Jack Is Ill: He is going to the bridge...(Update)

[CultureJunky]

Both my father and myself take Atenolol for high blood pressure. I sure hope it works for Jack. I'd be so ticked with that other vet that said they were booked and couldn't talk with you right now.

I hope you can get him in to see another vet at a different office. I'd be worried sick AND furious!

Yes as I found out in my researching on the net it is a human drug, and only patented for humans, but it is used by vets to treat hypertension in cats. As it's for human use, the dose is small, about a quarter of the 25mg each day.
I am going to ring the PDSA and explain he has responded well to the atenolol and ask if I can have a prescription for more. He seems a bit better this evening, sitting on the sofa, after having his second quarter of the tablet.
I really am against taking him to the vets, as he gets terrible panic attacks in the car and carrier, and this will exacerbate his breathing and heart rate, so I am REALLY hoping they will let me have a prescription for it and let him have it for a few days, maybe when he settles down a bit and is calmer I can take him to be checked.

Has anybody here gone to the vets for a prescription and they have given it to them, without examining their cat beforehand, if it has already been prescribed in a small dose?

I will sleep downstairs with him again tonight, hopefully when he's settled down for the night and sleeping, the tablet will work more and his heart will have slowed down more.

[Medusa]

Has anybody here gone to the vets for a prescription and they have given it to them, without examining their cat beforehand, if it has already been prescribed in a small dose?

My old vet, who has since retired, would've done that for me because I went to him for 30 years. But I doubt that any vet nowadays will do it because of the liability. I'd ask anyhow, ya never know. All they can say is "no".

[catmandu]

What a terrible thing to say , to consider having Jack put down before all avenues have been explored!!!
I dont think that anty Vet worth his salt would say that unless the Pet was in dire straight.
We are praying hard for Jack, and we hope that that medicine helps him be his old self again.
That receptionist should be reprimanded for her lack of courtesy and proffesionalism.

Jack, were in your corner!!

[CultureJunky]

Okay, an update on Jack and how things are going.

I rang a vet this morning, called Cardiff Cat Clinic, they are a cat only practice. As it was a Sunday, I had to ring the emergency line, this transferred me to an emergency practice that covers a number of vetinary practices in the Cardiff area on weekends.
I took him in to be examined.
The vet checked his heart, lungs and pulse. He couldn't feel his pulse as it was quite weak, and he also said his temprature is quite low. His heart was beating so fast he couldn't count it, he says there is something going on with his heart and it's quite bizarre to be so high, and also that it might have a murmur.
So he's keeping him in for the night, and has given him an injection of atenolol (the same medication the PDSA vet gave me in tablet form) to stabalise him and help bring his heart rate down, he may also give him some oxygen.

We have to ring between 4-6 pm to see how he is doing and if the injection has helped.
As it's an emergency vets they can only keep him until 8.00am tomorrow morning, then he can be transferred to a vet of our choice. I am NOT taking him back to the PDSA. I will try and get him into the Cardiff Cat Clinic practice tomorrow morning, get him registered and then try and get him treated.
The vet said that as they have now looked at him, the PDSA probably won't take him back again as they are a charity and sometimes they don't accept animals back, this doesn't matter to me as I'm not taking him back anyway, I said money isn't an option, I want to get the best treatment for him. PDSA only do basic things and simply wouldn't have the money for the work he needs done.
The vet said he needs to have blood tests, and a chest X-ray to see what is going on with his heart. He also said it is possible it could be his other thyroid gland as they sometimes break down too after over compensating after the removal of the oppostite one. But most inportantly he thinks he should have blood tests and get a chest X-ray.

Naturally he explained that when he gets an X-ray he will have to have an anaesthetic and this is dangerous considering he's quite ill. I accept this that he could possibly die from it, but It needs to be done to treat him.

I am prepared to let him be treated and if he happened to pass away then I would feel much better the fact that he passed on being treated properly by a good vet. I will accept that, I could not however accept just having him put to sleep or letting him die of a heart attack at home. I would never have recovered from that.

So he'll stay in overnight and we pick him up at 8.00am tomorrow morning. He'll stay stabalised, providing he doesn't deteriorate then the vet would do the chest x-ray and blood tests himself, but I do think he'll be okay having the injection to reduce his heart rate.
I am praying he'll stay stablised overnight and I can get him registered and start trying to find out what's wrong with him at the Cats clinic asap tomorrow.

So that is what is happening, I miss him already, the house is empty without him, but I am comforted knowing he's being looked after and is stable and not in any specific danger for the time being.

Kate

[Medusa]

Wow, that's quite a lot for you to handle! But at the same time, I believe that you're making the right decisions. I'm not sure I understand why Jack needs to be anesthetized for an x-ray, though. My Puddy just had an ultrasound and an x-ray and she wasn't anesthetized. (She was so calm that I asked and my vet assured me that she was not.) At any rate, we're sending out those prayers that things will turn around for Jack and for you.

[CultureJunky]

I think the vet would have him have an anaesthetic as it would stress him to be X-rayed, it could be that if he's okay overnight, and he goes to the other vets (the cat clinic) that they won't need to anasthetise him for an X-ray, that's what I'm hoping. I guess they would have to seriously stablise him and bring his heart rate right down for a few days before considering their options. I think they would want to reduce the risk of him passing away whist having a chest x-ray.
I can't tell you all how quickly I want tomorrow to come so I can get him to the other vets, I am so desperate for the time to fly, I am trying to find things to do to make the time go faster!

[orangemm]

My heart goes out to you and to Jack; I know you are terribly anxious and scared for him. I, too, am glad you got a 2nd opinion. Sometimes that makes all the difference. We'll pray lots of prayers for your baby.

((((hugs))))