I took Oz, 2 yrs old, to the vet's today. He has already had numerous health problems: he had an urethrostomy a year ago after having three blockages in 1 week, one which almost killed him. After the operation, he had infection after infection around the scar- so in April he had another operation to make the scar tissue exposed smaller. Since then he was finally doing better.
But about 3 weeks ago he started getting sick again. I took him to the vet's and after tests, we found out he had a bladder infection- well, that the membrane of the bladder was inflamed. No stones, no cystitis.
I took advantage of the fact that we had drawn blood to get him test for FIV and Feline leukemia.( I had him vaccinated against FLV this july)
Both were negative. He was also tested for diabetes- negative.
I took him to the vets last Friday, and since he had an upset stomach, we had to wait until today to take more blood. His third eyelid is constantly visible, he sleeps all the time- he seems completely exhausted, he has been drinking huge amounts and he has a fever of around 39.5, which is persistent.
The blood test today revealed that his white blood cell count was way too elevated- as was also his Hemaglobin level. All the rest was normal, kidney functions, liver function, level of urine in blood etc.
The vet told me had an inflammation , probably... He says that for the moment it is best to assume it is due to some problem linked to his past urinary problems, though he said that he is basing it on that for the moment because of Ozzy's past. He said it could be a number of other reasons: virus, infection, cancer. Apparently, the elevated hemaglobin level indicates ozzy is losing blood from somewhere- in his urine? ( i haven't seen any traces) and his body is compensating.
I have to give him medication for 4 days, and take his temperature everyday and then in one week I am going back for more blood tests.
I don't know what to do- he is such an adorable cat, never agressive, always quiet eventhough he is poked and proded all the time, and it breaks my heart to see him so sick at the moment, with no energy and looking so sick.
I had promised myself, after his last op. this april, that that was the last time he would have to go through any more pain. It took him 4 days to recover from the operation. His immune system seems to be shot to hell.
I was wondering- could the vaccination against leukemia have had an adverse reaction? could it have caused something? can he still have some kind of cancer? it's just elevated white blood cells worries me...
I spoke to my parents tonight, and she said it is all becoming too much for Ozzy, that he is suffering too much and he is only 2 years old. They also said I am spending all my savings on him and that maybe I should think about putting him down. It is true that I have spent over 3000 dollars on him, and I would spend millions on him. It's not the money, and it hurt that my parents should say that- I mean I know they are being perhaps more realistic than me.But I had thought about it too, about putting him down, but not for the same reason, but because he is suffering so much and it is so unfair on him.
I told my mom that he could get better, the vet said that if he still had a fever, we would have to investigate further- chronic problems, virus, cancer...
But she said "you want to believe he will get better, but everytime he is ok for a little while and then the poor thing is sick again"
I don't know what to do- I keep crying since I came home from the vet's, it hurts so much to see him so sick and I don't know what to do. I do ont want to be the one who has to decide whether he can go on or not and yet I am the only one who can make that decision. Poor baby is only 2 and has suffered so much- For the moment we have no proof that he has a terminal illness, but he has infections, inflammations, chronic fevers, which are making his quality of life - well, not great at all.
Please, if anyone has any advice or has gone through a similar experience, please help me. The vet hasn't mentioned putting him down, they did last year before the op, because a urethrostomy is so expensive- they had assured me he would be fine afterwards, because I told him I would do anything and pay anything as long as he was fine.
But I also know my vet, he won't offer it as an option unless I do.
But about 3 weeks ago he started getting sick again. I took him to the vet's and after tests, we found out he had a bladder infection- well, that the membrane of the bladder was inflamed. No stones, no cystitis.
I took advantage of the fact that we had drawn blood to get him test for FIV and Feline leukemia.( I had him vaccinated against FLV this july)
Both were negative. He was also tested for diabetes- negative.
I took him to the vets last Friday, and since he had an upset stomach, we had to wait until today to take more blood. His third eyelid is constantly visible, he sleeps all the time- he seems completely exhausted, he has been drinking huge amounts and he has a fever of around 39.5, which is persistent.
The blood test today revealed that his white blood cell count was way too elevated- as was also his Hemaglobin level. All the rest was normal, kidney functions, liver function, level of urine in blood etc.
The vet told me had an inflammation , probably... He says that for the moment it is best to assume it is due to some problem linked to his past urinary problems, though he said that he is basing it on that for the moment because of Ozzy's past. He said it could be a number of other reasons: virus, infection, cancer. Apparently, the elevated hemaglobin level indicates ozzy is losing blood from somewhere- in his urine? ( i haven't seen any traces) and his body is compensating.
I have to give him medication for 4 days, and take his temperature everyday and then in one week I am going back for more blood tests.
I don't know what to do- he is such an adorable cat, never agressive, always quiet eventhough he is poked and proded all the time, and it breaks my heart to see him so sick at the moment, with no energy and looking so sick.
I had promised myself, after his last op. this april, that that was the last time he would have to go through any more pain. It took him 4 days to recover from the operation. His immune system seems to be shot to hell.
I was wondering- could the vaccination against leukemia have had an adverse reaction? could it have caused something? can he still have some kind of cancer? it's just elevated white blood cells worries me...
I spoke to my parents tonight, and she said it is all becoming too much for Ozzy, that he is suffering too much and he is only 2 years old. They also said I am spending all my savings on him and that maybe I should think about putting him down. It is true that I have spent over 3000 dollars on him, and I would spend millions on him. It's not the money, and it hurt that my parents should say that- I mean I know they are being perhaps more realistic than me.But I had thought about it too, about putting him down, but not for the same reason, but because he is suffering so much and it is so unfair on him.
I told my mom that he could get better, the vet said that if he still had a fever, we would have to investigate further- chronic problems, virus, cancer...
But she said "you want to believe he will get better, but everytime he is ok for a little while and then the poor thing is sick again"
I don't know what to do- I keep crying since I came home from the vet's, it hurts so much to see him so sick and I don't know what to do. I do ont want to be the one who has to decide whether he can go on or not and yet I am the only one who can make that decision. Poor baby is only 2 and has suffered so much- For the moment we have no proof that he has a terminal illness, but he has infections, inflammations, chronic fevers, which are making his quality of life - well, not great at all.
Please, if anyone has any advice or has gone through a similar experience, please help me. The vet hasn't mentioned putting him down, they did last year before the op, because a urethrostomy is so expensive- they had assured me he would be fine afterwards, because I told him I would do anything and pay anything as long as he was fine.
But I also know my vet, he won't offer it as an option unless I do.