BAD news at the vet

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Bendy Kitty
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BAD news at the vet

Post by Bendy Kitty »

thre is no good way to say what happened at the vet's office.
> I'll give the "good" news first.
> we are not dealing with anything contagious
> Mary Anne is probalby a thyroid cat. her kidneys checked ok.
>
> We had to say good bye to Crystal. :(
> she was in a lot of pain whenever the vet tried to feel her
> but as the vet and i were discussing antibiotics - not even doing
> anything - i suddenly noticed a red spot appear on Crystal's shoulder.
> I moved her fur to see what it was and I completely freaked out. The
> skin had just opened up, aobut 6" of it. The vet even looked shocked
> but she knew what it was. "Cushings" she said. it is the only thing
> that does that, she hadn't actually seen it before but had read about
> it. she pulled out one of the giant books they use and all the
> symptoms fit. treatment even in the early stage is iffy, and that
> skin wasn't going to heal wihtout getting the disease under control,
> whihc would take weeks of meds and then surgery :(
>
> I asked the vet to do an in-house necropsy, she found a large adrenal
> tumor (thus the cushings) and also her kidneys were cream colored
> instead of dark red. she said that all of crystal's skin was very thin.
>
> We gave Crystal some butorphanol to try and mellow her some, it made
> her more alert probalby because it numbed any pain she was in.
> they gave her a little bit of gas, then gave her the shot. She died
> very peacefully in my arms, with me kissing her head and talking to her.
>
hug your furbabies tonite.
In loving memory of Bendy Cute Kitty 9/15/00-4/23/12

Meet the cats at Bendy's Home http://www.alittletlc.com"
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GabrielDeafBlindPupFamily
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Re: BAD news at the vet

Post by GabrielDeafBlindPupFamily »

Oh, dear Crystal... What an awful thing!
I can't help but be amazed that this happened at the hospital.
Thank God for that anyway.
I am so very sorry. Breath knocked away.
So very sorry!
Karen, Andy's ^i^ mom
Lethal White Aussies Rule!
INTERACTIVE RESCUE SITE!
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Christine
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Re: BAD news at the vet

Post by Christine »

Prayers for your precious girl. You're such a good mom.

Love,
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Christine... and Bailey, playing at the Bridge
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Barbara Boehmer
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Re: BAD news at the vet

Post by Barbara Boehmer »

How sad. I have never seen Cushings in a cat, just horses. The symptoms are so different in horses, dogs, cats, and humans. Is the thyroid cat hyperthyroid? I had two cats that were hyperthyroid, both initially with no signs of kidney problems. They were started on tapazole for the thyroid problem and the first re-test showed their kidneys were O.K., but then the second test showed sudden severe kidney failure. Apparently, if a thyroid cat also has a kidney problem, which is common, the hyperthyroidism masks the kidney problem. Once the thyroid problem is treated, there is less blood supply to the kidneys and the kidney problem emerges. What surprised me is how rapidly and drastically it emerges. Once we discovered the kidney problem, we took both of them off the tapazole and they both died shortly thereafter. Taking them off the tapazole increases the risk of heart attack, so you have to weigh the risks of heart attack versus the risks of kidney failure. I will never know whether they died from the kidney problems because we did not decrease the tapazole soon enough or died from heart attacks because they were taken completely off the tapazole. If I had it to do over again, I would aim for the middle of the road. I would start them on a lower (1/2 of normal recommended) dosage of tapazole and test more often (every month), not just a month after the first dosage, then less often, because things change suddenly and drastically, beyond the first month, and by the time you see symptoms it is too late. If kidney problems emerge, I would probably reduce (1/2) the tapazole dosage, rather than stop it. I hope my experience will be of some benefit to you.
Barbara Boehmer (not a veterinarian, just a fellow pet owner)
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tessa
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Re: BAD news at the vet

Post by tessa »

poor crystal. that sounds just so painful and frightening.
my thoughts are with you.
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Bendy Kitty
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Re: BAD news at the vet

Post by Bendy Kitty »

MayAnn's thyroid test came back normal.
we're not sure what is up with her.
but she is no longer vomiting and her stools are normal.

it is a puzzle.
sh weights 5.5 lbs, she would look good at 8.
she has a heart rate of 220 bpm.
too high.

Strangely, Crystal did not react all to her skin falling off like that. She didn't even seem to notice. It is something the vet and I have puzzled over, I"m glad that she didn't feel it.
I'm glad this happend in teh vet's office and not at home.

poor poor girl.

Bendy
In loving memory of Bendy Cute Kitty 9/15/00-4/23/12

Meet the cats at Bendy's Home http://www.alittletlc.com"
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