After my March vacation, I took her to the vet to find out what was going on (although I was pretty sure I already knew). In addition to the weight loss, she has been scratching the right side of her neck and chin pretty seriously. A visit to the vet confirmed she had a thyroid issue and needs 2 times a day medication. They also gave her a steroid shot to help her scratching. It helped a little bit but it wasn't long before she flat dug the shit out of her neck. There are tuffs of fur she pulls out. And she had a huge section covered in scabs now which is pretty gross to be honest. And on top of it all, they called me and said her kidney levels are showing the start of kidney disease.
After much thought, I decided to go ahead with the thyroid medication since it is an ointment I put in her ear twice a day. I frankly didn't do much to address her kidney issue. She loves her Iams food and is a picky eater. I started feeding her wet food too. After 13 years, she finally met wet food!! First it was a treat for her but with my run of fosters, I have been giving it to her more regularly. Now in the morning,she begs for it right away. I guess in my senior years, I would want a steady supply of treats too. My choice is chocolate chip cookies please. Although she is scratching her neck like crazy, we went on our way for the past month. Today she had her follow up appointment.
They drew more blood work and we waited...and waited...and waited. Before we actually gave up hope, the vet, Dr. B came in to look at her neck. Her teeth look great. Her ears look good. She doesn't feel anything weird. But the scabs are pretty significant and there is fear there is a nerve issue or a tumor in there we can't see without some distress and significant cost. We waited long enough, her blood results were done. Her thyroid level is great which means I am a rock star at giving her medication on a regular schedule. Unfortunately, her kidney levels have increased meaning the kidney disease is progressing. :-( Unless I start her on kidney food (about $80 a month), she probably won't live too much longer. Maybe a year. If I could get her to eat the kidney food, she might have 3 years more. Of course, that is if there isn't a tumor in her neck. And what if she has a tumor? I draw the line at kitty chemo. Especially for a 13 year old kitty. And I don't know with her kidney problem if that would even be an option. I forces me to have thoughts and make decisions I really don't want to think about.
I've always felt like giving a pet a loving home is a great thing and while there is tons of things we can do to keep our pets alive longer than we probably should, I've always believed in a more minimalistic approach to medical care when it comes to my pets. I simply can't put my Sissy through extensive treatments that make her extremely unhappy, cost as much as my own medical care (yet I have insurance!), and decrease her quality of life. Suddenly, it hit me tonight that my time with Sissy is in the sunset period. Yes, she can live another year or two but that suddenly seems so short. And how can I navigate these choices I must make without seeming or feeling cold and heartless? How do I know what is right for her and keep her as long as I can but not feeling like she is sick, uncomfortable, starving to death, or sad.
I love my kitties but Sissy is like my baby. We've been close as close since shortly after I got her. Once she learned to trust me (remember they were feral and that is no joke with Sissy) and it took Sissy about 3 months to let me really touch her, we were best buddies. But now her favorite thing is to sit by me, lay cheek to cheek, and let me knead her belly. She will not warm up to anyone else. I hate to say it but I would miss Baby too but we just aren't as close as Sissy and I. Why can't this be Baby? So we sat at the vet and waited. We snuggled together waiting for the vet. Here she was in a scary environment with lots of scary noises but when my arms are around her, she relaxed just enough and purred for about 45 minutes - just because I was there with her with my arms around her.
We gave Sissy another steroid shot today. If we keeping giving them to her, she will get diabetes. So it is a balance. We will see if this helps her with the neck scratching. I will keep doing her thyroid ointment in her ear. And I am going to pick up some over the counter medications that will help bind to the phospherous in pet food to help her kidneys feel better. Hopefully that will help her. Of course, I'm going to hold her a little closer and love on her a little longer knowing she won't be here forever. At least I have some time to prepare emotionally and make sure she is happy and comfortable.
 |
| When I am busy and can't told or sit with her, she likes to be in my clothes. What a sweetie. |
No comments:
Post a Comment