Should I put her down?? PLEASE HELP!

Now let me just say, I'm not a vet. I don't work for a vet, I don't have a neighbor that is a vet, I don't have a sister that dated a vet, and I didn't stop next to a vet at a red light this morning. But...

From those numbers, it seems like the only levels that are very abnormal are the sugar and the potassium, which I believe (someone please correct me if I'm wrong) are just due to her not eating much. It does seem like all of her organs are working just fine. So, if it was me, I'd let her keep fighting for right now. Animals do tend to perk up right before they pass, but I think I'd wait and see. It certainly doesn't sound like she's hurting, so even if she is getting ready to go and this is the end, what is so terrible about letting her do it naturally? A lot of vets seem to like making decisions for animals and not allowing nature to take its course. Now if she was is obvious pain and suffering, I'd definitely have a different stance.

In any case, whatever you decide I'm sure it will be the right decision. I'm very sorry, and I'll also be hoping for a miracle.

Thanks so much! It is nice to have others that see the glimmer of hope too! Granted it maybe false hope, but it is hope indeed. Like I said before, when I told my reguar vet these numbers she wasn't sure bc she isn't seeing her, but by just the one numbers there weren't too extreme. At least not all of them.

The electrolites were down, but she was also dehydrated when they took them and I think that can have a lot to do with it. I know it isn't perfect numbers, I just expected them to be WAY more off then what they are. I am so glad I chose not to put her down yet. And yes, I really hope as long as she isn't in pain she goes naturally if it is her time.

No one can tell you what to do. And this is one of the hardest decissions you'll have to make. I've had to do it and it's SO difficult. One thing I ask you to think about (and this is what I had to think of) is what is best for the cat. Don't mistake your strong desire to see improvement and wanting her to be better for something else. I did that with my Jake for several months. It seemed like he was fighting and sometimes getting better but it was what I wanted to see. I'm not saying that is your case. Just try to be in tuned to the idea. I think Jake kept going because he sensed that I wanted him to. Really, I kept Jake alive. But it wasn't meant to be. Just some thoughts from someone who's been there.

Tammie

ahhhhh Bless you and your kitty! I am so so sorry for what you are going through and like everyone else said it's going to be a personal choice and i'm sure whatever happens will be right. But can I please say GOOD FOR YOU, for trying, for fighting, for letting her try to fight.......sometimes it would be easier to just let them go when you don't know what to do, but I am a firm believer in giving them their own chance to fight. If it becomes too much you'll know because you've tried.

All my thoughts and prayers to you and your baby

ty. this "improvement" i know could be temporary but i am going to have them check her levels and see how she is doing tomorrow. once im there i can get a better idea of how she is doing. i really feel in my heart this is the right thing to do, at least for today, and i shall see what tomorrow brings me when it comes, if it comes. i thank you all for your support! i am A LOT more at peace then i was earlier today. im soooo thankful we got that extra time to be together her being back to her old self and it was just soooooo perfect!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

please keep the comments/opinions/stories/support/prayers coming!

Originally Posted by lmunsie

ahhhhh Bless you and your kitty! I am so so sorry for what you are going through and like everyone else said it's going to be a personal choice and i'm sure whatever happens will be right. But can I please say GOOD FOR YOU, for trying, for fighting, for letting her try to fight.......sometimes it would be easier to just let them go when you don't know what to do, but I am a firm believer in giving them their own chance to fight. If it becomes too much you'll know because you've tried.

All my thoughts and prayers to you and your baby

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I remember when you went through all that trouble with your kitty.

Wow, looking at the blood work, I don't really see anything that jumps out at me! Liver function isn't bad, kidney function is great. She has low blood sugar (a bit disconcerting, but certainly not the end of the world.) I would ask your vet to try to give some potassium supplement. Low potassium can cause weakness and a general feeling of ill health. If she were my kitty, I certainly wouldn't be thinking PTS. I will keep you and your sweet Bobber in my prayers.

I've had to make this decision several times, and each time I waited until I felt like the cat had given up itself. As long as it's willing to fight, I've held off, and I haven't regretted it.

ty sooo much to everyone that has posted! the vet this morning said that her liver had failed completely and her kidneys were starting to go. i do believe she lost control of her bowels this morning though, i think that was the kicker for the vets to want to put her down. that happened before the blood test was taken. i want all her blood test results that she has had done... they sorta make me angry!

i really really dislike the vet she is at but it was the only place i could get her in at (i live in a pretty rural part of the country) and i dont think she should be moved to a different vet. too much stress and whatnot.

as long as i feel she hasnt given up im not giving up. i swear she didnt want me to put her down, just the way she looked at me and meowed n stuff, i dont know, just wait til tomorrow....

Thanks for the update. Her lab values surprise me too. Especially considering the latest update. But then again, I suppose the IV could be keeping things a bit more normalized.

