Monday 17 September 2007

FIP


One of the saddest things in life is loosing friends in what ever way it may be, but even more sad is when you have to let go of a dear family member, in this case you dear, beloved cat. The last ride to the vet can break your heart, not forgetting to mention the turmoil of feelings, the amount of tears you shed and the sadness that comes out of it.

Euthanasia is a good thing, and it is an act of love. We now know that our cat Sara Matilda had a terminal disease, FIP Feline Infectious Peritonitis, and there was nothing more that could be done for her, we had to let her go as she was far too long gone before it was discovered and there is nothing really you can do about it anyway. FIP is cat aids, a contagious inflammation of the peritoneum, and cats can be carriers of the virus since their birth without showing any symptoms. It is not the virus itself that causes the illness, it is the cats own defence system against the corona-virus that in the end attacks the whole body and causes inflammatory degeneration of all organs, especially the peritoneum collects fluids compressing the lung from the bottom making it difficult for the cat to breathe. FIP is very contagious and you can bring the virus home with you infecting your beloved pet.

I will always be missing her, and so will the rest of the family but especially her son will miss his mother and this is now the first time since his birth 13 years ago they are separated and my heart aches for him. We now have and orphan cat.

The problem with FIP now is that he might have got it from his mother, so in a worst case scenario I will have to be visiting the vets again soon, and it is not one thing I will be looking forward to in any way. In the best case he is not even a carrier of the virus and lives a healthy long life.

Having pets is nice, they love you unconditionally no matter if you are fat, ugly or have a bad hair day, and they just love you.

I can not imagine how my life would have been or how it would be without any pets, but still when having to put them down you think; never ever again.

No comments:

Post a Comment