Hello everyone, thank you to those who sent me advice on my fruit trees! It was very helpful. I came home last night to find that my cat had been attacked by an animal. She's been bitten on her head through the muscle to the bone, and has suffered brain trauma. She was at the hospital for a night and a day. They treated her for shock and infection. The vet says he is pleased with her progress.

We brought her home tonight. She can't see, she can't stand up. She wakes up and pants and cries about ever half hour or so. I give her water with a dropper, rescue remedy, and honey with a bit of wine, according to Juliette de Bairacli-Levy. The vet gave us diuretic pills so that she doesn't get fluid retention in her brain. I don't like using drugs, so i'm wondering, is there an herbal equivalent to the diuretic pills? I washed her wounds with rosemary and calendula infusion.

I've got her in a box by the heater. I'm just going to let her sleep. She thrashes around in the box, cries, pants, and I pet her, then she goes back to sleep. Is there anything else I can do? I took her out of her box to pee, but she is totally out of it. She just flopped down on the floor. I don't even know if she knows me. Is is comforting to her that I am nearby? Is she feeling a lot of pain?

I can deal with the shock, and the outer wounds, but this brain trauma is very different. I feel so badly for her and I want to help her feel better, make her comfortable, help her sleep. Anyone have experience with this? suggestions? She's around 15, getting old, but in great physical shape, never been sick. Recently she seemed to have lost her hearing, so talking to her doesn't seem to help.

-- Christine Baillie (towanda515@yahoo.com), April 21, 2002

Answers

Is your vet aware of her present behaviour or has she deteriorated since you have brought her home? (If she has deteriorated then ring your vet asap)

Re the diuretics - stick to the ones provided - they are the most effective and will diurese (reduce fluid around the brain) faster. By the look of it she is in a pretty bad way and needs the best possible/effective/fastest acting diuretic.

-- Cowvet (cowvet_nz@hotmail.com), April 21, 2002.

Have the vet check for (help, sp) erlichia. It's like many of the tick fevers. It's increasing range. The first question for this would be hearing, but this is apparently moot. How about sight, does the cat focus well? Is it's balance ok?

Denis

-- Dennis Enyart (westwoodcaprine@yahoo.com), April 21, 2002.

Your vet is the expert. At least as far as internal medications goes, stick with what the vet prescribes unless you've discussed alternatives an/or adjuncts with the vet. THIS INCLUDES ALCOHOL, which is a very potent bioactive substance, and could potentially mess horribly with what the vet needs to do. External medications are different, but as far as systemic medications go I'd be totally guided by the vet unless you have real solid reason to KNOW you know better.

-- Don Armstrong (darmst@yahoo.com.au), April 21, 2002.

Christine, Be careful of calendula. I know for me I have not had positive experiences with it, it has actually made wounds more swollen and painful. When I have stopped using it things healed quicker. Plain water is fine too. Did the vet reccommend you rinse the wound? If not I would stop, you may be retarding the healing process.

I would trust the vet and call them to report on her progress. This is a significant trama and perhaps traditional medicine would be best for awhile. When you cat is a little better and not so criticle then begin with the herbal/homeopathic stuff. By the way, homeopathy can be used alongside traditional medicine. Maybe try some Arnica Montana, desolve some pellets in warm water and dropper it into her.

Susan

-- Susan in MN (nanaboo@paulbunyan.net), April 21, 2002.

I don't mean to stir up trouble here, but why do folks say they don't like using drugs, and then go on to say they use herbs? Many common drugs are derived form "herbs" or other "natural" source. Many "herbs" are far more dangerous than a medication derived under strict laboratory conditions. I am not knocking the use of herbs, but we should remember that they may be the cause of unwanted and unexpected results as easily as drugstaore remedies. Julie in OK PS I hope the kitty does well!

-- Julie (okwilk213@juno.com), April 21, 2002.

I think your vet is taking advantage of you by keeping this cat alive. It is obviously time to put it down. You are a very selfish person to keep this animal alive and suffering for YOUR own needs. You AND your vet should be ashamed of yourselves.The cat is 15 for Gods sakes, have some compassion, please

Lou

-- Louis J Vespia (xnycowboy@aol.com), April 21, 2002.

Let's see here, she can't see, she can't stand up, has brain trauma, cries, pants, and you don't want to use a diuretic because YOU don't like using drugs? If you are such a naturalist,you should have let nature take it's course OR put the cat down. If you already went through the trouble and expense of taking this cat to the vet, you already gave it plenty of drugs there. So, since you think you should drag it's life out longer than it was apparently intended, I think that cat should be given every drug available to make it stop crying and thrashing and suffering. What if a Grizzly bit into your head and how about we all decide that you don't "need" drugs for your swollen head and all of your pain? Because "We" don't want you to use any drugs! That is so selfish, either put the cat down or drug the poor thing. What are you thinking?

