That Last Trip to the VET
Discussion
Awww Graham I'm really sorry to hear about your losses. I remember when Indiana Jones (black smoke Persian) was deteriorating from lymphatic cancer just aged 8 and just seeing her lying there listless, the sparkle had gone from her eyes and for a cat as nuts as she was it was a huge change.
My dad carried her in to the vets in his arms and after barely moving for days, she apparently let out a huge yowl. I just wouldnt have coped at all if I had been there (I happened to be working about 100 yards away though)
Luckily we had her half sister Pegerty (blue smoke Persian) for another 6 years before she fell victim to kidney disease. She went on after diagnosis but when a cat as floofy as that loses almost all her deep thick fur, it broke your heart really so again we took the difficult choice to have her put down too.
It has been about 7 years since Peg went and I miss her so much. Its amazing how much of an impact these fuzzy little beggars have
My dad carried her in to the vets in his arms and after barely moving for days, she apparently let out a huge yowl. I just wouldnt have coped at all if I had been there (I happened to be working about 100 yards away though)
Luckily we had her half sister Pegerty (blue smoke Persian) for another 6 years before she fell victim to kidney disease. She went on after diagnosis but when a cat as floofy as that loses almost all her deep thick fur, it broke your heart really so again we took the difficult choice to have her put down too.
It has been about 7 years since Peg went and I miss her so much. Its amazing how much of an impact these fuzzy little beggars have
It's the horrible price we pay for the pleasure of their company and last time I went through it (with a cat I took on knowing he was terminally ill no less!) left me really not sure if it was worth it, the grief knocked me for six.
BUT.
You know that you are doing what is best for her, given that we do not have the means to adequately provide cats with proper end-of-life care like we do people. You know that by doing it this way you will be there with her, that she will not feel pain or distress, that there will be no horrible surprises or sudden panics.
Sending a big thought-hug your way.
BUT.
You know that you are doing what is best for her, given that we do not have the means to adequately provide cats with proper end-of-life care like we do people. You know that by doing it this way you will be there with her, that she will not feel pain or distress, that there will be no horrible surprises or sudden panics.
Sending a big thought-hug your way.
Eight years ago I was adopted by 3 cats when I came home one day to find that a cat had got into my garage and given birth.
I looked after them in the garage for a few weeks and then brought them into the house. (Dotty - mother, Skitz & Tash - daughters) All three of them were very loving and affectionate and all had their own charachter (hence the names) and got on well with each other.
I lost Tash last october to kidney failure and went from thinking I had a healthy cat to burying her in 2 days. I held her at the vets while the vet made the final injection and then brought her home. Nothing has ever upset me so much as losing Tash and although I am a typically don't show emotion kind of bloke, I have never cried so much and for a quite some time (months) afterwards. I can still upset myself now if i think about it too much.
About a month after losing Tash, I noticed Dotty had a lump in her right side, so took her to the vets for tests and she was diagnosed with triaditus and a tumor. Her condition was managed with tablets and she was always happy and affectionate but her health continued to slowly deteriorate. I had the quality of life discussion with the vet a few times and as a result of her condition, Dotty ate me out of house and home as she felt constantly hungry.
I took her to the vets on the 12th July and the vet said that she was deteriorating, and her breathing had become slightly laboured. The vet said her breathing would slowly get worse and would be the deciding factor.
I love my cats dearly, and difficult though it is to make certain decisions, I would never let them suffer. I think the phrase is you have to love them enough to let them go.
Anyway, Dotty had been off her food for a day or so before the Vet visit, and I decided on thursday 14th July I had to do the right thing by her, and was going to call the vets when I got home to make the last appointment for her on the Saturday.
I got home from work thurday afternoon, to find she had passed away on the living room floor. She was lay on her side with her eyes still open.
I am very upset that not only did she die alone, but that she was so ill as to have passed away. Even though her breathing had not alterted I feel immense sorrow that she reached that point of illness and that I had not done the kindest thing for her sooner.
So now it is just me and Skitz, I have lost two loving companions in nine months and Skitz has lost her mum and sister.
I have been forced to realise that to love a pet, you have to accept the pain of losing them and that is far from easy.
People that have not had pets will never understand.
I present to you Dotty
and Tash
I looked after them in the garage for a few weeks and then brought them into the house. (Dotty - mother, Skitz & Tash - daughters) All three of them were very loving and affectionate and all had their own charachter (hence the names) and got on well with each other.
I lost Tash last october to kidney failure and went from thinking I had a healthy cat to burying her in 2 days. I held her at the vets while the vet made the final injection and then brought her home. Nothing has ever upset me so much as losing Tash and although I am a typically don't show emotion kind of bloke, I have never cried so much and for a quite some time (months) afterwards. I can still upset myself now if i think about it too much.
About a month after losing Tash, I noticed Dotty had a lump in her right side, so took her to the vets for tests and she was diagnosed with triaditus and a tumor. Her condition was managed with tablets and she was always happy and affectionate but her health continued to slowly deteriorate. I had the quality of life discussion with the vet a few times and as a result of her condition, Dotty ate me out of house and home as she felt constantly hungry.
