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- Oct 27, 2014
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Hi everyone,
Today I euthanised my beloved kitty, Princess. I had her for 21 years, ever since I was a kid. Early this morning, she was having trouble breathing (her mouth was open and her tongue was out, she was panting like she couldn't get enough air). I rushed her to the emergency vet and they put her into an oxygen container and gave her some meds to relax her. She didn't improve, although the meds did help her breath easier. Her heart rate was dropped to 120, she was anaemic and she was very weak, the vet had said. The prognosis was poor and I decided rather than wait and see if she would improve to ease her suffering and euthanise her. The vet had said that she probably wouldn't come out on the other side of this, and that she didn't know what caused it.
A week ago, I had taken her to the vet for blood work and urinalysis. Her urine was dark, she wasn't eating much and she was having trouble standing. The vet said that her liver was failing, her bilirubin levels were 12-fold higher than normal (her liver and kidney have been gradually getting worse with age, but not enough for meds). She suggested euthanisia within a week to minimise suffering (she told me this on Thursday, so a week would be this Thursday). I decided then to watch her, spend time with her, and see how it went.
What hurts is that she seemed to be getting over her little bout; her urine went back to the normal colour, she was eating again and she was getting stronger in her hind legs. Yesterday was her first day that she was really back to her old self. She didn't seem in pain or anything. I thought she would be with us for a little while longer. She was very affectionate toward me, like she used to be.
In the middle of the night, she was having troubling breathing. I didn't want her to suffer, but part of me wonders if she would have pulled through this and gotten back to her old self. I worry that I was too hasty with the decision, but the vet said that she probably wouldn't pull through. I don't understand how she can so quickly be gone, when she was so good yesterday. I wouldn't have kept her around for me, I think I'm just second-guessing myself and worrying if I truly made the right decision.
It's like yesterday, she had one last good day with us before it was her time.
Today I euthanised my beloved kitty, Princess. I had her for 21 years, ever since I was a kid. Early this morning, she was having trouble breathing (her mouth was open and her tongue was out, she was panting like she couldn't get enough air). I rushed her to the emergency vet and they put her into an oxygen container and gave her some meds to relax her. She didn't improve, although the meds did help her breath easier. Her heart rate was dropped to 120, she was anaemic and she was very weak, the vet had said. The prognosis was poor and I decided rather than wait and see if she would improve to ease her suffering and euthanise her. The vet had said that she probably wouldn't come out on the other side of this, and that she didn't know what caused it.
A week ago, I had taken her to the vet for blood work and urinalysis. Her urine was dark, she wasn't eating much and she was having trouble standing. The vet said that her liver was failing, her bilirubin levels were 12-fold higher than normal (her liver and kidney have been gradually getting worse with age, but not enough for meds). She suggested euthanisia within a week to minimise suffering (she told me this on Thursday, so a week would be this Thursday). I decided then to watch her, spend time with her, and see how it went.
What hurts is that she seemed to be getting over her little bout; her urine went back to the normal colour, she was eating again and she was getting stronger in her hind legs. Yesterday was her first day that she was really back to her old self. She didn't seem in pain or anything. I thought she would be with us for a little while longer. She was very affectionate toward me, like she used to be.
In the middle of the night, she was having troubling breathing. I didn't want her to suffer, but part of me wonders if she would have pulled through this and gotten back to her old self. I worry that I was too hasty with the decision, but the vet said that she probably wouldn't pull through. I don't understand how she can so quickly be gone, when she was so good yesterday. I wouldn't have kept her around for me, I think I'm just second-guessing myself and worrying if I truly made the right decision.
It's like yesterday, she had one last good day with us before it was her time.