-- Cindy (ilovecajun@aol.com), April 21, 2002.

Christine,

My eyes are full of tears for you. I still mourn a cat that was like a child to me. He was a very special creature. It's a simple but long story as to how he became ill after a medical treatment that in retrospect wasn't even necessary. . . . . but an infection came, his kidneys began to fail, and for one solid week, day and night, I held him, fed him spoonful by tiny spoonful, tried every medical and herbal treatment known to man, gave him fluids beneath the skin, held a rag over his organs to catch his body wastes, cried, begged the higher power, and just wouldn't let him go.

The vet was amazed at how I managed to keep him living, some improvement here, a downturn there. . . but always there loomed the inevitable end I refused to accept.

Not only do I still mourn his passing, I have great guilt for prolonging his misery, for refusing to believe or admit I couldn't save him. I still remember the way he looked into my eyes in the morning of the day he escaped out the door as someone came to visit. The moment I missed him, and frantically began to search. . . I knew. I knew he had to get away from me. . . . so he could leave.

t sounds as if it might be time to let her go.

-- Judy (JMcFerrin@aol.com), April 21, 2002.

I don't understand why you took her to the vet then decided not to use the meds as prescribed. Your cat has had a serious injury and this isn't the time to double guess the vet. If you haven't given her the diuretic, then the extra fluid could be putting a lot of pressure on her brain and that pressure could be making her very uncomfortable.

Did the Vet give you any antibiotics? Have you given them to her? Washing her wounds won't help a bite. Bites are puncture wounds and they become infected at the bottom of the bite. Some of her behavior could be due to a fever from infection. I would give her all of the meds the Vet prescribed right away. If she doesn't improve in a couple of hours then call the Vet and describe her symptoms.

At this point in time, it isn't clear to me that she needs to be put down. Her age doesn't matter IF she is normally a healthy cat since cats can easily live to 20+. If she can make it through the next couple of days, then I would say that she will recover and be okay. That is IF you follow the Vet's instructions as they were given. I say this with conviction because my best friend's cat went through a similiar attack and recovery. Sylvia was around 16 at the time of the attack, but she recovered. She lived another happy 3 years and finally died in her sleep.

-- Dash (forthechix@yahoo.com), April 21, 2002.

I was going to suggest earlier letting her go. But I didn't want to look like the bad guy. I was hoping Stan would answer so then my response wouldn't look so bad... I'm glad I'm not the only one who sees this.

Christine, this sentence you wrote stood out for me; "I can deal with the shock, and the outer wounds, but this brain trauma is very different."

I understand it's a real hard thing to do but I think the important thing is can she deal with it? It doesn't sound like it. 15 years is a good life for a cat. Keeping her doped up and suffering to squeeze a bit more time probably isn't what's best. I'd stop the drugs other than a painkiller, make her comfortable as you can without bothering her too much and let nature take it from there.

-- Dave (multiplierx9@hotmail.com), April 22, 2002.

Once again some seem to amaze me with how cruel they are .There are plenty of ways to express your options without being so mean when someone is suffering. Yes the cat should be given the drugs the vet gave.What is not clear is why the cat in this state was released from the vet .Is it drugs wearing off causing this condition ,is it worsing , infection,swelling ? Hard for me to beleive a good vet would have sent it home this way .Please update us.

-- Patty Gamble (fodfarms@hotmail.com), April 22, 2002.

I have seen many animals recover from brain injury, including a golden retriever that was hit with a spinning aeroplane propeler. Follow your DVM,s instructions and when he/she prescibes a medication you have trouble with, ask for an alernative don't make substitutions on your own. You'll know if you are ready to let the kitty go. Good Luck Dianne (CVT)

-- Dianne (yankeeterrier@hotmail.com), April 22, 2002.

Dear friends,

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your many and most helpful responses. It is a relief and a blessing to have contact with other people such as yourselves for help and advice. I would like to respond to the various questions and comments that you expressed.

First, I re-read my letter just now. I don't see any reference to my wanting to prolong the life of my suffering cat, for the sake of my own desire to keep her around. I would never do that. I, too, believe that is a cruel thing to do. I did not say that I was not giving her the medicine that the vet gave me. I asked if there were alternatives. Please, tell me where I was being mean, or cruel??????

