When do you know to put the family pet down?

[Calgary Flames]

I don't know if he's sick or if he's really old... He's about 10-11 years old and over the past 6 months has lost a ton of weight and some of his strength. I've had him since the 4th grade and while most of the time he's a chirpy happy cat. He has bouts where it seems as if he loses his balance. About 4 months ago he was sleeping on one of our kitchen table chairs and basically just fell off the thing and I don't know if his head, neck, or back hit the metal bar supporting the table but he was thrashing around almost seizure like. Scare the shinguard out of my and my dad. Then a few minutes later once he regained composure he was fine and has been for the most part fine since then.

Anyhoo this morning the same thing happened, and it looks like he's not walking totally straight so he must've hit his head again.

As I said, i've have him since the 4th grade... and anyone with a pet knows that when you basically grow up with the animal it becomes like a family member or even a brother of sorts.

I've never had to put a family pet down, but I know it's only a matter of time... that's just life. At what point do you know to do it? Also this is a pet we don't want the Vet to just garbage bag and toss into the garbage can. We'd want to bury him somewhere out in the country. Any advice?

thanks

[InSutterWeTrust]

Sorry to hear about the situation. Myself I just recently had to put down my cat that we had for 18 years. He ended up having a stroke and his back legs could not help him walk. Personally I did it because I felt the cat was in Pain. I was really upset..but I didnt want our cat to be in pain. Same thing in your situation. You know your cat best. If you look at him/her...and if you feel that they might be any pain...I would do whats in the best interest of your cat. You dont want your cat to be in any pain. As with Vets. Ive found some very good vets who are willing to do many differnt things to help you out. You can get them cremated if you want...they even let me pick out a little wooden box that we could put him into. You can even get their name engraved on the front of it as well. Up to you. Ive been dealing with Alpine Pet hospital right next to Home Depot on Macleod and Glenmore and have found them to be very helpful. I wish you all the best in this situation.

[FireFly]

Take it to a vet. The vet will know what's going on, and no respectable vet would just toss it. If you tell the vet you'd like to bury your kitty, they'll put it down, and give it back to you. That said, all the cats I've ever had just ran away and died, so I've never taken one to a vet to get put down, so I'm just guessing. I hope your kitty is all right.

[Cowperson]

Originally posted by Calgary Flames@Aug 6 2005, 07:27 PM
I don't know if he's sick or if he's really old... He's about 10-11 years old and over the past 6 months has lost a ton of weight and some of his strength. I've had him since the 4th grade and while most of the time he's a chirpy happy cat. He has bouts where it seems as if he loses his balance. About 4 months ago he was sleeping on one of our kitchen table chairs and basically just fell off the thing and I don't know if his head, neck, or back hit the metal bar supporting the table but he was thrashing around almost seizure like. Scare the shinguard out of my and my dad. Then a few minutes later once he regained composure he was fine and has been for the most part fine since then.

Anyhoo this morning the same thing happened, and it looks like he's not walking totally straight so he must've hit his head again.

As I said, i've have him since the 4th grade... and anyone with a pet knows that when you basically grow up with the animal it becomes like a family member or even a brother of sorts.

I've never had to put a family pet down, but I know it's only a matter of time... that's just life. At what point do you know to do it? Also this is a pet we don't want the Vet to just garbage bag and toss into the garbage can. We'd want to bury him somewhere out in the country. Any advice?

thanks

Missing from your story is an opinion from your veterinarian. What has that person told you? I would rely to some extent on the opinion of your veterinarian regarding pain the animal might be in, prognosis, etc and make a decision from there.

Secondly, you can have your pet cremated for a modest fee. I would recommend that versus burial in your back yard.

Third, there is no set rule for ending the life of a pet, a good chum and that is why it is such a difficult and terrible decision, one that might leave you with a feeling of guilt, wondering if you did the right thing at the right time.

But you are right in one sense . . . it is virtually inevitable your pet will pre-decease you. That's life.

I've gone through the experience many times - about eight I think - and I try to be in the room with them. The first time will shock you . . . .

I have two dogs and four cats now and so there will be six more to go at various points in the future.

Cowperson

[icarus]

Sorry to hear that Jordon. My cat is getting quite old now and I know she doesn't have a whole lot of time left either, so I sympathise.

