Yesterday was an extremely hard day as I put my 15 year old cat to sleep. It was quick and sudden this decision. March 16/16 I took him for his vaccines in prep for the spring as he liked to poke around outside in the yard. 4 weeks later I noticed he'd lost some weight and then he stopped eating. I tried different foods thinking he was being picky. Doodle was 7.8 kg (17.16) pounds and had a very good appetite. He did drink a lot of water. After a few days of not eating and once I noticed he wasn't drinking and had become lethargic, I made an appointment and took him to the vet. The vet said he was dehydrated by looking at his gums.. they were pale and tacky. Which I also knew myself as well. So she recommended fluids and blood work. He had no fever, heart was sounding good etc. Based on the blood work I would consent to an x-ray if required. I thought perhaps he was constipated as his stools were rock hard and he'd also had hair ball issues.
I went home and was in the basement and couldn't hear the phone. I came upstairs and the vet had called 7 times. I realized something wasn't right. By this time it was 9 p.m. I received an email stating that the vet didn't like the way he was breathing so she took it upon herself to do an x-ray and it turns out Doodle had a mass, fluid in the lungs and what looked to be a mass in the abdomen. They wanted me to know he may not make it the night if they kept him. I did leave him where he was for the night. He was in the best place and if he passed away, they certainly weren't to blame.
He made it through the night and the vet called me to say he was in very critical condition even though he didn't look it. He was perkier due to having fluids. I left work and went to see him and make a decision. The vet said he would have to have 24/7 monitoring and they would run more tests. Drain the fluid from his lungs and biopsy, then an ultrasound and even then there were no guarantees he would make it. This would cost a lot of money... perhaps in the $4000. range. I didn't and don't have $4,000 and I had been through this with my cat before him and I had to put him down. He was only 9. Doodle was perkier for sure... and all I wanted to do was take him home because he didn't seem that bad to me. At the end of the day I made the decision to put him to sleep. I held him in my arms and told him I loved him, that I was sorry. I hope I am right, but I believe he wasn't going to get better. Not at his age and not the way things suddenly turned health wise for him. YES, if I had a endless supply of $, I would have had all the other tests and work ups done regardless of the outcome. But I simply don't. I feel bad and feel that maybe I shouldn't have animals if I can't provide an endless amount of vet care. I have 3 dogs at home too, and another very senior lab who is 14 and her time is limited. I had spent a $1,000 on her over the past month as well. As it was it cost me $1,000 for the one night of care he was provided. $ I have to put on a credit card.
I loved my Doodle to death. He was a wonderful cat. I don't know for sure that he wasn't going to get better but it didn't sound good and to prolong the inevitable and have him struggle for a breath I think would be cruel. He was not eating or drinking anything. The only reason he had peed was because he'd been on IV fluids. I feel like crap. He purred that day.
Help me.
Janet
I went home and was in the basement and couldn't hear the phone. I came upstairs and the vet had called 7 times. I realized something wasn't right. By this time it was 9 p.m. I received an email stating that the vet didn't like the way he was breathing so she took it upon herself to do an x-ray and it turns out Doodle had a mass, fluid in the lungs and what looked to be a mass in the abdomen. They wanted me to know he may not make it the night if they kept him. I did leave him where he was for the night. He was in the best place and if he passed away, they certainly weren't to blame.
He made it through the night and the vet called me to say he was in very critical condition even though he didn't look it. He was perkier due to having fluids. I left work and went to see him and make a decision. The vet said he would have to have 24/7 monitoring and they would run more tests. Drain the fluid from his lungs and biopsy, then an ultrasound and even then there were no guarantees he would make it. This would cost a lot of money... perhaps in the $4000. range. I didn't and don't have $4,000 and I had been through this with my cat before him and I had to put him down. He was only 9. Doodle was perkier for sure... and all I wanted to do was take him home because he didn't seem that bad to me. At the end of the day I made the decision to put him to sleep. I held him in my arms and told him I loved him, that I was sorry. I hope I am right, but I believe he wasn't going to get better. Not at his age and not the way things suddenly turned health wise for him. YES, if I had a endless supply of $, I would have had all the other tests and work ups done regardless of the outcome. But I simply don't. I feel bad and feel that maybe I shouldn't have animals if I can't provide an endless amount of vet care. I have 3 dogs at home too, and another very senior lab who is 14 and her time is limited. I had spent a $1,000 on her over the past month as well. As it was it cost me $1,000 for the one night of care he was provided. $ I have to put on a credit card.
I loved my Doodle to death. He was a wonderful cat. I don't know for sure that he wasn't going to get better but it didn't sound good and to prolong the inevitable and have him struggle for a breath I think would be cruel. He was not eating or drinking anything. The only reason he had peed was because he'd been on IV fluids. I feel like crap. He purred that day.
Help me.
Janet
