Jill, When I tried to get Simon a transfusion last Friday, he fought it and had to be put in an oxygen tank as well, and could not even get it. It is from having low oxygen stores due to not enough red blood cells, they can't breathe when they exert themselves. I am hoping so hard that Gary pulls through. But I want to let you know that death from anemia is not always terrible if you do not want to PTS, especially if you can get a tranquilizer shot or a valium shot from the vet (or from a vet you know). Simon's last 24 hours were like this: I brought him home from the vet late Friday afternoon after not being able to get him a transfusion. He was very tired and did not want to be touched much. Throughout the night he was restless and walked around a bit, laying down in different places. At two points in the night he laid with us where we slept (or didn't) on a futon we had put on the floor. By mid-morning he stopped being able to walk around, but could lift his head and sit up a bit. His breathing was audible and irregular but not open-mouthed or panting. He started to meow once or twice per hour. We put him on a heating pad with a cat bed under his head for a cushion, and starting flipping him to his other side every few hours. This seemed to make him pretty comfortable. Every once in a while his stomach sort of rolled or twitched, but he did not seem to notice it or react to it, and flipping him more often made it stop. At about noon or so, maybe a little later, his breathing got raspier and he tried to sit up and mewed a little. He may just have needed to be flipped, but I was worried he was in more distress. I had a tranquilizer shot and gave him less than half a normal dose of it. It made him unconscious, and his breathing got slower and more regular. He stayed unconscious. About 3.5 hours later gray brought home a steroid shot, which I wanted to give him in case he could still fight this. I gave it to him. A second later his stomach twitched twice and he took one slightly louder breath and was gone. he had never woken up. He was at home. It was hard, and without the tranquilizer might have been a lot worse. But he did not seem to have pain, just discomfort. And there were times when he seemed to relax a bit, before he went unconscious, and would close his eyes if I stroked his forehead gently. We opened the curtain to let sun shine on him, and he seemed to notice. It was not much life that last day, but it was life. I do not think that anemia is the worst way to go. My Buddie also died of it, and after a day of being semi-unconsious and needing to be flipped every hour or so, he walked a few feet to lay down next to us, went to sleep, and died without a sound.
I just wanted to let you know all of this in case the time comes soon. I hope that it does not. But you should know what your options, and Gary's options, are for those last days. Much love, Michelle In a message dated 2/10/05 12:47:13 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: << Amy, Thank you so much for your post. I'm sorry about your kitty too. :( I think we may do the blood transfusion and I'd like to try the dexamethesone just so we have another few days with Gary to say goodbye. I don't think we could even take her home from the vet without a transfusion. They said that when they gave her her medicine today, she didn't take it very well and they ended up putting her in an oxygen tank for a while. I think the blood will brighten her up a little so we can have her at home. I'd also like to have her PTS at home, rather than at the vets, but that will be up to my boyfriend, since it's his cat. I know he was pretty upset when we put my Semuta to sleep. Thanks for your kind words. I'll let everyone know when she comes home. Jill >>