Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Breeann and a 15th Anniversary

Animals are such agreeable friends - they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms. ~George Eliot

So ... the vet called yesterday and updated me on Breann's blood work. Looks like her kidneys are starting to fail. I looked it up, and it appears that kidney failure is the biggest killer of cats outside of feline leukemia and accidental death, and it's especially prominent in older cats.

I was given three choices: euthanasia (we said no), hospitalization to get fluids (massively expensive, so we said no) and giving her IV fluids at home (still not cheap, but we might still be able to eat and pay the electricity, so we said yes).

So, yesterday I went to the vet's office and got a crash course on sticking a needle under the cat's skin. :::shudders::: I hate doing it, but you do what you have to, right? Twice a day for probably the rest of her life (which I expect to be measured in months, sadly) I'll be giving her subcutaneous fluids.

My biggest concern now is that she won't eat. We've tried her soft food, cooked chicken and ham so far. She sniffs, then curls up and goes to sleep. A little later today, I'm going to try tuna. I hope that once she starts eating again, she'll eat her regular food. I hope it's just a matter of getting her appetite stimulated.

DD fell to pieces last night. She hasn't had a great last few days anyway, and she's an incredibly sensitive and emotional thing on the best of days, but last night she sobbed and sobbed. And sobbed. And then, when I thought she'd gotten it under control, she sobbed some more.

Kinda puts a damper on my fifteenth wedding anniversary. But then, we aren't celebrating today anyway -- DH has to work from early this morning until the wee hours tonight. Pretty much it'll be, "Happy anniversary, here's your coffee, have a good day."

I never realized how YOUNG DH looked when we got married. He's almost five years younger than me and he looked like a baby.




Neither of us look like babies anymore ... but we're hanging in there!

Have a good day.

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You Are Somewhat Self-Reliant



You rely on yourself most of the time, but you're happy to rely on others and have them rely on you in turn.

You are a very social creature. You like having a large network of friends and acquaintances.

You take pride in being able to be counted on. You consider yourself to be a reliable and responsible person.

You believe that no person is an island. You try not to need other people, but you are glad when they are there for you.



Um ... 50/50, I guess...

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7 comments:

MJFredrick said...

Happy anniversary!!!!

Poor DD. A sick kitty and starting school--so much upheaval. Big hugs to her!

MomJane said...

Happy Anniversary

Dru said...

Happy Anniversary!

I hope today is a better day for you and the family.

re quiz: I'm somewhat self-reliant and it is 85% accurate.

Sarita Leone said...

Happy Anniversary! I love the photos. Thanks so much for sharing them with us.

Please hug DD for me. I hope today is better for her.

I'm so so sorry to hear that Breeann is so ill. I'd prayed this was not serious. About her eating...when our Mimi was so ill (cancer claimed our little sweetie) and we couldn't get her to eat, Vito scrambled her an egg. I fed it to her off my palm, and although it wasn't a fast process, it always managed to get her over the hump. She ate it several times when she was really bad, then began eating her own food again after a day or so. Chopped deli turkey, too. Out of my hand, again. Just a thought. It's what worked for us.

I'll keep you all in my thoughts and prayers. Sending huge hugs your way.

Maria Zannini said...

What an awful decision to face for Breeann.

I had the same experience as Sarita when I had a dog without an appetite. I also added liver to my egg mash.

Hang in there. I hope you get to celebrate your anniversary soon. (You were such a cute couple!)

Melissa McClone said...

Happy Anniversary.

When Spirit had the hyper-T issue, she wouldn't eat. The vet recommended the Gerbers 1 (tiny jar) of turkey. Sometimes she'd just lick a little off my finger, but it kept her going. When she was stonger she just eat it from the bowl. Whenever she doesn't seem to feel well that's what I give her. You might want to grab a jar the next time you're at the store and see.

Brandy said...

Happy 15th Anniversary. You both look so sweet in the pictures.
I'm so very sorry to hear about Breeann. I'm still praying for her, and for you. I hope she eats something soon.

Poor DD. Hugs to each of you and gentle pats to Breeann,