(Updated x 2) Another Friend May Cross The Rainbow Bridge

Midnight's Big Belly

I have no way to know just yet. Midnight here has hyperthyroidism, a common diagnosis for cats at or close to 12 years of age. He's lost a good deal of body weight over the past few weeks and has had diarrhea as well. He's been eating quite a bit more as a result.

Supposedly treatments can cost anywhere between 10 and 120 dollars a month if we go the medication route. And since I'll be dead before I ever have gainful employment of any kind, I don't have 120 dollars a month for medication.

If anyone else has any ideas, I'd certainly welcome them.

8:50 PM EST:I got off the phone with the vet a little while ago and the medication we'll need for Midnight is actually very inexpensive, 15 bucks. He'll also be on some diarrhea meds for a bit, but from what the vet said, this sounds doable.

I'll say one thing for Midnight: He's been through a lot. I remember almost 10 years ago to the day we woke up one morning to find he'd broken one of his hind legs clean off of his hip. That was pretty scary but he got through it, albeit he couldn't jump too high. Still, he managed to adapt pretty well by climbing up to higher places if necessary.

I also just introduced him to Apricot 5 months ago and I'd hate to see her lose her 'grandpa' so soon. They get along pretty well in spite of the age difference.

20180826_121504.jpg

2nd update: We took him to the vet today to get his first dose of meds. Needless to say he was pissed off when the vet shoved a couple of pills down his throat with a stick.

He got his second dose tonight via pill pocket treats and he scarfed those down with no trouble at all, though we did have to keep her in another room for a couple of minutes so she wouldn't try to eat them. Then they both got some treats afterwords. I was very surprised tonight.

Share
up
0 users have voted.

Comments

Black cats have organ issues. We tried the treatment route with ours, but he slid down the rainbow anyway. Miss that cat.

Good luck.

up
0 users have voted.
Bollox Ref's picture

sad to say. Oscar, our diabetic cat, was diagnosed with congestive heart failure early last year (laboured breathing, weight loss). Medication gave him a few more months (summer on the porch), but when he lost control of his bladder, we knew it was time to make that last vet visit. Medication can only do so much, and being such clean animals, the diarrhea must be very upsetting for him (and for you).

up
0 users have voted.

Gëzuar!!
from a reasonably stable genius.

We owned four pets. Two got sick. We were pragmatic about the cost and put them down. We felt so guilty, we did everything we could when the other two got sick. They all died anyway. I am so sorry about your cat. Best to both of you. My only suggestion is do you have a university in your area that has a vet college? If so, maybe they will do something pro bono. Another thought is to call a few vets in the area and ask them if they do pro bono or know of a vet who does. Sorry I don't have anything better.

up
0 users have voted.

"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon

@dkmich

it is affordable. May the two of year have many more happy years together.

up
0 users have voted.

"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon

gulfgal98's picture

In late July, we lost our beloved Willie Bear (my avatar) to congestive heart failure and kidney failure. We could treat the heart failure, but the kidney failure was what did it. It was so fast and all happened within a period of less than two weeks. Since we had dealt with another dog with kidney failure of this magnitude, we were quick to recognize that we were not doing my beloved Willie Bear any favors of trying to prolong his life. He had lost 2 lbs in less than ten days and had quit eating. It was a very hard decision, but I wanted him to go out with his dignity and we were with him at the end. We have had ten dogs during out 40 years of marriage, two of which we still have. Willie Bear was my special guy, my heart and soul, and I still miss him very much. Sometimes you have a person or an animal with whom you have a very strong bond, almost mystical. That was me and Willie Bear.

up
0 users have voted.

Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?

“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy

The Aspie Corner's picture

@gulfgal98 @gulfgal98 Not fun stuff.

As for Midnight, he definitely sticks to me like velcro, though it didn't start out that way. He was adopted by my wife initially (along with Pumpkin who we put down last year) before we moved in together. Losing him will certainly hurt.

up
0 users have voted.

Modern education is little more than toeing the line for the capitalist pigs.

Guerrilla Liberalism won't liberate the US or the world from the iron fist of capital.

Bollox Ref's picture

Gotta love the little guys.

up
0 users have voted.

Gëzuar!!
from a reasonably stable genius.

karl pearson's picture

Our cat Ginseng lived to be 22, after she was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism at age 12. She was placed on medication and it controlled the problem. Cats can really surprise you. Hang in there--the worst may be over.

up
0 users have voted.

easy, Brother, when you know there could be Life but for the lack of coin. Big Al has a post up on just this topic. Of course, he was talking people but our four-legged friends IS people to me.
And count just as much.
Keep us posted, please? Luck.

Edit; I hope things continue to improve for you Both. Be well, be loved.

up
0 users have voted.

Ya got to be a Spirit, cain't be no Ghost. . .

Explain Bldg #7. . . still waiting. . .

If you’ve ever wondered whether you would have complied in 1930’s Germany,
Now you know. . .
sign at protest march

enhydra lutris's picture

year. Hang in thee and good luck.

up
0 users have voted.

That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

snoopydawg's picture

I hope that it helps kitty and makes him more comfortable. May you have many more years with Midnight. You are in my thoughts.

up
0 users have voted.

Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.

is 20, with thyroid, kidney, etc., etc. problems. Treating the thyroid exacerbates other things. I opted for spoiling him, salmon, turkey, petting (but avoid fats). Hey, cheap tuna's cheaper than fancy cat food. Do what you can, extend his life and give him as much quality of life as you can, and stay sensitive to signals that he's ready. My 18 yo dog refused xgiving turkey and didn't want me to leave his side; I knew it was time.
Losing a companion leaves such a hole; they're so innocent. Remember that you're giving him a good life and focus on those good times.
At the time, if you can afford it, find a vet who makes house calls. It costs hundreds, but every one of those dollars is a better memory as years go by.
The hurtful part of modern vet medicine is that it makes our decisions harder, by giving us so many expensive decisions.
What do you think, folks, can we chip in for a home visit, if needed? I'm in.

up
0 users have voted.

diet with my now 13 year old tuxedo. He was radiated for thyroid, hyperthyroid, but that effected his kidneys so now I do a pill plus the special diet. Have to say he has gained weight and loves that new food. I am so relieved you found an option you can do financially as it is not cheap. And after all was said and done, I would have been better off not doing the radiation as I have to pill him every day anyway.

I lost his brother just last year, congestive heart failure under emergency conditions. The vet was very nice about it, and for a few minutes there I wanted to do whatever it took to save him. But he'd also had a clot and had lost use of his back legs so it would not have been a good thing for him - a totally independent alpha male, he would not have been happy. It all went down within 2 hours, was really one of the worst days of my life - the shock of the thing happening like that, it's taken a while to even be able to speak about it, but time does help, and he did not suffer.

up
0 users have voted.

Only a fool lets someone else tell him who his enemy is. Assata Shakur

Anja Geitz's picture

over a year ago. She's been on Felimazole and doing well. The initial cost was mostly on the labs which I had to do every few months to check if her levels were right for the dose I was giving her. Adjustments were made and we seem to be doing fine.

I opted to put her on a Banfield plan, which is like an HMO for pets. I pay about $30 every month, exams are free, as are a lot of the blood work. For the labs that aren't free, they are discounted. Overall, my reasoning for going this way is because Pierre is 13 years old, with a chronic condition, and I don't want to have to worry about vet care in the event of an emergency if I happen to be low on cash that month. It's not for everyone, but it suits my needs.

Good luck with Midnight. Keep us updated. With pictures, of course.

up
0 users have voted.

There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier