Euthanizing my cat tomorrow. I'm worried it's not time

quesoarmadilla · Jun 14, 2016

I need some advice from an outside perspective.
I've had my cat Arwen since she was a young cat; 16 years now. She was spayed at 4 years, and again 2 months later since she went into heat again. Ever since, she's had urinary tract issues.
I took her to the vet over a year ago for a check up and they told me she was hypothyroid since she was overweight at 11lbs. The meds they put her on made her dramatically lose weight and she hasn't been the same since.
Now she's 4 lbs, hyperthyroid and has kidney disease. She will only lick gravy from cheap wet cat food now. Any prescription food or dry food is a no go. She's constantly consuming water and urinating everywhere and even licking it up at times. She has a giant mass in her kidney area that the vets couldn't see with x-rays. The ultrasound was just too expensive to do after that. She wails all night and only comes out to get water.
I don't have the funds or the CareCredit limit to continue with the monthly tests and prescriptions.
I made the decision to put her down tomorrow. But I'm afraid it's not the right time. I'm afraid of being wrong about her pain and suffering. I don't want the vets to look at me like I'm a killer.
I've been through so much with her and I don't want her to be in pain anymore. This is my first time dealing with an old sick pet. Am I being selfish or cruel for wanting to put her down?

maggiemay · Jun 14, 2016

Hi, I'm so sorry you're going through this. From the description you gave, it will be an act of love to let her go. The most loving thing any of us can do is to ease their suffering, and your girl sounds as if she is definitely suffering. If she is wailing, if her kidneys are failing, if her vet found a mass, if she is constantly drinking water and isn't eating, please take her to the vet tomorrow and give her the gift of release from all of this. A 4 pound 16 year old with all of these health issues is suffering. It sounds to me as if she might be diabetic as well. Let her go gently and with dignity. You would only be selfish and cruel if you didn't allow her relief from her suffering. And btw, a dramatic weight loss in a cat is NEVER a good thing. Very few cats are ever hypothyroid. If you are going to adopt another cat, I hope you will consider changing vets. Bless you both. You will be in my prayers. Hugs.

red top rescue · Jun 14, 2016

First, stop worrying about how the vets look at YOU and worry about how your cat is feeling. What other people think of you is none of your business. At the end of the day, it's what YOU think of you that counts.

Have you gotten a second veterinary opinion? It sounds like the vet blamed her being overweight at 11 pounds on "hypothyroid," which is an extremely rare condition in cats (usually the problem is a high carb dry food diet), and then they put her on a thyroid medication to stimulate her thyroid and now she has an OVERactive thyroid, which contributes to kidney disease and high blood pressure, much more common in older cats, but she has lost 7 lbs, the size of a whole cat! I don't know what you were feeding her, but you say "any prescription food or dry food is a no go," and your cat is RIGHT! She is water depleted and constantly thirsty, and her body is devouring her own muscles in search of animal muscle meat protein probably not not available in the "prescription" food. Yes, she is totally miserable.

A year ago she was chubby and everything that has happened since then has been negative. You didn't bring in a sick cat, but after their treatment, you got one.

If I were you, before I put her to sleep, since you are already questoning that decision, I would get a second opinion from another vet, preferably at an AAHA accredited hospital, because yes, she may have a mass and may have cancer and in that case putting her to sleep is indeed the kind thing to do. But declaring a cat hypothyroid and counting on medicine to adjust her thyroid faster to make her lose weight is the wrong approach. Also, a healthy diet of REAL canned food that is high in meat (muscle meat, not liver or meat by products) and very low carbs. is a much better prescription for weight loss. And a veterinary nutritionist will tell you that any cheap wet food is better than the most expensive dry food.

