Sir Dot Update...
First of all,
Thanks for all the finger-crossing and well-wishing. We all appreciate it.
Sir Dot is not doing well at all. We took him in to the vet on Friday and for blood work and exam, as he still wasn't eating and was obviously weak from it. He received fluids (which did help - he perked up), but it didn't stimulate his appetite. I spoke to the vet on Saturday about the blood work. Nothing really showed up. The only thing that was elevated was amylase, an enzyme found in the intestines and pancreas. Dot was slightly anemic and is currently has a sub normal thyroid (which is common after radioactive isotope therapy). The thyroid isn't an issue and didn't require any further medication and wouldn't have any dealings with the amylase issue. The doc was concerned (as I was) and wanted to give Dottie an ultrasound of his abdomen; we're worried that there might be a growth or something. I was to call the office on Monday to try to schedule the ultrasound.
This weekend was rough. Dot barely ate anything all weekend and it shows. He's so skinny.
We brought the rest of the animals home from my mom's, so Luna was able to snuggle him and he was too tired to even object.
I was so desperate for him to eat, that Tony and I (independently) both smeared a little food and water on his face, just so he would lick it off while cleaning himself. He really wasn't having it.
Last night, his breathing changed, as did his meow. This morning, Hubby felt that he was acting strange and wanted to bring him in (I had already gone in to work). Tony picks me up on the way to the vet. I can already see that Dot is having a really hard time. His breathing is shallow, his meow isn't the right tone and his face doesn't look right. He's tired - I mean, tired of all this.
Vet agrees with the breathing issues and discovers a heart murmur that wasn't there on Friday. He is also sounding slightly moist (so there's fluid somewhere). He agrees that Dot doesn't look the same as he did on Friday, yet he's alert and paying attention to everything going on. The doc looks at the correlation between hyperthyroid disease, elderly cats and heart problems. He comes back with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and says that we would need to see a cardiologist to confirm. He also tells us that if it is cardiomyopathy that the outcome isn't good and that a cardiologist would only be able to help for a little while. this condition would explain the anemia and him not eating.
As things are going now, it seems that (if it is cardiomyopathy) that Dottie will continue to not eat and that diuretics and iron shots will only make him slightly comfortable for a little while. He is crashing really fast and he fluid will probably build up relatively quickly, eventually making it hard for him to breathe. To address the eating issue, they would have to put in a feeding tube. And he would be on heart medicine too.
Well, as hard as this is, Tony and I are going to euthanize him tomorrow evening. I just couldn't do it right then in the vet's office. I need more time. And I wanted the rest of the pets to be able to see him once more. If things progress faster than we planned, then we'll have to act accordingly.
For those that know him and would like to visit him, you are most welcome to come by the house tonight. He is still alert and with it and seems to be soaking up as much love and petting as we can dole out. Just know that he is really skinny - it's a little startling. I'm hoping to be home for around 6pm. You can give a call right before you come over. And if you can't - no worries.
I'm so heart-broken. He's been with me almost as long as Tony and I have been together. He's been through so much with me. I hope that I'm making the right decision by him.
Thanks for all the finger-crossing and well-wishing. We all appreciate it.
Sir Dot is not doing well at all. We took him in to the vet on Friday and for blood work and exam, as he still wasn't eating and was obviously weak from it. He received fluids (which did help - he perked up), but it didn't stimulate his appetite. I spoke to the vet on Saturday about the blood work. Nothing really showed up. The only thing that was elevated was amylase, an enzyme found in the intestines and pancreas. Dot was slightly anemic and is currently has a sub normal thyroid (which is common after radioactive isotope therapy). The thyroid isn't an issue and didn't require any further medication and wouldn't have any dealings with the amylase issue. The doc was concerned (as I was) and wanted to give Dottie an ultrasound of his abdomen; we're worried that there might be a growth or something. I was to call the office on Monday to try to schedule the ultrasound.
This weekend was rough. Dot barely ate anything all weekend and it shows. He's so skinny.
We brought the rest of the animals home from my mom's, so Luna was able to snuggle him and he was too tired to even object.
I was so desperate for him to eat, that Tony and I (independently) both smeared a little food and water on his face, just so he would lick it off while cleaning himself. He really wasn't having it.
Last night, his breathing changed, as did his meow. This morning, Hubby felt that he was acting strange and wanted to bring him in (I had already gone in to work). Tony picks me up on the way to the vet. I can already see that Dot is having a really hard time. His breathing is shallow, his meow isn't the right tone and his face doesn't look right. He's tired - I mean, tired of all this.
Vet agrees with the breathing issues and discovers a heart murmur that wasn't there on Friday. He is also sounding slightly moist (so there's fluid somewhere). He agrees that Dot doesn't look the same as he did on Friday, yet he's alert and paying attention to everything going on. The doc looks at the correlation between hyperthyroid disease, elderly cats and heart problems. He comes back with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and says that we would need to see a cardiologist to confirm. He also tells us that if it is cardiomyopathy that the outcome isn't good and that a cardiologist would only be able to help for a little while. this condition would explain the anemia and him not eating.
As things are going now, it seems that (if it is cardiomyopathy) that Dottie will continue to not eat and that diuretics and iron shots will only make him slightly comfortable for a little while. He is crashing really fast and he fluid will probably build up relatively quickly, eventually making it hard for him to breathe. To address the eating issue, they would have to put in a feeding tube. And he would be on heart medicine too.
Well, as hard as this is, Tony and I are going to euthanize him tomorrow evening. I just couldn't do it right then in the vet's office. I need more time. And I wanted the rest of the pets to be able to see him once more. If things progress faster than we planned, then we'll have to act accordingly.
For those that know him and would like to visit him, you are most welcome to come by the house tonight. He is still alert and with it and seems to be soaking up as much love and petting as we can dole out. Just know that he is really skinny - it's a little startling. I'm hoping to be home for around 6pm. You can give a call right before you come over. And if you can't - no worries.
I'm so heart-broken. He's been with me almost as long as Tony and I have been together. He's been through so much with me. I hope that I'm making the right decision by him.