Sadly it looks like we've reached the end :(

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kxk34

Member Since 2022
I am sad to say that it appears we've reached the end of the road with our sweet Fuzzy.

We had to take her to the emergency vet at a referral center last night because the local vet thought she may have had a stroke based on some neurological symptoms she was showing when we brought her in to get her weekly injections. The vet at the hospital thinks that it seems like she more likely was having seizures based on how quickly she bounced back in between episodes of severe neurological symptoms (stretched out legs, wide eyes, and severely pronounced head tilt). They suspect it is because Fuzzy either had cancer after all that may have metastasized to her brain, or that she has another type of cancer in her brain. We had previously attributed alopecia to the prednisolone as a side effect, but recently she started to get alopecia on her nose that they said appears more consistent with neoplastic alopecia because the skin on her nose is smooth and almost shiny in appearance. Sadly, if she did have cancer this whole time it seems like our decision to reduce the pred very likely may have precipitated her sudden deterioration, which is very hard to hear because the reasons we had for reducing the pred (other than her diabetes) were related to her experiencing bad side effects that we now know may have also been related to cancer instead of the pred as we previously thought. We cannot know for sure what is going on either way because the ultrasound she received today didn't tell us anything new and the vet said that she does not recommend further diagnostics at this point because it is highly likely that it would not yield a treatable diagnosis and anything else would require heavy sedation or anesthesia and she has a very high risk for requiring euthanasia during the procedure or never waking up from anesthesia given her current condition. They are going to try to give her some stuff to make sure that she is comfortable so that she can come home from the hospital for the night to spend some time with us and then we will take her to a local vet tomorrow to be put to sleep.

I just wanted to give this update and say thank you to @FrostD, @Wendy&Neko, and everyone else for everything you all have done to help advise us as we tried to get a handle on her diabetes diagnosis during these last few months. It is doubtful that we would have made it this far without the advice and knowledge we've gained from this forum (and the IBD kitties group on facebook) and we are so so grateful. So from the bottom of our hearts, thank you.
 
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That is so very sad. We've had too many diagnosed too late with cancer when it was originally thought to be something else. That sometimes led to a bit of anger on my part but cats don't make very good patients as far as telling you "where it hurts" and "how I feel".
You said "if she did have cancer this whole time it seems like our decision to reduce the prednisolone may have precipitated her sudden deterioration". I've been there too often and you need to know, with the exception of an incompetent vet, thinking this way could lead to questioning yourself and worse yet guilt and remorse. Since every case is so different it's not even a lesson to be learned. I'm sure your vet kept you informed and you made that decision based not just on facts but love too. You knew Fuzzy best. Kaitlyn, it's never easy and if this is the end of life the very last thing you and Gideon need is guilt, it's a waste of emotional energy.
Find a way through the tears to remember Fuzzy as she would have wanted. She knew she was loved and in the end that's all that matters.
The two of you need to be kind to yourself with no regrets. I'm sure Fuzzy feels the same way.
Safe Journey Fuzzy :bighug:
 
I am sorry to hear this news :bighug: you have done everything you could for her, and like was said above, don't go down that slipper slope of what-if. The best we can do is manage concurrent conditions as best we can with the knowledge and tools we have. As many of us with complicated kitties know, there never is a perfect solution. It's like a spider web - change one thing over here, shake something else loose. Walk it back, now something on the other side of the web fell off. Not worth the energy and emotional drain of the what if, you did everything you could to the best of your ability! Safe journey Fuzzy :bighug:
 
Kaitlyn & Gideon I am so very sorry ,I haven't been following your posts and I'm tearing up right now reading your posts.
You did all you could do for your sweet girl Fuzzy, my heart breaks for you.
It's never easy to say good bye I know. Sending you strength for tomorrow ,please kiss her for me . She knows how much you love her :bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
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I am so saddened to read this about your special Fuzzy. I understand what this is like and how much it hurts. Fuzzy's story really touched my heart. I hope you will be able to enjoy a little more time with Fuzzy. Try to do everything that you can and give her all the treats that she wants and do all the special things that she likes to do - even if it's just sunning herself. Most of all, just cherish your time together. We never have them long enough. God bless you all.
 
Thanks so much for all the kind words and support. It really means a lot to us.

Fuzzy had a really nice night back at home with us after returning from the hospital on Friday evening. Over the course of the night/morning she ate three cans of her favorite food (the Royal Canin Duck) and spent the whole night snuggled with us without further issues. On Saturday morning, she sat with us by the window where she could see the snow for a while and then went to the vet a couple hours later where everything went smoothly and she went to sleep peacefully.

Thanks again for everything— we really really appreciate.
 
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