Tuesday, October 23, 2007

I heard Ernie's voice...

Ernie was dying. His chest was filling with fluid. How could this be?
He just had an infection, diagnosed just one week ago.

It all started late on a Saturday night. His eye was red and swollen. Took Ernie to the emergency vet, not too far from here. The attending tried taking Ernie's temp. Thermometer didn't beep soon enough for her, so she stopped. Pulled it out. Weighed him. The usual routine. Vet checked his gut, said his heart was muffled, probably because he was over weight. He was diagnosed with an eye infection, prescribed an antibiotic and sent home.

The following Monday he was at his vet. She gave him the usual check up, he had a fever. This should have been found Saturday night.
Vet checked his gut, again, heart sounds muffled, most likely due to the fact that he is so over weight. The vet prescribed an antibiotic. We took him home.

Over the next few days, he seemed to be getting worse, it was getting harder & harder to give him his med's. He would gag and spit it out. He was also taking med's everyday for mega colon. I called the vet...they made suggestions. Nothing seemed to help. He was more listless, didn't jump up on the table or bar anymore. Didn't seem to move around much...breathing heavy, seemed very tired.

The next Monday we were in the vet's office, again. Exactly 7 days.
Another doctor checked him this time. He was sure Ernie had fluid on his chest. Heart sounds weren't muffled because of fat. It was fluid.
Done a Ct scan. Sure enough, there it was. Vet said, this suggests it may be lymphoma. Maybe brought on by the mega colon. He is only 5 1/2 years old. Older cats usually get this. By this time, it was closing time. Vet said, he could stay, aspirate the fluid, if he makes it until morning, we could take him home and maybe have a couple more days with him.
We went on home...vet called about an hour later, aspirated the fluid from Ernie's chest. He is breathing better. Now we pray he makes it until morning.

Morning came, the tech called, Ernie is panting heavy, and suffering. We told her to end it now. Can't stand the thoughts of him suffering any longer...

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