Do vets discourage rescues?

Have any of you had situations where a vet discouraged you from trying to rescue a cat or dog (i.e. euthanasia)? About a year and a half ago, one Friday night, I found this stray black & white cat at my apartment complex and decided I would take her to the vet and find her a home or take her to a no kill shelter. She was such a sweet cat, very affectionate but I could tell something was wrong by the way she ate the dry food I left out for her. She had a difficult time eating it, so on Saturday I bought her some can food which she seemed to do okay with. So, Monday afternoon I took her to the vet. Well, he estimated she was about 9 months old and she tested fine for feluk/fiv but then I told the vet about her having difficulty eating. So, he opened her mouth and we saw that she had no top teeth and very few bottom teeth. The bottom teeth that were left were cutting her upper gums raw. He felt around her head and jaw and discovered that her jaw had been broken a while ago and had already completely heeled, but it didn't heel properly. His prognosis was not good. He said that the bottom teeth would fall out eventually and that from moving her jaw around he could tell it caused her pain (even eating would cause her pain). Well, he suggested she be put down! The main reason he gave was the pain issue and the other he said would be finding her a home. He said it would be difficult finding a home for her because she would need special care for the rest of her life. I agreed to have her put down. I couldn't bear to think she would be in pain for the rest of her life. Oh how I cried Since that day I have wondered if I made the right decision. I keep thinking maybe there is some kind of pain medication that she could have been put on or maybe if she could of had surgery done on her jaw, then she wouldn't be in pain and I then could find her the loving home she deserved. Could there have been other options that the vet kept from me and if so why would he have done that? She was such an affectionate little purr motor! I still fight with myself wondering if I did the right thing!

Originally posted by sfell
So, he opened her mouth and we saw that she had no top teeth and very few bottom teeth. The bottom teeth that were left were cutting her upper gums raw. He felt around her head and jaw and discovered that her jaw had been broken a while ago and had already completely heeled, but it didn't heel properly. His prognosis was not good. He said that the bottom teeth would fall out eventually and that from moving her jaw around he could tell it caused her pain (even eating would cause her pain).

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I haven't had experience with a vet discouraging rescue, but from your description, I think you did the right thing, as hard as it was. Just to imagine the poor thing, unable to eat or drink or even move her mouth without pain, is heartbreaking. It sounds like this was a particularly severe problem, and I can't imagine any surgery or medication that could have fully corrected an improperly healed jaw or would have truly made her comfortable. If anything, subjecting her to further surgeries that might not work would add additional trauma. It's a terrible thing, but I think you have to weigh the quality of life she would have had. I have had relatives with severe difficulty eating due to medical problems, and it's agonizing; it really is a bad prognosis.

I don't know anything about this vet, and I wasn't there so I can't tell his attitude, and I'm sure some are quick to recommend euthanasia for "correctable" problems. But in this case, it sounds like he recommended the compassionate, albeit difficult thing to do. At least her last days were spent in love and affection with someone who cared about her.

I dont know what to say because I didn't see her. I know there are vets out there who don't believe in rescue or effort. Most vets think declawing is a good thing. I do know that Rene has saved and placed cats with broken jaws, all 4 legs, cats who have had all teeth removed, FIV/FIV positive. I would imagine that your vet thought he was doing the right thing for this cat. You really shouldnt feel bad though. You did what you could for that cat. Had it not been for you, the poor baby would have been on the streets starving to death.

A lot of my thinking "what if" has come on more recently because I keep hearing all these stories on the site of cats who were much worse off and are now flourishing. It just makes me wonder if the vet was just trying to save me the expense without asking me first. I just figured I would be told what all the options were since he is the doctor. I guess in the future I will push the vet more as far as "what are the options".

Please heed what Sandie and others have already implied on this thread: Had it not been for you, the poor cat would have starved to death with no one there to love her. As the others have stated, it's difficult to make confident assertions about that situation since we weren't there; but it does seem to me the veterinarian was recommending the most compassionate alternative. And yes, I agree with you that "next time" will perhaps present a better opportunity to press for alternatives.



