Need URGENT good vibes for my 11-year-old Tortie... [View all]

[AngryOldDem]

...something went horribly wrong with Pepper sometime last night. She's on her way to the emergency clinic now.

This morning I heard her in the basement -- I thought nothing of it because she's usually very chatty this time of day. But when I went to take her breakfast to her, she was curled up in a tight ball under a table where she never is, literally crying in pain. I tried to coax her out, but she could not walk. Her hind legs are totally gone. What I thought was "chat" was obviously pain. I tried stroking and petting her for awhile, but it seemed like when I did (especially around her hind quarters and underbelly) it bothered her, so I stopped. Her bowl was empty and her box looked like she had voided sometime in the night..so what happened???????????

I don't get this. She was fine last night. Jumping up on the chair, kneading my stomach, hopping from the chair to the end table...when I went to bed, she was where she usually is...asleep in the living room. She just had a checkup not two damn weeks ago.

I am so afraid that a decision is going to have to be made, and I'm not ready for it. I just went through a health scare of my own this week and I'm still trying to find my own balance. I'm worried about my kids, especially my younger son, who went with his dad to the vet's. He loves this cat dearly and is also on the autism spectrum, so I don't know how he is going to react. I just called my older son -- who sees Pepper as "his" cat -- a call I dreaded making but figured it would be better to let him know now what is happening.

I am sick on my stomach. Sorry for rambling, but I know you all are great animal lovers who will send a lot of good support and advice. To add insult to injury to this (or sick irony) -- our 5-year-old Dachshund has also become paralyzed due to spinal fusion.
Difference is, she's not in pain and Pepper really is.

Thanks, everyone. This is going to be a long, long day.