That Last Trip to the VET
Discussion
Looks like the time is rapidly approaching where Im going to have to load the Bob our (female) black cat and the mascot of Black Cat Racing into the cat basket for the last time and take the lonly trip to the vet when only one of us comes back 
Shes, just over 15 years old and has a heart condition, shes gone down hill fast in the last week, and hasnt moved much in the last 2 days, wont take her tables and hasnt eaten much..
She's still pleased to see you but the sparkle is starting to go from her eyes, how the hell do you make the decision that its time to go..
as much as im fond of the old girl I think i'd be happy if I got up tomorrow morning and she'd passed away in her sleep. Typically like most of the women I know shes a fiesty one and will hang on till the bitter end forcing me to make the decision...
HELP.....
Shes, just over 15 years old and has a heart condition, shes gone down hill fast in the last week, and hasnt moved much in the last 2 days, wont take her tables and hasnt eaten much..
She's still pleased to see you but the sparkle is starting to go from her eyes, how the hell do you make the decision that its time to go..
as much as im fond of the old girl I think i'd be happy if I got up tomorrow morning and she'd passed away in her sleep. Typically like most of the women I know shes a fiesty one and will hang on till the bitter end forcing me to make the decision...
HELP.....
I am so sorry, the decision is not an easy one to make.
Does she seem distressed at all? Is she soiling herself?
If her quality of life is sufficient i.e. not suffering, then I'd leave her be. Once she starts to look like she is suffering, then it is time to do the right thing.
Is she eating at all?
Does she seem distressed at all? Is she soiling herself?
If her quality of life is sufficient i.e. not suffering, then I'd leave her be. Once she starts to look like she is suffering, then it is time to do the right thing.
Is she eating at all?
I had to have my 16 year old girl Meg put down last year. She had developed a heart condition which we knew was terminal, she took her meds for about 6 weeks and then just point blank refused to take them. It was this moment that I knew what the end result would be and she went downhill fairly quickly. I had the vet come out so that she went in the comfort of her own surroundings, she really hated the vet and I didn't want her stressed in her last few minutes with us.
The only good thing was that we had plenty of time to say goodbye and we felt much better prepared for the loss. I still miss the old girl though, she was such a character.
The only good thing was that we had plenty of time to say goodbye and we felt much better prepared for the loss. I still miss the old girl though, she was such a character.
Don't let her lose dignity, if she soils herself because she can't get to the litter tray it's time to say goodbye. If she starts to purr incessantly it's not necessarily due to being affectionate but more due to feeling very ill. If I'm honest you may have to make that decision for her in a couple of days, sadly not many go in their sleep, although if it is her heart struggling this is more possible.
I'm so sorry you are having to go through this painful time. It is never going to be easy, even when we know it is the right thing to do. The most common thing I hear from people is their regret that they took too long to decide.
I'm so sorry you are having to go through this painful time. It is never going to be easy, even when we know it is the right thing to do. The most common thing I hear from people is their regret that they took too long to decide.
RaeB said:
I had the vet come out so that she went in the comfort of her own surroundings, she really hated the vet and I didn't want her stressed in her last few minutes with us.
Just e-mailed the vet to see if they would do that. the practice is only 300 metres away, but she doesnt like it. Not sure I fancy the walk back either..I had to e-mail as I dont think i could talk to them on the phone.
Feel for you Graham - very sad feeling I know.
No-one can tell you the correct time to do the deed sadly. However, you know your cat better than anyone else could and you will know when the time's right and when it's not. Have faith in your own judgement as it will be better than anyone elses and your cat is lucky that you're there to look out for her.
No-one can tell you the correct time to do the deed sadly. However, you know your cat better than anyone else could and you will know when the time's right and when it's not. Have faith in your own judgement as it will be better than anyone elses and your cat is lucky that you're there to look out for her.
Been there - done that.
Somehow, you just seem to know when it's the kindest thing to do and you don't want to watch them deteriorate further.
We had the vet come to us too and we just fussed her as she fell asleep.
Just be prepared for how quickly it works though. I thought she'd slowly fall asleep but it happened almost as soon as she was injected.
No pain or distress - but very fast acting.
- and don't beat yourselves up afterwards, you know it's the right thing to do.
Somehow, you just seem to know when it's the kindest thing to do and you don't want to watch them deteriorate further.
We had the vet come to us too and we just fussed her as she fell asleep.
Just be prepared for how quickly it works though. I thought she'd slowly fall asleep but it happened almost as soon as she was injected.
No pain or distress - but very fast acting.
- and don't beat yourselves up afterwards, you know it's the right thing to do.
Edited by Davel on Thursday 26th May 14:43
D5M said:
Feel for you Graham - very sad feeling I know.
No-one can tell you the correct time to do the deed sadly. However, you know your cat better than anyone else could and you will know when the time's right and when it's not. Have faith in your own judgement as it will be better than anyone elses and your cat is lucky that you're there to look out for her.
