nerominka
Member Since 2023
This past Friday I took Nero in to the vet as he had a swollen nasal bridge and had been lethargic, eating less, and vomiting a lot / seemed like trying to get a hairball out. The vet said everything seemed ok but gave cerenia inj and topical steroid drop for nose. That night I noticed his breathing seemed more labored but I thought it might be reaction to the cerenia. It improved in the morning but then at night returned. On Monday I called the vet and he said he would note the reaction but it should get better soon because the med is almost out of his system. Well it seemed to get worse so I took in him Tuesday morning after watching him all night breathe 32-34 bpm but it just seemed labored. The vet did exam and said everything looks and sounds normal, to just watch him at home. I asked for chest X-ray because I was concerned. We transferred to vet with X-ray and on arrival she said I can feel fluid. The X-rays then showed he had fluid around his lungs and she told me to euthanize him that nothing can be done. I freaked out and said I want to take him home - she told me he wouldn’t make the drive. I felt so bad but I felt I had to try and get a hospice vet to come to our house. We made it home and Nero rested but then he got up to go to the bathroom and eat a bit. I called around to try to find a vet to come over to euthanize as they made it seem like his death is imminent. I finally found someone and then the vet with the X-ray called to say the report came back from radiology that it might be a heart issue, he could have a tap to drain fluid and ultrasound. I got some hope and took him to the ER.
they drained about 130 ml and took repeat X-rays which showed no signs of heart issues. I had the fluid analyzed and it came back lymphocyte rich but no diagnostic signs of cancer cells etc. they say with his age (13 almost 14) that their main concern is cancer like lymphoma. They say most likely cancer but can’t rule out heart issue, which would need an echo, they offer next step abdominal ultrasound to look for cancer there. his regular vet seems to be sold on euthanasia as it doesn’t look good and these visits are very stressful and scary for Nero. It’s a quality of life issue. Nero took about a day to recover from the ER trauma, last night he came to me for pets and he came onto my bed and cuddled my legs. He is still eating drinking etc. he seems tired and maybe uncomfortable. Tonight I think his breathing is getting bad again. I’m still unsure what to do. A vet I spoke to tonight offered that they could give dexamethasone steroid to try against the lymphoma even if we don’t know, and even with his diabetes. But he also probably needs another tap. I’m debating going in now or in the AM. He is resting on a bed. Sometimes I think I should just help him pass, although I hate being the one making that choice. And I want to do everything I can to help him. It was over $3k just for the things we did so far. I want to help him but if he has no chance of feeling good again I don’t want to put him through testing and procedures for my benefit.
they drained about 130 ml and took repeat X-rays which showed no signs of heart issues. I had the fluid analyzed and it came back lymphocyte rich but no diagnostic signs of cancer cells etc. they say with his age (13 almost 14) that their main concern is cancer like lymphoma. They say most likely cancer but can’t rule out heart issue, which would need an echo, they offer next step abdominal ultrasound to look for cancer there. his regular vet seems to be sold on euthanasia as it doesn’t look good and these visits are very stressful and scary for Nero. It’s a quality of life issue. Nero took about a day to recover from the ER trauma, last night he came to me for pets and he came onto my bed and cuddled my legs. He is still eating drinking etc. he seems tired and maybe uncomfortable. Tonight I think his breathing is getting bad again. I’m still unsure what to do. A vet I spoke to tonight offered that they could give dexamethasone steroid to try against the lymphoma even if we don’t know, and even with his diabetes. But he also probably needs another tap. I’m debating going in now or in the AM. He is resting on a bed. Sometimes I think I should just help him pass, although I hate being the one making that choice. And I want to do everything I can to help him. It was over $3k just for the things we did so far. I want to help him but if he has no chance of feeling good again I don’t want to put him through testing and procedures for my benefit.
