My little sweet boy, Buddy is so sick. He is critical and dying. I am devestated beyond reason. I can't stop crying. I don't want to stop crying. I feel as though I am dying with him. Last July, 2003, I noticed that Buddy's breathing had become labored and he missed his mark when he tried to jump up on a stool. He fell back, looked up at me and cried. When I tried to helped him up to walk, he limped on his hind legs. I took him to the vet immediately. The vet took an x-ray and concluded that Buddy had cardiomyopathy and had probably suffered a thrombosis, a blood clot to a rear leg. She treated him for these conditions kept him over night in an oxygen cage and prescribed heart medications. When we took him home he became very lythargic. He wasn't responding well to the medication at all. I thought he was going to die on my lap. He couldn't be seen by my regular vet because she and her husband, also a vet went on vacation and wasn't coming back for at least a month. However, they did have fill in. She did her best but did Buddy no good. I just wished my regular vet had told me that they had an ultrasound machine. I would have done anything to help my sweet boy. I was put in touch with another vet who had an ultrsound machine. He did the ultrasound, took more x-rays an EKG, and tapped fluid from his chest, as plural effusion had developed. The studies were sent to a cardiologist. The diagnosis again was cardiomyopathy and they gave a very bleak prognosis. They didn't expect him to live for more than three months. He fooled everyone! Medication and six month checkups were prescribed. I was very diligent with his medication regimen. Not one dose was ever missed. That brings us to today. Tuesday, I noticed that Buddy was having difficulty breathing again. We took him to the vet immediately. X-rays were taken and he had to have fluid tapped from his chest again. The x-rays revealed that his heart had gotten much larger. We took him home but he seemed no better for the treatment. Back to the vet. An ultrasound was performed and Buddy was put in an oxygen cage. When the vet told me his findings, I couldn't believe what I was hearing. He didn't have cardiomyopathy after all. He had been totally misdiagnosised. He in fact has a condition called chylothorax and it had progressed to the end stage. This is called fibrosing pleuritis. Once this developes, the cat has a guarded prognosis for a full recovery, regardless of the underlying cause. (If you don't know what this illness is, you can get information on the web, i.e. Pawprints and Purrs ). It would be to lengthy an explaination. I am so mad about this, I could spit nails. Had he been diagnosed properly at the onset, there was a chance of a good prognosis. Now all I can do is make him comfortable, cry and pray. As I watch his little chest struggle for air, I know it's only a matter of time before we go visit Dr. John again. I hate this thought and have always convinced myself that I would never do this to any of my pets. I was told if left up to nature it would be a very painful death (suffication). The idea of him dying peacefully in my arms is just an illusion. I can't bear to think of life without my little sweet boy. My heart is breaking. Buddy is almost thirteen years old. He was originally my older brothers baby. My brother passed away September, 1999 due to complications of diabetes at age 46. During his illness, he was very worried about the demise of his cats. I promised that I would see that his three cats got a good home. Well, they did. My sister took two and I took Buddy. My brother and I were extremely close. When he passed away, having Buddy helped me tremendously with my grieving process. Now I feel as though I'm losing a little piece of my brother. I feel so lonely and sad. Buddy has given me so much peace and joy. He doesn't have a mean bone in is body. All he knows is love. I'll miss hearing his little motor turn on just on eye contact and his little head butts of love. I'll miss him watching my every move and telling me when it's 8am and 8pm (medicine mixed with chicken liver time). I'll miss when I say come on boys, to take them out on their leash and only two show up. I'll miss when he follows me into the bathroom and plaintively asks to be brushed with the picky brush. I'll miss picking him up in front of the mirror and singing our little song," Who's that pretty little kitty in the mirror there)". I'll miss everything about him. I feel as though a very large part of me is dying with him. My heart is broken. I love you so much, my little sweet boy, Buddy.
Sorry for taking so much space. I had to get some relief somehow. Thanks
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Oh Linda I am so sorry about your Buddy. It is so obvious how much he means to you and how much you love him. My name is Debbie and my five cats are in my signature below. I have been part of this community for about ..two years I think?? There are lots of dear and sweet people here. If you look in the Cat Memorial forum - you will see that one of our regular posters T&P's Mom just lost her Tubby on Saturday and many of us grieve with her. I have also lost two geriatrics in the past five years. The kitties I have now are a whole new family. I also had to make a decision to have one of my geriatrics PTS (put to sleep) before he began to suffer any worse from a very large tumor that invaded his chest. Our animals are our family, our babies....and you have come to the right place to find consolation and to share your love of Buddy. Perhaps you would like to share some pictures of him, or some stories... so that we can get to know him better? Most people post in Cat General, so maybe you would like to post there?? Just an idea.
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