jaztsd
11-16-2006, 11:57 PM
Gus, my sweet, wonderful, 11 year old diabetic cat, went to kitty heaven this past Tuesday. He was a little off last Thursday and Friday, but was better over the weekend. Well, seemed better, anyway - he was actualy well on his way to kidney failure and ketoacidosis. I woke up Monday to a very sick cat, and a fair amount of cat vomit on the rug (after staying up with him most of the weekend - he was more active and eating when I finally fell asleep - thought it was stomach upset, and he was getting better).
Took him to the vet, spent almost $1000 that I don't have (some of you may remember I've been out of work for six weeks now) trying to see if he could be saved to live a live that was livable, and on Tuesday, when it seemed he couldn't be, I made the decision to put him down.
I took him to the overnight vet from the regular vet Monday, when we thought it was a diabetic crisis, and that his kidney enzymes were just reponding to that. I was up all night callling them every 2 hours, and took him back to his regular vet early Tuesday morning. By the time I returned to the regular vets, he was a little more alert, but he was still in bad shape, so I waited around (my vet is an hour away from home) in town to hear from the vet, because I has a bad feeling. The vet called me a few hours later, and told me his sugar and kidney enzymes were way up, and that Gus had stopped fightiing.
I went back to the vet, and held Gus for a while. He was pretty limp, and he just lifted his head and looked at me, and I chose to interpret it as him telling me it was time to go. I held him the whole time, through the injection and a little beyond, and the vet told me to just leave when I was ready, and they would work out the payment plan later - which was very sweet of him, since I already owed over $400 before last week's crisis.
Gus was diagnosed 3 and a half years ago with diabetes, and has been getting twice a day insulin shots ever since - I would often walk into my apartment with a $1.29 6-pack of ramen noodles in one hand, and a $36.00 bag of special diabetic cat food in the other. I don't doubt he had a happy life, and I don't doubt he was ready to go. Still, it's hard not to question myself, what could I have done better, could I have prevented this?
If I could give any advice to anyone reading this, it would be to get a pet. I had so much joy and companionship and love from Gus over the past 11 years. I imagine that I'll eventually get another cat - not planning to right now, but I suspect that sometime I'll just see a cat, fall in love, and take him home.
In fact, in my last post, which was to Chrystalina, I almost suggested she get Rae a cat for her birthday - but thought that may be a bit too pushy :)
Just wanted (needed) to share - he was such an important part of my life, and you are my extended family. Three and a half years is a pretty long time for a cat to live after being diagnosed with diabetes, and that's even after they get through the first six months or so. Still, it's hard. Been in bed most of the time since then, got up a few hours early this AM and posted a bit. Just got up again a little while ago. Plan to actually leave my apartment tomorrow.
Love,
Jan
Took him to the vet, spent almost $1000 that I don't have (some of you may remember I've been out of work for six weeks now) trying to see if he could be saved to live a live that was livable, and on Tuesday, when it seemed he couldn't be, I made the decision to put him down.
I took him to the overnight vet from the regular vet Monday, when we thought it was a diabetic crisis, and that his kidney enzymes were just reponding to that. I was up all night callling them every 2 hours, and took him back to his regular vet early Tuesday morning. By the time I returned to the regular vets, he was a little more alert, but he was still in bad shape, so I waited around (my vet is an hour away from home) in town to hear from the vet, because I has a bad feeling. The vet called me a few hours later, and told me his sugar and kidney enzymes were way up, and that Gus had stopped fightiing.
I went back to the vet, and held Gus for a while. He was pretty limp, and he just lifted his head and looked at me, and I chose to interpret it as him telling me it was time to go. I held him the whole time, through the injection and a little beyond, and the vet told me to just leave when I was ready, and they would work out the payment plan later - which was very sweet of him, since I already owed over $400 before last week's crisis.
Gus was diagnosed 3 and a half years ago with diabetes, and has been getting twice a day insulin shots ever since - I would often walk into my apartment with a $1.29 6-pack of ramen noodles in one hand, and a $36.00 bag of special diabetic cat food in the other. I don't doubt he had a happy life, and I don't doubt he was ready to go. Still, it's hard not to question myself, what could I have done better, could I have prevented this?
If I could give any advice to anyone reading this, it would be to get a pet. I had so much joy and companionship and love from Gus over the past 11 years. I imagine that I'll eventually get another cat - not planning to right now, but I suspect that sometime I'll just see a cat, fall in love, and take him home.
In fact, in my last post, which was to Chrystalina, I almost suggested she get Rae a cat for her birthday - but thought that may be a bit too pushy :)
Just wanted (needed) to share - he was such an important part of my life, and you are my extended family. Three and a half years is a pretty long time for a cat to live after being diagnosed with diabetes, and that's even after they get through the first six months or so. Still, it's hard. Been in bed most of the time since then, got up a few hours early this AM and posted a bit. Just got up again a little while ago. Plan to actually leave my apartment tomorrow.
Love,
Jan