Please help!!!!

Yes I am very upset. Thank you so much for this post. I have been crying for days & will never forgive myself.

I once found the info---I forget where---about the risks, etc. I guess the chances of a cat dying from anesthesia is about 1 in 400 (.25%). About the same as in humans. There's always a risk when you go under, not much can be done about that. Doing bloodwork can help identify problems before surgery but doesn't really reduce the risk. The longer they're under, the harder it is to wake up, so anything that lengthens the amount of time under (doing 2 procedures at one time, etc.) increases risk.

Bleeding risk is different, that one is more dependent on the vet's skill. Unless the pet had a bleeding disorder I would be suspicious of a vet that loses a spay to bleeding.

But no matter how you figure it, spaying is still safer than pregnancy and birthing, risk of pyometra, mammary cancer, etc.

Just want to say how sorry I feel for the loss of your cat. Most of us on here know that heartache too well, it's very hard, feels like it won't ever be okay again, but with time it will.]

I also want to say, I have a cat rescue group, in nearly 5 years now we have spayed and neutered about 3,ooo or more with many tnr of ferals that are not in the database. We have never, never lost even 1 due to spaying.

Many of the kittens done are barely 2 lbs, we do all cats, fiv positive, felv/leukemia cats, and so on.

The only one I can almost say was lost due to her spaying was Molly, a feral I trapped several months ago, I knew nothing about her, sent her for spay, she was done and returned but the vet said she was at least 10 yrs old and had chronic kidney failure.

She never really recovered from the anesthesia or surgery, and I had to have her pts a week later. (RIP Miss Molly)

But despite my guilt, who knew? It wasn't negligence either, she just wasn't in the condition to recover from surgery, no fault of anyone's.

But strange that your vet spayed her while in heat, in a matter of days she would have been a much better candidate then while things are all swollen and in a different/high gear so to speak.

Plus, didn't anyone see she stopped breathing, or had a seizure, something? Done some kind of action to help her?

When they are still under anesthesia they can occasionally stop breathing but it can be brought around when it is seen, wonder what happened with yours.......interesting.

Tragic for you I know. Very, very sad.

Willowy said:

I once found the info---I forget where---about the risks, etc. I guess the chances of a cat dying from anesthesia is about 1 in 400 (.25%). About the same as in humans. There's always a risk when you go under, not much can be done about that. Doing bloodwork can help identify problems before surgery but doesn't really reduce the risk. The longer they're under, the harder it is to wake up, so anything that lengthens the amount of time under (doing 2 procedures at one time, etc.) increases risk.

Bleeding risk is different, that one is more dependent on the vet's skill. Unless the pet had a bleeding disorder I would be suspicious of a vet that loses a spay to bleeding.

But no matter how you figure it, spaying is still safer than pregnancy and birthing, risk of pyometra, mammary cancer, etc.

Click to expand...

catwoman707 said:

Just want to say how sorry I feel for the loss of your cat. Most of us on here know that heartache too well, it's very hard, feels like it won't ever be okay again, but with time it will.]

I also want to say, I have a cat rescue group, in nearly 5 years now we have spayed and neutered about 3,ooo or more with many tnr of ferals that are not in the database. We have never, never lost even 1 due to spaying.

Many of the kittens done are barely 2 lbs, we do all cats, fiv positive, felv/leukemia cats, and so on.

The only one I can almost say was lost due to her spaying was Molly, a feral I trapped several months ago, I knew nothing about her, sent her for spay, she was done and returned but the vet said she was at least 10 yrs old and had chronic kidney failure.
She never really recovered from the anesthesia or surgery, and I had to have her pts a week later. (RIP Miss Molly)
But despite my guilt, who knew? It wasn't negligence either, she just wasn't in the condition to recover from surgery, no fault of anyone's.

But strange that your vet spayed her while in heat, in a matter of days she would have been a much better candidate then while things are all swollen and in a different/high gear so to speak.

Plus, didn't anyone see she stopped breathing, or had a seizure, something? Done some kind of action to help her?
When they are still under anesthesia they can occasionally stop breathing but it can be brought around when it is seen, wonder what happened with yours.......interesting.
Tragic for you I know. Very, very sad.

Click to expand...

Yes I am very upset. Thank you so much for this post. I have been crying for days & will never forgive myself.

imisssnowball said:

 

Click to expand...

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.

Click to expand...

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.  

Click to expand...

Thank you.

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.  

Willowy said:

I once found the info---I forget where---about the risks, etc. I guess the chances of a cat dying from anesthesia is about 1 in 400 (.25%). About the same as in humans. There's always a risk when you go under, not much can be done about that. Doing bloodwork can help identify problems before surgery but doesn't really reduce the risk. The longer they're under, the harder it is to wake up, so anything that lengthens the amount of time under (doing 2 procedures at one time, etc.) increases risk.

