NCEPR - WWYD? (Sensitive - Pet Loss)

[AJL]

DH's cat, Kinky, was diagnosed with pancreatitis and fatty liver last week. He had to be hospitalized for a couple of days for some intensive treatment. He got to come home on Friday for the weekend.

We were back at the vet this morning with Kinky. His demeanor has improved. He's drinking water. He's keeping food and liquid down. However, he's lost a little weight. He won't eat on his own. He still has to be syringe fed. He's quite jaundice. His liver enzyme values are more than double what they were last Thursday. DH doesn't want to let go and I totally get that. We're trying a few more things this week at home (steroids, sub-q hydration, different feedings, etc.) The vet really, really wants him to eat on his own. If he doesn't by the end of the week and his liver enzymes are not significantly improved, we're going to have to look at next steps.

Please don't flame me for this, but our budget can not handle many more treatments. We're over the $2,000 mark with treatment for Kinky and have had to add the cost to our already high amount of debt. I do love this cat, but I'm also trying to be realistic. We're in "maybe" territory on prognosis and quality of life. He's 13 years old which is the low end of senior, but he is really sick.

When do you say enough is enough? The cat is miserable and I'm sure he doesn't enjoy IVs, injections, tons of pills, and DH shoving mashed up food down his throat.

Also, if you have had a pet put down, did you have it done at your house? Were your kids with you? I think if our next steps is to go this route, it would be better to have it done at home where Kinky feels safe and we can all be with him. On the other hand, Ben and Molly are nearly 7 and nearly 4. Do you think they're too young for something like this to be present for it?

Ugh. I hate this.

[downtoearth]

I'm sorry. Sometimes there is more than the emotional costs when making decisions about pets. I can't help you guys with that, but I'm really sorry for your DH's cat not reacting well to treatments thus far.

We put our dog down about a year and a half ago and did not bring the kids (then 7, 5 and 1). We let them say goodbye at home and then left them with my parents and DH and I just went to the vets. It was easier for us to say goodbye and my DH was WAY more emotional than I thought, so it was good not to have the bigger kids asking questions. Plus, our vet doesn't come to the house, but there is a service that does. We instead went to the vet at the end of the day and they let us hang out for about 30-min past closing to do it alone. They also took and cremated the body.

So sorry again.

[tacosforlife]

Everyone has her own comfort point in when to put a pet down. For me, it goes to what you said about the pet being miserable. I do not want my kitties to suffer just because I'm not ready to let go. If there is no hope and kitty is in pain, I think it's time.

I have not had to put one of my own kitties down, but H and I went with a friend to do it. We did it at the vet, but they had a comfortable room where we could be. They took kitty back to the exam room to put the IV in her, and then they brought her out before actually pushing the drugs so she was able to die peacefully in her human's arms.

Hugs to you. Losing a pet is so hard.

[hopecounts]

((hugs)) that is such a hard position to be in.
When the ILs had to put there dog down last year due to health issues the vet came to their home to do it.
Since it was done on a weekday DH and BIL were both working and adults obviously, we had a family dinner the night before and said our goodbyes and gave lots of loves and pets, it was sad but a good way to say goodbye.

[doxies]

I'm so sorry. I can't help with the question of "is it time?" - it's such a personal decision and so hard.

As for saying goodbye, we did not bring our kids with us. I didn't think it was something they would be OK with, but everyone is different. We did let them know what was happening, but then we went to the hospital and had it done there. They were able to do it so that we could be there holding our pets as it happened. Your H may also appreciate having this time with his kitty instead of being concerned with how the kids are handling it.