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Sorry, Ruby. Tough decisions, especially since you already know they can't get good margins. You know Pingu best, and are best able to decide what it's worth putting her through for what kind of quality of life. You'll probably feel lousy about whatever decision you make, but you are Pingu's best friend and have been an amazing advocate for her.
I'm guessing they've gone through all this at the hospital, but if it's a vaccine associated sarcoma you may be able to get reimbursed for some of the medical costs depending on the manufacturer.
Oh poor Pingu. If it makes you feel any better, we also had a cat (also full grown) that had to have a leg amputated (a rear one), and honestly she was able to get around very well afterwards once she adjusted to the change. She was even still able to climb trees, which surprised us all. I don't think your vets would advocate it if they didn't think it was her best option. (Not that it isn't a difficult choice to deal with even if they advocate it.) Good luck with all this, hugs to Pingu.
I had a cat for eighteen years. When he was about eighteen months old he went missing over night. I found him the next day hanging upside down with his rear foot caught between the palings of a wooden fence.Due to his injuries his rear leg was amputated. It was, I think, more traumatic for me than him.
He was up on three legs the next day ,eating and then resting . My vet encouraged me to allow him to be independent and make his own way to the cat litter, and his food bowl. ( During the recovery period they were not too far from his bedding.)
He lived a long and active life. He continued to climb trees, catch lizards and lie in the sun. He did avoid cat fights and he didn't stray too far from home.He needed some help scratching behind his ear and some extra brushing, but it wasn't until his old age that life became difficult for him,
For me, it was all about his quality of life .
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I am encouraged to hear that lizard hunting and tree climbing might still be a possibility. She's just the the happiest cat in the world right now. If I thought she could still do her favourite things, it might help a bit.
She really lives every day to the limit, even at 16. A couple of hours ago, I caught her sneaking back from under the neighbour's fence. She was apparently lizard hunting in the dark, knowing full well there are two dogs in the yard there.
A friend of mine has two old cats that have had several major surgeries between them, including one with a leg amputation and eye removed. He was trying to convince me that amputation isn't that traumatic, but his stories of the recovery quite literally made me ill. He said the cat could run okay, but walking was hard and he could hear the cat come thumping lopsided down the hallway every morning like a zombie. He also had to leave the cat with the vet every day for two months while he was at work to be babysat.
Then I realise we have stairs at the front and back doors to negotiate, and she hates spilling kitty litter (she's so fastidious, she's worn grooves in the floor trying to sweep the stray pebbles up). Oh, poor Pingu.
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Maybe I should have watched a few more before recommending YouTube :-{ . There's one with a cat running around that was the first one I saw. I've seen a lot of tripod cats, and they mostly do well, so I assumed YouTube would be full of happy three legged cats.
I've also seen a few recoveries from amputations. Like I said, if it's JUST the leg and not part of the body wall, it's usually a quick recovery. With part of the body wall as well it's kind of a mess.
When advising people who are trying to make the tough decisions, one of the things I frequently suggest people do is consider the two or three things their animal enjoys doing, and then tell them to ask themselves if the animal can still do them. Like Evie said, it's about quality of life for cats, not quantity.
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He also made the point that we bought her a good cancer-free 12 months with the radiation treatment, plus it has been another six since then, and that "we won't win" against cancer in the long run. He made the point that we have a window of opportunity to get rid of the cancer completely, with no more operations, treatments or drugs needed, and that this won't last. He does make a good point..
I grew up om the country and I can tell you that 3 legged dogs weren't uncommon and it never seemed to keep them from functioning once they got used to it.
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On the (very mild) upside, I made three people cry. Aint nobody fuck with Tiny Pingu. Aint nobody.
Ruby wrote: "Time to find a new vet. She went in for tests today and it was the first time she's had anything done at this surgery. I gave them one rule: No Surprises. They failed. Many times over. And she stil..."You punish them Ruby, go girl! But what happened?
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I went in thinking it was a bit of a dry run for the amputation. I took a list of things to request: no surprises or leaving me waiting for a bad news call (I have a nasty neuropathic disorder & can't take sudden shocks), nothing done without my permission, and let me pick her up as soon as she's ready to travel. FAIL.
And we'd picked this vet because of her cancer specialty, but she palmed it off to another vet with no handover. Time to find a vet I can trust.
Sorry. I know you're developing an ulcer.
Yipes!! I hope you can find a great vet! You may have to drive a little further, but we already know you are prepared to do that. :-P
So much incompetence in just one day, makes you wonder what kind of stunts they can pull of in the long run! Sounds like you made the right choice in looking for a new vet.
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I think I'm starting to come to terms with amputation being the right decision (a month ago I couldn't even say the word), but I think Pingu's just realised what's going on. I keep catching her doing something that looks a lot like grieving. She shakes it off after a while and is her usual perky self, but it's hard to watch.
It's always what breaks my heart, that we can't help out pets understand what's happening to them. Sorry Ruby. I'll keep praying.
