New Media from a Journalism Veteran
Blog entries | The bad news
Loki, our loving kitten with the advancing nureological impairment, does not have a liver shunt and cannot be cured.
Vets at the Virginia-Maryland Regional Veterinary School gave us the bad news Friday night. An elevated liver count in a previous blood test had raised our hopes that Loki’s balance problems might be caused by a liver shunt which could be repaired by surgery.
But after another round of tests the results came back negative on the liver shunt and after many tests the vets admit that is nothing we can do for Loki except make him comfortable for whatever time he has left on this earth.
We’re not going to put this poor kitten through any more tests. We will bring him home and love him.
And we will cry.
M Lawless
March 11, 2006 at 6:14 pm
Sorry to post again, but I forgot to tell you that Loki shouldn’t need any more tests to rule out NPH, if it hasn’t already been done. The MRI (I believe you said he had an MRI) would show enlarged ventricles in the brain.
Rachel
March 11, 2006 at 6:16 pm
I’m so sorry.
Gloria Bryant
March 12, 2006 at 3:19 am
Tears for you and love for Loki.
anne d.
March 12, 2006 at 6:21 am
Sometimes, life hurts. I will cry with you also.
Teresa
March 14, 2006 at 3:52 pm
I’m so sorry, Doug and Amy. Life sometimes kicks you in the pants.
I haven’t been around the past month, so I missed a lot of your “musings”. We had two major uexpected deaths in our immediate family, and have another two coming in the next few weeks which were expected.
I just had to stop in to say hello. And I’m sure sorry about your kitten.
babayaga
March 16, 2006 at 3:00 pm
i’m sorry.
M Lawless
March 11, 2006 at 4:43 pm
Doug, did the vets rule out normal pressure hydrocephalus in Loki? In humans, this causes increasing inability to walk, loss of bowel and bladder control, and dementia. I haven’t heard of it causing seizures in humans, but I don’t know about cats. In humans, it’s treatable and reversible by implanting a shunt from the brain to the abdomen. I might just be grasping at straws. My heart breaks for you and for Loki.
Rigel Morgan
March 12, 2006 at 12:56 am
And we will cry with you.
Walt Ludewig
March 12, 2006 at 5:40 am
When I retired, I got a German Shorthair Pointer and named it Eeda after my
mother’s mother, whom I loved very, very much.. Eeda is NOT a dog—she is a PERSON trapped in a dog suit.. If something happens
to her, it will be BAD..
I read your story and was touched by your love and respect for your cat.. You’ve got a good heart, Doug..
LisaP
March 12, 2006 at 8:25 am
Cat lover. I knew there was a good reason I trust you intuitively. Loki is lucky to have chosen you as his humans. Bless you all.
cindy lee
March 12, 2006 at 10:41 pm
I’m sorry about Loki. peace to you your wife and your extended family