It may be too late for your cat, and if so I am truly sorry, but do be sure, because remember, not all vets graduated at the top of their class, and they are human, they can be wrong, they can make mistakes. At least give her a chance at being seen by a different vet and getting a second opinion. An AAHA Hospital is Accreditied, and to maintain accreditation there are standards they must meet, including continuing education. You are usually quite sure of getting very intelligent doctors and staff there. Here is how you can find one in your area. If you tellthem you are going for a second opinion on whether to put your cat to sleep now or not, you will probably be able to get in the same day, i.e. tomorrow. If they agree it's too late for her, you can still put her to sleep, and with a clear conscience. If it isn't too late and she could possibly be saved, you can make that choice also.

I do agree that she can't go on the way she is now. She is sad and miserable and starving and thirsty and desperate and crying. She needs to find peace one way or the other. Here is how you find an AAHA hospital close to you. Just put your zip code in the grid.....

https://www.aaha.org/pet_owner/abou...l&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

margd · Jun 14, 2016

Red Top Rescue said:
First, stop worrying about how the vets look at YOU and worry about how your cat is feeling. What other people think of you is none of your business. At the end of the day, it's what YOU think of you that counts.

Have you gotten a second veterinary opinion? It sounds like the vet blamed her being overweight at 11 pounds on "hypothyroid," which is an extremely rare condition in cats (usually the problem is a high carb dry food diet), and then they put her on a thyroid medication to stimulate her thyroid and now she has an OVERactive thyroid, which contributes to kidney disease and high blood pressure, much more common in older cats, but she has lost 7 lbs, the size of a whole cat! I don't know what you were feeding her, but you say "any prescription food or dry food is a no go," and your cat is RIGHT! She is water depleted and constantly thirsty, and her body is devouring her own muscles in search of animal muscle meat protein probably not not available in the "prescription" food. Yes, she is totally miserable.

A year ago she was chubby and everything that has happened since then has been negative. You didn't bring in a sick cat, but after their treatment, you got one.

If I were you, before I put her to sleep, since you are already questoning that decision, I would get a second opinion from another vet, preferably at an AAHA accredited hospital, because yes, she may have a mass and may have cancer and in that case putting her to sleep is indeed the kind thing to do. But declaring a cat hypothyroid and counting on medicine to adjust her thyroid faster to make her lose weight is the wrong approach. Also, a healthy diet of REAL canned food that is high in meat (muscle meat, not liver or meat by products) and very low carbs. is a much better prescription for weight loss. And a veterinary nutritionist will tell you that any cheap wet food is better than the most expensive dry food.

It may be too late for your cat, and if so I am truly sorry, but do be sure, because remember, not all vets graduated at the top of their class, and they are human, they can be wrong, they can make mistakes. At least give her a chance at being seen by a different vet and getting a second opinion. An AAHA Hospital is Accreditied, and to maintain accreditation there are standards they must meet, including continuing education. You are usually quite sure of getting very intelligent doctors and staff there. Here is how you can find one in your area. If you tellthem you are going for a second opinion on whether to put your cat to sleep now or not, you will probably be able to get in the same day, i.e. tomorrow. If they agree it's too late for her, you can still put her to sleep, and with a clear conscience. If it isn't too late and she could possibly be saved, you can make that choice also.

I do agree that she can't go on the way she is now. She is sad and miserable and starving and thirsty and desperate and crying. She needs to find peace one way or the other. Here is how you find an AAHA hospital close to you. Just put your zip code in the grid.....

https://www.aaha.org/pet_owner/abou...l&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

I am so sorry. This is such a sad time for you but you have your girl's best interests at heart and she is lucky to have you. (((((Hugs)))))

malvolio · Jun 14, 2016

No, you are not being selfish and cruel. It sounds like the kindest and caring thing to do. I made the mistake of prolonging the life of my Tinkerbell. She had kidney problems and I hand fed her each day and eventually used to force feed her using a syringe. One day here in Melbourne Australia it rained so badly all the suburban trains were cancelled and I was forced to stay in the City for the night. Such a thing had never happened before! I finally got a train the next morning and arrived home to find Tinkerbell dead. She had died on my bed and I was not there to give her comfort and reassurance. I'd left it too long; it was my own selfishness in thinking I was doing the right thing by prolonging her life. On reflection it was more like prolonging her pain, distress and agony. I'm not happy that I was too stupid to realise I could have been with Tinkerbell as she was given freedom from her pain.

