Saturday, September 30, 2006

Georgia Update

Gemini was nice enough to let me use the blog to let all the other kitties know what's going on with Georgia.

Through the day yesterday she seemed to become more unsteady and then this morning before the vet, I noticed her eyes were not dialated evenly. This is nearly ALWAYS a bad thing. I had one cat do that when she knocked her head really hard, but I SAW the accident and it went away pretty quickly, lasting only a few hours. Given the other symptoms were either pain in the rear legs or something neurologic, the uneven dialatation signalled something really bad.

It turns out that the vet is fairly certain that Georgia has a brain tumor. The prognosis is probably two to six months, depending upon the type and how aggressive it is. They are doing blood work and will decide upon steroids or antibiotics when they get the restults back. The care is palliative, of course.

These vets have just been wonderful here. They actually take me seriously about all my cats and seem very concerned on making the pet as comfortable as possible for as long as possible. At my vet from my other city, I have no doubt I would have been sent out with steroids to see if they helped and some fluids and no real hope or concern for me and my cat.

No one brought up euthanasia at this time, because Georgia is so obviously pretty content. She eats with an appetite and she drinks plenty of water. She is much more unsteady than she was 24 hours ago. Her attitude is good, though she seems confused by her body's strange responses, or lack thereof, when she wants to do something.

We have a split level home and later this afternoon we'll be out to get a baby gate so she can't fall down the stairs. We've moved the litter box upstairs for her too and I will feed her up here. If she seems to want downstairs, I can carry her.

While the two to six months is an estimate on her time, if it turns out to be a lymphoma, rather than the more common brain tumor, it could be faster. Of course, the quality of her life is certainly the biggest factor. The vet has hopes that if there is inflamation, the steroids should make it much easier for her to function but relieving that.

Right now Gemini and Chey are sleeping on the bed with her--though I have to get back to go read on the bed, as I think she will hurt herself if she tries to leap down, her legs are so unsteady. She definitely needed help to ON the bed.

Gemini seems perplexed about why Georgia isn't swatting her when she rolls on her side and head butts her--this was always a signal that they would play. Cheysuli seems much more aware of the seriousnes of the situation and has been surprisingly gracious through the last ordeal.

My other Siamese was that way also. I thought she hated my Iggy cat but when I had to leave him at the vet once, overnight, she couldn't be comforted. When he returned, she took a swat at him and turned tail and left! I suspect that if Georgia were to make a miraculous recovery, Chey would do the same--though I there seems to little reasonable hope that that will happen.

Chey and Gemini will keep the cat blogsphere updated on Georgia's progress and what's happening, as I don't think she'll be feeling up to blogging soon. It's hard enough for their big old paws to hit the right keys and she's having enough trouble just placing them to walk a semi straight line.

21 comments:

Fat Eric said...

We are so sorry to hear the bad news about Georgia's health. We have been through something very similar and can imagine what you must be going through. Please give Georgia lots of scritches and strokes from us, and keep us updated on how she is doing.

Fat Eric said...

We have asked that a prayer request for Georgia be made on the Pet Prayer and Praise page, as we are sure that everyone will want to keep her in their thoughts.

Gemini said...

Thank you for the purrayers, Eric. We appreciate your thoughtfulness--purrs and headbutts

Anonymous said...

Mom and I are very saddened by this news. We will keep you in our thoughts and prayers. Georgia is in God's hands and we never know what God has in store.

Anonymous said...

I wish I could cuddle with Georgia, too. Nothing makes a cat feel better than that. With our thoughts and best wishes,
Lux

Lone Star Purrs said...

Oh, no!! Momma's eyes were startin' to leak at werk when she readed this. Y'all will be in our prayers....like Beau said, it's in God's hands.
::purrs::
~Meeko, Kiara, Emmy, & Momma Becca

Hot(M)BC said...

We're so sorry to hear about Georgia's illness. We think you're a brave and kind purrson to take Georgia's feelings and comfort so much into consideration. Georgia is very lucky to have such a good V-E-T, too. Please scritch and pet her for us too. We'll be sending purrs and purrayers for her and for all of you who love her.
*hugs* and *purrrrrrrrrrrrs* and *scritches* to each of you as makes sense,
All of us at the HotMBC

The Tower Hill Mob said...

We are sorry to hear of Georgia's illness. We are praying for you all.
Headbutts and hugs for everyone!

Shaggy and Scout said...

We are here from Fat Erics who told about Georgia and her problems. She sounds like she has one of the best families around (both cat & human) and our hearts go out ot you all.

Just Ducky said...

Oh my goodness, we are so sorry to hear about Georgia. We hope that as you work with your VET that he will do all to make her comfy. Lots of purrs and purrayers coming your way.

Tea said...

Sending prayers for Georgia. How so very sad. I pray that there really and truly is a place where they go for us to be reunited with them all some day.

tea
xo

Leona said...

Lots of Love, Kitty prayers and Purrs for Georgia.

Meowers from Missouri said...

oh, no! we are so sad to hear this news. please give georgia many, many nose-kisses from all of us. we are keeping you in our purrrrrayers.

nelson, edmund, nitro, and xing lu

Emma's Kat said...

We are so sorry to hear about Georgia's tumor! She will be in our thoughts and purrayers!

Ivan from WMD said...

We're so sorry to hear this news. Georgia is blessed with a mom who'll keep her comfort foremost. And to Georgia I send a bunch of kissies.

ANGEL ABBYGRACE said...

Gemini & Chey & MommaBean

All of us ofur at ManxMnews were furry sad to hear bout Miss Georgia. If'n it be alright we would like to teleport ofur to snuggles up into a catpile to help makes her feel goods. We won't stay long jus let her knows we is finking gud finks fur her and efurryone.

::::purr::::purr:::purr
Abby & the gang

Smeagol and Strider, Mystery (Sunnin' at the Bridge) and Gizmo too! said...

We are so sorry to hear this. We are sendin' you all purrayers and purrs.

The Crew said...

We're sorry to hear the bad news about Georgia's health. Hope she can be kept comfortable.

The Meezers or Billy said...

oh poor Georgia. We know 'zaktly what you are going frough- Ralphie hadded a tumor and was given 6 weeks to live - he lasted almost 7 monfs wif just sub-cutaneous fluids (mommy helpded us spell that right)and lots of love. Mommy says that the quality of life issue is the hardest one to decide, but she has always let her kitties decide that - and they all ran off to the bridge on their own terms 'afore they were in any pain. We will say many purrayers for sweet Georgia.

Katiez Furry Mewz said...

weze purray for georgia.

we wike u.

we bout ta lose my stepbrudder. ize gonna miss him. he waz funni.

=^..^=

Katiez Furry Mewz said...

i wike callin da way ta heaven da bridge...

mommie tell me she saw my stepbrudder jason leap across da bridgie.

so i knohz dat jason be dehr to say hello ta sandi and help him.

Katie Kitty II