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UTI was cause of death and now I feel like a heel. (long)
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Stephanie Sena
Feb 27, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/27/99
to
Kelty,
I am sorry for your loss. The only harm we can ever cause our pets, is
hurting them on purpose. You did not know. You simply did not know.
I am sorry for your loss. The only harm we can ever cause our pets, is
hurting them on purpose. You did not know. You simply did not know.
It is a horrible thing to know now, what you did not know then. You are
no more responsible then a leash slipping through a hand, and a dog
being killed by a car. Please know that this group is about our love
for people with fur, not about telling somene they should have been
perfect.
You are not alone, and I hope you feel some comfort in that. J.P. is
lucky to have you take him in and give him all that love, and I'm sure
he new it and loved you back. This was something that you could go on "
what if-ing "
for a long time. Maybe he would not have been better no matter what
you did, you don't know that either.
Now he is pain free and waiting at rainbow bridge.
This well save another life some day. You will have a second scence
and awareness with your children someday and evey thing happens for a
reason. The reason is never because you could have done something
differant, but only to teach you something you will need for your
future, somethig of value for you to give others and your self. This is
not something you need to learn because you did something wrong! We are
given lessons only to prepare us for somehting we know nothing about...
It is beyond right and wrong.
I feel so bad for you. How sweet you are to come here and tell your
story. My heart goes out to you.
Stephanie
bluenoser
Feb 28, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/28/99
to
Hi folks,
Guess I am writing because I feel like the classic example of the total,
stupid, negligent pet owner who should have known better. I lost my four
year old cat last Monday to a death that was later "evaluated" to be due to
a urinary tract blockage. Why oh why didn't I take J.P. to the vet after I
saw a little blood in his pee? He had been peeing irregularly I noticed a
while back. First, a few times on the bathroom rug, then, once on the bed
covers, and a throw on the couch. I noticed the smell of urine on a few
things and promptly washed them. I thought it was because he was being
overly sensitive about my boyfriend being here occasionally. You see,
when I adopted J.P. from a military family about six months ago, I was told
by his owner at the time that he "hated men", and would run to the basement
every time a strange man came over. For some reason, J.P. did not take a
liking to my boyfriend...he would always scurry under the bed and hide.
And once, when he tried to pick him up and hold him, he pee'd on the couch
and ran away. Now, Ken didn't do anything to him to warrant it, but J.P.
was petrified of him. I mean, Ken was cautious around him and showed him
nothing but good, loving, behaviour. I just attributed it to what I had
been told by his previous owner. We even speculated that J.P. had been
kicked around or mistreated by the previous owner's husband. That was the
only thing we suspected that would cause an imprint like that on a cat. So
anyway, the morning I noticed some blood in his urine, (he even pee'd in
the bathroom sink, climbed up and pee'd in it, in the porcelan sink, ((and
that was no mean feat,)) like he was trying to tell me something). I knew
something was wrong, but why I didn't take him to the vet I don't know. I
guess it's because I thought maybe later in the week or I'de see if it
would clear up on it's own, but that never happened. And now he's dead.
He seemed fine for a few weeks in between, happy, active, etc. I came home
last Sunday night and there was vomit on the floor and a couple of liquid
vomits as well. He was meowing like he was uncomfortable certainly enough.
He was shifting his body around alot like he was nauseous. But I never
thought it was *RELATED*. I thought his stomach was upset, that's all. So
it never dawned on me to mention possible UTI complications to the
attendant at the 24 hour clinic pet clinic when I called that same night to
see if I should bring him in....Thinking that it was just a stomach bug,
*so was I*, she just said to watch him overnight and bring him in in the
morning if it persisted. Anyway, I woke up the next day to go to work, and
my other cat kind of walked in silently. I went out to the livingroom and
saw that he had expired over the course of the night. There were a few
new, *large* liquid vomits now on the kitchen floor, but he expired in the
livingroom, a bit away. God, even writing this makes me sick to my
stomach. So I took him to be cremated that evening. What a painful day.