Ruby, Is there a college anywhere around with the offering vet medicine? I ask because years ago one of my cats was hit, either by car or person and suffered a fractured spine. No one here would touch him for under 2000 but suggested the vet college in Columbia. We had him there within twenty four hours of the injury. They did operate, putting a pin in his spine. The forecast was gloomy but he recovered completely. He is now 11 and still runs and jumps. Because we took him to a reaching college, the fee was reduced. Last, I have a friend with the three legged cat and it is amazing what that cat can do.
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As I speak, she's trotting back and forth down the hallway past me like a tiny ninja.
Romey (he's our largest and weighs quite a bit) was sleeping on me till the phone rang (telemarketer) now he's sleeping on the foot stool. He's not exactly ninja like, he's too laid back. Luna is our little ninja...except she's mostly white with black stockings and mask. Maybe she's a Shaolin?
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LOL It's the black & white ones you have to watch out for!
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I met a 22lb cat named Ninja this week. The owner was not amused by the suggestion he change the name to Sumo.
The pictures of the cats that own me are on my profile. That includes the little cat that was my special one for years (since she claimed me as soon as her eyes were opened). That was Xoe. She died last year.
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Whitney - That's hilarious!
This morning we found out what has been living in the bushes in our front yard. I think it's a goanna. Pingu has decided that he is invisible, and therefore not worthy of hunting.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rubytomb...
I think a goanna can run really fast. EEK!
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/rubytomb...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rubytomb...
I'm thinking of calling him "Random Goanna".
Ruby wrote: "He said the cat could run okay, but walking was hard and he could hear the cat come thumping lopsided down the hallway every morning like a zombie."My cat already comes thumping lopsided down the stairs every morning, so I shudder to think what he'd be like on three legs. I suspect he's spending the nights at my beer tap!
Ruby wrote: "I'm thinking of calling him "Random Goanna". "
Can you tell it's a he? Maybe it's Joanna Goanna. I imagine all the females are called Joanna.
I thought monitors were venomous, but wikipedia says the jury's still out. How can scientists not _know_? At least about the species that any random Australian might find outside their back door.
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That seems odd. I don't think they are venomous, but they do give you a VERY nasty bite. Our local shopkeeper was sun-baking on the path in his backyard last year when he felt something tickle his elbow. Turns out it was one of these monstrous goannas - LICKING HIM, presumably to see if he was dead or not! He says he went flying in one direction, and the goanna in the other. The ones around here do seem pretty tame.
Our neighbour (who really earns the descriptor "mad as a cut snake" by the way) tells me that this goanna has been living in our yard for many years now. Then again, she also said she thinks they eat rocks and sand, and that the boy ones probably don't need females to have babies. "They just have them" she reckons.
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/rubytomb...
Cats love anything with a strong smell. Our cats will rip open a bag to get to my daughter's herbal shampoo sometimes. I have some cinnamon/black tea I like and one of the cats (Martha) will almost put her head in my mouth sniffing when I've had some.Cats are great.
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I'll try to be around a bit more over the next week though.
Thanks xoxo
That's sad news, Ruby. Sorry for your loss.
So sorry to hear this news. It's always hard to say goodbye.
Oooh noooo! I'm so sorry Ruby. I know she was your faithful companion for a long time; she was certainly well loved. I hope you are doing okay with it, in as much as you can. It's hard losing them. RIP Pingu, little zombie-attacking penguin.
So sorry to hear that. Our cherished cats and dogs don't live nearly long enough and it's always a bummer, no matter how many times you've through it. Bon courage.
Sorry Hon, been there. My prayers.
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Sorry you've lost your wee companion. Hope you are doing ok :)
I'm so sorry to hear about Pingu, Ruby. As someone who's been living with a dog under a death sentence for years, I know it doesn't get any easier just because you knew it was coming. There've been too many companions gone too soon in my life, but it's a richer life with them than without. Remember her proudly - and remember that, now, we all remember her too!
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It doesn't get easier when you know it's coming, that's for sure. In this case too, the final act wasn't as peaceful as I'd wanted it to be, which makes the guilt so much worse. I do find though, that it's impossible not to smile when recounting her adventures, so I'll always have that.
Yes you will. I lost 2 cats last year one had adopted me almost before she had her eyes open. But I'm glad I had her for as long as I did.
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I'm starting a new full-time job tomorrow, after being off work for the last 10 months. I'm still up north by myself, still with health issues, still without a car, and I have a kitten with tummy troubles to care for, BUT... I think I can manage a challenging new job on top of that.
But if I'm not as visible online over the next couple of weeks, I'm not far away. Just finding my feet!
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I'm starting a new full-time job tomorrow, after being off work for the last 10 months. I'm still up north by myself, still with health issues, s..."
Congratulations! Make you you check in once in a while so we know the Gramazon overlords haven't disappeared you.
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All I can think of are all her favourite things - playing ball, doing tricks with toys, jumping & climbing up high, running full tilt, using the underside of the house as a military obstacle course, hunting geckos, making us chase her up and down the hallway, her crazy parkour stunts - and how she won't be able to do them anymore. Sometimes she wakes me up in the middle of the night just to watch her do tricks. We call her "Trotty" because she doesn't walk anywhere - she always trots around with her tail in the air. Earlier today she did some ball tricks to cheer me up. I can't stand the thought of amputation.
And the recovery just seems so gutwrenching. :(