Jasmine, Strong Kitty

[chicken]

As a few of you know from reading my wife's LJ, our tortoiseshell cat Jasmine has been diagnosed with inoperable polycystic kidney disease. The doctor said she won't live more than another three years, or as little as six months. We are very worried! However, quality is more important than quantity at this point, and she is in extremely good spirits, so that is lifting our spirits. The doctor said most cats her age (6) with such a high Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) level aren't even eating anymore at all. So I think she's a strong, strong kitty.

We cried and are very stressed and scared, but Jasmine doesn't seem to be picking up on these emotions. She's just in remarkably fine fettle. I am in awe of her. We'll see how she holds up to twice-weekly subcutaneous fluids by needle.

Her sister Pearl is of course treating her badly, as always happens when one of them comes home from the V-E-T smelling like, well, V-E-T. But I guess we have to worry about Pearl as well because it is a genetic disease. This means more blood tests.

Comments

[superplin.livejournal.com]

Oh, no, I'm so sorry! It's incredibly hard when a pet is ill, and knowing that it's terminal has got to be just heart-wrenching for you.

The good news is how well she seems to be doing, and that you'll have some real quality time with her. Hopefully a long time.

::hugs::

[chicken-cem.livejournal.com]

It is heart-wrenching, but very weird -- she doesn't look or act ill at all. It's just the luck of the dodo that we decided to take her in for annual blood work this month. When she was in there six months ago for her bladder stone surgery, her BUN levels were totally normal.

[tx-cronopio.livejournal.com]

Oh, honeys. I'm so sorry. But you're right, she's still strong and happy. I'm sending lots of good thoughts your way. xox

[chicken-cem.livejournal.com]

Thank you and thanks to your cute dog icon, too.

[zandra-x.livejournal.com]

Oh, how awful. I'm so sorry. Knowing something is going to happen is a blessing and a curse. Thinking positive thoughts for you and her.

[chicken-cem.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for the positive thoughts.

[evilmaniclaugh.livejournal.com]

*hugs you tight*

Loads of mojo winging its way to you all.

XXX

[chicken-cem.livejournal.com]

*Hugs back* XXX

[anelith.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry! How awful for all of you. I hope that the fact that you caught it during a routine exam and her continued high spirits mean that she'll respond well to the shots. Do you give her the injections yourselves?

[chicken-cem.livejournal.com]

For the first three days she'll be on a drip all day every day at the Vet. Thereafter, we will have to inject her and put her on a home drip ourselves, twice a week. That's pretty daunting, but worth it to be able to spend more months/years with her.