Tripawds Three Legged Dog & Cat Forum Archives

Well, I'm really sad to report that we had to put down Tiger last night. He went back to the vet yesterday morning because he still wouldn't eat on his own, though he had begun to drink a little water voluntarily. They were to check him out, get him on fluids and whatever, hopefully to feel better after a day and have more energy to maybe eat. They re-did his bloodwork and found all sorts of issues. Very high glucose (now diabetic), anemic, pancreatitis, etc.  We transferred him to the emergency/specialty vet. Upon exam there, they found that though his vitals were fine, his heart rate was low. So before beginning all the aggressive treatment of fluid and possibly blood transfusion and insulin to get him stable, they first did an echocardiogram, suspecting early heart failure. This was the case, already an enlarged heart and fluids around the heart. His prognosis for moving forward in any direction was not good. They explained it as basically SIRS (systemic inflammation); probably had some underlying conditions that got triggered by the high stress on his body. As of yesterday, his loss of leg and struggle to heal and recover were suddenly at the bottom of the list. It is still such a shock to think last Tuesday morning he just had a broken leg.

My 14 year old daughter was with me, who says Tiger was like her kid, and we both got to spend a little time with him, including telling him we forgave him for all the nights he woke her repeatedly demanding food - ha!. His food love also meant that my daughter had actually taught him to sit, and to play patty-cake where he'd tap his paw to her hand. He had the best purr and was really a people cat. A very devastating outcome, for sure, but it was going to be such a tough go to pull through treatment, much less longer term diabetes and all. I'm glad he's no longer struggling in pain. I'm sorry for such a downer post this morning; but again, I want thank you all for chiming in over this last week with suggestions, support, care and empathy.

I am so very, very sorry.

Well done for doing all you could for him, you showed your love for him by doing your very best despite the pain and worry it caused you. Cats appreciate that, they really do.