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Started By
Message
When do you put down your pet?
Posted on 10/28/17 at 6:15 pm
Posted on 10/28/17 at 6:15 pm
I have a cat who is almost 16 years old. She suffers from something called Mega Colon and it causes her to have severe constipation. I can take her to get an enema and that works for a while but eventually she backs up again. She also suffers constantly from UTIs. My problem is that she is happy and still eating when she is not going through episodes. But I know she is very uncomfortable when everything flares up again. When do you decide it is time to put down your animal?
Part of what I am factoring in is cost, I can't afford to take her in every few weeks for an enema and another UTI infection if the rate of occurrence becomes more frequent, and it seems it is. But I feel like that is being selfish on my part. The other issue is, like I said, she is happy between bouts and still eats although she eats a lot less than she used to and has lost a lot of weight.
I know people usually say that you know when it is time but I'm really torn on this situation and hoping someone can give some advice.
Part of what I am factoring in is cost, I can't afford to take her in every few weeks for an enema and another UTI infection if the rate of occurrence becomes more frequent, and it seems it is. But I feel like that is being selfish on my part. The other issue is, like I said, she is happy between bouts and still eats although she eats a lot less than she used to and has lost a lot of weight.
I know people usually say that you know when it is time but I'm really torn on this situation and hoping someone can give some advice.
20
Posted on 10/28/17 at 6:16 pm to BigB0882
At some point, a cat getting constant utis and enemas cannot be living a happy life.
Posted on 10/28/17 at 6:16 pm to BigB0882
I hope if I had to get an enema every time I had to shite that someone would put me out to pasture.
Posted on 10/28/17 at 6:18 pm to BigB0882
My cat has mega colon as well. I give him a daily dose of miralax mixed with water in a syringe (just a quick squirt in the mouth) and it's helped IMMENSELY. I used to have to take him every few months to get enemas but the miralax does the job. Have you tried that? Maybe try mixing it in your cat's food, if she won't sit still for a mouth squirt of miralax.
ETA: The Miralax treatment was recommended by my vet, so maybe ask your vet about it.
ETA: The Miralax treatment was recommended by my vet, so maybe ask your vet about it.
This post was edited on 10/28/17 at 6:19 pm
Posted on 10/28/17 at 6:18 pm to BigB0882
How often is it happening & is she in pain?
If her quality of life isn’t good more often than not then it’s time.
Have you tried high fiber food?
Pretty sure there is also kidney care food, both are prescription & are somewhat expensive.
If her quality of life isn’t good more often than not then it’s time.
Have you tried high fiber food?
Pretty sure there is also kidney care food, both are prescription & are somewhat expensive.
Posted on 10/28/17 at 6:18 pm to BigB0882
quote:
When do you put down your pet?
When I get tired of holding it
Posted on 10/28/17 at 6:22 pm to lsuwontonwrap
I tried putting stuff in her food and for a while that worked well. After her last enema she was as normal as I have seen her in a very long time and it lasted for a while because of the mineral oil. But now she refuses to eat the food with the mineral oil in it or even with the Laxatone on top which is supposed to taste good.
I tried Miralax once and she didn't eat the food. I may try putting some in water and in a syringe.
Can you share with me how much your cat weighs and what ratios you use?
I tried Miralax once and she didn't eat the food. I may try putting some in water and in a syringe.
Can you share with me how much your cat weighs and what ratios you use?
Posted on 10/28/17 at 6:22 pm to BigB0882
When they don’t have any quality of life anymore and they are in pain.
Then, as their master, it’s your duty to lead them to the path on the other side of the clearing
Then, as their master, it’s your duty to lead them to the path on the other side of the clearing
Posted on 10/28/17 at 6:24 pm to LSUJML
Every 2-3 months I have to take her in but it starts sooner than that, that is just the point by which I finally give up on her eating any of the food with the meds and I take her in or for whatever reason she is constipated again. The UTIs are relatively new and we can't figure it out because her last blood work was perfect with regards to kidney function and all that. I suspect it is somehow connected to the Mega Colon, it usually happens when she is constipated again.
Posted on 10/28/17 at 6:42 pm to BigB0882
Posted on 10/28/17 at 6:43 pm to BigB0882
Sorry your having to go through this. It's a horrible and hard decision to have to make and unfortunately, when you decide it is time, it's even harder to follow through with it. My Wife and I had to put down our cat of 15 years last March and it really was tough to do. I brought him in and held him through the procedure and just petted and talked to him so he knew he wasn't alone. It absolutely destroyed me and even now brings tears to my eyes, but I know he is better off and no longer suffering.
Posted on 10/28/17 at 6:44 pm to BigB0882
Has she been tested for diabetes?
Friends cat was having UTI’s that wouldn’t clear up with antibiotics & they found diabetes in her blood work.
I have no clue if they are actually related or not.
She has to have insulin shots daily & be watched constantly, which IMO, means it’s time.
Friends cat was having UTI’s that wouldn’t clear up with antibiotics & they found diabetes in her blood work.
I have no clue if they are actually related or not.
She has to have insulin shots daily & be watched constantly, which IMO, means it’s time.
Posted on 10/28/17 at 6:52 pm to BigB0882
Let your cat walk in my driveway and I'll do it for you.
Posted on 10/28/17 at 7:01 pm to BigB0882
As rude as it sounds, be thankful you get to make that decision. I buried my rescue longhair tuxedo wednesday. My girlfriend went home at lunch, and called me crying, saying that he was sick and she was bringing him to the vet. He was dead by the time I got there.
I fed the shite out of him Tuesday night because he was meowing so much. It was midnight, I had just gotten off work, and was too tired to pet him. The next time I held him was to bury him.
I'm not even a cat person, but he was awesome. I would kill to have kept him long enough to have to put him down.
I fed the shite out of him Tuesday night because he was meowing so much. It was midnight, I had just gotten off work, and was too tired to pet him. The next time I held him was to bury him.
I'm not even a cat person, but he was awesome. I would kill to have kept him long enough to have to put him down.
This post was edited on 10/28/17 at 7:16 pm
Posted on 10/28/17 at 7:01 pm to BigB0882
Maybe the constipation causes pressure where she can't empty her bladder all the way. This could contribute to uti. Not a vet. Just a thought.
Posted on 10/28/17 at 7:13 pm to BigB0882
When the vet that you’re paying to keep him alive says it’s time to stop the gravy train.
Posted on 10/28/17 at 7:25 pm to BigB0882
I had to put down my childhood dog last month. She kicked it for a solid 18yrs before everything just came to a halt later this summer. Cancer had spread all over, her hips were giving out, and she was going blind in one eye. She went from a spry old dog to being in pain within just a couple weeks. Made the family decision to put her down before she had to suffer more. Surgery was too risky considering her age and meds were only going to make her lethargic.
That's pretty much the deciding point for me. If whatever surgery or medication the vet is offering will only prolong life and not restore it, that's the point. Nothing we could've done to get her back to her usual self.
That's pretty much the deciding point for me. If whatever surgery or medication the vet is offering will only prolong life and not restore it, that's the point. Nothing we could've done to get her back to her usual self.
Posted on 10/28/17 at 7:27 pm to BigB0882
Not to be callous, but I think it's time. You've given her a good life, lots of love and it sounds like she can no longer do the things that a cat does.
Best wishes and be strong for her.
Best wishes and be strong for her.
Posted on 10/28/17 at 7:30 pm to BigB0882
I tell her she's a worthless shite and will never amount to anything right before I leave for work every day.
Posted on 10/28/17 at 7:31 pm to BigB0882
Man, that’s tough. We had to put a dog down earlier this year at 15 after her eye began to rot.
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