Tia back to the vet tomorrow- high maintenance tortoise

[FinnishLapphund]

I gave Tia her liver meds today and she coped. A few hours later I gave her 1.5ml of food. So far she’s kept it down. She’s meant to be on 5ml twice a day today but yesterday she didn’t keep down even 4ml.
I’m ringing the vet first thing in the morning. It’s heartbreaking to see her like this.

But is it heartbreaking to see her like that @scats because she's actually feeling unhappy even with the smaller food doses which she can keep down, or is it heartbreaking to see her like that because you're feeling sorry for her being ill?

If you decide that she's been through enough, then at least she's been able to keep some food down her last day/few days.
If you decide to give the medication, and feeding tube a few more days to see if it changes anything, then at least being able to keep down smaller doses of food is better than not being able to eat at all.

{{{{{{Hugs}}}}}}

 

[scats]

But is it heartbreaking to see her like that @scats because she's actually feeling unhappy even with the smaller food doses which she can keep down, or is it heartbreaking to see her like that because you're feeling sorry for her being ill?

If you decide that she's been through enough, then at least she's been able to keep some food down her last day/few days.
If you decide to give the medication, and feeding tube a few more days to see if it changes anything, then at least being able to keep down smaller doses of food is better than not being able to eat at all.

{{{{{{Hugs}}}}}}

It’s so difficult because tortoises don’t give much away. She is definitely depressed and quiet but on a day to day basis she doesn’t look distressed. She’s just not interested in anything and wants to bury and hide.
She did look distressed when she was being sick, she was trying to use her arms to get it out of her mouth- it was awful to watch.
I suppose it’s heartbreaking to see my once lively and full of character tortoise just existing. I have no idea what level of discomfort she is in, and that makes it even worse in a way. I’m struggling to see this having a happy ending. I don’t know how a liver that huge can ever rectify itself, despite what the vet has said. Part of me thinks to just hold out for the lab results, but to know that’s potentially another 10-14 days of her looking so sad and depressed.

She coped ok with that 1ml food today, so I might try 1ml tomorrow morning and another 1ml and lunchtime. I will be ringing to speak to the vet first thing though.

Thank you all for the support. With everything we went through last year, she is just so very special to me.

 

[FinnishLapphund]

It’s so difficult because tortoises don’t give much away. She is definitely depressed and quiet but on a day to day basis she doesn’t look distressed. She’s just not interested in anything and wants to bury and hide.
She did look distressed when she was being sick, she was trying to use her arms to get it out of her mouth- it was awful to watch.
I suppose it’s heartbreaking to see my once lively and full of character tortoise just existing. I have no idea what level of discomfort she is in, and that makes it even worse in a way. I’m struggling to see this having a happy ending. I don’t know how a liver that huge can ever rectify itself, despite what the vet has said. Part of me thinks to just hold out for the lab results, but to know that’s potentially another 10-14 days of her looking so sad and depressed.

She coped ok with that 1ml food today, so I might try 1ml tomorrow morning and another 1ml and lunchtime. I will be ringing to speak to the vet first thing though.

Thank you all for the support. With everything we went through last year, she is just so very special to me.

My mum have had liver problems for well over 20 years. First they eventually concluded she was one of those unlucky few who gets Liver Cirrhosis without neither excessive alcohol drinking, Hepatitis infection, nor Diabetes or anything else but bad luck, but later they've changed that diagnosis to that there's something wrong with her bile ducts. According to her first specialist "Liver doctor" which she had for many years until he sadly died last year, if you have to choose to have something wrong with one of the organs you can't live without, the amazing liver is the best choice. The liver is usually more adaptable, capable of recovering after getting damaged, and continues to try to do it's work even when it's effectivity is way beyond it's prime performance, than compared to any of our other organs.

RIP Professor in Hepatology + a lot of other titles Hanns-Ulrich Marschall, who went beyond what he needed to do, and out of the blue called to hear how mum was doing after that she got a type of Lymphoma cancer about 7 years ago, and asked to be allowed to check up on her cancer treatment progress via her medical notes. He was very fascinated by my mum's liver's bile ducts.

 

[webble]

Good luck with the vets today

 

[scats]

Thank you. Waiting for a call back. Tia vomited after her 1ml today so it’s not looking promising. I imagine we will be putting her to sleep later.

 

[scats]

Tia went to sleep for the final time at the vets this evening. I will miss her so, so much.

