My Buddy Boy

**MySweetBoy** · 12-20-2004, 07:09 PM

Hi Slick,

Thanks for your kind concern. Buddy has had a couple of bad days. He wasn't much interested in eating but still drinking well. I've been giving him a daily suppliment of Nutra-Cal since Friday. He seems to be feeling a little better today and his appetite has picked up a bit. This little cat has such a strong will. Although I'm aware that cats are great at hiding their pain, I really don't believe he's in any great deal of pain, yet. However, I do know that he's having discomfort. He's not real strong but he's still using the litter box, walks to the main water dish (even though I put a special one by his bed) and comes to visit when we're in the kitchen. He's still comfortable around the rest of the gang and hasn't made any attempts to hide. He wants to be with us and watches my every move. My other tommy, Oliver has been staying very close to Buddy. Yesterday, he started meowing loudly and pacing from room to room. I didn't know what was wrong with him. Then mom said, I think he's looking for Buddy. He hadn't seen me help Buddy onto the kitchen table, to look out the window. When I showed Oliver where he was, he calmed down instantly and sat with him. Oliver has been a good and faithful companion to Buddy. Today I went out and bought Buddy's favorite......steamed fresh shrimp. As mom and I were peeling, we were all eating. It's times like this that I will cherish forever. I let him have whatever he wants now. He deserves it. Again, thanks for thinking about us. It really means a lot.

Merry Christmas!!

Linda

**Phaelen** · 12-28-2004, 08:21 PM

Dear Linda,
Thank you so much for replying to my post. Currently Bandit is only on Rutin at 500mg x 3/dy and her chest taps are four days apart averaging the removal of 135cc's each time. This condition seems to be quite rare and I have reached out cross continent looking for answers, treatments or help in any form but have really come up with everyone telling me she will not survive this. However I have made friends with another chylothorax kitty who has actually survived this and it is her that has kept me going with hope. Lately that hope has been dwindling and it breaks my heart every time I look at my little girl who seems so healthy and happy in every other respect. We have not explored other medicines and you can be sure that I will be on the phone first thing in the morning to my vet. With the taps happening to frequently I have been feeling certain that the end was coming soon, regardless of the fact she doesnt' seem to be minding them whatsoever. The hardest part is the fact that I am running out of funds to keep this up, but I am continuing to keep going and trying regardless. I have an amazing vet, who although has little experience with this condition, comes to my home to tap Bandit. Even on days when I am forced to work she has a key and comes on her own with an assisstant. Bandit was originally a rescue kitten that I fostered from about 4 weeks and my vet has been there every step of the way. She to does not want to give up hope and both of us have shared tears over the matter. If there is any way to slow down the fluid I will be forever grateful as now the main fear is the onset of fibrosing pleuritis. I know the chyle fluid is very aggrevating to the chest and lungs and scar tissue has begun to build. Suprisingly enough though it is still somewhat less than we had expected. My hope would be that if we could slow down the fluid than maybe it might give her body more time to possbily heal. And if not, than at least she will be more comfortable and I will have gained valuable time spent with her. Thank you ever so much again...I promise to keep you posted on what my vet says and know that my prayers are with both you and Buddy. I truly understand how heart wrenching this ordeal is and I would not wish it upon anyone. I am here if at any time you should ever need someone to talk to, vent with, cry with or simply listen.

With thoughts and prayers,
~Amanda

**MySweetBoy** · 12-28-2004, 10:25 PM

Hi Amanda,

I'm glad that I could be of some support to you. I know that this is a very scary and difficult disease to deal with.....especially for the poor cat. I didn't mean to sound so doom and gloom but facts are stuborn things. Like I tried to explain to you, unless an underlying condition to this disease can be identified, your kind of stuck and so is the vet. All you can do, is what you're doing. I truely hope your vet can find the culprit. Has Bandit been checked for cardiomyopathy, a heart tumor or any other heart disease? These are some underlying diseases that may overshadow those of pleural effusion. Cardiomyopathy is not as common in female cats but not unheard of. It can be easily detected with ultra sound. It's just a shot in the dark but worth investigating. You are very lucky that Bandit doesn't have fibrosing pleuritis. My poor sweet boy, Buddy does, in addition to two large cysts and scarring on his heart. I will definately pray that the underlying cause with Bandit can be caught in time and is curable. Amanda, you can post me any time. As I said, I do know what you're going through. You will be of great support to me also. I've included a web site that will explain in more detail about chylothorax. I'm sorry that I don't know how to include it so you can just click. Take care and give Bandit a kiss on her little cold wet nose for me. :-)

Linda

www.sniksnak.com/cathealth/chylothorax.html

**yorkster** · 12-29-2004, 12:26 AM

I'm so sorry to hear about Buddy.

My baby had the same diagnosis 2 years ago and died on Christmas eve. Even to this day I can think about it and cry.
By the time my vet caught it, he was too far advanced to be treated successfully, so I understand how that feels (I switched vets)

Buddy is a beautiful boy and has that sweet face of a very special kitty.
I pray that you get some good news.

**MySweetBoy** · 12-29-2004, 08:19 AM

I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your little baby. It must be very sad for you. Thank you for your kind words of concern. Every little bit helps me cope a little easier.
Chylothorax is a very sneaky disease....and with cats being the great pain hiders that they are, a lot of times it's progressed to far to do anything about. Then, all you can do is try to make them comfortable, worry, cry, and hope someone will just listen. Thanks for listening. Take care.

Linda