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#1
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gentler way to put a cat down?
Hi,
I'm in a horrible situation - my old boy, who will be 16 in August, is showing signs of deterioration. He's got kidney issues and the vet's given us options that range from thousands of dollars in potential treatments, to switching to Science Diet k/d - we've done the latter. I'm a full time student and my husband has been the sole bread-winner & bill payer for the last two years - we just don't have the cash flow to spend a ton of money on anything these days. Anyway, as my boy goes on, walking is harder, he sleeps more and more, and has recently started peeing on the floor - a sign that we need to go back to the vet. Once there, it's likely they'll do the usual, prescribe an antibiotic, perhaps hydrate him. This has been going on for a year or so. I am praying that he slips away in his sleep one day, but fear that it won't happen that way, and that I'll be faced with putting him down. It just tortures me because his personality is still in tact - but he's slow, and the vet says he likely does not feel very good most days (and frankly, he doesn't look like he feels good). I had to put his sister down a few years ago and it was awful - it seemed that she was in pain, her tongue thrust out, and it was on a metal table with bright lights overhead. I need not to do that again. It seems too harsh. So I'm writing to see if there are alternatives. Is there something I can give him when the time comes that will send him off in a gentle, sleep-like way? Is going to the vet and using their shots the only option? (According to the vet, it is.) Thanks. |
#2
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Francesca wrote:
Hi, I'm in a horrible situation - my old boy, who will be 16 in August, is showing signs of deterioration. He's got kidney issues and the vet's given us options that range from thousands of dollars in potential treatments, to switching to Science Diet k/d - we've done the latter. I'm a full time student and my husband has been the sole bread-winner & bill payer for the last two years - we just don't have the cash flow to spend a ton of money on anything these days. Anyway, as my boy goes on, walking is harder, he sleeps more and more, and has recently started peeing on the floor - a sign that we need to go back to the vet. Once there, it's likely they'll do the usual, prescribe an antibiotic, perhaps hydrate him. This has been going on for a year or so. I am praying that he slips away in his sleep one day, but fear that it won't happen that way, and that I'll be faced with putting him down. It just tortures me because his personality is still in tact - but he's slow, and the vet says he likely does not feel very good most days (and frankly, he doesn't look like he feels good). I had to put his sister down a few years ago and it was awful - it seemed that she was in pain, her tongue thrust out, and it was on a metal table with bright lights overhead. I need not to do that again. It seems too harsh. So I'm writing to see if there are alternatives. Is there something I can give him when the time comes that will send him off in a gentle, sleep-like way? Is going to the vet and using their shots the only option? (According to the vet, it is.) Thanks. I second Helen's suggestion for calling in an in-home veterinary visit for euthanasia. There is a point in a cat's life where all you are doing is prolonging your pet's pain and it sure sounds like you've past that pivotal moment. |
#3
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#4
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Francesca wrote:
Hi, I'm in a horrible situation - my old boy, who will be 16 in August, is showing signs of deterioration. He's got kidney issues and the vet's given us options that range from thousands of dollars in potential treatments, to switching to Science Diet k/d - we've done the latter. I'm a full time student and my husband has been the sole bread-winner & bill payer for the last two years - we just don't have the cash flow to spend a ton of money on anything these days. snip This doesn't answer your question, but have you looked over the Feline Chronic Renal Failure site? http://www.felinecrf.com/ My old boy, who is 15 as well, was diagnosed with CRF a year ago. We've been giving him sub-q therapy twice a week and his numbers are now in the normal range! This doesn't happen very often, but I can attest that it doesn't necessarily take thousands of dollars to treat a cat with "kidney issues." And, as you may learn if you continue to research CRF around the net (there are some great yahoo groups) K/D is not considered a good way to go for cats with this condition. This food has way too many carbs and is way too low protein to keep your cat healthy, IMHO. Better to switch to a high-quality food with meat as the first listed ingrediant. Many folks who kept their cats on food like K/D noticed that their cat's muscles were literally wasting away. The other thing to consider discussing with your vet is having your cat's teeth cleaned, as there is a high correlation between bad teeth and disease, both in animals *and* people. Sasha's health improved greatly once we had his teeth done. I hope you consider treating your kitty before putting him down. All my best to you and your fuzzywuzzy. dragon |