 

[nagblagger]

I am so sorry to read the update. Look after yourself, you gave her every chance.
Hug

 

[oldandgold]

So very sorry scats, you tried so hard for her. Take care

 

[scats]

We brought her home and we will bury her tomorrow in the little area of the garden that my dad built for her.
I haven’t cried this much in about 5 years. Not even the death of some of my horses has caused sadness like this (is that awful??) Even my dad was in tears saying goodbye to her.
Sometimes it’s the ones you least expect that grab your heart the most

 

[meleeka]

We brought her home and we will bury her tomorrow in the little area of the garden that my dad built for her.
I haven’t cried this much in about 5 years. Not even the death of some of my horses has caused sadness like this (is that awful??) Even my dad was in tears saying goodbye to her.
Sometimes it’s the ones you least expect that grab your heart the most

Sorry to read your news, but you did everything you could for her and she couldn’t have asked for a more caring and sensible owner. It’s natural that some get under our skin more than others. Grief doesn’t follow any rules. Look after yourself x

 

[ycbm]

I'm so sorry. Nobody could have tried harder for her, Scats.
.

 

[julesjoy]

I'm so sorry it's come to this. Its clear how much you love her.

 

[Jeni the dragon]

I'm so sorry @scats

 

[Kunoichi73]

So very sorry to hear about Tia. You did everything you could for her.

 

[Dam1]

So sorry for your loss x

 

[FinnishLapphund]

Tia went to sleep for the final time at the vets this evening. I will miss her so, so much.

I'm so sorry for your loss.
I imagine that besides losing her when she was so young, it also adds something more to the grief when she was a pet you planned to spend the next 5, 6 decades or more with, which makes it feel a little extra worse. I hope that you don't feel too bad over that she wasn't euthanised on Friday, it gave her an extra chance, and it could've worked.
RIP Tia

{{{{{{Hugs}}}}}}

 

[Ratface]

I'm so sorry for your loss.
I imagine that besides losing her when she was so young, it also adds something more to the grief when she was a pet you planned to spend the next 5, 6 decades or more with, which makes it feel a little extra worse. I hope that you don't feel too bad over that she wasn't euthanised on Friday, it gave her an extra chance, and it could've worked.
RIP Tia

{{{{{{Hugs}}}}}}

I'm another person who is so sorry for the loss of your beautiful Tia. I loved the wonderful patterns on her shell. She is now at peace. You did the best you could and I hope that you will meet her again on the other side.

 

[webble]

So sorry to read this update, she was very lucky to have such a caring person looking out for her

 

[SEL]

I'm so sorry Scats - I kept hoping she'd rally and I'm really sad for you that her body couldn't cope.

**Hugs**

 

[Equi]

She was a lucky tortoise to have had you. I hope you can find some peace knowing you did everything you could.

 

[Bradsmum]

I’m so sorry Scats. Tia was a lucky girl to have someone care so much for her. I’m sorry it wasn’t a better outcome. Take care.

 

[splashgirl45]

So sorry Scats, I was hoping for better news, she is comfortable now, look after yourself

 

[scats]

I cried myself to sleep so have woken up a bit headachey.

I’m trying to dwell on the whole situation but the vet said yesterday, that after they saw her liver it was 50/50 whether she would make it. I’m still very annoyed that I wasn’t given the option to call it a day while she was on the table, because we could have saved the last few days of distress for Tia. I’m so sad at how it’s ended, but Tia isn’t suffering anymore so that’s something.
I kept looking at her picture last night and bawling my eyes out. She had the most perfect little face and expression. God I miss her so much

I didn’t cry this much when my beloved Nan died. Whats wrong with me??

 

[Titchy Reindeer]

I cried myself to sleep so have woken up a bit headachey.

I’m trying to dwell on the whole situation but the vet said yesterday, that after they saw her liver it was 50/50 whether she would make it. I’m still very annoyed that I wasn’t given the option to call it a day while she was on the table, because we could have saved the last few days of distress for Tia. I’m so sad at how it’s ended, but Tia isn’t suffering anymore so that’s something.
I kept looking at her picture last night and bawling my eyes out. She had the most perfect little face and expression. God I miss her so much

I didn’t cry this much when my beloved Nan died. Whats wrong with me??

I'm so sorry you lost Tia, you obviously loved her very much from your posts on here and she was a lovely little tortoise.

There is nothing wrong with you, you are simply a caring owner grieving for your lost pet. There are no rules for grief and it can hit you differently every time and be expressed differently. It doesn't mean you love one lost loved one more than another, just differently.

Take care.

 

[Bearsmum]

So sorry it's ended like this, you did your very best for her, sleep peacefully Tia

 

[Lurfy]

So sorry for your loss Scats. Take care xxxx

 

[ycbm]

I didn’t cry this much when my beloved Nan died. Whats wrong with me??

There nothing wrong with you, your Nan had her time and Tia didn't. I hope you can find some comfort in cuddling an orang until this pain begins to fade.
.

 

[Esmae]

So sorry Scats. You couldn't have done anymore for her. RIP Tia.

 

[rara007]

Really sorry to read the outcome

 

[Rumtytum]

So very sorry scats. No one could have cared as much or done more than you did for little Tia. I totally understand you crying more over her than your nan. RIP beautiful girl