LarrysAngels
Member Since 2012
On Tuesday, March 10th, I made the heartbreaking decision to have my cat Angel euthanized on the upcoming Friday due to a condition that I thought was untreatable. That Saturday, however, he returned home from the vets a happy and healthy cat. I would like to share what I learned through this ordeal, with hopes that it may help save other lives.
To read the entire ordeal as it actually unfolded, click here:
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/urgent-obstepation-megacolon-help-needed.134040/
Angel became very lethargic and stopped eating. My vet diagnosed the problem as an impacted colon – his colon (large intestine) was full of hardened feces that he could not pass. Normally, this would not be a life threatening condition, because, if necessary, the cat can be sedated and the obstruction removed manually. Due to an old injury that damaged his rectal canal, this would not be possible with him however, meaning that if we could not soften the blockage to the point that he could pass it, he would die. I tried everything possible to soften the blockage, but nothing worked. After a week of trying, I made “the” heartbreaking decision.
I have a policy, however, that when it comes to “that” decision, I always get a second opinion. I have found that it gives me a little more peace of mind as I work through the grieving process.
On Wednesday (the day after making the decision to euthanize) I met with another vet across town and gave her the entire story. She then calmly stated that she thought he was a perfect candidate for a “nasogastric tubulation”. She stated that she had seen it work in other situation similar to this, and she felt there was a good chance it would work here. My jaw hit the floor. I made the appointment, and the next morning dropped him off. I called back that afternoon and was told that it was working; it took 2 ½ days, but eventually the entire blockage was dissolved and Saturday he came back home, healthy and normal. He’s now on Miralax daily, but is 100% back to normal.
Apparently this procedure is quite new (for animals) and not that well known yet. I was told that the Doctor that saved Angel had just returned from a conference where it was discussed. As I understand it, it is the same solution that a person would drink to cleanse their colon prior to a colonoscopy. For animals, it is administered via a nasal tube that drips the solution into their stomach. It then works its way into the colon, where it dissolves the blockage.
Things I learned:
The technical term for the above procedure is Nasogastric Tubulation. The signs that first alerted me to the fact that there was a problem were lethargy, loss of appetite, and straining to go to the bathroom. If you find yourself in a similar situation and normal treatments are ineffective, have your vet investigate this procedure, or find another one already familiar with it.
I have the utmost confidence in my vet, and over the years he has been the miracle worker himself a couple times. No one person knows everything, though. Every person has different backgrounds, education, and experience. It is not an insult or sign of lack of confidence to get a second opinion. Spread the word as much as possible. The more people that know what your fighting, the better your chances of finding that one someone who has the solution.
In retrospect, the sequence of events that saved Angel’s life was almost miraculous. Don’t give up until you’ve exhausted all possibilities. I have spent a lot of time in the Grief forum, so I know that miracles do not always happen, but as long as the heart is beating, there is hope.
Larry
To read the entire ordeal as it actually unfolded, click here:
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/urgent-obstepation-megacolon-help-needed.134040/
Angel became very lethargic and stopped eating. My vet diagnosed the problem as an impacted colon – his colon (large intestine) was full of hardened feces that he could not pass. Normally, this would not be a life threatening condition, because, if necessary, the cat can be sedated and the obstruction removed manually. Due to an old injury that damaged his rectal canal, this would not be possible with him however, meaning that if we could not soften the blockage to the point that he could pass it, he would die. I tried everything possible to soften the blockage, but nothing worked. After a week of trying, I made “the” heartbreaking decision.
I have a policy, however, that when it comes to “that” decision, I always get a second opinion. I have found that it gives me a little more peace of mind as I work through the grieving process.
On Wednesday (the day after making the decision to euthanize) I met with another vet across town and gave her the entire story. She then calmly stated that she thought he was a perfect candidate for a “nasogastric tubulation”. She stated that she had seen it work in other situation similar to this, and she felt there was a good chance it would work here. My jaw hit the floor. I made the appointment, and the next morning dropped him off. I called back that afternoon and was told that it was working; it took 2 ½ days, but eventually the entire blockage was dissolved and Saturday he came back home, healthy and normal. He’s now on Miralax daily, but is 100% back to normal.
Apparently this procedure is quite new (for animals) and not that well known yet. I was told that the Doctor that saved Angel had just returned from a conference where it was discussed. As I understand it, it is the same solution that a person would drink to cleanse their colon prior to a colonoscopy. For animals, it is administered via a nasal tube that drips the solution into their stomach. It then works its way into the colon, where it dissolves the blockage.
Things I learned:
The technical term for the above procedure is Nasogastric Tubulation. The signs that first alerted me to the fact that there was a problem were lethargy, loss of appetite, and straining to go to the bathroom. If you find yourself in a similar situation and normal treatments are ineffective, have your vet investigate this procedure, or find another one already familiar with it.
I have the utmost confidence in my vet, and over the years he has been the miracle worker himself a couple times. No one person knows everything, though. Every person has different backgrounds, education, and experience. It is not an insult or sign of lack of confidence to get a second opinion. Spread the word as much as possible. The more people that know what your fighting, the better your chances of finding that one someone who has the solution.
In retrospect, the sequence of events that saved Angel’s life was almost miraculous. Don’t give up until you’ve exhausted all possibilities. I have spent a lot of time in the Grief forum, so I know that miracles do not always happen, but as long as the heart is beating, there is hope.
Larry