#5
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Thanks to all who replied. I appreciate it. I am going to stay on this
list - besides my 15-year old, I also live with two young girl kitties! And Dragon- please believe me that putting my boy down is the last thing I want to do. It gets to be a source of great tension here when he pees on the carpet and rugs (at least rugs are more easily cleaned - the carpet took weeks last time to get the smell out). So there's that, which is a problem. I guess that, like with doctors, I probably put too much blind faith in the vet. I'll check out the link you shared and investigate the food. His teeth have not been cleaned in a million years, so I will see about getting that done, too. This kitty, whose name is Garbanzo, btw, is my special guy. I met him when he was a day old and said, "THAT'S THE ONE!" and they put a ribbon on him so I could have that exact cat when he was old enough to be weaned! He's been with me through thick and thin, and has saved my life, in a manner of speaking. Every night, without fail, for over 15 years, he waits for me in the bathroom, sitting atop the toilet - it's time to be brushed and exchange me kisses. (I say, "Gimme a kiss" and he lifts his head up to bump it on mine.) It makes me weepy, just telling you about that, because as I said before, Garbanzo is still "in there" - it's just his body that's going to hell. My father is elderly and in a nursing home and when I think about putting Garbanzo down, I think, "Would I put my father down, just because he's blind and needs a wheelchair? No! He's still the same guy, just older and weaker!" Anyway, thanks again. I'll be checking back - you seem like good folks here! -Francesca dragon wrote: snip I hope you consider treating your kitty before putting him down. All my best to you and your fuzzywuzzy. |
#6
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My cat was diagnosed with blood tests with kidney disease 5 years ago,
and although, wobbly in the legs and not always going in his litter tray, is still plodding on. He has been on Waltham renal support pouches cat food. Twice now, when he got bad, he had one weeks worth of antibiotic injections and they seemed to put him back to normal. Best Wishes Chris |
#7
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Is the Waltham renal support pouch something one gets from the vet?
Your story gives me hope! wrote: My cat was diagnosed with blood tests with kidney disease 5 years ago, and although, wobbly in the legs and not always going in his litter tray, is still plodding on. He has been on Waltham renal support pouches cat food. Twice now, when he got bad, he had one weeks worth of antibiotic injections and they seemed to put him back to normal. Best Wishes Chris |
#8
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Yes, we get it from the vets, it comes in chicken or beef flavour.
Also, get the weeks worth of antibiotics too! I am in the UK so I hope you can get the pouches if you are elsewhere. Chris |
#9
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troll
John Ross Mc Master wrote: Path: newssvr19.news.prodigy.com!newsdbm06.news.prodigy. com!newsdst02.news.prodigy.com!newsmst01b.news.pro digy.com!prodigy.com!newscon02.news.prodigy.com!pr odigy.net!newshosting.com!nx01.iad01.newshosting.c om!140.99.99.194.MISMATCH!newsfeed1.easynews.com!e asynews.com!easynews!easynews-local!fe07.news.easynews.com.POSTED!not-for-mail From: John Ross Mc Master pussycat cathouse.meow Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats.health+behav Subject: gentler way to put a cat down? Message-ID: 0edm91hb6khf57cn92hg610pt9sc8f504d 4ax.com References: B1Gme.4588$vK5.2170@trnddc03 .net X-Newsreader: Forte Agent 1.91/32.564 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Lines: 7 X-Complaints-To: Organization: EasyNews, UseNet made Easy! X-Complaints-Info: Please be sure to forward a copy of ALL headers otherwise we will be unable to process your complaint properly. Date: Mon, 30 May 2005 15:48:26 GMT Xref: newsmst01b.news.prodigy.com rec.pets.cats.health+behav:369675 IP # 64.203.38.114 OrgAbuseName: ABUSE TEAM OrgAbusePhone: +1-404-815-0770 OrgAbuseEmail: |
#10
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Francesca wrote: Thanks. Look, I don't know what it costs to put him to sleep, but whatever you are thinking for alternative; throw it outcha mind! Yule goto jail! Better leave that cat alone to live out his days in peace. good heaven's if it was me, I'd be like hey hey hey! don't push to the grave! I always say! hey hey hey |
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