*Sweet J.P., my lovely one, I hope you didn't suffer too much when you
died.*
Later, when I talked to a vet over the phone, he said that the death was
probably caused by a urinary tract blockage. He told me that was the cause
of the nausea and vomiting...toxins were building up in his system. I
swear I didn't know how serious it was and that it could cause death. I
had no idea. My mother even told me later (she works in a Nursing home),
that when patient's catheter becomes blocked, it is quite a serious thing
and can cause death. I didn't know this. Anyway, I feel like I had no
excuse really...I should have taken him to the vet as soon as I noticed the
blood. I feel like a shit. I am also not posting this because I wish for
people to email me or post and say it is alright because I didn't know. I
also don't wish to be ground into the dirt, scolded, preached to, or
reprimanded either by people on this group who feel offended by the
carelessness of my actions...believe me, I've suffered enough this past
week. I just want to vent. It will be a long time before I am able to
resolve these feelings. This is a hard lesson learned, and, needless to
say, I shall endeavor to be so much more respectful of the fragile hold on
life that our pets have. They *do* tell us when they are sick, or not
well. It was up to *me* as a pet owner to take those messages seriously.
I am fortunate enough to be blessed with another little life here. My
other cat, Frodo, who I have had for almost four years. I am giving him
lots of love to help him with it as well, as he is looking around for his
lost friend. He and God are helping me get through it. I feel like I
don't deserve their comfort. But Frodo will *never* be sick or die because
of my neglect and ignorance and apathy on my part. This horrible thing has
assured that his life will never be in jeopardy. I always assumed that
cats were "tough little critters", and can get though anything. A vet told
me that once and I believe that that is very misleading. This has been a
very hard lesson indeed. It will never be forgotten. Indifference,
assumption, procrastination, and ignorance are as much a a killer of our
beloved pets as disease, accident, or old age. I thank God for his lesson,
I needed to learn it.
Thanks for listening,
Kelty
Guess I am writing because I feel like the classic example of the total,
stupid, negligent pet owner who should have known better. I lost my four
year old cat last Monday to a death that was later "evaluated" to be due to
a urinary tract blockage. Why oh why didn't I take J.P. to the vet after I
saw a little blood in his pee? He had been peeing irregularly I noticed a
while back. First, a few times on the bathroom rug, then, once on the bed
covers, and a throw on the couch. I noticed the smell of urine on a few
things and promptly washed them. I thought it was because he was being
overly sensitive about my boyfriend being here occasionally. You see,
when I adopted J.P. from a military family about six months ago, I was told
by his owner at the time that he "hated men", and would run to the basement
every time a strange man came over. For some reason, J.P. did not take a
liking to my boyfriend...he would always scurry under the bed and hide.
And once, when he tried to pick him up and hold him, he pee'd on the couch
and ran away. Now, Ken didn't do anything to him to warrant it, but J.P.
was petrified of him. I mean, Ken was cautious around him and showed him
nothing but good, loving, behaviour. I just attributed it to what I had
been told by his previous owner. We even speculated that J.P. had been
kicked around or mistreated by the previous owner's husband. That was the
only thing we suspected that would cause an imprint like that on a cat. So
anyway, the morning I noticed some blood in his urine, (he even pee'd in
the bathroom sink, climbed up and pee'd in it, in the porcelan sink, ((and
that was no mean feat,)) like he was trying to tell me something). I knew
something was wrong, but why I didn't take him to the vet I don't know. I
guess it's because I thought maybe later in the week or I'de see if it
would clear up on it's own, but that never happened. And now he's dead.
He seemed fine for a few weeks in between, happy, active, etc. I came home
last Sunday night and there was vomit on the floor and a couple of liquid
vomits as well. He was meowing like he was uncomfortable certainly enough.
He was shifting his body around alot like he was nauseous. But I never
thought it was *RELATED*. I thought his stomach was upset, that's all. So
it never dawned on me to mention possible UTI complications to the
attendant at the 24 hour clinic pet clinic when I called that same night to
see if I should bring him in....Thinking that it was just a stomach bug,
*so was I*, she just said to watch him overnight and bring him in in the
morning if it persisted. Anyway, I woke up the next day to go to work, and
my other cat kind of walked in silently. I went out to the livingroom and
saw that he had expired over the course of the night. There were a few
new, *large* liquid vomits now on the kitchen floor, but he expired in the
livingroom, a bit away. God, even writing this makes me sick to my
stomach. So I took him to be cremated that evening. What a painful day.
