Oh, Steve...I am so, so sorry (insert as many expletives as you can think of here to describe how you feel about this virus...I know I am...)...I remember when you first joined this list, your 3 babies couldn't have found a better home...You will know when it's time, and I'm sure Loki's siblings (Leeloo and, I can't think of the other one...but I do remember thinking that they all have fabulous names!) will be waiting to greet him!
There is a technical term for the pupil dilation-thing, but I can't think of it at the moment...one of my guys, Ewok, has had it off and on for a few years now, but is healthy in all other respects (knock-on-wood)...One of our other guys, Marvin, has a pupil that is completely blown, whereas Ewok's will look normal from time-to-time, Marvin's pupil will always be completely dilated. Anyhoo, You and Loki are in my thoughts...take care of yourselves...this virus really, really sucks... Jen ----- Original Message ----- From: Steve Williams <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Saturday, March 19, 2005 7:28 pm Subject: Loki Update > First off, in addition to the other nice notes, thank you Jen, > Hideyo and > Terri for your prayers and healing vibes... and I am so glad Thor > is coming > around. > > I did take Loki in to the vet. It was difficult to get a spot, but > eventually found a vet very near my house so as not to upset Loki > with a > long ride. The initial prognosis did not look good, so I had x- > rays taken. > The x-rays showed that Loki's lungs were only expanding to half > their normal > size which means something else was taking space within the > cavity. In > addition, the Trachea was pushed up to the spine, which suggests > the cavity > did not just have excessive fluid, but that a tumor was taking the > space. I > was given lots of options, but I can't do most of them or put Loki > throughhell. In the end, I asked for, and will probably take the > doctors opinion, > which is to make him comfortable and take the weekend to say my > goodbyes.He is living with the pronounced lung action just okay, > but I know it is > hard to be perfectly comfortable for him with the distressed > breathing. I > don't think he has pain per se, but letting him go on too many > more days > like this, I think gets to the point of becoming painful. > > I hadn't mentioned it before, but Loki's left eye sometimes > dilates much > more than the right. This is a sign of a viral infection, FeLV+ or > otherwise. Once again, not a good sign, especially with > everything else. > > The doctor gave me some meds to try to alleviate things, for the > short term. > I'm giving him Furosimide, a diuretic to help with the excessive > fluids (I > will not subject him to the trauma of extracting the excessive > fluid with a > needle), and antibiotics to help with a slight, but lingering URI. > All this > should help his breathing a tiny bit. > > When it gets worse, or I feel the happy days with him no longer > offsets the > lingering lack of comfort, I will PTS. > > This has been a long hard road. I tried, but it was difficult to > maintaincomposure at the vets office. I know I will crash hard > after Loki goes. I > just can't stand what this disease does. > > Steve > > >
