Jill,
When I tried to get Simon a transfusion last Friday, he fought it and had
to be put in an oxygen tank as well, and could not even get it. It is from
having low oxygen stores due to not enough red blood cells, they can't breathe
when they exert themselves.
I am hoping so hard that Gary pulls through. But I want to let you know
that death from anemia is not always terrible if you do not want to PTS,
especially if you can get a tranquilizer shot or a valium shot from the vet (or
from
a vet you know). Simon's last 24 hours were like this: I brought him home
from the vet late Friday afternoon after not being able to get him a
transfusion. He was very tired and did not want to be touched much. Throughout
the night
he was restless and walked around a bit, laying down in different places. At
two points in the night he laid with us where we slept (or didn't) on a futon
we had put on the floor. By mid-morning he stopped being able to walk around,
but could lift his head and sit up a bit. His breathing was audible and
irregular but not open-mouthed or panting. He started to meow once or twice
per
hour. We put him on a heating pad with a cat bed under his head for a cushion,
and starting flipping him to his other side every few hours. This seemed to
make him pretty comfortable. Every once in a while his stomach sort of rolled
or
twitched, but he did not seem to notice it or react to it, and flipping him
more often made it stop. At about noon or so, maybe a little later, his
breathing got raspier and he tried to sit up and mewed a little. He may just
have
needed to be flipped, but I was worried he was in more distress. I had a
tranquilizer shot and gave him less than half a normal dose of it. It made him
unconscious, and his breathing got slower and more regular. He stayed
unconscious.
About 3.5 hours later gray brought home a steroid shot, which I wanted to give
him in case he could still fight this. I gave it to him. A second later his
stomach twitched twice and he took one slightly louder breath and was gone. he
had never woken up. He was at home. It was hard, and without the tranquilizer
might have been a lot worse. But he did not seem to have pain, just
discomfort. And there were times when he seemed to relax a bit, before he went
unconscious, and would close his eyes if I stroked his forehead gently. We
opened
the curtain to let sun shine on him, and he seemed to notice. It was not much
life that last day, but it was life. I do not think that anemia is the worst
way to go. My Buddie also died of it, and after a day of being
semi-unconsious and needing to be flipped every hour or so, he walked a few
feet to lay down
next to us, went to sleep, and died without a sound.
I just wanted to let you know all of this in case the time comes soon. I
hope that it does not. But you should know what your options, and Gary's
options, are for those last days.
Much love,
Michelle
In a message dated 2/10/05 12:47:13 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
<< Amy,
Thank you so much for your post. I'm sorry about your
kitty too. :(
I think we may do the blood transfusion and I'd like
to try the dexamethesone just so we have another few
days with Gary to say goodbye. I don't think we could
even take her home from the vet without a transfusion.
They said that when they gave her her medicine today,
she didn't take it very well and they ended up putting
her in an oxygen tank for a while. I think the blood
will brighten her up a little so we can have her at
home. I'd also like to have her PTS at home, rather
than at the vets, but that will be up to my boyfriend,
since it's his cat. I know he was pretty upset when
we put my Semuta to sleep.
Thanks for your kind words. I'll let everyone know
when she comes home.
Jill >>
