My Sweet Loki, Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Options

[beth26]

It has been about 3 years since I lost my kitty Pushkin. I really appreciated this site back then, and I need you all again!

Yesterday, I brought my kitty, Loki, to the vet to get a dental procedure. Last year I found out she has lesions on her teeth and she had to have a few teeth pulled. So, this year, I thought I would be preventative and have her teeth cleaned. Loki has had no major health problems except her teeth for these past 10 years.

Loki is a very sweet, but highly sensitive kitty. She has always been terrified of the vet and most people. I dropped her off at 9:10 and headed to my parents' house to go for a drive and have lunch out. Once I arrive to our lunch spot about a hour away, I got a call from my vet saying that Loki was crashing. They had not even prepped her for the dental treatment. They were trying to resuscitate her. 10 min later I get a call back that she was dead.

I was/am in complete shock. I knew she hated going to the vet and was terrified. So my first thought was that she had a heart attack from stress. My vet is very experienced and talented, and had never had an experience like this before. He asked if he could find out what may have gone wrong.

About an hour later he called a back and told me she had Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. This is the same disease that strikes young athletics that appear healthy, but have this undetected condition and causes their sudden death.

My heart is broken again. My Loki was so gentle and comforting. I know she appreciated my quiet household and this probably extended her life.

I know this is not my fault, but I wish I had of course known she had this condition. The extra stress of going to the vet for this preventative care I am sure put her in a state of panic that pushed her over the edge. I have this week off and had so hopes to enjoy the sunshine with my kitty. She loved my yard and would get so excited when we would sit outside together. It has been raining here so much this winter, I hate losing this Spring and this special time we would have had together.

The other sadness I have is that I was thinking of canceling this appt thinking that I would like more time this week to enjoy with her. I had bad feeling about this trip. Mostly, I felt that I wasn't sure if it was completely necessary to have her get her teeth done in which they had to put her under. I knew she did ok last year. So I know my thought process wasn't bad. But, I kind of wish I had just left her alone. I do know that this condition would have taken her. And maybe it would have been worse because it would most likely have happened at home. But of course right now I wish I had her.

I appreciate this forum: for the support and the opportunity to share my Loki's life.