Oh well, I'm now in the same situation. My grey tabby Graymalkin, nine years old, was diagonised with an inoperable tumour in her stomach. The Vet gave her Cortizone and said it would be best to end her life in a month's time. That was five days ago. Graymalkin is a solitary, exclusive cat who must have had a terrible kittyhood in this house. She had been abandonded here and turned up for a feed when I moved in. In the eight years she had been with me, she will NEVER come into the main bedroom and it took three years of so before I could get her into the Living room. Graymalkin hates being picked up and will struggle and so on and will never sit in my lap. I've never forced her in these things and have let her follow her own way. Anyway, the point of all this, it that just days before I got the death notice from the Vet, suddenly, without warning, Graymalkin suddenly started sitting in my lap, and abandonded the third bedroom where she lived, and now spends her time with me in the study all day. Graymalkin meows at me now so that I can pet her and keep her company. I guess all that is a cry for help. But what can I give her? I feel the only thing I can give is a release from her misery. Not to lengthen it, not to stretch it out to its limits.

I guess its not about us, it about our deepest, dearest friend and what we can do. I will call the Vet to see us tomorrow.

Mavolio

di and bob · Jun 15, 2016

We these sweet little soul's everything, we are their world. If it is within our power at all to end an existence that has turned to consuming pain and suffering, we should do what we can to alleviate that pain. We are all selfish by nature, we do not like change any more then our cats do, we want nothing to change that we perceive as good in our lives. But time marches on, we all age and terrible things happen to those we love no matter how much we don't want it to happen. You gave Arwen 16 years of yourself and your love, that is all she ever wanted. She came into your life and changed it, she taught you the meaning of how to care and love someone and she made her mark on this earth by meaning something to you. Now you must do what is best for all, she deserves that. If possible, get that second opinion, it would confirm that she is indeed suffering and make that horrible decision easier to be accepted by your heart. Or it can begin a path to healing, but with that mass, please don't pile all your hopes on it. But in my mind it would be worth the peace it could bring you. But the decision is yours and yours alone, if you go ahead with it, no one will blame you except for you, it is heartbreaking no matter what is decided, and may be prolonging the inevitable. My heart goes out to you, I'll pray for you both, I'll cry for you and what you have to do. The pain is overwhelming for a while, but you will know deep in your heart that you did the right thing by not letting her suffer any longer, you took on her pain as your own, a broken heart. Take care and know many will be thinking of you, I wish somehow I could make it better.

quesoarmadilla · Jun 15, 2016

I am on her second vet after the initial treatment for hypothyroid. Because of her chronic UTI's she had to stay on prescription diet for that. When she was 11 lbs she was doing fine. I gave her less than the recommended amount of food to see if it helped her weight since vets were always concerned about it. But then that's when everything got worse

This second vet I'm with found the mass and has been prescribing urgent care prescription food and the urinary food. She's stopped eating both.
The hyperthyroid prescription would cause her to not eat, then we'd have to feed her an appetite stimulant. Once her thyroid levels would clear is when the kidney issues would arise. Back in February they said she was clinically healthy and I saw that too. But the decline in the last few months has been rapid. It's been a hard and stressful 2 years with her. And she's my only cat, she's been there through everything.
Thank you for your responses and help.

catpack · Jun 16, 2016

Red Top Rescue said:
First, stop worrying about how the vets look at YOU and worry about how your cat is feeling. What other people think of you is none of your business. At the end of the day, it's what YOU think of you that counts.

