I see it's been a long time since I have updated Mazy cat's thread. Her vomiting cycles continue as usual. Sometimes she goes more than a week between vomits. When she goes more than 7 or 8 days, after she does finally puke up a meal, with or without fur, she generally will skip a day then puke two more days in a row. Other weeks it seems she has a lot more trouble and pukes every 3 or 4 days.
These "pukes" would be considered regurgitation, because it IS meals she is vomiting, except for one thing. When it comes up, it comes up with muscle contraction and force. That is not the definition of regurgitation, and that is why I have stopped using that term.
Anyway. Her blood work results from February 16 were not great. Everything fine except her ALT (liver values) still rising. Vet was all about x rays and ultrasounds at the specialist. I said, again, I am not doing that with Mazy cat. I said I would agree to x rays there at the clinic, IF she would agree to do it under sedation. I said then you can take your time, get good pictures, and look into her mouth as well. (Mazy cat has not had a mouth exam since her dental almost 2 years ago)
Vet does not want to sedate/anesthetize for x rays, presumably because, if further diagnostics are needed she will need to be anesthetized for that. I said again, I am not going to do that with Mazy cat.
Anyway that was a month ago we had that discussion and I have done nothing. Mazy cat takes her denosyl every day, continues to enjoy her excellent quality of life. Her arthtitis is under control, she runas and plays and sleeps and eats and poops and pees. her coat is incredible, here eyes are bright and clear, you'd never know there is anything wrong with her at all.
That is what I want for Mazy cat.
Further into the discussion with vet, I did express my feelings about how hard I worked on and how long I kept Ootay alive. More and more over the years I've found myself wondering if I did right by her. I THINK I did, because in the end, like I asked her to, she told me when she'd had enough, and I listened. Both for the regular vet trips, and the end.
I did it, trying to keep Ootay going, mostly for Tolly, because I didn't feel he could spare her. She was always able to handle all the vet trips and stuff, the fluids and the medications. Then one day when I was putting her into the carrier she cried. She'd never done that before so when we got to the vet I said this is the last time I'm bringing her in for a 3 month check. She's said she's done and I will listen to her.
6 months after that she had her 3rd and last stroke, she told me she was ready and I brought her in for the final time.
But Mazy cat cannot handle all that stuff. She's okay with that one pill a day. But I'm not dragging her back to the vet every three months, and I'm not putting her in the carrier and taking her for a 2 hour drive in order to be terrorized in a strange place with strange vets and invasive procedures.
I'd like to have the x rays, and even the ultrasound from my vet (they don't have a great machine, but it's something) and her mouth exam, all under anesthesia to reduce Mazy cat's stress. I know anesthesia is a risk, but she won't be under long, and I feel it is best for her.
I may just wait until her 6 month check up, re-do the blood work and try again to convince her to do x rays, and mouth exam under sedation.
Some cats can handle a lot of stuff. Ootay could, Tolly could. Jennie probably could, if she has to. Not sure about Queen Eva yet. But I'm not doing it to Mazy cat. Even if she did seem to "get used to it" (which I doubt) I don't see why she should have to.