What a pissy day.

[FrankenMech]

The operation was successful for my cat. He made it for another 8 years or so and died at 20 years old. He had an excellent vet. The operation did not seem to phase him a bit although I cringe when I think about it, -OUCH! He is buried under a large flat rock in my back yard.

I had to put down another cat about six months ago. It was torture to have to do it.

[2stroked]

I shudder to think of the hell that poor boy was in. Thank God for my buddy in Lexington
I would have taken Negro to him, but was scared the long ass car ride would just make things worse
He never did like a car ride.

I hate for folks to know that I put my boy through that, for nothing, he had to be put to sleep anyway.I would feel a lot different about things, if he had made it through I guess.

FrankenMech, I am glad that the operation was a success and gave you a few extra years with your buddy.

[FrankenMech]

I don't think you need to worry about what others may think about the operation your cat went through. The cat was doped up and had no real knowledge or reaction to the operation. Mine never seemed to notice the 'alteration'. People, especially men, are more sensitive to losing that part. They are more squeamish about it.

Your cat was probably just sicker when he went into the operation. The damage from infection and backup to the kidneys was probably more severe. My cat couldn't be catheterized. there was too much damage and scarring from previous UTI's and catheterizations. He went through a long convalescence where I had to give him antibiotic and saline injections several times a day.

[aeroxbud]

It is easy to second guess yourself after the event. We all do it, but at the time you are doing the best thing you can

[2stroked]

Thank you guys.

I just can't help but to wonder, what if I had just had the vet do a catheter and then flush his bladder? Would I still have my best friend? Or would he have died anyway?

See, this is a first for me. I have lost pets, sure. However every animal that I have had to let the vet do extensive work on has pulled through. I have had three ( all rescues ) that have been ran over or gut shot. A few hours in surgery, a few weeks of slow recovery, and voilà back to nearly normal.

I understand the surgery probably had no bearing on his illness, I still blame myself. The second vet, the one that had to euthanized him, told me that the surgery could have been too much for his sick weak body. He also told me that he ALWAYS give a three day ( minimum ) catheter and a regimen of Amoxi drops for ANY male cat with UTI. He also couldn't figure, or understand why he wasn't given anybpain medicine.

That dreadful day, the second vet expressed his bladder, easily, and gave him a dose of morphine and Amoxicilin, then did a CBC and creatinine level check. His blood work came back, with the highest creatinine level s he had ever seen. His kidneys were dead, and already acidodic. He said that he couldn't understand how he wasn't already dead
Instead of filtering poison, his kidneys were producing poisons, effectively KILLING him slowly.We came to a rather shocking and painful agreement of what needed to be done. It took half an hour for him to get a vein, finally he went in on the back of his neck, put him under, then had me turn my head when the needle went in to his heart with the lethal cocktail. He laid,asleep,purring for three minutes, before his breathing slowed then slowly stopped. He never stopped purring.

R.I.P MY LITTLE NEGRO

[FrankenMech]

R.I.P. was the only solution. He was loved and so were you.

I am sitting here crying for you and Negro also.

My Tomma is purring loud in my lap. He knows something is wrong.

The blockage problem in male cats has been a problem for a long time due to UT defects or food processing (ash content). I have seen it many times. It is not as common nowadays though. The processed foods are better now that they understand the problem.

My yellow cat that had the operation had been catheterized and flushed many times. He just got sick and was in pain over and over and over until the operation. It was touch and go for his kidneys after the operation but he had many happy pain and trouble free years afterward. The operation on Negro was his best bet. I am sorry it did not turn out better for both of you.

[2stroked]

FrankenMech,

Thank-you man. At the moment, I have one of the kids kittens, a little grey guy who was born without even a trace of a tail, in my lap, turning and rubbing his face against the phone and my good hand.

He's been stuck on me since that day. He knows sumthins up, he still looks for Negro, at times, they were close, thick as thieves. Used to, one of those two would meow real loud, and the other would come running, ready to play, or even groom. Now, Smokey sits and calls out, and when Negro doesn't come, he tries and tries again. Finally he will got to the window sill that Negro claimed and lay there sniffing and meowing real low, over and over again. Looking for his buddy.

[aeroxbud]

Sad reading. Made me give our dogs an extra few tummy rubs today.
I guess you just have to remember the good times.
I do worry about our younger dog, she is 6 and has always had a big sister here for her. If Dedee goes they are so close I dont think she would take it very well

[2stroked]

Bout fifteen minutes ago, Smokey found Negro's catnip mouse. Negro would never let anyone near that mouse. He had hidden it inside of our couch. Smokey found it, carried it to the window sill and just laid it there. He's sitting there watching it now. I honestly think he's hoping for Negro to come out and grab his mouse. I would give almost anything to see that.

This whole thing has made me appreciate just how fragile our little furry friends are. I have actually cooked three pounds of baccon this morning, just for the animals. We still have four dogs and several cats. They acted like kids at Christmas.

Gotta love how easily animals are pleased.

[FrankenMech]

They just need our love...

But on the other hand I think they just want us to feed them

Smokey must be smarter than most cats and has a good memory. Maybe he traded that tail for more brains! Does Smokey have another playmate available? You will need to love him a lot. He has lost someone important also.

[2stroked]

Smokey is rather anti social towards most of the rest of the cats. There is his stub tailed brother that he will play with, just not a lot.

He's still asleep in the window sill laying on that mouse. Not sure if he even got up to use the box last night. I do know that he won't let me take that mouse. I was playing, he wasn't.

[Clank]

Whoa sorry to hear of your lost bro. Our pets do become a family member no matter what make of critter they are. I don't believe time heals all wounds but it does dull the pain.

[2stroked]

Apr 18, 2016 14:04:42 GMT -5 Clank said:

Whoa sorry to hear of your lost bro. Our pets do become a family member no matter what make of critter they are. I don't believe time heals all wounds but it does dull the pain.

Thanks bro'.

I no shit, prefer road rash to this type of pain. At least with road rash, you can numb up with a case and a fifth. That only makes this pain worse. I feel like I list a brother.

Funny, when I brought him home, I kinda hated how he acted. A week later, he's glued to me, and he stayed that way till the day he died.I hate that I lived him so much. I do my best to not experience pain like this, by not letting any one or anything in. Doesn't work with critters, they worm their way in, no matter what.

[Clank]

Pain is a good sensation whether physical or emotional. It's a reminder that your still alive.

[2stroked]

True.

I can't tolerate emotional pain. Physical pain is another story.