Have you gotten a second veterinary opinion? It sounds like the vet blamed her being overweight at 11 pounds on "hypothyroid," which is an extremely rare condition in cats (usually the problem is a high carb dry food diet), and then they put her on a thyroid medication to stimulate her thyroid and now she has an OVERactive thyroid, which contributes to kidney disease and high blood pressure, much more common in older cats, but she has lost 7 lbs, the size of a whole cat! I don't know what you were feeding her, but you say "any prescription food or dry food is a no go," and your cat is RIGHT! She is water depleted and constantly thirsty, and her body is devouring her own muscles in search of animal muscle meat protein probably not not available in the "prescription" food. Yes, she is totally miserable.

A year ago she was chubby and everything that has happened since then has been negative. You didn't bring in a sick cat, but after their treatment, you got one.

If I were you, before I put her to sleep, since you are already questoning that decision, I would get a second opinion from another vet, preferably at an AAHA accredited hospital, because yes, she may have a mass and may have cancer and in that case putting her to sleep is indeed the kind thing to do. But declaring a cat hypothyroid and counting on medicine to adjust her thyroid faster to make her lose weight is the wrong approach. Also, a healthy diet of REAL canned food that is high in meat (muscle meat, not liver or meat by products) and very low carbs. is a much better prescription for weight loss. And a veterinary nutritionist will tell you that any cheap wet food is better than the most expensive dry food.

It may be too late for your cat, and if so I am truly sorry, but do be sure, because remember, not all vets graduated at the top of their class, and they are human, they can be wrong, they can make mistakes. At least give her a chance at being seen by a different vet and getting a second opinion. An AAHA Hospital is Accreditied, and to maintain accreditation there are standards they must meet, including continuing education. You are usually quite sure of getting very intelligent doctors and staff there. Here is how you can find one in your area. If you tellthem you are going for a second opinion on whether to put your cat to sleep now or not, you will probably be able to get in the same day, i.e. tomorrow. If they agree it's too late for her, you can still put her to sleep, and with a clear conscience. If it isn't too late and she could possibly be saved, you can make that choice also.

I do agree that she can't go on the way she is now. She is sad and miserable and starving and thirsty and desperate and crying. She needs to find peace one way or the other. Here is how you find an AAHA hospital close to you. Just put your zip code in the grid.....

https://www.aaha.org/pet_owner/abou...l&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Everything here!

Did the first vet do any blood work? Specifically testing T4/free T4? Was she diagnosed with HYPER or Hypo thyroid? As

red top rescue stated, HYPO is EXTREMELY rare in cats. As a rule, dogs get Hypo and cats Hyper.

I don't normally say this, but you may have a lights are case to sue the first vet/clinic.

Now, the mass in the kidney...has the second vet offered any suggestions as to a potential treatment without a diagnosis?

hbunny · Jun 16, 2016

@QuesoArmadilla I am so sorry. I have no advice but wanted to send you hugs.

Different situation, but one reason I feel so strongly for your grief right now is my hubby put his dear baby of 19 years down 2 Fridays ago. She wasted away to about 3.5 pounds (she had multiple issues going on for a while). She got to the point of not eating baby food, the A/D, or anything. I would have gone to the ends of the earth to find her something she would have eaten too. He waited because he just couldn't let go, but she got to the point it was obvious she was ready. It ripped our hearts out but I have such a sense of peace knowing she is at rest.

quesoarmadilla · Jun 16, 2016

First vet said HYPO Thyroid. Then after two weeks of meds for that, she lost over 8 pounds. So they said oh your cat is HYPERthyroid. And also she has a heart murmur (first time ever hearing that).

Changed vets
Second vet: Your cat is hyperthyroid. here are meds for that. She's not eating? Here's appetite stimulant. (Her feces now black) Her thyroid is fine, her bloodwork is amazing, but she has a small mass. Xrays done. No mass can be seen. They want to do an Ultrasound which was over $600. I said no, I couldn't afford it. We continued with thyroid treatment and A/D food to get her to eat.