Those labs were taken this morning at 10:30 when she had an IV in her for only an hour I want to say, if that. I know the tube came apart from the needle when I was holding her so they took it off bc I was going to put her down. I am glad they are surprising everyone actually, I thought they weren't terrible. Definately not great, but I am just glad others are agreeing that her levels aren't terrible. I am not sure what the vet was taking about that her liver numbers were VERY high, she told me bobbers liver already failed and that her kidneys were in the process of failing when we got these test results back.

i am sorry to read about what you are going thru. it is hard! it is also hard to give you opinions when this is something you have to decide upon yourself. what does your vet say? my vet wanted to put my baby down in Dec 07 but i couldnt do it. i delayed it for about a week and ended up doing it anyways. it was one of the hardest decisions i have made and to this day i am not sure it was 100% right. i keep having "what if" questions! it was no doubt the kindest thing to do for him.

as i said it is hard and i would ask the vet to fully explain his/her reasons to PTS or not. again i am sorry....vibes to you during this difficult time

Thanks everyone! I sorta jumped the gun asking others if I should put her down or not, I guess I just wanted someone else to make the decision for me since it is such a hard one! I am ok now though, at least for now, I am ok. I am going to get off the internet for a while, I will post an update as soon as I can! I will probably continue it on this thread. Thanks so much everyone! I may check this later at night before I go to bed (midnightish) so if anyone else wants to say anything please do! Hopes and prayers for the Bobber

Originally Posted by kittiekitten

Those labs were taken this morning at 10:30 when she had an IV in her for only an hour I want to say, if that. I know the tube came apart from the needle when I was holding her so they took it off bc I was going to put her down. I am glad they are surprising everyone actually, I thought they weren't terrible. Definately not great, but I am just glad others are agreeing that her levels aren't terrible. I am not sure what the vet was taking about that her liver numbers were VERY high, she told me bobbers liver already failed and that her kidneys were in the process of failing when we got these test results back.

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What???

These are the numbers you posted:

type her numbers reference numbers

ALB 2.3 2.2-4.4
ALP 14 10-90 ALP
ALT 61 20-100
AMY 377 300-1100
TBIL .6 0.1-0.6
THESE NUMBERS DO NOT SHOW LIVER FAILURE!!!!


BUN 11 10-30
CA++ 6.9 8 - 11.8
PHOS 3.2 3.4 - 8.5
CRE .5 .3 - 2.1
THESE NUMBERS DO NOT SHOW KIDNEY FAILURE!!!!

Quite honestly, I would KILL to have my renal failure kitty's Creatinine and BUN numbers this good!!!


GLU 30 70-150
NA+ 149 142 - 164
K+ 2.8 3.7 - 5.8
TP 6.6 5.4 - 8.2
GLOB 4.3 1.5 - 5.7


Hello! I'm a nurse. I know what I"m looking at when I read lab values. You need to get a second opinion, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, because as far as I'm concerned...this vet is a quack!

I absolutely WOULD NOT put my cat to sleep because of a diagnosis from a vet who said that my cat was in liver failure and kidney failure based on these blood work values.

Every single lab value...with the exception of the low glucose and low potassium....is perfectly within normal limits.

I don't get it. Why PTS??? What the hell is he thinking?

Hi, I had to get back on! I wanted to post something I forgot. Her face is a little bit swollen. It did not get worse during the day though. It is just her cheeks. I want to take her to a different vet but they are doing what they need to do for her. Giving her liquids and antibiotics. What else should they be giving her? I saw the potassium supplements but what else? She isn't in great shape though, don't want you to get me wrong, she isn't doing the best since she is not eating or drinking or able to move all that much on her own. She is extremely weak. I am so glad I listened to myself and my family was there to support my actions and you all too!

I take back about her face being swollen today! I just compared pictures of her from my signature and a picture i took on my phone today. I really don't see it, I didn't see it in person. I thought maybe it could have been, but the pictures don't lie. If it is, it is a very light swelling.

I was thinking MAYBE the vet was saying multiple failures because of a comparison. They did take her blood last night, but I did not get a physical copy of the results. Maybe her levels worsened quite a bit and the way she was acting today they assumed it was taking the final nose dive before the great goodbye?

I am going to post Cocos numbers from when she was real bad in 2001
Bun 91.6
Gluclose 391
Wbc 45.5
Chloride 151
Total Pro 10.2
Albumin 2.57
Sodium 195
Pvc 18
They said to have her Pts and she would not live and I gave her another chance. This was the Er Vet. She is now 16

I wanted to post that my family isn't truly supporting my decision. They are saying they were at the point earlier to just tell me to put her down. I told them that her levels weren't completely out of it and she was doing better. It is like they have no hope. They could appease me couldn't they? Or not take sides and say it is something you have to decide. I don't know they sorta did, but made sure it was clear what I needed to do.

My Husband was the same way with my Cats.

I know what you're going through at the moment. I faced the same thing in February with my Border Collie. She had dementia, arthritis & was almost completely deaf. I couldn't make that decision. She seemed happy enough & even played with our other dog from time to time. She was on pain relief & arthritis treatment so I thought she was quite comfortable. I just couldn't do it. 6 weeks before her 15th b/d she made the decision for me & passed in her sleep in the back garden.going your way.