Re: third try, Growler is gone

[catatonya]

I'm sorry about Growler, Melissa.  You've gone above and beyond with your rescues.

 

Tonya

[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

The kidney workup came back normal and the CBC came back normal, if
indicative of an FeLV positive status (slightly anemic, slightly elevated white blood
cell count, all normal for an FeLV positive cat). The doctor was able to
rule out infection and kidney problems, leaving two real options: either Growler
had suffered a traumatic injury to her spine (and one which didn't show up
on an x-ray and which would require invasive testing to diagnose), or the FeLV
had invaded her bone marrow and in particular her spine. The doctor stated
that he had only seen the latter happen once in an FeLV cat, but the symptoms
seemed similar.

The pain meds and steroid only made a minimal difference at first and
gradually, her condition worsened. She was confined to a crate for crate rest but
even still, she got to a point where she wouldn't move and! where if I pinched
her back feet she made no effort to pull them away. She still had neurologic
function in the legs and feet, but she was otherwise in too much pain or too
weak to respond.

Her condition was stressful to witness and began, I believe, to distress the
other animals in the house. Even Wynnie, a hostile cat at best, worriedly
passed Growler in the crate and occasionally paced by her. I made the decision
this morning not to subject her to invasive testing as treatment would likely
not be without risk, and would likely be lengthy and painful with no
guarantee of success. I felt she had suffered more than enough and the best I could
do was help her to her final rest and peace from pain.

It was not a decision I took lightly; Growler is the first animal I have
ever personally had euthanized. She was my special little girl, my feisty little
runt and mama's kitten. I will miss her sweet little face so very much. She was my first lap cat and my first real taming success. I didn't want to let
her go, but I guess Zest needed her more.

Melissa in NJ