*Sweet J.P., my lovely one, I hope you didn't suffer too much when you
died.*
Later, when I talked to a vet over the phone, he said that the death was
probably caused by a urinary tract blockage. He told me that was the cause
of the nausea and vomiting...toxins were building up in his system. I
swear I didn't know how serious it was and that it could cause death. I
had no idea. My mother even told me later (she works in a Nursing home),
that when patient's catheter becomes blocked, it is quite a serious thing
and can cause death. I didn't know this. Anyway, I feel like I had no
excuse really...I should have taken him to the vet as soon as I noticed the
blood. I feel like a shit. I am also not posting this because I wish for
people to email me or post and say it is alright because I didn't know. I
also don't wish to be ground into the dirt, scolded, preached to, or
reprimanded either by people on this group who feel offended by the
carelessness of my actions...believe me, I've suffered enough this past
week. I just want to vent. It will be a long time before I am able to
resolve these feelings. This is a hard lesson learned, and, needless to
say, I shall endeavor to be so much more respectful of the fragile hold on
life that our pets have. They *do* tell us when they are sick, or not
well. It was up to *me* as a pet owner to take those messages seriously.
I am fortunate enough to be blessed with another little life here. My
other cat, Frodo, who I have had for almost four years. I am giving him
lots of love to help him with it as well, as he is looking around for his
lost friend. He and God are helping me get through it. I feel like I
don't deserve their comfort. But Frodo will *never* be sick or die because
of my neglect and ignorance and apathy on my part. This horrible thing has
assured that his life will never be in jeopardy. I always assumed that
cats were "tough little critters", and can get though anything. A vet told
me that once and I believe that that is very misleading. This has been a
very hard lesson indeed. It will never be forgotten. Indifference,
assumption, procrastination, and ignorance are as much a a killer of our
beloved pets as disease, accident, or old age. I thank God for his lesson,
I needed to learn it.
Thanks for listening,
Kelty
Beverly
Feb 28, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/28/99
to
Hi Kelty,
Many, many years ago I lost my cat, Bilbo (sounds like we read the
same books) to UTI also. I, too, didn't know or understand, and acted
too slowly. I had the same feelings you expressed. I am so sorry for
what you are going through. Thank you for venting with us. We can't
take away your pain, but we can be here to listen. We listen to each
other. Thank you again, for sharing.
Beverly
Many, many years ago I lost my cat, Bilbo (sounds like we read the
same books) to UTI also. I, too, didn't know or understand, and acted
too slowly. I had the same feelings you expressed. I am so sorry for
what you are going through. Thank you for venting with us. We can't
take away your pain, but we can be here to listen. We listen to each
other. Thank you again, for sharing.
Beverly
Dulam
Feb 28, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/28/99
to
Kelly - I lost my Nicki this morning - a 12 yr olf cairn terrier - it sounds
very similar to your situation -w/ the vomiting. I should have taken her to
the vet the first day not the second. the vet told me she was doing better and
could come home. but when i went to get her he said she was in bad pain and had
diahhrea again - the next morning w/o me getting to say goodbye she was gone.
the vet asked to do an autopsy to see the cause - i am waiting to hear - i know
the pain will ease but gosh it hurts like heck now. i wish you peace and that
soon both of us can remember the happy times.
very similar to your situation -w/ the vomiting. I should have taken her to
the vet the first day not the second. the vet told me she was doing better and
could come home. but when i went to get her he said she was in bad pain and had
diahhrea again - the next morning w/o me getting to say goodbye she was gone.
the vet asked to do an autopsy to see the cause - i am waiting to hear - i know
the pain will ease but gosh it hurts like heck now. i wish you peace and that
soon both of us can remember the happy times.
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