Bleeding risk is different, that one is more dependent on the vet's skill. Unless the pet had a bleeding disorder I would be suspicious of a vet that loses a spay to bleeding.

But no matter how you figure it, spaying is still safer than pregnancy and birthing, risk of pyometra, mammary cancer, etc.

Click to expand...

Willowy said:

I once found the info---I forget where---about the risks, etc. I guess the chances of a cat dying from anesthesia is about 1 in 400 (.25%). About the same as in humans. There's always a risk when you go under, not much can be done about that. Doing bloodwork can help identify problems before surgery but doesn't really reduce the risk. The longer they're under, the harder it is to wake up, so anything that lengthens the amount of time under (doing 2 procedures at one time, etc.) increases risk.

Bleeding risk is different, that one is more dependent on the vet's skill. Unless the pet had a bleeding disorder I would be suspicious of a vet that loses a spay to bleeding.

But no matter how you figure it, spaying is still safer than pregnancy and birthing, risk of pyometra, mammary cancer, etc.

Click to expand...

What is so hard is that the vet didn't have me fill out any history on her. I am a new cat owner & no one explained to me these risks. I just wanted her to have a happy life with me & feel like she was taken from me.

Willowy said:

I once found the info---I forget where---about the risks, etc. I guess the chances of a cat dying from anesthesia is about 1 in 400 (.25%). About the same as in humans. There's always a risk when you go under, not much can be done about that. Doing bloodwork can help identify problems before surgery but doesn't really reduce the risk. The longer they're under, the harder it is to wake up, so anything that lengthens the amount of time under (doing 2 procedures at one time, etc.) increases risk.

Bleeding risk is different, that one is more dependent on the vet's skill. Unless the pet had a bleeding disorder I would be suspicious of a vet that loses a spay to bleeding.

But no matter how you figure it, spaying is still safer than pregnancy and birthing, risk of pyometra, mammary cancer, etc.

Click to expand...

imisssnowball said:

What is so hard is that the vet didn't have me fill out any history on her. I am a new cat owner & no one explained to me these risks. I just wanted her to have a happy life with me & feel like she was taken from me.

Click to expand...

He acted like a spay procedure was "no big deal". He told me her uterus was very large & had cysts on it. She had had 15 kittens in the time that I have been here. I was afraid for her to have more. I really feel like I have wronged her:'(

Willowy said:

I once found the info---I forget where---about the risks, etc. I guess the chances of a cat dying from anesthesia is about 1 in 400 (.25%). About the same as in humans. There's always a risk when you go under, not much can be done about that. Doing bloodwork can help identify problems before surgery but doesn't really reduce the risk. The longer they're under, the harder it is to wake up, so anything that lengthens the amount of time under (doing 2 procedures at one time, etc.) increases risk.

Bleeding risk is different, that one is more dependent on the vet's skill. Unless the pet had a bleeding disorder I would be suspicious of a vet that loses a spay to bleeding.

But no matter how you figure it, spaying is still safer than pregnancy and birthing, risk of pyometra, mammary cancer, etc.

Click to expand...

cprcheetah said:

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.

Click to expand...

This vet did not do any of that. He said she woke up from the anesthesia then let out a very loud cry like she was in pain. He went to check on her & said she was acting like she was anesthetized again. But her temperature was dropping. He thinks she had a stroke. I don't believe anything he says at this point.

Yes there are vets out there that are not good.That right - not good.there was a vet I used :soap: that after each of 3 animals taken to him (2 cats ,1 iguana ) that 1 day after receiving a shot all 3 died.Be very careful who you use.Get references ,read reviews and talk to clients,friends ,patients(ha on that last one)don't take for granted that just because they went to school and are a vet that they should be obeyed without question.Nothing can be farther from the truth.Always question.

You sound like a very sweet and dear lady.Please don't blame yourself.What you did was not only wonderful and heroic it was meaningful.Why? Because now you can keep an eye out for another kitty that will also just as desperately need you.Dont try to replace her, try to help one that is also suffering that only you will help.The cat who passed her kitties may have very well been trapped and neutered by a rescue organization .They may have moved to where food was more plentiful.Please know my heart goes out to you and I can almost see a kitty looking for your help now.Go find her.Cheer up.There is so many that can be helped in that dear little one's memory.god bless you.

My advice-DONT EVER take any other animals to that practice.It certainly wasn't your fault.It time to stop giving vet like this a green light to be negligent.

You need to forgive yourself. You did nothing wrong. If you can't let go of this guilt, then you'll never try to help another feral or stray, because you'll be afraid of losing them, too. I do believe that animals who are capable of love have souls, and cats have very deep ones. You cat's spirit is at peace, and she doesn't want you to blame yourself for what happened.