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

[Laura's Babies]

((((HUGS)))) for you and for him! I will keep praying for him. You are doing all you can and that is all any of us can do for our babies.

[rg_girlca]

Oh gosh, poor sweet Jack and poor you. I'm glad you got a second opinion.

I won't even comment on the vet who said to have him PTS without even fully checking him out or the receptionist who had no time for you.

Big time prayers on the way that they find out what is really troubling poor Jack and that it can be easily cured with the proper medication.

Sending {{{{{{HUGS}}}}}} out to you.

[Catlady711]

I just now saw this thread. Poor Jack, I hope the ER vet gets him to feeling better. I know how frustrating it is and the worry over our kittes when they don't feel good. I really hope they get Jack breathing better and he can come home soon.


In reading the first post of the thread, I wanted to make a comment on this part....

So this morning I tried to ring another vets, not a charity one like I use, they basically said they can't see him without his medical history records, and the vet won't see him without these, I tried to explain to the receptionist about his condition, but she cut me off and just said 'I have a lot to do today we are fully booked and I can't talk to you about this now'
Kate

Most vets want records when the animal has already been seen somewhere for the same problem. This has nothing to do with what type of clinic you've been going to. If the vet doesn't have previous records they may have to repeat lab work, xrays etc that have already been done. This is a waste of your money and their time. Also records contain information about previous medications that did and did not work. Without that info the vet may end up prescribing something that has already been tried and didn't work.

A vet cannot rely entirely on the statements of the client for the medical history of previous visits. A client may remember something important incorrectly. It puts the vet out there for liability and possiblity of losing their license should something go wrong and they based their treatment upon verbal recommendation from a client not licensed in veterinary care. The AVMA would frown on a vet practicing medicine that way.

If the vet practice you called was very busy and you were protesting bringing in records, they probably thought that either you didn't follow the previous vets recommendations and now have a mess (I've seen this WAY too many times) or you hadn't had your pet to the vet in years and now have a mess (also seen this one WAY too many times). Obviously in your case niether is what has happened but a new vet has no way of knowing that.

Just wanted to help you clarify why that probably happened to you when you called the other vet. I know it doens't fix anything, but it may help you to at least understand them better.

[Taz_Zoee]

I will be thinking of Jack until I hear some good news.

[krazyaboutkatz]

I sure hope that the new vet will be able to help Jack and find out what's wrong with him. Lots more prayers and positive thoughts are being sent his way.

[CultureJunky]

A new update, we picked up Jack this morning from the emergency vets .
He had a stable night, but they couldn't give him the atenolol injection as he got too stressed when they went near his cubicle, he hissed and spat whenever anybody walked past. This is completely out of character for Jack as he is the softest cat you could ever hope to meet, so he was obviously not feeling good at all.
We then drove the the Cardiff cat clinic. We said we were with PDSA (the charity vet) but that he needs help and we'd like him to be transferred here. The vet did say he'd need his records, but phoned then and asked for them to be faxed to him, he also had the emergency vets record faxed through also.
He examined him and said the outlook is not good. His heartbeat is extreme and his breathing is also terrible.
He also said his other thyroid gland is huge and is a goitre(?) so would need to be taken out as it's gone haywire like his other one did.
So he is suffering still from hyperthyroidism and that the gland is probably leaking the toxic fluid into his blood causing his heart rate.
However he said he may have irepairable damage to his heart and he will need oto X-ray it to see if it is enlarged.
As he is gravely ill, the main thing to do is to try and lower his heart rate so he has been put on oxygen for a few hours to try and calm it down.
However he said he is extremely weak and could very likely collapse at any time.
If he can't get his heart rate down with oxygen, then he said he would certainly not survive an aneasthetic for an X-ray or anything else and there would be nothing he could do.
He said he doesn't want to handle him too much either as the slightest physical movement and stress could kill him.

He said the prognosis is extremely poor. I wanted to give him the best chance possible so opted for him to be treated with oxygen for a few hours to see if it works and lowers his heart. If it doesn't, then it will be time to let him go.

I cannot describe how I am feeling right now, my heart is broken, and I feel dead inside, and just want to lie down and sob. My heart is breaking into pieces and the thought of having to let him go is just too much for me to take.

I feel partly responsible in taking him to the PDSA (the PDSA is for people on low incomes who recieve housing or tax benefits) and not to a better vet practice who could've spotted the trouble and removed both thyroids, I have no doubt he would've had better treatment. It's only now going to these private vets that I can see the difference in the way they treat the animals and the level of care they give. Jack didn't have any aftercare after his operation to remove his thyroid, no medication, nothing.
If he had been at another vets I think he wouldn't be the way he is now.
I know deep down it's not my fault as I didn't know, and knew nothing about hyperthyroidism., but if only I had taken him sooner, it may have helped, I just thought he was losing weight from excercise, I did'nt know there was anything wrong with him. How could I have been so blind to the fact he was ill?
I feel that it could've been so different if I'd only taken him to a private vets instead of using PDSA, they obviously only offer basics, but I just didn't know or realise that, I just didn't know.

So that is the update, I am waiting for a phone call this afternoon to let me know if he has repsonded to the oxygen treatment. I am praying that he has

My heart is broken, and it will never ever heal.

[Killearn Kitties]

I'm so sorry to hear that you are having such a terrible time. My thoughts will be with Jack over the next few hours. I desperately hope that he responds to the oxygen treatment.

Please take care of yourself today.

[jenluckenbach]

{{{{{{{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}}}}}}}

I am so sorry that Jack is so sick. I will pray that he can rebound. I am heart broken with you.

[Freedom]

Hugs to all of you, Kate.

You are trying to do what is best for Jack and you have to remember that. What a difficult situation. I am praying for all of you.

[Laura's Babies]

((((HUGS)))) Poor Jack, I bet he is terrified with what he is experiencing. I know you are terrified too. Just remember we are here and we understand. Prayers are going for Jack!

[Anikaca77]

My prays for you and for Jack. (Hugs)

[Randi]

Oh poor Jack, and poor you. I'm so sorry to read this. I really hope that Jack will respond to the oxygen and feel better. Then there is chance that the vet can treat him.

I'm sending lots of positive thougths to Jack - and big hugs to you.

Please don't blame yourself, you are doing all you can for him.

[Catty1]

CJ - you have done everything for Jack, everything you could. It's clear that he is very loved.

There are so few of us that know everything that could happen when we take our babies in, even everything about the illness they have. It's okay - you did your absolute best with what you have.

I pray that the oxygen calms Jack's heart rate down...that his heart xray is ok. The best outcome is that the other part of the thyroid could be removed...or he could be put on a thyroid med to keep the levels good.

HUGE PT Prayers for Jack.

{{{{hugs}}}}

[jennielynn1970]

Oh my, what a horrible thing to have happened!! I would be so upset with the clinic that treated him. Whether or not you are low income or whatever, you deserve the same treatment as any other person with pets!! A vet is a vet, and they should know that they are treating all God's creatures. Shame on them, for putting you and Jack through this.

I'll be praying for Jack and for you to pull through this. Big hugs.... we are all here if you need a shoulder!

[Emeraldgreen]

I'm so sorry about what you and Jack are going through. I'm praying that the oxygen will help him and that you receive some uplifting news this afternoon. Try not to be so hard on yourself, you could not have known that the vet wasn't going to everything he could for Jack. I would have assumed that a vet in practice, no matter what practice, would do their best and it is just awful that he did not. It's not your fault. I hope you'll be kind to yourself and give Sunny a hug. You guys need each other right now.