My baby Sebastian (formerly Shane at NYC kill shelter) died

Some of you may remember my Sebastian (was named Shane when dumped by heartless owners and labelled a 'stray') at the NYC kill shelter. He was in DKA when I saw his heartbreaking picture--6 pounds of bones. He went straight to the vet and managed to pull thru even though the vet didn't think he had a chance. I brought him home in late Dec 2011.

For the past 1 year and 9m he has been regulated on 0.5U of Lantus once a day. His PS numbers in the past week were getting better--I was getting very low 200s. I had reduced to a 0.5- dose this last week. His appetite was great. He has weighed 12 lbs since about 2m after he came home to me.

His only problem was his chronic diarrhea which I controlled by giving him 1/2 raw and 1/2 canned. About 3m ago it might have been becoming a little less effective and he also started pooping outside of the litter box for some reason. Someone here said that could be an indication of something was wrong.

I recently bought some Prozyme and he was on that for 2 weeks and it didn't seem to affect the diarrhea but I think it took away his dandruff. He seemed tender around the tummy, didn't like it pet or for a hand to go near it--would growl. But at vet visits they seemed to think there was nothing tender there. He had a dental in January and did great and had around 4 or so teeth removed.

He was doing great as far as I could tell, except for the diarrhea. I had joined the IBD yahoo group recently but had been to busy to do much. I was going to try the Prozyme before going and getting a bunch of tests. Apparently the IBD test is a surgical biopsy and I wanted to avoid that if possible.

But he had energy, was purring everyday, spent most of his tiime in the bathroom sink and insisted on water everytime I went in there. Slept with me, seemed happy. He has traditionally been a bit mean to my other 6 cats but that was improving even. He had started licking 2 of them and was only territorial a bit about food and the bed. (He was the last cat in and pretty much kicked them all off the momenthe arrived--but in the last year had become more lenient and almost all of the others he was OK if they were on the bed.)

Yesterday when I came home he and JJ, my mean cat, sniffed noses--and for the first time in 1y9m did not hiss at each other. He seemed ok. I went about my Sunday afternoon business on the computer etc.

Then at around 3:30pm I went into my bedroom and he was on the floor in a spot he sometimes lies. I thought he was sleeping. But he had died. I rushed over to the vet a few blocks away that closed at 4. IT was a new young vet there who didn't know much. My regular vet emailed today and is going to do a necropsy.

My poor little boy. I don't know what happened. Why did he die for no apparent reason? I'm 99.9% certain it was not diabetes related. He seemed to be doing great other than the diarrhea, which was mostly controlled. And it was only mushy on occasion. Can anyone think of what might have happened?

I don't know if he was in pain. It doesn't seem like he was. He did purr everyday and was always clamoring to be near me and for me to pet him incessantly. He was desperate for love. Some evil humans prior to hiim living with me had treated him like trash and he was afraid of people but htat was getting better. My poor little guy. I don't know what happened. I thought I had 10 years more time with him. I don't know how old he was, possibly between 7-10.

Martica

 

Re: My baby Sebastian (formerly Shane at NYC kill shelter) d

(((Martica)))

I am so sorry you lost Sebastian. It is never easy to lose a pet you love dearly, especially when it is unexpected.

I cannot offer any explanation why Sebastian may have died, but please find comfort in knowing that he is now in a place where he is feeling no pain and is healthy again. He has crossed the Rainbow Bridge.

Fly free Sebastian and keep watch over your family. wings_cat

 

Re: My baby Sebastian (formerly Shane at NYC kill shelter) d

I am so sorry. Fly free sweet Sebastian. May you soar high and wide and land softly.
You are much loved and will be sorely missed.

 

Re: My baby Sebastian (formerly Shane at NYC kill shelter) d

Oh Martica, so sorry for your sadness...

I am so grateful that Sebastian got to know true love and care from you before he went to the Bridge. Maybe that was all he was put in your life for - and you accomplished that. I know that you just wanted to make up for what he had been through and you did it in so little time. Bless you for that effort.

I found a civvie once, the day before thanksgiving, who had passed in his favorite spot - he had had a heart attack. It is tragic but please know that you did all you could and more for him and he is at peace for it.

 

Re: My baby Sebastian (formerly Shane at NYC kill shelter) d

My deepest sympathies on the sudden and unexpected loss of your beloved Sebastian. We and you know you did all your could for him.
Lighting a ring of candles in memory of your beloved Sebastian.

 

Re: My baby Sebastian (formerly Shane at NYC kill shelter) d

Martica,
Sebastian found and knew love...what a gift. Im so sorry for your loss. My Trouble left me in much the same way. He didnt have diareha but he just lay down and died. I dont know what happend either. Maybe it was just his time to go...But it still hurts.

Fly free little one, fly free.
My sincere condolences
jeanne

For Sebastian:
http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/mes ... d=19347350

 

Re: My baby Sebastian (formerly Shane at NYC kill shelter) d

Martica,

I was around when you rescued Shane from the shelter. What a great home you gave him with love and much care. I remember what terrible shape he was in. You gave him the best home possible. I am so sorry for your loss.

