I know. The week plus that Kitty was really down and the weeks after
diagnosis and after follow-up x-rays months later were extremely hard. I've
been there with a number of wonderful critters. I can't say I always listen
to myself. I just hope you can. Or at least try. Even more awful is
the wait to see someone for a second opinion. I am so lucky to have the
vets I do. They can be so straight with me and I can trust them for that.
I hope your vets are the same.
Good luck. Love your friend while she is here on this planet and you can
feel her warm, cuddly body close to you.
If you have men who will
exclude any of God's creatures
from the shelter of
compassion and pity, you will have men who
will deal likewise with
their fellow man.
St.
Francis
----- Original Message -----
From: "Becca DuBose" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, February 27, 2006 5:21 PM
Subject: Re: Paassht
Thank you for that last part, Marylyn. I've been trying to stay upbeat
but the last two days have been hard.
Becca & Paassht
Marylyn wrote:
Kitty was diagnosed with cancer of the lungs and other organs well over a
year ago. She went thru a bad period right after some tests but I
believe that was because of some meds they used to sedate her. Right now
she is in the bedroom, hiding. She'll come out in a bit and tell me all
about how I shouldn't have been gone all day. Her regular vets marvel at
the way she is doing. She has enjoyed life and I have enjoyed her for
all this length of time when, logically, I should have lost her within a
month or two. She did not want chemo, radiation or any of those other
treatments and I would not have (and her regular vets would not) wanted
them with the same problems she exhibited. Therefore I decided on the
most painful course for me--to chose to do nothing but make sure she is
comfortable. To date I have given her no meds for pain (I carry them
though) or sought additional treatment. I am telling you this so, maybe,
instead of worrying about your cat and mourning for her before her time,
you enjoy her and let her enjoy you. None of us know how many
days/weeks/months we have. You may leave this world before she does.
Enjoy her now. Spend all the time you can with her. Make her happy and,
as importantly, let her make you happy.
If you have men who will
exclude any of God's creatures
from the shelter of
compassion and pity, you will have men who
will deal likewise with
their fellow man.
St.
Francis
----- Original Message ----- From: "Becca DuBose"
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, February 27, 2006 4:45 PM
Subject: Re: Paassht
She is so tired...she got up to eat and drink a little. I found her
resting on the floor after she used her litterbox, so I put her back in
her bed and now she's resting there, not sleeping, just resting with her
eyes open. I called one of the vets in the phone book and we're going
to take her in for a consult. The earliest we can go is Wednesday.
Becca & Paassht
Marylyn wrote:
I'd make the drive to a specialist. It is worth the peace of mind. If
it helps, I've made a 3 hour (one way) drive more times than I can
count. Just having someone in the field say what he/she thinks is
important. However, the ones I have gone to often argue for aggressive
treatment. You need to talk to Paassht and see what she wants to do re
chemo, radiation etc if this proves to be the case with her.
If you have men who
will exclude any of God's creatures
from the shelter of
compassion and pity, you will have men who
will deal likewise with
their fellow man.
St.
Francis
----- Original Message ----- From: "Becca DuBose"
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, February 27, 2006 3:27 PM
Subject: Fwd: Paassht
Hi,
I've just been lurking and reading for a few weeks. My little one,
Paassht, is 7-1/2 and tested positive for FeLV in 1999. She was very
healthy with nothing more than occasional URIs until September '05,
when she started losing weight. It has been a bit of a roller coaster
ride since then, back and forth to the vet, on and off antibiotics
etc. About 10 days ago I took her in because she seemed dehydrated and
they gave her some fluid SQ. Within 36 hours or so she was almost
back to her old self but we went back this morning because the fatigue
returned and I suspected she was dehydrated again. She is eating very
well but not regaining any weight. I have been afraid it was cancer
and sure enough, she has a palpable intestinal mass. The vet doesn't
believe she will recover and so has recommended comfort care only. I
had them give her fluids again since that helped her feel so much
better last week. The vet also sent us home with very low dose
prednisone to try PRN and we are continuing her amoxicillin. I'd like
to get a second opinion but our phone book lists no specialists on
veterinary oncology or internal medicine, just a handful of clinics
advertising cancer care (all of which are a 30-45 minute drive away).
There are some others billing themselves as cat specialist but they
are a similar distance away. The closest option is to take her to see
another generalist. She does OK in the car, but I don't want to drag
her all over town if it won't really help her. Even with the fluids
this morning I had to ask myself was it for her, or for me? What
would you do if Paassht were your kitty?
Becca & Paassht