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Sorry Guys But I COMPLETELY disagree with that Vet!! Mostly because that "kitten" being only 9 months old, healing factors much higher, and the fact that SURGERY WAS an option, removal of bottom teeth, jaw alignment, etc., and he didn't tell you this. Putting the kitten DOWN was the wrong thing to suggest to you!!! What YOU did was to follow a suggestion you thought came from someone who was NOT giving you any other option. Yes, sometimes placing a "special needs" cat or kitten is harder but it IS done ALL THE TIME. There are organizations out there that will take the cat in even if it means he/she living her life out with other special needs felines like herself.

Just another case of a vet who doesn't take the "extra" step. Sounds like he didn't give you any sound advice ... Just an EASY way out. Too many of them out there.

Don't be hard on you. But, be wiser next time and ask as many questions as you can think of. Never make a QUICK decision when the only option given is death. Unless the OBVIOUS solution is to be merciful. Terminal illness is one of those obvious solutions when the animal is too far gone.


FeralGuardian

It is always easy to sit back and play Monday morning quarterback after the game. You were the person who was there and in good faith, followed the suggestions of the professional. Without your intervention, this little one would have starved, like stated. It is never easy to make decisions especially regarding the pain issue - after all, how can we tell sometimes what that is involving for the animal? You cared and you tried - and that is all that matters now.
I rescued an older cat one time who turned out to have no teeth - but we were lucky - there were not other complications that affected his eating soft and canned food.
I commend you for your efforts and the courage to even ask this question. God bless your efforts...and please have an easy heart - you did the only thing you thought you could do at the time.

See, I used to work for this vet while I was in high school. I had wanted to be a veterinarian and one of the pre-requisites for Texas A&M vet school is working at a vet clinic. Well, I just figured that if there were other options he would have told them to me because of what he did for one of his other patients while I worked there (here's the story). A lady had accidently backed over her cat with her car. The lady was histerical and rushed the cat in (I would have been too). Well, the only thing wrong with the cat was a busted jaw. So, with surgery the vet temporarily wired the cat's jaw until it healed. Well, I have since moved and am using a different vet. I will make it abundantly clear that with any animal I bring in, all options deamed humane shall be presented to me no matter the cost.

I also wanted to say sorry and I hope y'all aren't mad at me. Well not y'all - I'm more upset with myself but I will take this as a lesson learned.

Don't be so hard on yourself! It is clear from this thread that no one is mad at you even if some of them think the vet may have been wrong.

It's really hard to tell from your story. Some cases can be cured with an effort but then again there are times when euthanasia is the only option. Just let it go. I'm sure that cat appreciates what you did for her from the other side of the bridge.

Sfell,

Do not blame yourself. You did nothing wrong. You were her guardian angel. She probably would've starved had you not helped her. I place blame on the a$$hole owner of the cat for not taking responsibility and the vet for not telling you of other options that WERE available.

I've been involved with animal rescue for over 3 years now and I have come to the conclusion that there are good vets and bad vets. The bad vets are only in it to make money. The good vets will go the extra mile in extreme cases. You, unfortunately, met one of the bad ones who felt that the kitty's life was not worth the effort. That is very unfortunate. But it was not your fault.

I have 7 cats and believe me, it took a while before I found one who I trust with my babies. One of the vets at the practice I go to recently had a client come in with a dog. The dog needed surgery or something to the extent that was going to be very expensive. The owner of the dog told the vet it was "just a dog" and to euthanize him instead. Know what the vet did? He told the guy to sign the dog over to him. The jerk did. The vet did the surgery himself and has plans to find the dog a good home. Now THAT is a vet dedicated to the care and well being of animals.

Debra Myers is right when she said "God bless your efforts...and please have an easy heart - you did the only thing you thought you could do at the time."

Donna

Amen! To What Donna Said! I have also had to FILTER through some of the worst A**hole vets myself. Came close to punching one even! You are the one with the heart of gold ... That vet is the one with the dollar signs in his eyes. And God Bless the vet Donna mentioned. Sounds like a vet at the clinic I work with. Thank God for the good ones!!

FeralGuardian