Where to Draw the Line When a Pet is Suffering from Cancer

kittens mom

kittens mom

Kittens life was lost to a negligent veterinarian.
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I believe in the A bit too early kind of thinking. As our pets have more and more access to preventive medicine they are living longer lives. I realize that every pet I have we will likely have to come to the decision when to pull the plug so to speak.

Probably the best time to talk about this with yourself in the mirror or your spouse is before you have an illness that is life threatening. No matter how bad it was at least my husband and I were on the same page when we had to make that decision.
 
Mamanyt1953

Mamanyt1953

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I so agree with Kittens Mom.  I have had a hard talk with myself about this.  I did it when Hekitty had her bout with pancreatitis, and I honestly thought I would lose her.  When she recovered, I made myself sit down and consider the whole situation.  Yes, a little too soon is far better than a little too late.  God forbid my girl every suffer for my selfishness in wanting her with me.  God forbid I should ever be blind to her suffering for the same reason.
 
donutte

donutte

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I think when Lucky turned 13, I started having talks with him when we'd be in the bathroom (he was always in there with me). And I'd hold his head in my hands, look him in the eye, and say, "Please let me know when it's time." And he did. It wasn't cancer, he he told me. It was this sad, sad look in his eyes that he gave me when I was syringe feeding him. He felt defeated. He wasn't struggling so much anymore. He seemed so sad. I needed to wait for the justification that came with his blood work a few days later. I had my last evening with him, knowing tomorrow would be his last trip to the vet, memories I'll never forget (even if the big one is of him peeing on me, ha), made an appt the next day and took him in. It was very calm, not the hectic emergency trips it had always been because I waited until they were truly suffering. He was laying there, purring, actually enjoying having so many people doting on him, I think.

After that, I also agree with the "too early" mantra. Sometimes though, it can be a bit hard to gauge. There's always that "what if they could have gotten better". I could have tried to find a way to get money to put in the hospital on an IV, but I would have felt HORRIBLE if he died away from me. But it wasn't really my decision to make - it was his.
 
kittens mom

kittens mom

Kittens life was lost to a negligent veterinarian.
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Donutte said:
I think when Lucky turned 13, I started having talks with him when we'd be in the bathroom (he was always in there with me). And I'd hold his head in my hands, look him in the eye, and say, "Please let me know when it's time." And he did. It wasn't cancer, he he told me. It was this sad, sad look in his eyes that he gave me when I was syringe feeding him. He felt defeated. He wasn't struggling so much anymore. He seemed so sad. I needed to wait for the justification that came with his blood work a few days later. I had my last evening with him, knowing tomorrow would be his last trip to the vet, memories I'll never forget (even if the big one is of him peeing on me, ha), made an appt the next day and took him in. It was very calm, not the hectic emergency trips it had always been because I waited until they were truly suffering. He was laying there, purring, actually enjoying having so many people doting on him, I think.

After that, I also agree with the "too early" mantra. Sometimes though, it can be a bit hard to gauge. There's always that "what if they could have gotten better". I could have tried to find a way to get money to put in the hospital on an IV, but I would have felt HORRIBLE if he died away from me. But it wasn't really my decision to make - it was his.
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I am thankful for the easy peaceful way Kitten left. She hated being fussed with. I think the vet was a bit shocked when we said we didn't want some more time. She was calm relaxed and just willing to sit in our laps. Realistically it wasn't going to be any easier 15 minutes later. We had our night with her.

I think there is a window of time where you know it's time and you accept it's time and then you do what you have to. Just saying too early is sort of deceptive. When you know the next step is a dive off the cliff for them most pet owner can and will make the choice to let them go. Our kitties didn't have good days ahead. They had led such beautiful wonderful loved lives I wanted her to just feel safe sitting in my husbands arms not knowing we were killing her for her own good. No one had ever hurt Kitten raised a hand or even a voice at her. They don't have a concept of death just the moment they're living in.
 
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