Thanks, you guys, for the comforting words. It means a lot to me.
Kitty update: Chez has his x-ray this morning--probably as I type this. The vet said she'd call me back within the next 45 minutes or so with the results. He's having a little trouble breathing today, which they warned me was probably going to happen, so he's had an injection to help that. She said that he seems to be in less pain, due to the transdermal pain patch they put on him, he's been moving around some, and he even sat up today, but his back legs are still stiff. The newest problem seems to be his kidneys and the possibility that they're not working correctly. If he doesn't (ahem) pee again by a certain time, she wants to do a mini-scan of his kidneys to see if they're functioning. She suggested I could take him to a neural specialist if I wanted, but there's no way I can afford to do that. I'm already having to borrow money from my mom to pay for what they're able to do for him now. I can't ask her to do more.
So...as it stands right now, if his neck and spinal cord appear undamaged, the steroids will continue until at least tomorrow. If the steroids don't help, and/or if his kidneys quit working...well, as the vet said, I have to consider what his quality and potential length of life would be, and then we come to the decision that I won't be able to make on my own.
Re-Update: The xray is back--his neck is fine, he's got fluid on his lungs but the shot's helped a lot, and his kidneys are working fine. His back legs are a little less stiff, too. But the new bad news--he's got a broken foreleg, and the two options are surgery to pin it together or amputating his leg, and he has to see the other doctor tomorrow because he's the one who would be doing the surgery and he's not there today. Also, she said because Chez is so old, they're not 100% sure he'd survive either surgery, and if they amputate his front leg and his back legs don't work well, he's not going to be able to move around and so if amputation is the only option, it would be better for him to have him put down.
*bawl*
Kitty update: Chez has his x-ray this morning--probably as I type this. The vet said she'd call me back within the next 45 minutes or so with the results. He's having a little trouble breathing today, which they warned me was probably going to happen, so he's had an injection to help that. She said that he seems to be in less pain, due to the transdermal pain patch they put on him, he's been moving around some, and he even sat up today, but his back legs are still stiff. The newest problem seems to be his kidneys and the possibility that they're not working correctly. If he doesn't (ahem) pee again by a certain time, she wants to do a mini-scan of his kidneys to see if they're functioning. She suggested I could take him to a neural specialist if I wanted, but there's no way I can afford to do that. I'm already having to borrow money from my mom to pay for what they're able to do for him now. I can't ask her to do more.
So...as it stands right now, if his neck and spinal cord appear undamaged, the steroids will continue until at least tomorrow. If the steroids don't help, and/or if his kidneys quit working...well, as the vet said, I have to consider what his quality and potential length of life would be, and then we come to the decision that I won't be able to make on my own.
Re-Update: The xray is back--his neck is fine, he's got fluid on his lungs but the shot's helped a lot, and his kidneys are working fine. His back legs are a little less stiff, too. But the new bad news--he's got a broken foreleg, and the two options are surgery to pin it together or amputating his leg, and he has to see the other doctor tomorrow because he's the one who would be doing the surgery and he's not there today. Also, she said because Chez is so old, they're not 100% sure he'd survive either surgery, and if they amputate his front leg and his back legs don't work well, he's not going to be able to move around and so if amputation is the only option, it would be better for him to have him put down.
*bawl*
VIEW 5 of 5 COMMENTS
Sorry to hear about your kitties!
I don't know about the job. Basically, it's mine if I want it, but I just can't see myself selling cars (although the money is attractive.)
Thanks for the congrats. Yeah, I know...pretty scary that I'm going to be someone's dad, but I'm so excited!