I have a 17.5 year old cat who is truly my best friend. He was diagnosed with hyperthyroidudm this winter and we started him on the oral medication. He had adverse side effects - wouldn't eat, gagging, dizzy, spacey. Just looking at food made him gag and this is typically a cat who loves to eat anything and everything. We took him off the pills and feel he's too frail for the other treatments. We would prefer he lives out his life enjoying food when he can and feeling disoriented.
Over the past 2 months he has dropped even more weight from his already skinny frame. He wheezes when he breathes, drinks and eats. He asks for food and the barely eats. We have to try 5-7 cans each time to see if one of those flavors will appeal to him. When he does finally eat, it's not much and it appears to be some effort on his behalf. We have tried baby food, kitten food, high calorie supplements, you name it. He also just threw tonight too.
He sleeps all day and just drinks in between naps. We don't know if it's the right time to put him down or not. How do you know if it is? He is my childhood cat and I'm heartbroken. I just want to do what is best for him. Is he in pain? Should we put him down or should we just try to keep making him as comfortable as possible? If he dies on his own from this, will it be painful and scary for him?
Any advice? I'd really appreciate it!!!!
-AA
Over the past 2 months he has dropped even more weight from his already skinny frame. He wheezes when he breathes, drinks and eats. He asks for food and the barely eats. We have to try 5-7 cans each time to see if one of those flavors will appeal to him. When he does finally eat, it's not much and it appears to be some effort on his behalf. We have tried baby food, kitten food, high calorie supplements, you name it. He also just threw tonight too.
He sleeps all day and just drinks in between naps. We don't know if it's the right time to put him down or not. How do you know if it is? He is my childhood cat and I'm heartbroken. I just want to do what is best for him. Is he in pain? Should we put him down or should we just try to keep making him as comfortable as possible? If he dies on his own from this, will it be painful and scary for him?
Any advice? I'd really appreciate it!!!!
-AA