · Jan 21, 2014

I took in a tame barn cat that was at the farm when I moved in. She kept having kittens while I was here, 15 to be exact. I took her in to be spayed & she didn't make it. I am so upset I have made myself sick. The get told me it was ok to do if she was in heat, which she was, and told me on the phone she was having trouble coming out of anesthesia. I asked him if she was going to die & his words were "no she isn't going to die" & he said it like he thought I was crazy. I rushed to his office & when I got there he said "I'm sorry she just passed". I feel so guilty. Like I'm the one that took her to be executed. Can someone please tell me why this happened???? The vet won't give me any explanation at all:'(

StefanZ · Jan 22, 2014

Bad things happen, as thay say.   Nothing you are doing is totally riskfree. You CAN get poisoned by good water too, if you drink enough much of it...

Surgery are never tottally riskfree.   The great chess-grandmaster, a worldmaster to be Leonid Stein died during a simple operation in one of his toes...

You didnt nothing wrong. Quite opposite. This was her big chance for a better life.   Getting in pregnancies now and again, and deliveries, has also risks.

If she died during this operation, the risk was also great she would die by next delivery. Serious, if it was something wrong with her, or she was already on the verge...

Btw, going empty heats months after monts isnt so good either. Risk for pyometra and breast cancer is getting higher and higher...

You took the least risk of them all, and gave her a chance for a good future.   It didnt worked this time.

Another time, you perhaps try to help somebody practically dying - and she will make it, against all odds.

Tx a lot for caring!

Warm hugs!

God luck!

imisssnowball · Jan 22, 2014

Thank you. I am blaming mysrlf thinking that I killed her. She was fine. I just felt so bad for her & wanted to have her fixed & stay inside with me. It was selfish of me & I cannot forgive myself. Just don't understand why the get didn't do any pre surgery blood work. He didn't advise me to do so & now I am blaming myself. Thanks again for your time. xo

msaimee · Jan 22, 2014

A similar situation almost happened to me last August. I trapped and spayed a young feral cat who was in heat. Unlike yourself, I knew about pre-anesthesia bloodwork, and was asked if I wanted to have it done. I was already spending $250 to have her spayed, vaccinated, and tested for HIV and Leukemia, and I didn't think the bloodwork was necessary, so I declined. She had a bad reaction to the anesthesia--likely because she had anemia from malnutrition and they gave her too much anesthesia--and got very ill. The vet tech did not notice (or care) how unresponsive she was when they discharged her for me to bring her home. She wouldn't eat or drink. I had to force feed food and fluids with a syringe for days. I took her back and requested blood tests, and I was told she had some liver and possible kidney damage from the anesthesia, and she was prescribed an antibiotic. I nearly lost her. She had a full recovery, but it took about a month. If she would have died, I would have blamed myself for not having had the bloodwork done. This cat was just another feral to them, so they didn't push the issue. They also chopped off a large chunk of her ear when I did not ask for an ear tip.

Your vet should have at least asked you if you wanted the pre-surgery bloodwork done. It sounds as though he didn't handle the situation well at all. Bad things sometimes happen during a spaying, but I would advise you to find another vet--one who is more thorough and who would not act as though you were crazy when you express concern over the well-being of your cat. This is not your fault. Unfortunately, one doesn't know one's vet is incompetent unless an awful situation like this occurs. I am very sorry for your loss. I, for one, believe cats have souls, and your little one knows you did all you could to help her, and she is at peace now.

happybird · Jan 22, 2014

I am sorry for your loss. Please do not blame yourself. :alright:

Any surgery, no matter how common, has risks. I think the vet's response over the phone underlines how infrequently death from anesthesia occurs- but it does happen.

It is fine to spay a cat when she is heat, or even when pregnant, so that was most likely not the issue. Maybe she was weakened and run down from having so many kittens. It is very hard on the body, because the kittens will sap all the nutrients from the mother for their own health and survival. Or she could have had some underlying and not easily detected health issue, like a congenital heart defect. Or she could have had a bad reaction to the drugs used for anesthesia. None of these things are your fault, or the vet's for that matter. It is a crappy thing that just happens sometimes.

If she was presented to the vet as a barn cat, they may have viewed her as a trap and release. In those cases (and at many of the low cost spay/neuter clinics) they do not readily offer the option for blood work, in order to keep the cost down for the client.

You did what was right, and please do not ever doubt it. Like Stefan said, of all the risks, you chose the best option with the best outlook, but unfortunately, it did not work out. Even healthy cats, at the best clinics with the best vets, who have had blood work done, have died under anesthesia.

Thank you for having such a big heart and caring for this little mama.

ondine · Jan 22, 2014

imisssnowball said:
Thank you. I am blaming mysrlf thinking that I killed her. She was fine. I just felt so bad for her & wanted to have her fixed & stay inside with me. It was selfish of me & I cannot forgive myself. Just don't understand why the get didn't do any pre surgery blood work. He didn't advise me to do so & now I am blaming myself. Thanks again for your time. xo

First of all, please don't blame yourself. You wanted only to better her life. All those kittens most likely wore her out. The bloodwork might have helped but there is no guarantee.