I took her to the vets on the 12th July and the vet said that she was deteriorating, and her breathing had become slightly laboured. The vet said her breathing would slowly get worse and would be the deciding factor.
I love my cats dearly, and difficult though it is to make certain decisions, I would never let them suffer. I think the phrase is you have to love them enough to let them go.
Anyway, Dotty had been off her food for a day or so before the Vet visit, and I decided on thursday 14th July I had to do the right thing by her, and was going to call the vets when I got home to make the last appointment for her on the Saturday.
I got home from work thurday afternoon, to find she had passed away on the living room floor. She was lay on her side with her eyes still open.
I am very upset that not only did she die alone, but that she was so ill as to have passed away. Even though her breathing had not alterted I feel immense sorrow that she reached that point of illness and that I had not done the kindest thing for her sooner.
So now it is just me and Skitz, I have lost two loving companions in nine months and Skitz has lost her mum and sister.
I have been forced to realise that to love a pet, you have to accept the pain of losing them and that is far from easy.
People that have not had pets will never understand.
I present to you Dotty
and Tash
Edited by Rich1973 on Saturday 30th July 16:28
Aww Rich, you've brought tears to my eys. I'm so sorry for what you have gone through. Please try and remember all the days, months, years you gave Dotty (and her little uns) a wonderful life with great care and treatments when needed. Don't linger onto the last day. You could not have forseen what would happen and you would never have planned it this way but things are sometimes taken out of our control. If it's any comfort my guess would be that Dotty had a quick end, it is likely she had something happen that caused a 'crisis'
My sisters 5 yr old cat collapsed and died within 20 mins, he'd been playing that morning, there was suspicion he had a heart issue and was going for an ultrsound scan to have it assessed, he never made it, an awful awful shock but between his collapse and passing away was less than 20 mins. Not a way we'd wish a loved pet to go but it was quick, I truly believe this is how quick it could have been for Dotty either due to her lungs or heart.
My sisters 5 yr old cat collapsed and died within 20 mins, he'd been playing that morning, there was suspicion he had a heart issue and was going for an ultrsound scan to have it assessed, he never made it, an awful awful shock but between his collapse and passing away was less than 20 mins. Not a way we'd wish a loved pet to go but it was quick, I truly believe this is how quick it could have been for Dotty either due to her lungs or heart.
The other half and I are gradually getting over having to make the decision to put down our 5 year old ginger giant reg, last week. We came home in the early hours of Sunday morning to find him collapsed on the spare bed bleeding from his nose, one eye the size of a golf ball and all red and bloody, a long thin section of his fur missing and limited movement at the back end although his legs worked. Emergency vets appt, painkillers and eye drops we were sent home to see how he got on as he had been drinking fluids at home.
After 2 days we went back and I was hopeful as his eye had improved but he hadn't eaten. The vet diagnosed a paralysed tail which also meant he had no control of bladder. We took Reg back home in the hope that the anti inflammatory drugs he had been given would work and the paralysis was just temporary.
By Thursday I knew that the trip to the vets would be his final one as no improvement at all in bladder, his movement was minimal and his quality of life was nil compared to before.
Horrible decision to make but I knew I was being cruel to be kind. Even harder as he was the favourite of our three as due to a previous incident he did not wander far from home.
My other 2 have now adjusted and Gordon who spent the most time with his uncle is now at home far more often wanting some company and a fuss.
I have been a lurker for ages and this forum is my first stop now. I just wanted to say that it does get easier although making that decision is horrendous. It would just be nice to know what happened to him to give him those injuries.
After 2 days we went back and I was hopeful as his eye had improved but he hadn't eaten. The vet diagnosed a paralysed tail which also meant he had no control of bladder. We took Reg back home in the hope that the anti inflammatory drugs he had been given would work and the paralysis was just temporary.
By Thursday I knew that the trip to the vets would be his final one as no improvement at all in bladder, his movement was minimal and his quality of life was nil compared to before.
Horrible decision to make but I knew I was being cruel to be kind. Even harder as he was the favourite of our three as due to a previous incident he did not wander far from home.
My other 2 have now adjusted and Gordon who spent the most time with his uncle is now at home far more often wanting some company and a fuss.
I have been a lurker for ages and this forum is my first stop now. I just wanted to say that it does get easier although making that decision is horrendous. It would just be nice to know what happened to him to give him those injuries.
. What a shock for you. With injuries like that the most likely cause would have been a pretty bad road traffic accident. There's not many other accidents to cause such an injury except a high fall but that's less likely. A paralysed bladder can take a long time to get better and 99% of the time never, a difficult but sounds like the kindest decision. My only suprise is that your vets did not keep him in, I can't imagine us letting a cat with those injuries go home but I don't think it's have changed this sad outcome. RIP Reg (a picture, when you feel ready, in the caturday thread, would be lovely)
Graham said:
Sorry about that, although it did help me having somewhere to post up
And get some nice replies....
G
No apology necessary, it is not your fault but mine for opening these threads, I most certainly appreciate the carthartic nature of them. And get some nice replies....
G
But I can't seem to help myself, even though I know I am going to be upset.
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