Abelard is near death

"Pat" wrote
NettieCat wrote:

My thoughts are with you Pat. I honestly think that if he's dying and
he's warm and with people he loves, there's no need to beat yourself
up that you can't get him to the vet. He's had a hard time of it
lately, and has come to the end of his life. I hope that he passes
quickly, for your sake and his.

Thank you Jeanette. I just went into Dave's room to check on him. He's
still in the bed, warm as toast. I could not rouse him at all but he's
breathing *extremely* fast and shallow. Seemed like 2-3 breaths per
second. Like really fast panting. Yet he is out of it, doesn't seem
conscious at all.

He's in no pain then and passing silently and softly to the next stage. I
would not take the cat to the emergency vet myself at this stage. I think
will simply disrupt his passing from the sounds of it.

I watched my Sammy pass just recently. After serious talks with the vets,
he was allowed to pass softly in his sleep. We saw it coming several hours
in advance (and in fact he'd been failing for 2 weeks before). As long as
he was in no pain, the vet said let him go at home as it would not cause any
trauma. If he seemed to be in pain, we were to give him a larger dose of
tramadol (his arthritis needed it in small doses 3 times a day and we had
plenty on hand). We didn't need to do that, but it was a comfort to know it
was available.

I could have kept him going longer, but it was not in his best interests.
Although I had hoped to have the joy of his sweet presence for longer, he
was very old for a dog (17, probably 18, may have been 19). His quality of
life was the most important thing.

"Pat" wrote

We were, but we won't need to be doing it anymore. He died a while
ago. I don't think he felt any pain. He had one very brief seizure,
not a rough one, then he was gone.

So sorry to hear of your loss Pat. I expected it from the earlier note.
We've got a candle to light his way.

Remember that a cat's life isnt measured in years, but in purrs and happy
sunny spots of which you gave many.

Carol

"Pat" wrote

I don't understand it all, least of all the rapid breathing. Also,
yesterday his body temp seemed to be going down again, but tonight as
he lay dying, and breathing so fast, his body was warm like a cat's
body ought to be. I wish I knew what actually ended up killing him.
Was it the wrong fluid he got for the last few days? Should he have
had the same fluid he was getting in the IV drip?

Don't second guess yourself. It will just drive you crazy. It sounds like
classic renal shutdown. At that stage, not even the vets can fix it.

On Dec 25, 2:31*am, Pat wrote:

We were, but we won't need to be doing it anymore. He died a while
ago. I don't think he felt any pain. He had one very brief seizure,
not a rough one, then he was gone.

I am so sorry to hear this- sending purrs for his passing and will
light incense for his trip to the Bridge tonight

Lesley

Slave of the Fabulous Furballs

On Dec 25, 5:31*am, Pat wrote:
wrote:
You've been giving him fluids from a bag attached to a hose, with a
needle at the other end, that gets stuck under his skin?

We were, but we won't need to be doing it anymore. He died a while
ago. I don't think he felt any pain. He had one very brief seizure,
not a rough one, then he was gone.

If there was any pain, it was temporary. The love you folks give him
is forever. He has gone on an adventure that we cannot even imagine
and you may know his presence again. Waiting is.

--
Will in New Haven

On Dec 25, 7:20*am, "cshenk" wrote:

I watched my Sammy pass just recently. *After serious talks with the vets,
he was allowed to pass softly in his sleep. *

We did this with Isis- suddenly about 9-10 days before she died she
became old she started to find it hard to jump up although she made it
perfectly clear she expected to be picked up (she was a very vocal cat
to put it mildly she used to talk to herself!) but although she was
slowing down she still had a good appetite (she licked her bowl clean
about 10 minutes before she left), used her box apart from one small
accident the night before she died (and that was like she was heading
for the box and forgot she couldn't move as fast as she used to- she
left a few drips on the floor before she got to her box). As Isis was
severely traumatised by the concept of "Out" (she didn't even like the
front door open- taking her to the vets she would scream, wet herself,
crap herself etc all the way- don't know why- her sister Fugazi loved
trips in the carrier and was interested in outside. When we had some
good neighbours downstairs they would let us use the garden and we
used to leave the front door upstairs open and Fugazi would come down
and sit next to us and sniff the plants although she always kept an
eye on us and when we stood up to go in she'd come running back. In
the meantime Isis would be balanced on the bathroom window sill
screaming at us to come in! I only once made the mistake of thinking
"She'll enjoy it when she's down there" and picking her up and
carrying her through the front door into the hallway....Now Isis was
the greatest lap fungus you can imagine- she was a soft little
sweetheart....that was the only time she drew blood in fact the only
time she attacked me!)

Anyway we discussed it with the lovely Kylie and agreed that as she
was in no pain we should just let things happen...if she had developed
any distressing symptoms we knew it would be one trip to the vets and
she would not be coming back. Kylie even thought given Isis dislike
of carriers trying to take her in one would possibly make things
worse,,,,

She curled up after eating her dinner and went to sleep behind the
sofa - one of her favourite places and after a few minutes Dave
checked on her and she was purring and rubbed his hand with her head
then a little later he checked again and she was gone...peacefully in
her home.. I wouldn't mind dying like that

Lesley

Slave of the Fabulous Furballs

I am very sorry pat

"Pat" wrote in message
...
wrote:

You've been giving him fluids from a bag attached to a hose, with a
needle at the other end, that gets stuck under his skin?

We were, but we won't need to be doing it anymore. He died a while
ago. I don't think he felt any pain. He had one very brief seizure,
not a rough one, then he was gone.

On Dec 25, 5:31*am, Pat wrote:
wrote:
You've been giving him fluids from a bag attached to a hose, with a
needle at the other end, that gets stuck under his skin?

We were, but we won't need to be doing it anymore. He died a while
ago. I don't think he felt any pain. He had one very brief seizure,
not a rough one, then he was gone.

I am so sorry for the loss of dear Abelard! Surely he left happy,
knowing his family loves him mightily. Prayers, and heartfelt purrs,
for you and your family right now, for healing and strength.

This Christmas there is a child in the heavens who had never known a
cat's love, who is being introduced to Abelard. They will play and be
happy together until you meet again...and then, what joy there will
be!

Blessed be,
Baha

BfloPolska wrote:

This Christmas there is a child in the heavens who had never known a
cat's love, who is being introduced to Abelard. *They will play and be
happy together until you meet again...and then, what joy there will
be!

I wanted to go with him simply because I cannot imagine how to go on
without him.

Purrs, prayers, and best thoughts with you in your time of sorrow...

Sophia


On Fri, 24 Dec 2010 22:18:06 -0800 (PST), Pat
wrote:

For the last few hours he's been breathing fast and growing weaker. He
couldn't stand long enough in the litter box 3 hours ago to finish
peeing, and now he can't hold up his head. He won't even swallow water
for me. I just put in a few drops at a time on his tongue. He's barely
conscious. I see him slipping away and am unable to help him. I pray
he doesn't go into seizures again. There are no vets available except
at the emergency clinic in Springfield, the roads are icy, the drunks
are out, and it costs $200 just to walk in the door at the EVC. What
would you do? I feel like dying right along with my baby boy. Merry
Christmas.