[Calgary Flames]

We took him to the vet last month, got blood work done and everything was fine in that department. We told the vet about the time he fell of the chair and the vet was a complete tool and had ZERO advice about it...

Also, if it comes down to it... what are the procedures? A shot? and what is shocking about it? I'd rather know before hand.

thanks again

[Thunderball]

Originally posted by Calgary Flames@Aug 6 2005, 01:54 PM
We took him to the vet last month, got blood work done and everything was fine in that department. We told the vet about the time he fell of the chair and the vet was a complete tool and had ZERO advice about it...

Also, if it comes down to it... what are the procedures? A shot? and what is shocking about it? I'd rather know before hand.

thanks again

I had to do this not too long ago...

You take him to the vet, sign a form authorizing euthanasia, and then you have the choice whether or not to go in... I did.

Its a single injection, they were low on nurses when I went, so I had to help the vet administer the shot. The effect is almost instantaneous... they just fall over and thats it. Its really hard to see though, I won't get into big specifics, but, yeah, brace yourself.

[Cowperson]

Originally posted by Calgary Flames@Aug 6 2005, 07:54 PM
We took him to the vet last month, got blood work done and everything was fine in that department. We told the vet about the time he fell of the chair and the vet was a complete tool and had ZERO advice about it...

Also, if it comes down to it... what are the procedures? A shot? and what is shocking about it? I'd rather know before hand.

thanks again

Get a second veterinarian opinion then.

Or go the free route and post the problem on the board at www.pets.ca and see what some of the local experts might suggest.

We had a cat who swallowed a nickel. Long story short, he was losing a lot of weight, having trouble passing his poop, etc and basically withering away before our eyes. Death was inevitable and we discussed putting him to sleep.

Finally, in exasperation, with the vet having nothing else to offer, we had him X-rayed which, in hindsight, we should have done at the start. The nickel was immediately visible and was poisoning him as it melted via stomach acids.

We had the nickel removed and he lived another eight years. The nickel is still used by the vet in Calgary schools to show what stomach acids can do.

There might be something that can still be done so explore every avenue you can.

What's so terrible about putting a pet down? I remember the first time vividly . . . . a cat knowing something was going on, huddling up inside my coat and then going limp in my arms as the needle was applied. Dead. He was trying to find protection with me and I had brought him there to die. Then slowly lowering him to the table. The first time was pretty shocking. The finality of it all.

In the ensuing times I've had it done, I continue to insist being in the room, as any good, lifelong friend should do. But I'm more pragmatic. More mature. Its inevitable some day but you try and make sure its the right time, that all other avenues have been exhausted. You want to know that the animal is suffering and the suffering will only get worse.

My best advice . . . . . pay for the procedure first, so you can just walk out. You don't want to be fumbling for your chequebook and dealing with staff.

Cowperson

[Calgary Flames]

I had two other cat's... but the circumstances were very different. They were outdoor cats and we let them outside and they just vanished... no closure at all.

So either with our current cat we 1) Find him passed on the floor somewhere (I'd prefer him to go naturally) or 2) Take him in, it won't be fun but it's not all negative.

The positive will be that I'll have closure, that my buddy is up in Cat heaven without any pain, and with a pile of fancy feast in front of him

What we did with our previous cat after his dissapearance was replace him with a kitten and name him the same as the one who passed like a legacy to the previous cat. We'd likely end up doing the same this time around.

[CaramonLS]

Take it to a different Vet. Some Cats when they get older will just become less active, but the weightloss is a concern as a lot of older cats who drop a lot of weight all of the sudden without a change in diet can have some health concerns.

Sorry to hear about your Cat man, I've had the same cat since I was in 3rd grade, hes 14 years old now, and I would be absolutely crushed if I was in your situation.

[4X4]

Originally posted by Calgary Flames@Aug 6 2005, 01:31 PM

What we did with our previous cat after his dissapearance was replace him with a kitten and name him the same as the one who passed like a legacy to the previous cat. We'd likely end up doing the same this time around.

Heh heh... My grandparents have a farm with many cats and dogs. None of them have any names except the indoor dog, Sam. When I was about five, I noticed that Sam transformed from a brown cocker spaniel into a black cocker spaniel. And was much smaller for that matter. Its happened a couple more times since then. One time, Sam mutated into a labrador.

