Pets ill health
May 8, 2013 22:15:02 GMT 1
Post by cat on May 8, 2013 22:15:02 GMT 1
My little cat, Missy, is a 14 yr old Tortie. I watched her and the brother, Oscar, being born in this flat after I took in a very poorly stray, called Elsie! Missy was so poorly, the Vet said she probably couldn't hear or see and told me to put her to sleep when she was only days old, laying in the palm of my hand like a little hamster. His agreement to give me 48hrs did save her life. I hand-reared her and we never looked back. Apart from vaccinations and a couple of infections from rat bites, she has always been healthy....until now
Three years ago, she jumped out a 30ft high tree and, on returning from the Vets, never set foot outdoors again. Recently, she's become a pest. Always wanting attention 2-6/8 times every single hour of every weary day. The confusion on her face can be heart breaking. The change in her back legs from arthritis is rapid.
Anyway, she went to the Vet today and I got a bit of a wake up call that made me very emotional about the prognosis. I didn't know that cats can suffer from senile dementia. According to the Vet, she is showing all the signs. Her back legs are worse than I thought, from arthritis and significant muscle deterioration. Her pelvis is protruding from either end of her back passage; made worse by weight loss around that area. The Vet couldn't tell me anything I didn't already suspect. But, today, the reality hit home.
Blood results are back tomorrow (hopefully). I'm hoping it is showing signs of an over-active thyroid, otherwise the diagnosis is definitely dementia, possibly even both. If her liver and kidneys are working okay, then she can be put on painkillers for the legs.
Whatever way I look at it, the outcome doesn't look promising. She gets majorly traumatised from just putting on Spot-on every 3 mths and I haven't been able to worm her since the back problem started, how she (or me) will manage daily meds is a concern. If her thyroid is okay, then I am in trouble and don't know what to do because it wouldn't be good for her (or me) to continue with such demented behaviour.
As a friend suggests, I can only take this a bit at a time. See how the days and weeks pan out. Tomorrow I should have the thyroid results; liver and kidney take 1-2 days longer.
Three years ago, she jumped out a 30ft high tree and, on returning from the Vets, never set foot outdoors again. Recently, she's become a pest. Always wanting attention 2-6/8 times every single hour of every weary day. The confusion on her face can be heart breaking. The change in her back legs from arthritis is rapid.
Anyway, she went to the Vet today and I got a bit of a wake up call that made me very emotional about the prognosis. I didn't know that cats can suffer from senile dementia. According to the Vet, she is showing all the signs. Her back legs are worse than I thought, from arthritis and significant muscle deterioration. Her pelvis is protruding from either end of her back passage; made worse by weight loss around that area. The Vet couldn't tell me anything I didn't already suspect. But, today, the reality hit home.
Blood results are back tomorrow (hopefully). I'm hoping it is showing signs of an over-active thyroid, otherwise the diagnosis is definitely dementia, possibly even both. If her liver and kidneys are working okay, then she can be put on painkillers for the legs.
Whatever way I look at it, the outcome doesn't look promising. She gets majorly traumatised from just putting on Spot-on every 3 mths and I haven't been able to worm her since the back problem started, how she (or me) will manage daily meds is a concern. If her thyroid is okay, then I am in trouble and don't know what to do because it wouldn't be good for her (or me) to continue with such demented behaviour.
As a friend suggests, I can only take this a bit at a time. See how the days and weeks pan out. Tomorrow I should have the thyroid results; liver and kidney take 1-2 days longer.
poor you, what's up with your arm. You are really going through a tough time. ((((( hugs ))))) x