The vet never talked to me or to my husband after the night we took Kit to the hospital. He had his wife talk to us. She told us the following day that they had treated Kit for shock and infection, and that Kit was up and moving around, and that they were pleased with her progress, and that she was much better. She told us that Kit just needed to come home and rest, that she had brain trauma, but that she might recover.

After I had her home for a while, it became clear to me that Kit was in very bad shape. I was asking myself why they had sent her home. Why didn't they tell me how bad she really was? The way she talked to me was like, everything is okay, just give her these pills, wash her wounds, keep her quiet. I followed the instructions I was given. I didn't stop her medicine just because I "don't like to use drugs!"

I realize that some people don't use plant (herbal) medicine. I am a trained naturopath and an herbalist, but I do not exclude other forms of medicine and treatment. I like to use the best of all offerings. To those of you who disapprove, we will just have to agree that we disagree.

The night I wrote asking for help, it was late at night, I was alone, and I had never seen an animal in the shape that she was in. I trusted the vet and his wife, and the difference between what they had said to me and what I was seeing, confused me. That's when I wrote to all of you. I needed some real feedback, such as the note from the person who said, she's in bad shape, the diuretic is the most effective thing you can use to keep the fluid down. Or, the person who said, why did the vet send her home in that condition. Or, why are you prolonging her life? Something to confirm my own thoughts, something to help me to do what was best for Kit.

No, she had not deteriorated after I brought her home. The condition I described was the condition they sent her home in. They did not talk about pain medication, though I thought she was in pain and I wondered why that hadn't been addressed. It was strange. It was like the vet didn't want to keep her at the hospital.

Kit died that night. In retrospect, I am glad we had brought her home so that she could die at home with us, where she had been happy, where she could be comforted as much as possible, instead of in a strange place. But, if we had known, we would have put her down.

Kit had a happy life. I didn't mind that she was getting old. For several months, she has been moving toward her death, in a very calm and relaxed manner, sleeping in the sun by the front porch and occasionally taking a walk with me to the orchard. I knew that it was coming and I was all right with that.

When she died, I wondered why the vet and his wife weren't more explicit with me. I am very confused by that. Even from the letters that you all sent, it is plain that she was in very bad shape. I could see she was. I trusted the vet. If the vet had given me the kind of feedback that you gave me, I would have known exactly what to do. I would not have wanted her to hang around blind, deaf, and crippled. She was tough, she lived outside all her life, she was a hunter, she could take care of herself. She was brave, and loyal, and protective.

Our daughter and her boyfriend came to help us plant a willow tree over Kit's grave by the pond. It was a very loving occasion. Thank you all again, I really needed the company and the kindness, and the direct practicality that you sent.

Christine

-- Christine Baillie (towanda515@yahoo.com), April 22, 2002.

Christine,

Your story has touched me. With deepest sympathy,

-- Bren (wayoutfarm@skybest.com), April 22, 2002.

I am so, so sorry to hear of your loss. But I am glad that she was home with you. I am sure, even in her weakened state that she was aware of your presence. Take comfort that you did all you could for her.

-- Kate in New York (Kate@sheepyvalley.com), April 22, 2002.

Christine,

Sometimes, in animal time, and in human time, there is no explanation for our tragic moments, other than. . . . . .a greater purpose needed to be fulfilled.

My heart weeps with you. I know the agony of your loss. Kit, most assuredly is experiencing the time of her soul. . so amidst the tears you shed for you, rejoice for Kit.

-- Judy (JMcFerrin@aol.com), April 23, 2002.

I am sorry for your loss. It sounded like she was in a lot of pain though. I am sure her passing was for the best. :(

-- Najia (najia274@yahoo.com), April 23, 2002.

Thank you for your response. You are an example to the rest of us.

I'm sure your cat felt better being at home than she would have felt in a strange cage.

Be well. Best regards.

-- Don Armstrong (darmst@yahoo.com.au), April 23, 2002.

I think it's time to find a new vet.

-- V (WraitheLadyA@yahoo.com), April 24, 2002.

Christine...

I am sending a hug your way....I am so sorry for your loss.

Most vets do not prescribe pain meds for cats. However there has been some recent studies that have proved that cats DO feel significant pain and should be Rx pain meds.

The old guard chooses not to Rx pain meds so that the pain keeps the cat under control - they don't jump around, etc.

I will NEVER Again allow one of my animals to be without pain meds...I have one cat that still cries out in her dreams from the pain she suffered from a major surgery...she almost died from the pain.

-- BC (katnip364@aol.com), April 25, 2002.

So sorry to hear of your loss! It sounds like you were a blessing to Kit as much as she was to you. You did everything that you possibly could have done. God Bless and my sincerest sympathy!

-- Nan (davidl41@ipa.net), April 26, 2002.