R.i.p.

Sapphyr · 03-02-11, 07:03 PM

So, it's not reptile related.. but I thought I'd share with you all.

Stewie, my Russian Blue x Persian mix, passed away today. She's spent the past year battling an unknown illness, and I guess today it finally caught up to her.

For the past several months, she's been in and out of the vet's. At first, we took her to Richmond's clinic since Dr. Vice wasn't around. They xrayed her, and found something floating around in her chest cavity. They thought the stomach had somehow gotten into the chest cavity, or something like that, and food was stuck up there. So, she stayed the night and was sent to Dr. Vice's the next day where he agreed with the diagnosis, after looking at the xrays, and opened her up... only to find everything was good and in place. So, since it was in the chest cavity, he ended up taking a syringe and pulling a ton of pus out from her lungs. So, we thought it was an injury that got infected. She went on treatment, she got better.. for a while. Then back to the vet's. Since it flared back up, she went through different tests from feline Leukemia to FIP. Negative all the way through. So, she got put on more medications for the issue, more pus removed, went home. Then she developed, we assume, a UTI. She'd spend up to 20 minutes in the litter box, just sitting there... She, she got a steroid shot and some medications for UTIs. She did alot better and stopped having breathing issues as well... and now this visit, today.

She's been off and on all sorts of medications, which did make her better, for a time... but she got really bad, yet again, this past week. It'd been building back up for the past month and just last night she completely stopped eating, so we took her in today.

She got so frightened she peed the 'PetTaxi' crate. The trip alone was stressful enough for her. So, he listened to her chest and swore he heard more fluid in her lungs. So, he tried to see what he could get with a syringe, but all he got was a little blood, so he was thinking maybe she's bleeding internally. He took her back to get an xray done to make sure there was fluid or not before poking around some more, and in the process of getting her ready for the xray, she began breathing really heavy and began going into respiratory arrest. They put her on oxygen and let her relax a bit.

He came back in the examination room we were waiting in and told us, and he told us that he honestly wasn't sure if he could save her this time or not considering how bad she got in such a short amount of time and just how bad a state she was in, alone. The last time she was this bad... he just barely saved her from death. He told us she'd definitely have to stay the night, and he'd call us shortly to tell us how things are.

We got home... and about 30 minutes later mother knocked on my door in tears. She'd died at the vet's. We went back and spent about an hour there with her. He'd told us that after we'd left they gave her medicines to try and keep her lungs going, even CPR and other methods of just keeping her going but... her lungs just stopped all together...

I really wish this didn't go -that- way.. I wish it all could of been turned around... but these things just happen, as much as it hurts.

Dr. Vice said that, even if we got there earlier, it still would have been an uphill battle that'd never end... and she'd suffer through it all and still end up dying. He said she came up negative for FIP, but he says that sometimes the test isn't 100% correct, and there's no cure for it. He's sure that the test was wrong and it was FIP, and that this outcome still would have happened.

And you all may be wondering who Dr. Vice is, so I'll tell you. Dr. Vice has been with us through many things. He's a great man, and our most trusted vet. He genuinely cares about us and his other patients. He was there for us through Lucy. There for Alex. There when Tahona passed, even though she was never a patient of his... and with each death, he sent us a note telling us how sorry he is that one of our beloveds passed. He's a great guy, and true to his job. Carrying for animals, not for money. He said he'd only charge for the cremation, we didn't have to pay for the oxygen, the stick to the chest, our the meds, CPR, etc. they did to try and save Stew.

At any rate... I just thought I'd share. May Stewie rest in peace.

infernalis · 03-02-11, 07:12 PM

Sincere condolences...

Sapphyr · 03-02-11, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by infernalis

Sincere condolences...

Thanks Wayne

Means alot to me

infernalis · 03-02-11, 07:36 PM

At my age, I have been through this myself a few times, So I know where your at right now.

Hang in there, it gets a bit better with time.

Freebody · 03-03-11, 12:13 AM

so sorry to hear

rip

Max713 · 03-03-11, 12:40 AM

My cat that my family has owned since I can remember (~age 6) is getting there as well, I'm going to be broken when she goes

My condolences are with you, may Stewie rest in peace, have all the mice to chase, and all the most comfortable beds to curl up on in cat heaven.

marvelfreak · 03-03-11, 02:28 AM

So sorry to hear. My condolences and deepest sympathy.

Lankyrob · 03-03-11, 05:20 AM

The sad side of pet ownership, my thoughts and prayers are with you - remember all the good times you provided for her and the love and attention that she received and let this ease the burden of her passing.

TeaNinja · 03-03-11, 05:45 AM

sorry

i remember when i was a kid, my 1/2 golden retriever, 1/4 collie, 1/4 malamute mix died on my birthday. she was an amazing dog.

i found a picture of her about a month ago and pinned it up on my wall, her name was maggie.

makes me love and appreciate nellie all that much more.

kenchenzo · 03-03-11, 08:13 AM

so sorry to hear that.
hang in there.

mld · 03-03-11, 10:33 AM

So sorry for you loss, Stewie was a beautiful cat! It sounds like it was his time to go, no more suffering!
Take care, I know its hard!

Marica · 03-03-11, 02:31 PM

Sorry for your loss.

CanadianEryx · 03-03-11, 04:26 PM

May your memories of Stewie be filled with fondness and comfort! Sorry to hear of your loss.

Shmoges · 03-03-11, 04:54 PM

That sucks, If your Russian is anything like ours then I have to really say sorry for your loss I though main Coons have personality but Russian blues have to honestly trump them(tenaciousness). Pain in the asses but Gotta love there personalities. If the Furry had a happy time then you did your job eh?

Sapphyr · 03-04-11, 02:12 AM

Thanks everyone, if really means alot that you all are so kind and comforting.

She did have a decent life, besides the past several months of illness. Lots of belly rubs, pets, and kisses along with comfy kitty beds. She loved nothing more than her belly rubs. She'd always loom around in the bathroom and jump on us while on the loo to be held like a little baby and get her little, fuzzy belly rubbed. I'd say it was one of her favorite things, kneading her little claws in the air.~

Atleast she's no longer suffering... I only wish she passed more peacefully. No stressful car wide, no strange people she didn't even know, and not nearly collapsing on account of the procedures being done to try and save her at the vet's office... and, ofcourse, I wish it didn't even happen; wish I had more time.

I wonder if her sister knows...