How far should I let vet go with drips/tests for my 19 year old cat?

meritaten

you posted, so its in your mind its time to let go. and that's the right time. you don't want to I know, but, I think you know. its the right time right now.

georgiesmum

We are going through this now with ours, who we think is about 17, could be older. My vet is very good, advises against any blood works or invasive treatment. Says it is very expensive and nothing can really be done about extreme old age. Just advied on food and said as long as he seems content to let him be. I am hoping that he will just go peacefully in his sleep.

Filey

[QUOTE=georgiesmum;
I am hoping that he will just go peacefully in his sleep.[/QUOTE]
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Oh don't we all !!!

Being very elderly myself I have had many much loved pets in my time, and can only think of one who died in his sleep. It is always a hugely difficult decision to make and say well, today's the day.

I have to confess i have often left it to my ex to take them to the vet's on their final journey as I always weep on these occasions. Cowardly of me I know. And it is doing the loved animal a favour. If it were me, being elderly and all that, I would hope someone would do the same for me. It is part of the price we pay for the pleasure of having had them.

Shoshannah

Sorry you are going through this, OP.

I put my 15-year-old boy to sleep last Friday morning. He had renal failure, IBD and pancreatitis, and was on treatment, but was FINE. Really, you wouldn't know there was anything wrong with him

He went to bed on Thursday night 100%, but had a fit in the night. Come morning I was preparing to do bloods and things, but I looked at him long and hard, and he was all wobbly and not happy at all, and I decided to put him to sleep.

It was hard, but I believe it was the kindest thing for him. He was an awesome cat.

Just because something can be done, doesn't always mean it should be done.

xxx

Katiehound

Shoshannah wrote: »

Sorry you are going through this, OP.


Just because something can be done, doesn't always mean it should be done.

xxx

My thoughts exactly.

Making elderly pets jump thro a barrage of tests... and for what? It's very very hard but sometimes you (Me, us) have to bite the bullet, and of course we will cry because we are losing one of our family.
Thinking of you.

paddypaws101

There is no right answer!
Whilst i do totally agree with others that you have to be realistic and decide when enough is enough, only YOU can decide when that is for your cat.
My old boy Murphy is 19 and has high BP and also HT.....he had an off patch last week and was off his food, very weak and lost weight. I did have a full blood panel done which revealed an infection. I had already decided to ask the vet to put him on IV for the day so went ahead with that while we waited for bloods to come back. he perked up brilliantly after a bag of fluids and took his course of ABX with no bother.
I accept that my time with him is limited, but it is NOT his time just yet.

I am lucky in that my vet is on my street and was happy to have the cat in 9am to 7pm for fluids, then let me bring him home overnight. If he had still been unwell overnight then I might have opted for calling the vet out to PTS.

teddysmum

Filey wrote: »

___________________________________________________

Oh don't we all !!!

Being very elderly myself I have had many much loved pets in my time, and can only think of one who died in his sleep. It is always a hugely difficult decision to make and say well, today's the day.

I have to confess i have often left it to my ex to take them to the vet's on their final journey as I always weep on these occasions. Cowardly of me I know. And it is doing the loved animal a favour. If it were me, being elderly and all that, I would hope someone would do the same for me. It is part of the price we pay for the pleasure of having had them.

I am like you. and have only been able to be with one as she was pts , after her sister died the same week. Since then I have not been brave enough. My last dog , I asked my husband to take and the one before died mid-stride so probably knew nothing (He was very ill with MVD). The one before him, I had to deal with, as my husband was away, so I asked the vet to give him enough drug so he would fall asleep, then let him go when I'd left the room. He said he's make no promises, as the line is fine with a sickanimal but it did work.

cavework

TBH and I have been there a few times , this will sound harsh.. there comes a time to let go.
It's tough ' it hurts but prolonging the end result can also be cruel.
You are a fantastic owner, you have been there together all the way , now you have to be there at the end ..together
TC and one huge ((hug)) for both of you
xxx

muddymare

I'm another who would be saying goodbye at that age I'm afraid, purring isn't always a sign of a contented cat and I think it is far kinder to let your cat go in your arms peacefully at home. xx

Mrs_Z

Another vote for letting her go if the time has come, at home if possible. We had to face the same agonising decision last summer and had the vet come home to put our cat to sleep. It was the first time we have had to make that decision but reading these forums I had also become convinced that slightly too early was better than a day late. Afterwards I happened to be watching a video on YouTube on a natural death of a cat that was old and ill. Whilst it was natural it took well in excess of 24hrs and after having seen that, I'm happy that ours went with the vet's help and would do it again without hesitation.