Ruth & Beethoven (GA)
Member
Yesterday's thread: viewtopic.php?f=28&t=49968
I took Beethoven to the vet clinic first thing this morning. They were able to get him in right away, since Dr. Boggs recognized this as very urgent. So far this is what we know.
The x-ray showed a great deal of fluid in his thoracic cavity, which is why he’s been struggling to breathe. They placed him in an oxygen chamber almost immediately, and his color started to improve. That sounds strange for a white cat, but his eyes had that glassy look, which improved almost immediately, and his gums, which had been dark, brightened up to a pinkish hue.
They were able to remove only about 10cc of fluid at first. Beethoven wasn’t happy about all the poking and prodding, and he wasn’t cooperating. Since then, they sedated him and did an echocardiogram and removed more fluid. The fluid was loaded with red blood cells, which is a particularly bad sign. The initial findings are not good. It appears he may have either a tumor on his lung or cardiomyopathy or both.
Beethoven is gravely ill. We’ll know more this afternoon about a diagnosis, a prognosis, and treatment options. So far the bill is well into four digit territory.
I was holding up pretty well until I started writing this. Our little guy has been through so much, and each time he has stormed back. I don’t know if he has it in him to beat this one.
Ruth
I took Beethoven to the vet clinic first thing this morning. They were able to get him in right away, since Dr. Boggs recognized this as very urgent. So far this is what we know.
The x-ray showed a great deal of fluid in his thoracic cavity, which is why he’s been struggling to breathe. They placed him in an oxygen chamber almost immediately, and his color started to improve. That sounds strange for a white cat, but his eyes had that glassy look, which improved almost immediately, and his gums, which had been dark, brightened up to a pinkish hue.
They were able to remove only about 10cc of fluid at first. Beethoven wasn’t happy about all the poking and prodding, and he wasn’t cooperating. Since then, they sedated him and did an echocardiogram and removed more fluid. The fluid was loaded with red blood cells, which is a particularly bad sign. The initial findings are not good. It appears he may have either a tumor on his lung or cardiomyopathy or both.
Beethoven is gravely ill. We’ll know more this afternoon about a diagnosis, a prognosis, and treatment options. So far the bill is well into four digit territory.
I was holding up pretty well until I started writing this. Our little guy has been through so much, and each time he has stormed back. I don’t know if he has it in him to beat this one.
Ruth
