Day Three
Today is day number three that Sylvester has been in and out of the pet hospital. Perhaps another day to go before they can determine whether he has any kidney functions left. It's such a long grueling process for him to go through.
When I picked him up from the hospital yesterday night at 7:30pm, he was so tired looking that he only meowed once when he saw me. It sounded like he was saying, "Please take me home."
Before leaving the hospital, the doctor once again showed me the new techniques I had to pick up quick in order to take care of him at home. She showed me how to pop a pill into his mouth, feed him via a syringe, and administer his liquids for dialysis. It was so overwhelming...
"Before you go home tonight, make sure you go to the pharmacy to pick up some Maalox and Pepcid."
"What's that stuff for?"
"The Maalox and Pepcid is to be given after he eats each meal. The Maalox contains magnesium which binds to the phosphorus in his food and helps him pass it out of his body. Too much phosphorus in his body is bad for his kidneys. [or something like that] The Pepcid helps with the gas that's in his stomache. Oh, give him 1 tablet of Baytril each morning as well for the next two weeks [provided that he is to make it out alive with some kidney functions]. It's an oral antibiotic, just in case he gets an infection in his kidneys. Also, give him 2 units of insulin since sugar was detected in his urine again. In other words, he is diabetic again since he ate a little today. When you go home tonight, feed him at least 6cc's of food then give him 3cc's of Maalox, and 2 units of Humilin. In the morning before you bring him back, give him food, 3cc's of Maalox, 5mg's of Pepcid, 1 tablet of Baytril, and insulin."
"Ok."
"Your bill is $177 for today."
The previous bill was $311. And it is estimated to cost another $300 for today and tomorrow. Pet insurance... why didn't I get pet insurance??
When Sylvester got home and the cage was opened, Sylvester crawled to the litter pan, peed and his next stop was his favorite bath mat upstairs. That poor kitty... he leaped his way up the stairs with an IV needle still attached to his right front leg. Both his front legs were shaved of fur since they couldn't stick the needle into his vein on the left leg. He stayed there the rest of the night until this morning when he came down looking for me and his litter pan. He finally had some bowel movements after 3 long days. The doctor said he was constipated because his body was absorbing all the water for his kidneys.
Force feeding him yesterday night wasn't too difficult, in fact, he didn't even have enough energy to squirm away. I fed him 36cc's of a prescription cat food that the doctor gave me and gave him all his meds. After all the food and drugs I stuffed down his throat, he was tired and I was tired. I picked him up, closed the bathroom door, and cradled him in my arms as I sat on the bathroom floor, leaning on the tub. I said a little prayer and scratched him the way he liked. He didn't respond much. Agony was written on his little furry face. I think he was saying, "I think it's time." I teared a little like I am tearing now and decided reluctantly that even if he has some kidney functions left, I might still have him euthanized if he doesn't maintain a quality of life on kitty dialysis. I don't want to see him suffer. I don't want to see him clinging onto the bath mat like he is clinging onto his death bed... lingering on day after day in a pointless existence.
I slept with my bedroom door open for the past few nights which is very unsual for me as I tend to feel "vunerable" when I'm asleep alone; that's why I tend to hug an extra pillow on top of me. I slept with the door open, just so that if Sylvester ever needed me during the night, I would be available. Each time I woke up to pee and to get some water, I checked up on him too. He was always quiet and motionless... just squinting his tired eyes at me and perhaps letting out a gentle and tired "meow".
I wonder how he's doing now and what the doctor will tell me tonight when I go pick him up. Decisions to be made... sigh. I guess Sylvester finally used up all his nine lives...
I need a hug...
When I picked him up from the hospital yesterday night at 7:30pm, he was so tired looking that he only meowed once when he saw me. It sounded like he was saying, "Please take me home."
Before leaving the hospital, the doctor once again showed me the new techniques I had to pick up quick in order to take care of him at home. She showed me how to pop a pill into his mouth, feed him via a syringe, and administer his liquids for dialysis. It was so overwhelming...
"Before you go home tonight, make sure you go to the pharmacy to pick up some Maalox and Pepcid."
"What's that stuff for?"
"The Maalox and Pepcid is to be given after he eats each meal. The Maalox contains magnesium which binds to the phosphorus in his food and helps him pass it out of his body. Too much phosphorus in his body is bad for his kidneys. [or something like that] The Pepcid helps with the gas that's in his stomache. Oh, give him 1 tablet of Baytril each morning as well for the next two weeks [provided that he is to make it out alive with some kidney functions]. It's an oral antibiotic, just in case he gets an infection in his kidneys. Also, give him 2 units of insulin since sugar was detected in his urine again. In other words, he is diabetic again since he ate a little today. When you go home tonight, feed him at least 6cc's of food then give him 3cc's of Maalox, and 2 units of Humilin. In the morning before you bring him back, give him food, 3cc's of Maalox, 5mg's of Pepcid, 1 tablet of Baytril, and insulin."
"Ok."
"Your bill is $177 for today."
The previous bill was $311. And it is estimated to cost another $300 for today and tomorrow. Pet insurance... why didn't I get pet insurance??
When Sylvester got home and the cage was opened, Sylvester crawled to the litter pan, peed and his next stop was his favorite bath mat upstairs. That poor kitty... he leaped his way up the stairs with an IV needle still attached to his right front leg. Both his front legs were shaved of fur since they couldn't stick the needle into his vein on the left leg. He stayed there the rest of the night until this morning when he came down looking for me and his litter pan. He finally had some bowel movements after 3 long days. The doctor said he was constipated because his body was absorbing all the water for his kidneys.
Force feeding him yesterday night wasn't too difficult, in fact, he didn't even have enough energy to squirm away. I fed him 36cc's of a prescription cat food that the doctor gave me and gave him all his meds. After all the food and drugs I stuffed down his throat, he was tired and I was tired. I picked him up, closed the bathroom door, and cradled him in my arms as I sat on the bathroom floor, leaning on the tub. I said a little prayer and scratched him the way he liked. He didn't respond much. Agony was written on his little furry face. I think he was saying, "I think it's time." I teared a little like I am tearing now and decided reluctantly that even if he has some kidney functions left, I might still have him euthanized if he doesn't maintain a quality of life on kitty dialysis. I don't want to see him suffer. I don't want to see him clinging onto the bath mat like he is clinging onto his death bed... lingering on day after day in a pointless existence.
I slept with my bedroom door open for the past few nights which is very unsual for me as I tend to feel "vunerable" when I'm asleep alone; that's why I tend to hug an extra pillow on top of me. I slept with the door open, just so that if Sylvester ever needed me during the night, I would be available. Each time I woke up to pee and to get some water, I checked up on him too. He was always quiet and motionless... just squinting his tired eyes at me and perhaps letting out a gentle and tired "meow".
I wonder how he's doing now and what the doctor will tell me tonight when I go pick him up. Decisions to be made... sigh. I guess Sylvester finally used up all his nine lives...
I need a hug...
posted by Sparky X | 11:23 AM
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