Weekly Musings of the 25th - Mostly Tigger

 

And so all our company headed on their way on the weekend so we were suddenly missing our family.  It was a wonderful visit with two of hubby's brothers with their wives as well as my sister and her hubby.  Although I do have to admit that hubby and I were exhausted.  Being use to our quiet time having company did make us tuckered out pretty quickly.  We loved it but needed rest for the first couple of days after.  Not that we really got that as Tigger had not improved.

Oh, she was her usual bossy self and was eating and drinking as she normally did but no pooping.  I think part of it was that her butt was pretty violated at the vet.  She saw the vet last Friday with the first enema, x-ray and various other pokes and prods and then we had to keep careful watch to see if anything moved.  Another appointment Saturday morning in which another enema as well as x-ray and more poking and prodding.  On top the x-rays showed kidney stones too which was another blow.  We were still hopeful and on Monday there was yet another appointment for a cat who hadn't been in years this was a trauma.  She was eating well and drinking well and going pee no problem and acting her normal bossy self but no poop.  

It was stressful on us both because every time she came out to do her usual check on us, we went to check whether or not she did.  We were in touch with the vet but had to wait to Thursday for a fourth appointment.   Aside from no signs of poop from her everything else was pretty normal with no pain signs or anything.  Thursday was yet another awful appointment for her, this time she would have light sedation to work the blockage out plus other stuff.  We had to leave her there.  That was awful for hubby as Tigger is his girl through and through.  It was so sad when we picked her up.  She was stinky and miserable and barely awake.  We read the bill after we brought her home and saw all that was done including something that I am sure the assistant had done as what she thought was a helpful thing but to us it was another blow.  She cut Tigger's claws.  Now Tigger uses her claws to brace in her bed when she is washing herself and as an extra help when getting up on the footstool or other place she sleeps because her back legs are not as strong as they were and now she has nothing to help her beside her butt being violated repeatedly.

Having her look at me with that 'how could you?' look broke my heart and all I could say was that I was sorry.

They wanted her to be x-rayed again today and seen by yet another vet but this time we said no.  We would watch her, look after her and take it one day at a time but we were not going to put her through any more.  Not only because we didn't think it was fair to her to have her suffer through more but the cost was over $3,000 with the vet adding more and more costs each time.  

Both of us have agreed that if she recovers and poops like she always has then great but if she doesn't and still seems to be not getting better then we shall have to let her go.  It will be the hardest step but to put her through anymore would be cruel.  

 How could one tell that sweet face who is being put through so much that it is for the best?  They don't understand what is going on and all they know is that they hurt and it isn't stopping.  There is a vet in our area that does end of life home visits and we shall call them if and when the time comes but until then we are going to give Tigger the love and rest that she needs after those four trips to the vet.  

That was our week of full stress and worry.  If it comes to the rainbow bridge Tigger will be the very last pet we have.  I cannot make end of life choices for an animal anymore.  I have made enough of them in my life and Tigger is the last.  My heart cannot take another.  Hubby has said the very same thing, his heart cannot say good bye to another pet again.