Could yowling and anxiety be episodes? Henry died, sister doing the same.
Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2017 8:18 pm
Last September, Henry my beloved nearly eight year old Persian died. He had been diagnosed with heart problems two years previously and we had seen a heart vet regularly and he was on heart meds. Henry was sitting on my bed with me,( we were virtually inseparable), we'd had some lovely strokes and he'd walked a few steps towards the edge of the bed and was having a wash. He then rolled towards the edge, but I caught him with my foot and gently pushed him back on. He was forever nearly rolling off things. As he rolled he was pawing the air with his front legs. I got up to move him to the middle of the bed and realised his head was at a funny angle. As I held him I knew immediately that this was it. I thought he was having a stroke. I wrapped him in a fleece blanket and asked a neighbour to take us to the vet. Henry was grimacing and part way there he started to choke. It's five minutes to the vet and by the time we got there foam was pouring out of Henry's nose. I kept wiping it away so he could breathe, but there was masses of it. It was absolutely horrific with the noises, the foam, the stretching. I'm sorry to say these things. By now Henry was fitting. I said he needed to be pts. The vet listened to Henry's heart and said it was very weak. He didn't need any help to die. They got me a chair and I held him and told him he was a wonderful and precious boy and that I loved him so much. It didn't take long, a couple of minutes at most. Henry was my best friend and we were so close. I've had my heart broken so many times, but with Henry, it felt like the first time. I am so raw still.
Around 6 months before Henry died he started to wail and race around with very wild eyes and seem anxious. Several times a day Henry would do this. This wasn't mad cat racing. The yowling had not happened before. I was concerned it may be related to his heart and spoke to our usual vet and Henry's heart vet. They didn't think it was significant. But as Henry had a stroke and/or a massive fit, I concluded that the yowling and staring wildly were episodes. Again I spoke to both vets, again no interest whatsoever. Henry had a bad heart, so he died from a bad heart.
The problem is that I still (thank God) have Emily, Henry's sister, and she's started doing the exact same yowling, the exact same anxiety, the exact same staring and even in the exact same parts of the house. I am terrified. I haven't had Emily checked in relation to her heart, but she's always seemed fine. Henry did slight mouth breathing which is how I knew something was wrong. Our vet is a nice and kind vet but I need to tell him what I want if tests etc are needed. He's already shown no interest in this behaviour in Henry and I know he 'll do the same with Emily. I need to know what to ask for. I'm insured with Petplan and anything not covered I can pay myself. I can travel to other vets if required.
I realise this could be mad cat stuff, but the fact that Henry was here for nearly 4 years before doing it and Emily even longer. They did/do mad cat. This is different.
Can anyone please offer some suggestions, advice etc? I am absolutely terrified that Emily will suffer as Henry did. Please, please help.
Around 6 months before Henry died he started to wail and race around with very wild eyes and seem anxious. Several times a day Henry would do this. This wasn't mad cat racing. The yowling had not happened before. I was concerned it may be related to his heart and spoke to our usual vet and Henry's heart vet. They didn't think it was significant. But as Henry had a stroke and/or a massive fit, I concluded that the yowling and staring wildly were episodes. Again I spoke to both vets, again no interest whatsoever. Henry had a bad heart, so he died from a bad heart.
The problem is that I still (thank God) have Emily, Henry's sister, and she's started doing the exact same yowling, the exact same anxiety, the exact same staring and even in the exact same parts of the house. I am terrified. I haven't had Emily checked in relation to her heart, but she's always seemed fine. Henry did slight mouth breathing which is how I knew something was wrong. Our vet is a nice and kind vet but I need to tell him what I want if tests etc are needed. He's already shown no interest in this behaviour in Henry and I know he 'll do the same with Emily. I need to know what to ask for. I'm insured with Petplan and anything not covered I can pay myself. I can travel to other vets if required.
I realise this could be mad cat stuff, but the fact that Henry was here for nearly 4 years before doing it and Emily even longer. They did/do mad cat. This is different.
Can anyone please offer some suggestions, advice etc? I am absolutely terrified that Emily will suffer as Henry did. Please, please help.