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what to do
What do cat owners out there make of this. A near neighbor has a cat
with oral cancer and it cannot eat properly . It can eat but not efficiently. It takes ages to eat a small amount because its face is distorted by the cancer. Its mouth is permanently open and the tongue hanging out. It is about 1/3rd to 1/2 of its original weight. Is very bony and its eyes look odd. pupils large and at times it seems less visually competant than it used to be. The diagnosis was some months ago. The owner is making no efforts to have it euthanised despite its disfigurement and its drooling all the time. It cannot groom itself and is very dirty with bloodstained fur. vet advised at the beginning that it need not be oput to sleep so long as it is able to eat. However, I think what is meant by "eating" is not the same thing as able to manage tiny amounts and slowly starving. Such a difficult scenario when you know the owner. I wonder whether perhaps they are just unable to face the decision to bring an end to it. I wonder whether I should offer to go with them to the vet if they feel the time is up. On the other hand, it is into potential cruelty territory because as far as I can see an animals suffering needs to be treated, even if the illness is terminal. No active treatment is being provided and it seems to me that the animal has not been examined for months. I hate to be complicit (not legally but in terms of conscience) in this situation by failing to challenge the owner. The owner may now feel that taking the animal to the vet in what is so obviously a chillingly emaciated and disfigured scraggy appearance might lead to some problems. I have no idea. The animal does not appear to have stopped trying to eat and can walk. Any advice would be appreciated |
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