I second getting another vet - perhaps one who has experience with strays and ferals. They do present different challenges.

oneandahalfcats · Jan 22, 2014

Hi imisssnowball, welcome!

I am so very sorry to hear that you lost your kitten during the spay surgery. This is normally a routine surgery, but there can be complications with all surgeries and from certain anesthesia if your cat has an underlying condition or allergy to a particular medication used. Do you know which anesthesia was used for the surgery? Ketamine for instance is a type of anesthesia that despite being widely used and generally safe, has been known to cause serious reactions and sometimes death, in some cats. Did you have blood work done before-hand to rule out any underlying medical conditions? In anticipation of getting your new kitten spayed, blood work would be very important to check for medical issues. Depending on what is found, you and your vet would need to make a decision about the procedure and which anesthesia would be most appropriate, so as to protect him/her from possible adverse reactions.

While blood work and the type of anesthesia are very important, so is the skill and training level of your vet. It is also very important that he/she is equipped and prepared to provide some form of monitoring during the procedure, such as giving oxygen and putting the cat on an EKG and/or blood pressure monitors to monitor heart and blood pressure rate during the procedure. If your vet can't or is not willing to provide these things, then I would find another vet who does.

Here is link to a good article that discusses anesthesia, different types and some of the side effects associated with each : http://cats.about.com/cs/anesthesia/a/understanding.htm

Many cats are spayed and neutered each year with no complications, and so, while unfortunately your kitty did not make it, I hope you will go forward with an optimistic outlook that this shouldn't happen again, provided that all precautions are taken.

cprcheetah · Jan 22, 2014

Just like humans any time you put an animal under anesthesia there are risks. Was there bloodwork done on your cat prior to the spay to determine if her organs were functioning properly?

imisssnowball · Jan 22, 2014

MsAimee said:
A similar situation almost happened to me last August. I trapped and spayed a young feral cat who was in heat. Unlike yourself, I knew about pre-anesthesia bloodwork, and was asked if I wanted to have it done. I was already spending $250 to have her spayed, vaccinated, and tested for HIV and Leukemia, and I didn't think the bloodwork was necessary, so I declined. She had a bad reaction to the anesthesia--likely because she had anemia from malnutrition and they gave her too much anesthesia--and got very ill. The vet tech did not notice (or care) how unresponsive she was when they discharged her for me to bring her home. She wouldn't eat or drink. I had to force feed food and fluids with a syringe for days. I took her back and requested blood tests, and I was told she had some liver and possible kidney damage from the anesthesia, and she was prescribed an antibiotic. I nearly lost her. She had a full recovery, but it took about a month. If she would have died, I would have blamed myself for not having had the bloodwork done. This cat was just another feral to them, so they didn't push the issue. They also chopped off a large chunk of her ear when I did not ask for an ear tip.

Your vet should have at least asked you if you wanted the pre-surgery bloodwork done. It sounds as though he didn't handle the situation well at all. Bad things do sometimes happen during a spaying, but I would advise you to find another vet--one who is more thorough and who would not act as though you were crazy when you express concern over the well-being of your cat. This is not your fault. Unfortunately, one doesn't know one's vet is incompetent unless an awful situation like this occurs. I am very sorry for your loss. I, for one, believe cats have souls, and your little one knows you did all you could to help her, and she is at peace now.

imisssnowball · Jan 22, 2014

No the vet didn't ask me anything about that. They just acted like it was no big deal. They didn't even have me fill out history on her. I tried to explain to them that she was in heat and had had several litters of kittens when I moved to the country. She was abandoned out here and the litter she had when I moved here were so wild. They were gorgeous and they all disappeared. I took her in and litter trained her but she went into heat again. I made a home for her in the basement and a stray tom showed up and pried a window open to get to her. I caught him in the basement and put him back out and secured the basement windows. I made an appt for her for yesterday and she died. I will never forgive myself.

imisssnowball · Jan 22, 2014

Thank you for taking the time to write me back. I am still so devastated and I will never forgive myself. She was abandoned out here and had a total of 15 kittens since I moved out here 2 years ago. I wanted to give her a better life. I have never had a cat before and the office acted like it was no big deal. I didn't fill paper work out on her or anything. I feel like the doctor should have asked me her history but he didn't. When I moved here she had 6 wild kittens and they all disappeared. There were also some mangy looking adult cats but they disappeared as well. She survived whatever was taking these cats and she warmed up to me and my little shih tzu. I took her in, litter trained her and she had 9 more kittens with me. I couldn't bear to see her go through it anymore so I just wanted to give her a better life and I basically took her in to be executed. The vet thinks she had a stroke. So she didn't die pain free which also just kills me. I do hope her soul is at rest and I hope she know how much I loved her.

imisssnowball · Jan 22, 2014

I will never use that vet again. I am devastated that I helped in the demise of that poor sweet cat

imisssnowball · Jan 22, 2014

Ondine said:
First of all, please don't blame yourself. You wanted only to better her life. All those kittens most likely wore her out. The bloodwork might have helped but there is no guarantee.