The mass got bigger. She urinated more. Her feces was normal. but she was not gaining weight. Her body was eating itself.

She is now gone and I'm a mess. After 15 and a half years I will no longer wake up to her and my heart is broken.

Thank you all for the words. The vet knew it was time and said I did everything I could for her. She is no longer suffering

roguethecat · Jun 16, 2016

Very sorry for your loss. But she is without pain now, which is the most important thing.

Maybe, after a while, you might be able to love some other cat. There are so many out there that need love. And I found that loving other cats, too, is the only thing that helps.

maggiemay · Jun 16, 2016

QuesoArmadilla said:
First vet said HYPO Thyroid. Then after two weeks of meds for that, she lost over 8 pounds. So they said oh your cat is HYPERthyroid. And also she has a heart murmur (first time ever hearing that).

Changed vets
Second vet: Your cat is hyperthyroid. here are meds for that. She's not eating? Here's appetite stimulant. (Her feces now black) Her thyroid is fine, her bloodwork is amazing, but she has a small mass. Xrays done. No mass can be seen. They want to do an Ultrasound which was over $600. I said no, I couldn't afford it. We continued with thyroid treatment and A/D food to get her to eat.

The mass got bigger. She urinated more. Her feces was normal. but she was not gaining weight. Her body was eating itself.

She is now gone and I'm a mess. After 15 and a half years I will no longer wake up to her and my heart is broken.

Thank you all for the words. The vet knew it was time and said I did everything I could for her. She is no longer suffering

I am so very sorry for your loss of Arwen. She sounds like the most wonderful little girl and I know that you were a wonderful mom to her. I know that your heart is breaking, honey. I wish I could reach through the screen and give you the biggest hug. Since I cannot, please know that you will be in my prayers. Arwen isn't suffering anymore. She is at peace. But I know all too well that you are not, having been there myself more than once. We are here for you, sweetie. Bless you........

roguethecat · Jun 16, 2016

and don't forget: where Arwen is now, she'll find new friends. She will never be bored because the Rogue is there, and it is impossible to be bored with the Rogue around. She won't even have time to miss you.

red top rescue · Jun 16, 2016

For Arwen:

rainbow_cominghome_poem.jpg

red top rescue
Jun 16, 2016

zed xyzed · Jun 16, 2016

I am so sorry.

catlover73 · Jun 16, 2016

I am sorry for your loss. No one is ever ready to say goodbye. I too wish I could reach out and give you a hug in person. Please know you did everything you could for Arwen. Our babies take a piece of our heart with them when they leave. Arwen will live on in through your memories of the time you spent together. Be kind to yourself while you are grieving and know that we are here to support you.

margd · Jun 16, 2016

I am so very, very sorry about Arwin. Sending you many (((((hugs))))))). Bless you for giving her such a good home, where she knew love and family. May she pop in on you during your dreams so you can play together again. RIP Arwin

nurseangel · Jun 16, 2016

I am so sorry for your loss. I think you did the kindest, most selfless thing you could have done in the difficult situation you were facing. You were a true advocate for Arwin. Bless you.

jcat · Jun 28, 2016

My condolences on your loss of Arwen. :rbheart:

shenny · Jun 28, 2016

I'm so sorry but if it's any help, I would have done exactly the same, it's the kindest thing you could have done for her. She was suffering terribly and to be honest, that mass sounds like it could have been cancer. I had a dog who had a mass on his liver which turned out to be cancer and they said he was in pain. You wouldn't want that for her and even if it wasn't cancer her other multiple problems were every bit as bad, there was no coming back from this and she just couldn't have gone on. I also had a cat who was poorly and I selfishly refused to euthanze, she died in pain. I would never ever be that selfish again. You have done the right thing so please don't feel guilty, you loved her enough not to let her suffer any more and if she could, she would thank you for that. Grieve without guilt and when you're ready send her the love you have for her and let her know it never dies because it never does.

Euthanizing my cat tomorrow. I'm worried it's not time

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