Juggling life through a bi-polar lens. Sometimes up, sometimes down. Mostly trying to tread water in the middle. Creating a likeness to a normal life. Whatever "normal" is...

Sunday 16 September 2012

"Goodbye" beckons... *updated*

Scooter hasn't pooed since Wednesday, and hasn't eaten since Friday, except for a little chicken Saturday morning. He hasn't eaten any cat food, or anything at all other than raw chicken since Wednesday, either. He simply wouldn't touch anything else. Now, he won't eat that either.

We tried a Miralax mini enema yesterday. My neighbour, Sharon, used to be a veterinary nurse, and she did this for us! What a great neighbour!
Unfortunately, it has no effect.

This indicates that the blockage is higher up.

We have an oral laxative on order and this should arrive tomorrow.

But the worry now is that this might be caused by the pancreatic tumour- it may have spread to the intestine, or it may just have grown and now be leaning on the intestine, closing things off and making it harder, or impossible to pass any food past it.

We don't really know. And Nick, the vet, is on holiday (again!!!) till Tuesday.

I don't think Scooter can wait that long. We may have to call an emergency vet to come out today, or else ask someone else at Nick's practice to come out tomorrow- and help poor Scoob to go to Rainbow Bridge.

I can no longer get him to eat. And if there is a blockage further down, getting him to eat might just be making it more uncomfortable for him anyway.

I DID get a little down him with a small syringe. It amounted to just a teaspoon- a little pupmkin, and a little Vitalite. It was very stressful for him, he hated it.

I had to get it down him though, as I had given him his Antirobe anti-biotic via a pill-popper (he was prescribed this on Friday for his sinus infection) - this type of capsule can linger in the gullet and cause problems and pain so you must follow it with food or liquid to make it go down.

This morning he looks like a different cat. He looks worn out. His face looks different.

The galling thing it this- he hasn't had a seizure for two weeks now- we've got on top of that- and these last couple of days- even today as well- he has climbed back up onto the windowsill, no problem. 

We are all in tears. 

We are expecting to say goodbye pretty soon.

No food, no poos..... and sinus problems. When I washed his face for him today, what came away was bloodstained. It might just be irritation of the sinus lining. EIther way, it is one more thing for him to put up with. I think it is coming up to time to call time..... he has been so brave....now we have to be.....

update

It's 10pm. Scooter hasn't eaten, drunk, or pooed, (and until 5 minutes ago he hadn't peed, either).
He slept most of the day on the windowsill in the sun. He looked happy and peaceful.
He climbed down OK, then just sort of flaked out in a corner.
We called the vet, and asked if someone would come and put him to sleep.
All the vet clinics round here hand over to the same emergency vet service at weekends- "Vets Now". At first they said they would charge £500 to come out, then they said they couldn't anyway, as they only had one vet there, and she was watching an animal come out of anaesthetic. What sort of emergency service is it that only has one vet and can't come out?

So we cancelled. Then later in the evening, I heard a change in Scooter's breathing. When I checked his box, he was having a seizure. I held him till he was ok.

Again, we called the vet. There had been a shift change, so we had to explain it all again. There was still no one to come out. Reluctantly, we agreed to take Scooter in. I thought I would wrap him in his blankie, rather than use the cat carrier. While Luvbug was getting the car ready and Mum was getting her shoes on, I carried Scooter out to his garden fo one last look. He wriggled down, walked back towards the house, stopped and meoweddddd...
Once indoors, he hid under a chair.

I cancelled again. I said, he's not ready.

Since then, he has cuddled my hands while in his box, had just one lap of water, been out for a pee, walked to the door and taken up his 'mousing' position.

My plan is to stay up tonight with him. I'll give him some honey, maybe, to get him through, and I'll give him his pain meds, but that's all. Then I'll call the usual clinic tomorrow and get someone to come out.

I think tomorrow is the big day :(  I just knew he wasn't ready today.

Having written all that, he has just come along, jumped up on the windowsll in two bounds, no trouble. How is he able to, without having eaten or drunk for so long? It's all confusing....



**** *** **** *** **** ***
Helena

15 comments:

Beanie Mouse said...

Oh dear. I don't know what to say. Other than love and hugs and I really hope he's as comfy as possible.

ANGEL ABBYGRACE said...

Scooter is such a brave little man. He has shown such dignity. Our hearts ache for you and Scooter, we wish for some amazing healing, but we temper that with reality. We are keeping you and your sweet baby in our prayers.
Many healing hugs
Abby

Angel, Kirby and Max said...

I am crying with and for you! I agree that it is getting very close. Scooter can not be comfortable with all of this. I wish I could be there to hold your hand and lend a shoulder to cry on.

Di said...

Oh Helena, my heart is aching too. Your lovely friends above this comment have said the words I would say - thinking of you all and Scooter, who really has been so brave but perhaps now wishes for sleep and relief.

Sending you hugs and lots of love, as always, Di xx

Beedeebabee said...

Oh Helena, I'm so sad. I feel as you do that there isn't much time left. You and Scooter have put up a very brave fight, and tried harder and longer than most. I wish I could help in some way. Please know that I'm thinking of you all, and my heart just ached as I read this. Sending hugs to you, dear friend. xoxo Paulette

Linda . J said...

Oh Helena so sorry to hear this news, thinking of you.
Hugs Linda

Jans Funny Farm said...

We're sorry Scooter is doing poorly. We know this isn't easy for him or for you. Sending lots of purrs and pawhugs.

Marg said...

We sure are sending tons and tons of purrs and prayers to you Scooter. We hope that maybe something will make you feel better. It is so sad when we lose our fur babies. Many hugs to the peeps too.

Old Kitty said...

Oh beautiful Scooter. We send you all purrs and hugs. He sounds like such a fighter - such a brave boy! You are all in our thoughts, take care
x

The Island Cats said...

Oh we are so sorry to hear this! We are purring and praying for Scooter...and you...during this difficult time.

The Lee County Clowder said...

So sorry to hear that. Sending comforting purrrrrss and gentle headbutttss to Scooter.

Everycat said...

Scooter and Helena, we are sending you love and purrs. Scooter is a game old lad and he is telling you how things should be. I think you are right to be guided by him, even though it's hard to see him switch back and forth. You know him best, you can read him best

With love
Oliver, Gerry, Mungo & The Ape xx

Blue said...

So sorry to read this Helena - I weap for you as letting go is so hard.
Thinking of you all and sending love and hugs xxx

MorningAJ said...

We had a scary time this weekend with Fluffy too, so my sympathy's with you. He's old (around 20 but we're not really sure because he's an adoptee) and he's starting to show it. His time is close, we think, but not quite yet. Meanwhile we're making the most of having a wonderful, loving cat living with us.
Hugs.

ANGEL ABBYGRACE said...

Oh dear Helena we are so sorry you are going through all of this with the Vets.
We are purring so hard and have since we were last online.
Soft hugs and prayers for Scooter and you.

purrs
>^,,^<
✿•*¨`*•. ♥Abby♥Boo♥Ping♥Jinx♥Grace♥✿•*¨`*•.