Terri

 

Re: My baby Sebastian (formerly Shane at NYC kill shelter) d

(((((((((((((((((((((MARTICA))))))))))))))))))))))))))

Sending many many cyber hugs.. we can only guess why Sebastian had to leave you. Hopefully you can get some answers from the necropsy. BUT, please know that you SAVED him, and do not beat yourself up. I know easier said than done but you persevered, and he knew he was loved when he was with you.

Sebastian is flying free now, over the Rainbow Bridge. I am sure my GA crew and the many FDMB GAs will welcome him to the spirit world.

rb_icon
wings_cat

 

Re: My baby Sebastian (formerly Shane at NYC kill shelter) d

So sorry for your loss. Deepest sympathies to you and your family

 

Re: My baby Sebastian (formerly Shane at NYC kill shelter) d

So very sorry.....I hope the necropsy provides good answers and closure for you. How wonderful that Sebastian was so well loved and cared for after such a rough start in the world.

 

Re: My baby Sebastian (formerly Shane at NYC kill shelter) d

Thank you everyone for your comments and kind words. It really does help.

So the vet did the autopsy yesterday. She found that he had an enlarged pancrease, probably pancreatitis, but maybe some lymphoma. But obviously the cause of the diabetes, and maybe the cause of the diarrhea. Although he never had bad pancreatitis symptoms, like he rarely threw up and did not have the cream colored diarrhea. So I don't think it was that bad, just chronic.

She found his stomach was distended. NOt sure what she said that could mean. She found fat on him which she thought was good, meant he wasn't wasting away. He was thin, but strong and healthy.

But what she did find that she said she'd never seen before was a bunch white stuff around his esophagus, near his heart. She said it could be cancerous /lymph tissue. And she said it might be that since it was so close to nerves to the heart, including the vagal nerve, that it could have somehow cause a nerve to stop the heart. In which case, it probably wasn't painful, just sudden. And she didn't think that his breathing was affected since I never noticed those symptoms and also the esophagus was in good shape and so were his lungs. She said he could have had a seizure. She did not look at his brain maybe there was tissue there, too...

Anyway, she said that she didn't find anything that gave the impression that he was suffering or in pain. Maybe a tender tummy, which i did suspect since he never wanted it touched/rubbed.

She said this probably would have been difficult to diagnosis and treat, and we didn't even have symptoms leading us to the esophagus, rather symptoms leading to the colon and pancreas. His colon was fine by the way. She said an xray and ultrasound might not have totally detected it because of the way it was placed, and therew ould have been things blocking the view. And then she said it would be unclear whether chemo could have helped and various treatments etc would have probably put him thru a lot.

So I guess I feel better that he died at home, although I wish I had been with him in the room and holding him. But I guess he did not suffer. I am very sad that this little boy did not get more life because he needed and wanted so much more love. I feel guilty that I could not give him as much love as he wanted and needed becasue, once Fred died and I got into cat rescue, I was left with 6 other cats--which is a few too many. i'm acutely aware that you really can't give them all enough invididual attention. I feel bad about that. But I did love him and he did feel loved and safe. But I miss my little boy and it's so sad that I can't spend more time with him.

thank you for caring for Sebastian. So many humans failed him. That's why I wanted to save him from the DKA at the shelter. He was a special guy and no one treated him like that for most of his life.

 

Re: My baby Sebastian (formerly Shane at NYC kill shelter) d

Martica,
Regardless of the 'reason', Sebastain KNEW LOVE! I too was here when he was first listed then your adoption - I knew then he would be OK. Not only were you able to pull him out of his medical issues, you also turned his heart around helping him wear it on his sleeve. What a truly amazing love you and he shared for which I'm so very grateful.

BIG HUGE LOOOOOOOONG HUG, it's hard to lose one suddenly and unexpectedly,

 

Re: My baby Sebastian (formerly Shane at NYC kill shelter) d

I hope you can take comfort in knowing that he didn't suffer and it was quick. Sounds like if he had symptoms of something being wrong, you may never have been able to figure it out and there would have been repetitive vet visits, poking, prodding, testing without any possible results and the same outcome.

So look upon this as a blessing that it happened at home and so quickly and he didn't suffer or spend months suffering through tests and vet visits.

Again, I'm sorry.

 

Re: My baby Sebastian (formerly Shane at NYC kill shelter) d

So sorry for your loss. You gave Sebastian the best life ever and he surely loved you for that.

Land softly at the bridge sweet Sebastian....fun times await you there.

Paw-Hugs From Me And RumpelT.

 

Re: My baby Sebastian (formerly Shane at NYC kill shelter) d

I'm sorry Martica. Thank you for giving Sebastian a loving home. Cyber Hugs
Sandy

 

Re: My baby Sebastian (formerly Shane at NYC kill shelter) d

My deepest sympathies. Sebastian was lucky to spend his last years with someone who loved and cared for him so well.

 

Re: My baby Sebastian (formerly Shane at NYC kill shelter) d

((Martica)) Such a sad situation, at least to begin with, but you gave him such a wonderful life. I know you will have guilt and sadness but know that he really did know how much you loved him. I am so sorry.