Cleo the Quick
I understand about the Tooth Fairy. I treasure the essence of Santa Claus. I believe in the Resurrection. It is my sad duty to inform you there is no magic bullet for life time care or extreme extension in quality of life. There is not a miracle cure available for advanced age given diseases that suck vitality away from loved ones.
There is no shortcut to care required for extension of the bonds of love from animal to human. Quick fixes are not an answer; they are but an ineffective bandage. One uses them to allow other actions to enhance efforts in solving an underlying issue. As an example a dehydrated pet needs fluids. Fluids given by the oral route is a woefully inadequate method of rehydrating an animal. Using a fluid choice matched to the deficiencies in electrolytes as a source of IV fluids will rehydrate an animal. What it will not do is cure the reason it got dehydrated. If you have chronic renal failure, the kidneys are allowing more essential required electrolytes, fluids, and minerals out. It also causes retention of other minerals, electrolytes, and waste products which cause the narcosis referred to as uremia. This will result in what Veterinarians refer to as being "pruned out". Fluid loss is greater than is physically possible to be consumed orally. Chronic renal failure can be modified, with treatment of medication(s), caloric change to a kidney friendly diet, Veterinarian exams, evaluation, regular home dental care, and with regular interval detailed dental prophylactic cleaning in a veterinary clinic. The most important factor is an owner dedicated to ensuring the maximum quality is in a pet's life. There are no mythical fountains of youth available for pets or people.
This article is about a cat that did her best to not go quietly into the night. This is but a life summary of a cat named Cleo. I tacked on the moniker "the Quick" as in her younger years she was the ultimate definition of "cat quick". Cleo was a real hand full. She was real sassy. She would Julian slice you with her front claws. She would give a look that implied "you suspect me?"
Cleo shared her life with her owner. She was never a kept cat. There was an unwavering devotion between her and Mrs. G. Regardless of what type of health issues that came along Cleo would get tested, treated and get the medication titrated so it would be beneficial to both of them. When she needed teeth extracted because of feline odontoclastic resorptive lesions (FORLS) we did them. This painful disorder has an unknown cause. What it does do is eat a hole from the enamel surface of the tooth through the dentin and into the pulp chamber. There is no saving these teeth. Extraction is the only humane viable alternative. This eventually involved most of her teeth. The removal of the affected teeth helped stabilize her oral cavity and improved her overall general health for a significant amount of time.
Five years ago she developed feline hypertension (elevated blood pressure). We got her on an appropriate dose of amlodipine besylate (Norvasc). It took a while to get to a stabilizing dose. Retesting and monitoring got it adjusted. You probably know a family member or friend that takes the same Norvasc for high blood pressure. It works great in cats also.
About ten years ago Cleo developed feline hyperthyroidism. Feline hyperthyroidism is common in middle aged to geriatric cats. When this disorder was first discovered in Veterinary Medicine it was the severe advanced cases most commonly seen. We now consider this an age related issue. We now consider testing for hyperthyroid in geriatric, 7 year plus, old cats. I discussed the options for a cure with radioactive iodine or usage of methimazole (Tapazole) as a control, but not a cure. Due to the financial aspects the owner opted for medication and blood test monitoring with methimazole. There is no right or wrong choice with this disorder. Presently radioactive iodine treatment is in the $1,500.00 neighborhood. In Cleo's case a decade on the medication seems like a reasonable trade off.
Hyperthyroidism has a sinister protective effect on the kidney. The elevated heart rate and increased cardiac output forces more blood flow to the kidneys. Treating or controlling the hyperthyroid higher metabolic rate causes any latent chronic renal failure to be seen clinically. This was the case with Cleo. Controlling a bad disease allowed me to treat and monitor the lesser of two evils. Medications, diet and monitoring the kidney panel values was another item to keep track of. I was able to keep it under control for almost ten years.
Cleo had another trait she was unaware of. I had student preceptor from Wayne State University Veterinary Technician program in. This individual worked in a practice that did not routinely do dental procedures on twenty year old cats. They did not use isoflurane inhalant gas anesthesia. I told this student the way to get a cat to twenty five was to take care of is mouth and teeth at twenty years of age. She also taught the student what to do when blood pressure drops under anesthesia. Cleo was also an instructional aide for training our new staff members. She taught them how to hold for blood draws, IV catheter placement and monitoring anesthesia. She also reinforced compassionate care as a core value.
I had to euthanize Cleo this past week. All of her problems came to the point where existence was untenable. She had gotten below a life sustaining body weight. There was not a kind adjustment left to make. You probably have already done the math. Cleo was a month short of twenty three years old.
Your mileage may vary with another cat; we give our best effort for maximum mileage.
For more information about a specific case, consult your veterinarian.