I second getting another vet - perhaps one who has experience with strays and ferals. They do present different challenges.

I will never use that vet again. I am devastated that I helped in the demise of that poor sweet cat

imisssnowball · Jan 22, 2014

imisssnowball said:

Thank you for taking the time to write me back. I am still so devastated and I will never forgive myself. She was abandoned out here and had a total of 15 kittens since I moved out here 2 years ago. I wanted to give her a better life. I have never had a cat before and the office acted like it was no big deal. I didn't fill paper work out on her or anything. I feel like the doctor should have asked me her history but he didn't. When I moved here she had 6 wild kittens and they all disappeared. There were also some mangy looking adult cats but they disappeared as well. She survived whatever was taking these cats and she warmed up to me and my little shih tzu. I took her in, litter trained her and she had 9 more kittens with me. I couldn't bear to see her go through it anymore so I just wanted to give her a better life and I basically took her in to be executed. The vet thinks she had a stroke. So she didn't die pain free which also just kills me. I do hope her soul is at rest and I hope she know how much I loved her.

imisssnowball · Jan 22, 2014

happybird said:
I am sorry for your loss. Please do not blame yourself.

Any surgery, no matter how common, has risks. I think the vet's response over the phone underlines how infrequently death from anesthesia occurs- but it does happen.

It is fine to spay a cat when she is heat, or even when pregnant, so that was most likely not the issue. Maybe she was weakened and run down from having so many kittens. It is very hard on the body, because the kittens will sap all the nutrients from the mother for their own health and survival. Or she could have had some underlying and not easily detected health issue, like a congenital heart defect. Or she could have had a bad reaction to the drugs used for anesthesia. None of these things are your fault, or the vet's for that matter. It is a crappy thing that just happens sometimes.

If she was presented to the vet as a barn cat, they may have viewed her as a trap and release. In those cases (and at many of the low cost spay/neuter clinics) they do not readily offer the option for blood work, in order to keep the cost down for the client.

You did what was right, and please do not ever doubt it. Like Stefan said, of all the risks, you chose the best option with the best outlook, but unfortunately, it did not work out. Even healthy cats, at the best clinics with the best vets, who have had blood work done, have died under anesthesia.

Thank you for having such a big heart and caring for this little mama.

Thank you I am still just devastated and cannot stop crying.

alisa brown · Jan 22, 2014

I am so sorry. Such a sad story. My mom lost a cat under similar circumstances. Please don't blame yourself, you were doing the right thing and what was best for her.

HUGS

shadowsrescue · Jan 22, 2014

I am so very very sorry for you loss. I can understand you feeling as though you caused her death. Yet, you have no idea about her health. You were doing the very very best for her. It had to be very stressful on her body to give birth to so many kittens. You took care of her and gave her love. She knew she was loved and that is better than many cats. You were helping her to have a better life. I know you will feel the pain and sadness for awhile and that is natural. My thoughts are with you during this difficult time.

ilovecatesxoxo · Jan 22, 2014

It's alright, don't blame yourself for what happened there was no way you could have been responsible for her death. I know that these first few days hurt but it never did anyone any good to keep thinking about the past.
Im am soo sorry for your loss :'( but it'll be okay and someday you'll be able to look back and remember all her good traits and those happy times you had together.
She will always be with you in your heart.
Best wishes from,

Evangeline. :angel:

imisssnowball · Jan 23, 2014

Ilovecatesxoxo said:
It's alright, don't blame yourself for what happened there was no way you could have been responsible for her death. I know that these first few days hurt but it never did anyone any good to keep thinking about the past.
Im am soo sorry for your loss :'( but it'll be okay and someday you'll be able to look back and remember all her good traits and those happy times you had together.
She will always be with you in your heart.
Best wishes from,

Evangeline.

Thank you so much everyone for the kind words. I am quickly learning that I just cannot save the world. I was so in love with that cat I wanted her to be with me without anymore pain & angst from going into heat. I hope she is in a peaceful place with all of her kittens that disappeared before I could help. God bless everyone. xo

cprcheetah · Jan 23, 2014

imisssnowball said:
No the vet didn't ask me anything about that. They just acted like it was no big deal.

Wow, that makes me really angry at that vet. Spaying IS a big deal it is a MAJOR operation. At the vet clinic I work at we don't do any surgeries without blood work to test liver/kidney functions and to test for infection and clotting issues. We also do a Catheter in case of an emergency we have direct access to the vet to administer drugs. Spaying in heat is a lot more risky as everything is enlarged and inflammed and they bleed more. I am so very sorry for the loss of your kitty.

Please help!!!!

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