Big, Fluffy, and Sick
This sucks.
Two years ago we adopted the best cat I have ever met. MacTabulous (aka Mackie, BigFace, Big&Fluffy) was my boyfriend from the day we brought him home and seduces anyone he meets. Mackie is a 17lb Maine Coon, used to be a breeder male for Coonpanion in Beaverton, OR, and is the great fluffy love of my life. He is so sweet that it is a cruel irony that it is his heart that is too big for him.
Yesterday, during a routine vet visit where all we were worried about was brown spots in his iris, we ended up admitting him to the Dove Lewis animal hospital here in Portland. Mackie has Hypertrophic Cardiac Myopathy (HCM). His heart wasn't working right and his chest cavity was full of fluid. If we hadn't caught it in this appointment, he could have died at any time. Dove Lewis is amazing. They put him on oxygen, drew out 260ml of fluid (that is about 6oz,-half of a can of soda), and are working on stabilizing him so we can bring him home.
I just got the call that he is off oxygen, breathing well, and his lungs are clear of fluid. However, he still has intermittant arrythmia, and tachycardia anytime he is stimulated by scritches or food. Once the cardiologist sees him tomorrow, we can find out the best way to bring him home and manage this. There is no cure.
He will be on medication for the rest of his life. Because it is terminal. We are hoping for as long as we can, but average lifespan from onset of HCM (heart failure really) is 3-6 months.
I am swallowing my pride and putting up a donation button. We've already spent $3k on his hospitalization, and will figure out whatever we need to for our giant cat to be treated well and be happy for as long as possible. If you are able to donate, that would be amazing. If you are able to boost the signal, that would be great too.
I know I've been scarce of LJ and Facebook. Between school, old job stress, and new job busyness, the last few years have meant an absent Cyl. But in those two years, Mackie has been on my lap while I write papers, work on accounting, and catch up online. Because I still read and catch up every day to catch up on my lj family. Anything you are able to do to help us keep this amazing cat with us as long as possible would be appreciated with all my heart.
Update here.
Two years ago we adopted the best cat I have ever met. MacTabulous (aka Mackie, BigFace, Big&Fluffy) was my boyfriend from the day we brought him home and seduces anyone he meets. Mackie is a 17lb Maine Coon, used to be a breeder male for Coonpanion in Beaverton, OR, and is the great fluffy love of my life. He is so sweet that it is a cruel irony that it is his heart that is too big for him.
Yesterday, during a routine vet visit where all we were worried about was brown spots in his iris, we ended up admitting him to the Dove Lewis animal hospital here in Portland. Mackie has Hypertrophic Cardiac Myopathy (HCM). His heart wasn't working right and his chest cavity was full of fluid. If we hadn't caught it in this appointment, he could have died at any time. Dove Lewis is amazing. They put him on oxygen, drew out 260ml of fluid (that is about 6oz,-half of a can of soda), and are working on stabilizing him so we can bring him home.
I just got the call that he is off oxygen, breathing well, and his lungs are clear of fluid. However, he still has intermittant arrythmia, and tachycardia anytime he is stimulated by scritches or food. Once the cardiologist sees him tomorrow, we can find out the best way to bring him home and manage this. There is no cure.
He will be on medication for the rest of his life. Because it is terminal. We are hoping for as long as we can, but average lifespan from onset of HCM (heart failure really) is 3-6 months.
I am swallowing my pride and putting up a donation button. We've already spent $3k on his hospitalization, and will figure out whatever we need to for our giant cat to be treated well and be happy for as long as possible. If you are able to donate, that would be amazing. If you are able to boost the signal, that would be great too.
I know I've been scarce of LJ and Facebook. Between school, old job stress, and new job busyness, the last few years have meant an absent Cyl. But in those two years, Mackie has been on my lap while I write papers, work on accounting, and catch up online. Because I still read and catch up every day to catch up on my lj family. Anything you are able to do to help us keep this amazing cat with us as long as possible would be appreciated with all my heart.
Update here.