Quality of Life question - URGENT, please help!

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skotnjil

Member Since 2012
Hi everyone,

It is with a heavy hand and heart that I put this message out there as I am scared and hesitant to hear your answers as I feel I know what you all might say but here it is...

On Sunday, we came downstairs to find Red Sonja, Warrior Princess, in the throes of a grand mal seizure, barely breathing, unresponsive. She was rushed to the ER where they determined she in a hypoglycemic shock along with hypothermia, her little body was quite cold.

The vet checked her out, gave her valium to stop the seizure, gave her an injection of sugar, and started her on fluids. She came back and basically asked if we wanted to put her down or continue w/trying to save her. We asked that she do everything she could.

Sonz had been fine for several weeks leading up to this and showed no signs of distress the night before, so this was out of the blue and totally unexpected, but I do believe she got too much insulin.

They were able to bring her around and stabilize her but then she "platueoed" and has not had much change since. They got her BUN and creatinine down very nicely due to the IV but it's the diabetes that she was diagnosed with about six months ago that's the culprit here. The vet has indicated most cats do not come back from this sort of thing and she was worried about extensive brain damage due to the seizure and lack of oxygen. We were able to bring her home yesterday for in home nursing care but there has been no change.

She will eat a bit every few hours, and try to drink but she has completely loss the use of her back legs, which were already very weak to begin with despite our efforts with Adequan for her arthritis and B12 methyl, etc. She tries to stand and falls over. Also, we have had her on a heating pad with another draped over her and she is having a hard time regulating/keeping her temperature up where it needs to be. She seems to be very comfortable and peaceful and I could most assuredly tell she recognized her surroundings and was happy to be home which makes us happy. But it will be 48 hours as of 9:00 this morning since we found her (and we have no idea how long she was seizing before we got to her). She is on a blanket and a piddle pad as she cannot even use the litter box because she can't walk.

I have been sobbing off and on since this happened as we have fought so hard since her diagnosis in Oct 2010 and this came out of left field and has flattened her...I was prepared for everything BUT this! I need to know if I am making her suffer unreasonably and need to let the pts enter my mind or if I should hold off a while longer? I slept next to her last night and again, she does not seem to be in any pain (most likely due to the bupranex the emerg vet put her on as she seems to think there is an issue w/her tummy, possibly pancreatitis or a tumor? even tho she gets regular check ups due to her ckd) but she is just laying there, under her heated pads, eyes not always fully closed and such. Can I hope for recovery or am I just grasping at straws and this time we are out of options? It seems inconceivable to put down my beautiful girl when she is breathing on her own and is not on life support but what kind of life is this for her? The ER vet had said we might want to consider getting a full nuerological and internal medicine consult today at a different hospital/school and I am waiting to hear from my regular vet what she thinks about that. She just turned 17 in Sept, has ckd since Oct 2010, arthritis and diabetes. I don't want to lose her this way and was hoping she would peacefully go in her sleep...some day. But now this has happened and I am faced with a decision. I cherish the years I have had with her but I am just not ready to lose my only child, which she is as we don't have any two legged ones. Can anyone please provide some insight? Has anyone heard of having going into shock this badly and still coming out of it? The vet said she should have improved by now but I was hoping that maybe due to her age it just might be taking her a little longer?

I'm sorry for the long post but I am inconsolable at the thought of the eventual outcome of her situation. Who am I going to sing to every day and make up songs about? Who am I going to fill my phone with of 20 million pictures of the same pose so I can see her while I'm at work? Who will I talk to and ask her opinion...and get a good answer, she is THE smartest cat ever!!!

Sandpaper kisses to all and don't forget to give your babies and extra treat and gentle hug each and every day!

Jill and Red Sonja, Warrior Princess (Sonz)
 
Are you giving her sub-Q fluids if she isn't drinking? If she were my kitty, I would give her some more time. It hasn't been that long since the hypo which was traumatic for her body. Time that may help heal her or time that may show she is brain damaged.

