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- Oct 27, 2016
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My cat Oscar is 10 years old. This past summer he got really sick with liver issues. I don't know exactly what the cause was (fatty liver, cancer, ate something bad, etc) because I couldn't afford to send him to a specialist for biopsies. My vet ran blood tests and Oscar's liver enzymes were terrible, so that's how we knew it was his liver. So I called Care Credit in a panic, had them increase my limit so Oscar could stay two days at the vet for intensive treatment.
He was sent home later with daily meds for me to administer and I had to force feed him for about a week and a half before he would eat on his own. I feel that I got somewhat lucky as I didn't have to do syringe feedings. I would just restrain him in a blanket and he would eat wet food from my hand. We graduated to no restraint, just eating from my hand. And eventually he ate normally on his own. It took one month of meds and this feeding regimen for him to come around, and he began acting normal again. I thought we were out of the woods. Eating, drinking, playing, running, etc.
Fast forward to last week and he began exhibiting the same symptoms-- vomiting, lethargy, not eating. A friend of mine took him to the vet for me as I was out of the country and when his lab results came back it was the same thing, but doubled. Oscar had to stay for two days for intensive therapy, and we were once again sent home with medicines and the need for force feeding.
This time, however, it's not going so smoothly. He will not eat from my hand. So I resorted to syringe feeding. I've tried several different techniques, several different types of syringes, food, YouTube videos, etc. To put it bluntly, it is pure hell for both of us. I feel that I mentally and physically cannot do this. And Oscar fights so hard against me, it's nearly impossible.
I see him getting weaker every day, but he still acts somewhat like himself. He still purrs, comes to me when I call him, and he urinates but hasn't pooped since he's been home (5 days).
I am out of money, I've maxed out my Care Credit account on him. My credit cards are done, I have no family or friends to borrow from. So I cannot afford to send him back to the vet.
He's eating on his own now, very very little. Not nearly enough to sustain or heal him. He pooped a very small nugget today.
So I have no idea what to do. I don't know if I should end his suffering, because it seems like whatever is wrong with his liver is getting worse since this is twice in a few months he's been sick. I'm out of money. I can't syringe feed him, it literally gives me anxiety and heart palpitations because it's so incredibly stressful. But it seems like he wants to be here. Also, I can't afford to take the time off work to stay with him all day to feed him and I have no one to help.
I don't know...advice would be much appreciated. This is tearing me up, I'm a mess and I don't know what's best at this point. :-(
He was sent home later with daily meds for me to administer and I had to force feed him for about a week and a half before he would eat on his own. I feel that I got somewhat lucky as I didn't have to do syringe feedings. I would just restrain him in a blanket and he would eat wet food from my hand. We graduated to no restraint, just eating from my hand. And eventually he ate normally on his own. It took one month of meds and this feeding regimen for him to come around, and he began acting normal again. I thought we were out of the woods. Eating, drinking, playing, running, etc.
Fast forward to last week and he began exhibiting the same symptoms-- vomiting, lethargy, not eating. A friend of mine took him to the vet for me as I was out of the country and when his lab results came back it was the same thing, but doubled. Oscar had to stay for two days for intensive therapy, and we were once again sent home with medicines and the need for force feeding.
This time, however, it's not going so smoothly. He will not eat from my hand. So I resorted to syringe feeding. I've tried several different techniques, several different types of syringes, food, YouTube videos, etc. To put it bluntly, it is pure hell for both of us. I feel that I mentally and physically cannot do this. And Oscar fights so hard against me, it's nearly impossible.
I see him getting weaker every day, but he still acts somewhat like himself. He still purrs, comes to me when I call him, and he urinates but hasn't pooped since he's been home (5 days).
I am out of money, I've maxed out my Care Credit account on him. My credit cards are done, I have no family or friends to borrow from. So I cannot afford to send him back to the vet.
He's eating on his own now, very very little. Not nearly enough to sustain or heal him. He pooped a very small nugget today.
So I have no idea what to do. I don't know if I should end his suffering, because it seems like whatever is wrong with his liver is getting worse since this is twice in a few months he's been sick. I'm out of money. I can't syringe feed him, it literally gives me anxiety and heart palpitations because it's so incredibly stressful. But it seems like he wants to be here. Also, I can't afford to take the time off work to stay with him all day to feed him and I have no one to help.
I don't know...advice would be much appreciated. This is tearing me up, I'm a mess and I don't know what's best at this point. :-(