Cat in shock with IBD

i am still struggling with what I had to do the other day. I had a 12 year old male cat...sweet as can be put down because I came home from work and found him sitting there with sunken eyes, dehydrated, meowing in pain weakly, and unable to really move a lot. I recognized this as a cat that was in the process of dying from shock and dehydration. it happened so quickly.....My cat had severe IBD. I was giving him steroids and bubesonide in a treat form. Occasionally he got metrondiazonale. He ate Hills ID which worked well for awhile. However, over time he was losing weight despite eating over 4 cans of Hills a day. His appetite was never satisfied and he would always cry for food. The past two days there were piles of diarrhea liquid all over my floor. I guess I figured it was just poo and not realizing he needed fluids as badly as he did. Exactly two days later I found him in shock. I gave him 50 cc's of sub q fluid but after hearing his weak cry I was worried the fluid might not process correctly with his heart being so weak so I stopped that and ran to the vet. The vet said she could not get a catheter in my cat and the cat was almost comatose (in and out of consciousness). She gave him 200 cc's of fluid sub q and then came to talk to me. She said there was no way we were going to be able to get blood and that this cat might die any minute now and what did I want to do...I chose to put him down because I did not want him to suffer and even if he would have survived which would have been questionable given his near death state at the time, he would have gone through so much...all to just come back and experience the IBD and the constant hunger that would never be satisfied. I feel bad though because I have never heard of a cat having IBD so bad as to need to be put down. If it was cancer or something like that I would be ok with it but IBD and pancreatitis? It was so hard to do but I certainly did not want my cat to die at home when I have no way to euthanize and take out of pain. Emergency room vets are a crime and given that it would have been questionable whether he would pull through I chose not to try that route. i loved my cat a lot and I can't seem to stop struggling with guilt over this. The necropsy report showed white spots on the pancreas and a medial 1 cm black mass. The liver had tan spots on it and parts were nutmeg shape. I don't know what that means really...Medical jargon. The report also said the lymph nodes were swollen in the abdomen and the intestine was severely distended. The fluid in the vessels from the lungs were somewhat frothy...suggesting possible edema but I don't know maybe edema can come after the cat passed because he was given guild sub q just prior. The diagnosis was IBD, possible lymphoma and pancreatitis. which really doesn't say much without a biopsy.

I am  so sorry for your loss.  Guilt is the last thing you should feel, you did nothing but make decisions with his best interests in mind.  You can send the necropsy to the cat consultation people at Cornell and I think that they would interpret it for you.  There is a fee for the consultation, I think it's around $40-$50.

I, too, am sorry for your loss.  And I also don't know how to interpret the necropsy. Did you ask your Vet for an interpretation? 

I would certainly not feel guilty for releasing him from his pain It sounds like he might have been just minutes from dying, and that might not have been nearly as quick or peaceful.  Please try not to beat yourself up for this.  He is at peace now....you should try to be too. 

I am so sorry you are struggling with this.  

Your thread bothers me because I too have a 12 year old cat who, in her ultrasound report has inflammed pancreas, intestines, lymph nodes. Thickened intestinal wall and mild fluid. 

The ultrasound specialist/vet did not feel there was lymphoma, and the inflammation likely caused by an ongoing allergic reaction to foods, likely chicken.

My cat eats well, and drinks alot though, but still, scary.....

I understand your distress, you did what was needed for your kitty right then, take away any suffering.

Try not to beat yourself up too much, comes to terms with what was done, for your kitty. He's surely grateful.

I know how you feel. My cat had never ending hunger and finally succumbed to what I believe was ibd. Guilt is an awful thing to deal with. He was very sick. Be grateful for the time you had together.

I'm very sorry for your loss. View media item 245164 Our last cat had to be put down after a long struggle with heart disease (HCM). It was a very difficult decision to make, one involving feelings of guilt even though we knew his time had come and we had to prevent him from suffering. All I can say is that a gentle passing is a gift of love and the guilt is unwarranted.

IBD is so unpredictable. Our 2-year-old cat has it, and our vets have told us it will be something we'll have to deal with his entire life.

Be easy on yourself. In time you'll realize that you did the best under the circumstances and that many things in life are beyond our control.

Guilt seems to always follow the dieing process, even if we really have no choice if we don't want our loved ones to suffer. I think you will be blessed for taking such good care of your sweet boy for 12 years, and you took on his pain as your own heartache so he wouldn't suffer. I am a nurse and his symptoms are the same as  many who are at the end of their lives. You did what you could to help him, and I know he knew this and was comforted by it. Since he was such a sweet, loving boy, I also know he would never want you to be so sad on the parting, try to celebrate all the good times and the love you two shared, don't dwell on the passing. Take care of yourself and please let us share your pain, we all know the heartache of losing a beloved member of our families and only wish you the best. RIP sweet boy, you will never be forgotten!

I am so sorry for your loss.  I don't usually offer an opinion about putting a pet to sleep...people who post here do the best they can in terrible situations...but I wholeheartedly believe you made the right decision.   It was tremendous act of kindness on your part.  Please don't feel guilty.    

I totally feel you were a blessing to your kitty for your decision. You certainly do not "deserve" to feel guilty, but nature has it...that we simply do...
Bless you during this sad time...you truly did the right thing.