Are you hometesting her? If not, it will be needed to monitor her diabetes, especially now. Also, be very careful of using heating pads that they don't burn her.

PTS is a final answer to a question that cannot be answered this soon. As long as she doesn't show signs of being in pain I would give her some more time.
 
This is from my own experience:

I believe that our animals will let us know when they are ready to leave us. There are signs that give to let us know. Such as refusing to eat or drink, not showing any interest in things they used to enjoy, such as looking out a window, batting a toy around, a look that they give to you that in your heart you just feel it and know they are asking for help to say goodbye.

If your cat isn't showing these kind of signs, then as Hope indicated, maybe it is too soon to determine if it is time. She may need more time to recover from the trauma.

This may also be a good time to reevaluate your diabetes treatment - such as are you home testing? If not, are you willing to start? Maybe the dose needs to be adjusted, or the insulin type changed. There are so many if's that if it were my cat, I would do everything I can to nurse her back and see if that helps her to improve, before making any decisions at this time.

But again, that is just me.
 
If she seems happy, help her do the things she cannot - if she isn't cleaning herself, take a warm, damp washcloth and do it. The gentle massage may help circulation, too.

Sometimes when there has been nerve damage, gently putting the limb through range of motion exercises may help with some recovery and maintain some muscle. It will let you literally feel if there is any strength or reflexes in the leg at all.

They do make diapers for kitties that are incontinent, if you are able to check regularly. If she cannot get out of her own waste, you will need to be diligent in cleaning her.

At 17, I'm not sure how much veterinary intervention I'd want to put her through, particulary if she finds it stressful. If she's relaxed around the vet and you want to pursue it, you can do the consults.

She will let you know if its time.
 
Thank you everyone for you kind word and good thoughts and vibes. I just had another super long sobbing session and have calmed down once again. I think, since she is not in pain, I may give her one more night to see if there is any further recovery. If not, I may just have to deal with helping her cross as with the respect she so deserves. She is not playing, not looking around, not doing much of anything besides just laying under her (blanket protected) heating pads. Her temp is still lower than normal, 95 to 97, and that causes me and my vet tech friend great concern. I'm trying to prepare myself for this but everytime I think I'm there, or going to be able to handle it, I break down again. And yes, we were doing home testing, she gets IV fluids, B12 methyl, amlodipine for her blood pressure, and binders for her high phos all due to CKD. Also, Adequan once a week for arthritis. Watching her like this is excrutiating and another night will be difficult but I may have to at least try. I will use the links to try and see if it might help with our decision but again, maybe it's best to just not make a decision for just one more day...

My husband will be home soon and we are both off tomorrow so again, maybe one more night and if no change, we can go with her together tomorrow and do what's best for my beloved, four legged wonder child...she has amazed the vet before and has ALWAYS fought the good fight so who knows?! I love you more than life itself my sweet muffin!
 
whatever you decide, know she has lived a long, good, happy and safe life because of you. do not feel bad or guilty about your decision, rather know that you are doing everything possible for her and giving her that final act of love - letting her go with dignity.

there is no right or wrong and given all her other medical issues and age, she may not have the strength to continue.
 
So sorry to hear this. How very awful and sad. I hope things are better this morning.

I know the decision I have made in relation to my baby when the time comes, however only you can know the decision you're making for your own kitty. I guess if I were you I would use whatever advice I could - does the vet think she is suffering? What is the long-term outlook? If no-one can answer these questions, what do you think? You know your kitty best. Some cats are quite happy going through seemingly difficult challenges so long as they have their humans and a cosy bed. Other cats get upset easily and make it clear they don't have the strength anymore.

You're doing the best you can, and you're doing great under the circumstances. ((hugs)) Don't feel guilty whatever you decide - you're caring and considering all you can.
 
I am very sorry you are facing a decision like this. I will pray that Red Sonja recovers quickly and that she is not ready to leave this world.
I can only echo what everyone else has said. Hugs to you and your DH, and scritches to Red Sonja
 
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