[Flashpoint]

I am sorry to hear about your cat. This thread makes me want to cry. I would definitely take your cat to another vet. There is no reason to stick with one who doesn't address your concerns.

[Reaper]

Sorry to hear about your cat, Jordon.

I would highly recommend Avenida All Pet Clinic at 271-1121. Dr. Phillips is a great vetrinarian. She fights for your pet like doctors fight for their patients.

There was a few times when I thought Rufus was a goner but every time she prescribed a course of treatment that helped and he has a good quality of life today.

[Calgary Flames]

We just shelled out almost $1000 in vet bills... Glamorgan Animal clinic... I highly recomend against it. He had loose stool aswell and the doctor swore it was parasites. I brought in a sample and he said "There are signs of parasites" meanwhile we give him the medication and it doesn't work... Then we have to board them 7 days because we were going on vacation and they recommend we give our other cat the same medication (The other cat is perfectly healthy) which doubles the daily rate per day, per cat... which was not needed.

We switched his diet to gastro formula and it helped... when he ate it. So what should've been a couple hundred for boarding costed us $1000.

I'd love to take him in and get him checked again, we have a much better vet facility in Coach Hill but it's just too damn expensive right now. If the fataing vet we took him too first actually acknowledged our concern things could've been different.

When this happened last time, he was out of it for about a day and then resumed being himself so that's what we're hoping happens this time around. What we're guessing is that because he usually sleeps on the floor maybe he forgot he was up on a chair and fell hard onto the hardwood floor.

So our fingers are crossed he turns the corner. I just checked up on him and he's purring, and talking like usual but he has a slight limp.

[JiriHrdina]

Sorry to hear dude.

My general rule is if the pet is in alot of pain that can't be relieved by surgery or medication, its time to put them down. In this case though that doesn't necessarily sound like its the case. You definately need a 2nd opinion from a vet.

[Calgary Flames]

Originally posted by JiriHrdina@Aug 6 2005, 04:32 PM
Sorry to hear dude.

My general rule is if the pet is in alot of pain that can't be relieved by surgery or medication, its time to put them down. In this case though that doesn't necessarily sound like its the case. You definately need a 2nd opinion from a vet.

Hopefully he recovers so we can take him to a better vet in the near future. Just took him outside to munch on some grass, and roll around in the dirt. He's getting there.

[CaramonLS]

Jordan I goto the Crowchild Trail Vet Clinic

249-2535

The guy, Dr. Hagan has always been more than willing to to help out, and his prices I've found have always been fair and honest.

I'd recommend him (if you want a new vet).

[jam26]

Originally posted by 4X4+Aug 6 2005, 08:50 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (4X4 @ Aug 6 2005, 08:50 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-Calgary Flames@Aug 6 2005, 01:31 PM

What we did with our previous cat after his dissapearance was replace him with a kitten and name him the same as the one who passed like a legacy to the previous cat. We'd likely end up doing the same this time around.

Heh heh... My grandparents have a farm with many cats and dogs. None of them have any names except the indoor dog, Sam. When I was about five, I noticed that Sam transformed from a brown cocker spaniel into a black cocker spaniel. And was much smaller for that matter. Its happened a couple more times since then. One time, Sam mutated into a labrador. [/b][/quote]
Haha...reminds me of my cat, Puff. God bless her.

[jimmy11]

Really sorry to hear this story. I had a friend recently go through the same thing...her dog was in really rough shape and she had seen multiple vets, but the dog was still really suffering.

I was talking to her and the best advice she said she got from her vet was "when its no longer a tough decision, you have waited too long".

Hopefully a 2nd opinion makes this better your cat gets better soon!

[pope04]

Originally posted by CaramonLS@Aug 7 2005, 03:24 AM
Jordan I goto the Crowchild Trail Vet Clinic

249-2535

The guy, Dr. Hagan has always been more than willing to to help out, and his prices I've found have always been fair and honest.

I'd recommend him (if you want a new vet).

I go to Bob Hagan, too. Well, actually, my dog does. He is fantastic.

He certainly knows his cats.............he has a few that live in his office!