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Feb. 9th, 2020 10:10 amAs I briefly mentioned on FB, we took Galen to the emergency vet Friday night. We got there around 8 and had to wait a couple hours before anyone was available. (While Galen was not in great shape, this wasn't an actual emergency so there was no sense in trying to jump the queue.) Then we had to wait longer for his blood test and to discuss the recommendations. All in all, we didn't get home until after 1 AM... and I had been awake since 3 AM the previous morning. I've been feeling that all weekend.
Anyway, the tests showed he was - not surprisingly - having kidney failure. (The last time we had to take him in with a UTI and kidney infection he lost some kidney function.) His red blood cell count was down enough that the vet said most cats wouldn't be functioning... but Galen hates being at the vet enough that they had to sedate him for the test. As the wife said, they had to sedate him to find out that he should be comatose. That feistiness was one way we determined that he wasn't ready to go yet. [Apparently if a vet tech was anywhere near his cage he would swat at her through the bars. Even if it was to check on the dog below.]
We declined the most aggressive treatment: ultrasound, extended hospital stay, etc. Not because of the cost (although that was going to be even more expensive than what we had already committed to) but because we didn't think it would improve his quality of life. The four-day visit last time took him a month to recover from, and sadly but honestly - Galen is in the twilight of his years. It didn't seem worthwhile to put him through that just for a few additional months. So we were able to bring him home Saturday night after he got subcutaneous fluids and a blood transfusion, among other things.
We have a bunch of meds to administer for a while. The cat has a shaved bracelet on his front leg and is clingy and complainy. But we will have some more time with him, and that's what's most important.
ETA: If and when he stops fighting, that's when we'll know it's time. Otherwise, we will treasure however long we have, and try to (comfortably) make that as long as possible.
Anyway, the tests showed he was - not surprisingly - having kidney failure. (The last time we had to take him in with a UTI and kidney infection he lost some kidney function.) His red blood cell count was down enough that the vet said most cats wouldn't be functioning... but Galen hates being at the vet enough that they had to sedate him for the test. As the wife said, they had to sedate him to find out that he should be comatose. That feistiness was one way we determined that he wasn't ready to go yet. [Apparently if a vet tech was anywhere near his cage he would swat at her through the bars. Even if it was to check on the dog below.]
We declined the most aggressive treatment: ultrasound, extended hospital stay, etc. Not because of the cost (although that was going to be even more expensive than what we had already committed to) but because we didn't think it would improve his quality of life. The four-day visit last time took him a month to recover from, and sadly but honestly - Galen is in the twilight of his years. It didn't seem worthwhile to put him through that just for a few additional months. So we were able to bring him home Saturday night after he got subcutaneous fluids and a blood transfusion, among other things.
We have a bunch of meds to administer for a while. The cat has a shaved bracelet on his front leg and is clingy and complainy. But we will have some more time with him, and that's what's most important.
ETA: If and when he stops fighting, that's when we'll know it's time. Otherwise, we will treasure however long we have, and try to (comfortably) make that as long as possible.
