Lost My Leo Of 15 Years Options

[macgrl]

This just happened yesterday and my husband and I are just devastated, even though we knew his days were becoming numbered.

The past year he walked with a limp and we had him on cosquin for cats and that seemed to ease the arthritis in his hips. My daughter who was only six when he came home as a kitten noticed his decline when she last came to visit a week ago. He was much more frail, and not living with him day to day she noticed the difference between even Christmas and now.

Superbowl sunday he was his usual self, we ordered a family chicken dinner and was getting his usual expected share of chicken. Yesterday morning I gave him his usual can of soft food, then about a hour or two later he vomited it up, and by the looks of it the chicken from last night, undigested. He also had a dirrehea like drainage and was trying to pass a stool where he was laying but all he could do was just spasm in pain. Good god we tried to help, I got a warm washcloth to clean his hindquarters which clearly bothered him. I called the vet and made an appointment as soon as possible which would have been the next day. In the meanwhile Leo went to hide behind a desk and curl up, my daughter went to put him back by the towels in the bathroom and he had his mouth open for a moment in a pant. I had to call back and ask if I could bring him in immediately to put him down, so I got the car ready because it is frigid cold here in WI and my daughters brought him to the car. My husband could not bare to go with us because that was his baby.

I got half way and I was ready to turn the car around, but my daughter reminded me even though he was alert he was periodically spasming in pain. This was it. It hit us so fast we did not have time to brace ourselves. He calmly stayed still there for the vet when he got ready to get the shot and he went so peacefully. It was a mix of relief and grief for us, especially the girls I have at home who have grown up with him. After all was done the vet showed us his skin that had signs of liver failure. It is comforting to read the posts where everybody had their doubts and second guesses like I did. I am still going through the motions, I never had a pet for this long.

[Furkidlets' Mom]

macgrl,

Your husband is more than welcome to come here, too, if he'd like to, even if just to read others' posts. We have a number of grieving dads here as well who are very helpful and understanding, and who love their furkids just as much as we moms do.

I think your other furries will sense your tears, whether shed inwardly or outwardly. Nissa kissed me even during my uncontrollable sobbing when Sabin crossed (she was adamant in her efforts, bless her loving heart!), and even when I was on the phone prior to that, with one vet or another when we were still trying to save him, just by sensing my anguish over these phone discussions. So if you need to cry, I'm sure they'll accomodate that, too....and maybe you'll even get some kisses to help you. But if you also need this measure of control to use as tiny breaks from the sorrow, that's all good, too....whatever works at any given time.

I had one dream visitation from Nissa so far, where she was again healthy and perky-looking, as in her prime, and I try to hang onto that image as well, as best I can, to "block out" the other ones, as you said. It does help, although it's often a challenge yet for me to recall those better years. It'll take time.

Paula,

Nissa was always more comfortable around a camera than Sabin, who was a bit more like Alley, like, Hey! I'm TRYING to have a nice sit here! Go away with that "C" thing!