I agree no one can tell anyone but we certainly can help, I spend a lot of time talking people through this difficult time as a lot of caring owners just cannot judge for themselves. I like to think I bring a lot of relief in helping people understand when the time may be right but obviously it is up to them in the end, afterall it is their four legged friend not mine.No-one can tell you the correct time to do the deed sadly. However, you know your cat better than anyone else could and you will know when the time's right and when it's not. Have faith in your own judgement as it will be better than anyone elses and your cat is lucky that you're there to look out for her.
Graham said:
Just e-mailed the vet to see if they would do that. the practice is only 300 metres away, but she doesnt like it. Not sure I fancy the walk back either..
I had to e-mail as I dont think i could talk to them on the phone.
It's so difficult eh? But you've given the little fella the best years...hopefully the vet will pop round and make everything easier when that time comes.I had to e-mail as I dont think i could talk to them on the phone.
Good luck mate.
Graham, the nurse will be for a just in case, far better than if you do decide the time is right after a chat with the vet that they don't have to go away and come back again (often more distressing because once a decision is made, having to then wait is awful)
Please don't be so hard on yourself, there's no getting away from how hard this decision is but remember you are not being selfish, quite the opposite in fact. Just take time to think of how she was just a month ago and compare to how she is now, my guess is you'll realise how poorly she now is.
Please don't be so hard on yourself, there's no getting away from how hard this decision is but remember you are not being selfish, quite the opposite in fact. Just take time to think of how she was just a month ago and compare to how she is now, my guess is you'll realise how poorly she now is.
I had my GSD put down a while ago, and the call to the vet was the toughest thing to do - I knew I was doing the right thing, but physically making the call was nearly impossible for me. Fortunately, the practice was expecting the call, and were great, as I couldn't actually speak properly.
Even writing the above has bought a tear to my eye, and I'm generally not that way inclined!
When the time comes, you'll have done the right thing by your pet, and that's what counts. It's too easy to keep hanging on - often pets die in terrible pain in such circumstances, as they deal with pain differently to humans and obviously cant tell us.
Even writing the above has bought a tear to my eye, and I'm generally not that way inclined!
When the time comes, you'll have done the right thing by your pet, and that's what counts. It's too easy to keep hanging on - often pets die in terrible pain in such circumstances, as they deal with pain differently to humans and obviously cant tell us.
Also went through similar with our GSD some years ago, except he'd been ill for a while so took him to the vet for an exploratory op.
Got home and the vet rang to say that he didn't want to wake him up as he was riddled with cancer.
I collected him (and a £200 bill) and took him home to bury him.
Never cried so much in my life and typing this still is bringing a tear - such a wonderful devoted friend.
It's hell but you just don't want them to suffer....
Got home and the vet rang to say that he didn't want to wake him up as he was riddled with cancer.
I collected him (and a £200 bill) and took him home to bury him.
Never cried so much in my life and typing this still is bringing a tear - such a wonderful devoted friend.
It's hell but you just don't want them to suffer....
Last year we lost Baby she was a pure white cross Persian; she was 20 years old and she had been with me and the wife all that time we got her at 8 weeks old.
The year before that we lost Bunty to cancer he was 19 years old and we got him at 7 weeks old.
The only mistake I made was I did not sit in front of bunty when he was put to sleep so that my face was the last he saw before the end and it still haunts me today, but I did with baby.
Miss you both R.I.P
here they are.
The year before that we lost Bunty to cancer he was 19 years old and we got him at 7 weeks old.
The only mistake I made was I did not sit in front of bunty when he was put to sleep so that my face was the last he saw before the end and it still haunts me today, but I did with baby.
Miss you both R.I.P
here they are.
I'll bet Bob is getting lots of fuss and cuddles tonight. Give her a little scritch under the chin from me.
Such a tough decision, but better to do it before she suffers from pain. Just don't let her out in the morning, or at least keep an eye on her. They have a habit of disappearing, it's as if they know what's happening and it's very distressing (I know from experience).
Such a tough decision, but better to do it before she suffers from pain. Just don't let her out in the morning, or at least keep an eye on her. They have a habit of disappearing, it's as if they know what's happening and it's very distressing (I know from experience).
Brought a tear hear as well, had my cat put down earlier this year after a course of treatment that wasn't making her any better. When she declined further I knew what had to be done, it's not a easy thing to do, but knowing that she had to suffer no more, left me with a clear concience that the action taken was the correct thing to do.
There's obviously a few here that will be thinking of you at some point tomorow, remember the good times, how you made your cat happy, and how it made you happy.
There's obviously a few here that will be thinking of you at some point tomorow, remember the good times, how you made your cat happy, and how it made you happy.
RaeB said:
I'll bet Bob is getting lots of fuss and cuddles tonight. Give her a little scritch under the chin from me.
chin tickle deliveredRaeB said:
Just don't let her out in the morning, or at least keep an eye on her. They have a habit of disappearing, it's as if they know what's happening and it's very distressing (I know from experience).
no danger of her disappearing, she's not moved more that 50ft in total in the last 2 days.I did carry her out in to the garden for a bit today, to get some sun, and watch the butterflys she's so fond of chasing.. she managed about 10 ft into her bird watching post int he flowers, before I picked her up for some sun and then took her back in side..
Not looking forward to tomorrow much...
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