Please help with Solo, Jr.

8 years ago

Solo, Jr., our loving male kitty is 15 years old and built like a bruiser. his one sister is skinny as a rail and riddled with arthritis, the other - the smallest has gained every pound that her sister has lost and now titters along on her tiny paws. so imagine our surprise when the bruiser shows up a few days ago in the front yard, wanting daddy to carry him, he was down a lot in muscle tone and weight though within normal range. he then went to sleep on our bed and had to be force fed milk and chicken broth, along with cranberry. when he did this for 2 days, we took him to the vet. the vet did tests and said that the kidneys were failing. that if we brought him back shortly he would only charge $20 for putting him to sleep so he would no longer be in pain.

Well daddy brought him home, and from previous deaths we have discovered that once things start shutting down, they are past pain. Not to mention that Solo is a whiner and there is no way he would not say something, if he was in pain. We discussed this and wanted to give max chance. Got some kitten formula and continued feeding him this and cranberry. A little better the next day, today he did much better, though he is still inside most of the day, daddy carries out and he is only out a short time. Today he ate liverworst - loves liver, drank bowl of formula on his own and went to water bowl twice. he does not seem to want to jump, but we feel no problems.

thought we might want to return to dr. but hubby does not trust. do you all think there is anything we should be doing in addition to what we are doing? thanks.

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Comments (5)

socks
8 years ago
In my opinion, assuming they are past pain when things start shutting down is wishful thinking.

Still eating is a good thing. Does kitty seem to enjoy anything....sitting in the sun, being petted, walking around the house, or is he just sitting hunched and miserable? Is he dehydrated?

You know Solo's time is near. Only you can make the decision, just don't let it go too long. We did that, and it's not a happy memory.
havingfun thanked socks
havingfun
Original Author
8 years ago
we seem to have crossed wires socks. sure it is my fault. sometimes my brainburps prevent me from expressing well. Solo, Jr. started recovering and has continued today he started eating dry food and went out on his own. I was asking if anyone else had any ideas on what else to give him to help recover. Guess we were lucky that we did not listen to the dr. and yes he was dehydrated. I think if you ever have one, where things are shutting down, you will understand what i was talking about.
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socks
8 years ago
Good news! Keep him going.
havingfun thanked socks
pamghatten
8 years ago
I had a cat many years ago, with the same type of issue. The vet sent her home to enjoy her last days at home, and on the way out casually mentioned force feeding and subcutaneous liquids. I was willing to try anything, and she responded to both really well, and lived many more happy years.

Glad to hear Solo Jr. is doing better!
havingfun thanked pamghatten
havingfun
Original Author
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
you know i have learned more about how to handle things from people outside their field or people in their field dropping this one little thing, and i picked up on it.

Yes, the vet said if his temp weren't low and he were not 15, they would have tried subcutaneous fluids. I have my fingers crossed, a couple times through the family, cats have gotten better only to get worse and then die. but you know, at least this way, I know we have done all we can do for him.

Also, as a sidebar, once had a newly trained very caring vet. This was for Solo, Sr. -no dna relationship. Anyway, at about 6 weeks, hubby stepped on his neck on the tile floor. baby just stopped right there. He took him to the expensive vet, who said put him in a box and leave him there for 3 days give water and see what happens. we did that, but finally i felt so awful, giving him his water in the middle of the night that I picked him up, and surprise surprise, he responded to me. Found out later, my hubby had cheated too. We could not bare the thought that he would die with no one loving him. The very next day we went somewhere else, where we met this vet. She came in on Thanksgiving, Newyears, and even Christmas to inject water into him. It took months, sometimes he was stuck so long in one stage, that i would ask if we should continue. Well he was never normal again, but he did function quite well. Amazing what caring expert can do.