May 9th we found out what surgery had determined. There is a duct that takes fatty material from the intestines and moves this fluid up to the heart. Some time this duct ruptures and the fluid does not make it successfully to the heart but dumps into the lungs. This is what happened to Whiskers. Some cats are prone to this problem. The surgeons would expect to find one duct but Whiskers had multiple ducts which they cut off and…
After we had our cat, Whiskers, put to sleep, my wife and I had time to reflect upon our decisions. It was not pretty. We totaled up out costs and they amounted, on paper, to be $9,931.56 and we ended up with a dead cat. Critical Care unit charges: $6,276.56. Housing the cat, x-rays, medications, evaluations, etc.. Surgery charges: $3,655.00 Also the time involved was significant. I had to feed, give medications and a shot every four hours a day….
This morning I could not get solids through the PEG tube. I tied at least six times over two hours. Out of frustration, I called the Critical Care facility and they suggested that I bring the cat in. Once I arrived they took all the vital signs and found that the cat had lost one pound. They were concerned and gave me 8 cans of Eukanuba Veterinary Diet Maximum – Calorie food. I was instructed to give 1 and…
On May 9th Whiskers is put under the knife. The diagnosis was chylothorax, pleural effusion. They cut the sack surrounding the heart and causing part of this heart problem. The surgeons try to attach the thoracic duct but find more than one duct. They cut out all but one, I believe not knowing which one is leaking into the lungs. They take a fatty tissue from the abdomen and put it in line with the duct to help in some…