Cat has poorly eye - sad news

alexnicholls

Hello Hev

not sure if you are still reading this but I have just read your thread with trepidation. We have a 20 year old cat with the same symptons - It started with a watery eye, which were given anitiotic drops, and when that got no better, in fact the side of her face started to bulge, we went back again and this was treated last week with an intravenous antibiotic which should last 10 days. The eye is now bulging. She seems to be eating, drinking etc and in no pain.

I am dreading going back. She is my DD's fave and she is about to start her GCSE's . What a dilemma. I just hope it will improve. Did Shadow have an infection that started with tooth but just spread? Did they have a name for it?

X everything.

Alex

MrsTinks

Alex I think what happened with Shadow was a tooth geting infected and developing an abcess (sp?). It happens in humans too, I had one and although the tooth was basically healthy they pulled it as it was very bad and looking at the x-rays they were afraid it WOULD spread to my jaw bone.
"Sponging" of the bone could be a bone cancer and to be honest the abcess could be caused by bone cancer, or a cancerous growth could be sparked off by an infection... Please ask your vet to x-ray your puddy cats head if possible...
The only problem when they get to that age is the seriously increased risk during sedation. I think if the eye is bulging you need to take her back to the vets NOW and not wait till tomorrow!

Hev - I'm so sorry to hear your sad news. It's never easy to have to make that final decision but you did the right thing and let her go. It's the final act of kindness we can give our beloved animals and I think the most important repayment of all that unconditional love they give us.
I am sure Shadow will be waiting at the Rainbow bridge for you

hev_2

alexnicholls wrote: »

Hello Hev

not sure if you are still reading this but I have just read your thread with trepidation. We have a 20 year old cat with the same symptons - It started with a watery eye, which were given anitiotic drops, and when that got no better, in fact the side of her face started to bulge, we went back again and this was treated last week with an intravenous antibiotic which should last 10 days. The eye is now bulging. She seems to be eating, drinking etc and in no pain.

I am dreading going back. She is my DD's fave and she is about to start her GCSE's . What a dilemma. I just hope it will improve. Did Shadow have an infection that started with tooth but just spread? Did they have a name for it?

X everything.

Alex

After all the to-ing and fro-ing for over two months...

One of Shadow's teeth was seriously bad, surrounded by necrotic or dead tissue. The vet thinks that when that was removed it allowed a blood supply to a growth. Finally, when we got the call, it was a growth that was taking up too much of poor Shadow's head to operate. The jaw had gone 'spongy' and not healed properly, despite loads of antibiotics. They couldn't do anything except the kindest decision.

It may be that it is just an infection in the jaw. Until she was properly examined under sedation the vets gave an even chance between an abscess, which will eventually respond to antibiotics or a growth.

Good luck. I hope everything is okay. Your lovely cat may be happy to continue until at least the end of the GCSE's (oh, that sounds so awful) and still have some quality of life even if it is the same thing that affected Shadow. My only suggestion is to keep nagging at the vets and keeping your DD busy.

Best Wishes.

mogwai

Have just finished reading all the posts. I'm so sorry for your loss - I hope you and your OH are doing better.

Tulip

Hev,

Sorry to hear about the loss of Shadow

*hugs*

Katie

alexnicholls

Hev when you say sedation - is it full blown or just local? Will take her again in the morning...once again with a heavy heart. Any problem aged 20 in a cat is a big one. 18 months ago we took her thinking that was it, when she was constantly twitching. £100 blood test later, the vet said she wouldn't last long was probably FIP or cancer. She was fine in 48 hours. Found out my DH had given her both worming tablets in the same go, no space in between. We reckon that must have been it!!!
Thanks for your comments tine - will go !

zarazara

Sorry for your loss
((HUGS))

hev_2

alexnicholls wrote: »

Hev when you say sedation - is it full blown or just local? Will take her again in the morning...once again with a heavy heart. Any problem aged 20 in a cat is a big one. 18 months ago we took her thinking that was it, when she was constantly twitching. £100 blood test later, the vet said she wouldn't last long was probably FIP or cancer. She was fine in 48 hours. Found out my DH had given her both worming tablets in the same go, no space in between. We reckon that must have been it!!!
Thanks for your comments tine - will go !

Your old lady may be fine under sedation. One of the things that kept me going is that our vets checked Shadow's blood tests and she was fine, heart, liver and kidneys were all ticking over nicely. Your vet will know how best to check - the light stuff they gave Shadow (who took no prisoners) may not be needed with your friend.

The sedation was so that they could examine her eye, jaw and face without getting too wounded - for an old lady Shadow had very good reflexes. At the penultimate visit they trimmed her claws free of charge - saves on their skin!

I have found it incredibly hard, and so has OH, but the people on here have been incredibly supportive and really kind and that has helped so much. All I can say is love your old lady as much as you can, and just focus on all the crazy things she has done. It may be that you have to let her go as a courageous kindness, though fingers crossed that you do not. All I can say is that if she is 20 then you have looked after her very well. It may not be a decision you have to take now, but you will know your old lady best.

Wishing you and your DD the very best.

lilmissmup

I have just read this from start to finish and really feel for you Hev, she sounds as if she was a lovely cat and a great age too!

She had a lovely life with you and you did everything you could for her xxx

Now to stop myself crying!

stokechick16

This thread made me cry.
Firstly i am so sorry about your loss. Its like losing a family member isnt it. Animals become part of the family, especially after 18 years. Im really sorry about your loss. You and your family in your house are so brave.

It makes me cry just to think one day my dogs will die. Its such a sad thing. And i bet she is looking down on you purring. You tried your best for her, and you have lots of memories.

Hope you & your family are well and sorry about your loss xxx