kitty in the hospital
Posted by Allison Mack | Filed under Blog
So I spent all day today hanging in different emergency rooms and hospital lobbies waiting to find out the prognosis on my kitty. My God you have no idea how attached you are to your animals until their lives are threatened.
It is interesting, as the vets are asking you all the questions needed: Would you like to euthanize if he goes in to cardiac arrest? Would you like to euthanize if he slips unconscious during the blood transfusion? Euthanize, euthanize, euthanize. All I was thinking to myself was, “no!” this little guy deserves as much of a chance to life as anyone.
I refuse to believe he is any less entitled to a shot as you or me.
It was a knee jerk reaction, really. Give him every opportunity to pull through as possible. It feels like my baby is sick. He can’t tell me what is wrong, he just cries because it hurts.
But I have a belief he will be ok. When we left the hospital he was stable and sitting up. A far cry from this morning when he couldn’t even hold his head up.
So to euthanize or not to euthanize? Interesting question. When and under what circumstances? Humane or violent?
Would love to hear your thoughts on this!
xo
a
Tags: care, death, euthenization, hospital, kitty, life, sick
165 Responses to “kitty in the hospital”
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Vanessa (spain) Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 6:01 amI think every situation is different. I don´t think we can say “yes” or “no” to euthanasia… You never know when a miracle is going to happen, if you will prevent suffering or you will produce more… There´s no black and white on this. I don´t know what I´d do if I had to take this decision, but I hope I´ll never find myself in that situation.
I´m glad your kitty is better now
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Avitable Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 6:04 amAs a pet owner, I feel that is my responsibility to ensure that my pet will not live a life of pain. When they reach that point where it hurts simply to exist, I think the only human thing to do is to put them to sleep, no matter how heartwrenching it is.
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Keith Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 6:06 amHaving a cat that I love to death, myself, that would be the hardest choice presented to me. I can’t imagine what I would do because I wouldn’t want suffering but I wouldn’t want to give up on any chance of recovery at the same time. I am glad to hear that your kitty is fine now though, so that’s definitely a silver lining in my book.
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Wendy Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 6:06 amI think it depends really. I know if it were my kitty I’d do what I had to to keep him with me and healthy but if it was a matter of quantity not quality then I’d have to rethink it. I’d want to end his suffering even though it would kill me.
I’m glad your kitty is doing better. Hope the little guy continues improving.
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jennygirl Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 6:08 amI have always thought when they are not going to get better, and are in pain, euthenize. As humans…we would be giving them morphine and calling hospice. I had a friend who’s dog was dying, and in pain, and she couldn’t bring herself to do it, waited for her husband who was out of town. The dog suffered for days, and died on it’s own. I would never say it, but I lost a little respect for her. She’s rather have the dog suffer than bring herself to that hard moment.
But I was a child when pets were faced with this, so was not my choice. I have lost a dog as an adult. He was hit by a car. Was terrible. I was pregnant and crazy, and insisted on getting the 70 pound dog off the freeway myself, like a final act of responsibility for Max.
I hope it doesn’t come to this!
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Beth Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 6:08 amI could go on and on about this topic. Hell, I’ve written essays about it back in highschool. If I wasn’t exhausted and ready for bed I would go into detail but it’ll have to wait til tomorrow…
ps i no this has nothing to do with this topic but i just had to say that i just finished a show that was solely based on impro. on the one hand i didn’t have any lines to remember so i wasnt that nervous. on the other i felt obligated to come up with something witty which i have trouble doing spontaneously. It was an awesome experience though. Before today i had never relied on impro for an entire show. it was so fuken scary but i had heaps of fun with it anyway. it will never cease to amaze me what people can come up with without having anything prepared.
Back on topic, im sure bosley’ll be completely fine.
xoxo
Beth -
Nathan Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 6:09 amFirstly, glad to hear your kitty is getting better.
Regarding to euthanasia, I don’t believe there is a right decision in any situation because there is always a tiny possibility that they can pull through even though it may seem that they won’t.
It’s like Vanessa said, there is no black and white.
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LindsayWarren Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 6:09 amIt is only OK in my mind when a) it is humane (NOT in a gas chamber!) and when the animal is suffering.
I had to make this horrible decision with my husband last summer when our beloved “first born” golden retriever had complications after brain surgery. Her body was shutting down. Euthanasia by IV was the most humane to stop her pain.
It was one of the worst experiences of my life, but I knew we did the right thing. This dog that gave us unconditional love did not deserve to suffer for one moment.
I pray your kitty pulls through and lives a LONG life.
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SpikeTheLobster Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 6:10 amMost frequently, it comes down to a choice between suffering and quality of life. I’ve had several pets euthanised (mostly rats – don’t even DARE think how I’d feel if our pusscat was that ill) and it was always because they would suffer if not.
I’m all for letting an animal live as long as possible, but not if it’s for MY feelings. If they’ll be happy and not in pain, great. If they’ll be suffering constantly, it’s better to let them go, IMHO.
Great news for your little one: I really hope he continues on the road to perfect health!
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Geoff (sydney) Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 6:11 amIt’s a hard call, but I think it’s something that has to be made on it’s individual circumstances. Pet’s have emotions, and feel pain like humans. Unfortunately though they can’t tell you what hurts, and how much. If the vet believes they are in a lot of duress and pain, in some circumstances it may be more humane to let them go. I would get a second opinion though, and then make a well thought out judgement call. Put yourself in you’re kitty’s boots.
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jane Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 6:13 amIf the animal/person is suffering and everything possible has been done to help them, i agree with euthanasia. It comes down to quality of life. It’s a tough one,but i’d rather know that they are resting peacefully than struggling with life.
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Jimmy Valentime Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 6:16 amIt’s a catch 22… like there are people in this country that can not afford d health care and suffer a lot …
an it bother a lot that somebody dog or cat gets better health care then somebody else mother or wife…
an then there are people that are well off ( this is not a diss to you Alison) that sometimes won’t let an animal go … even thought the animal just suffering at that point….
But at the same time animals, love you without reservation or stipulations … it hard to let something that pure go …Like if I had a dog with cancer,, I would let it be put down,…. if they are just going to be in pain all the time..
It awful to have to put an animal to sleep but at the same time… it is some times the best choice in an awful circumstance …
I am glad your kitten is better though your a good person .. I do not like to see good people suffer
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Caz Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 6:16 amI think that it all depends on the situation, if the situation was personal then I wouldn’t want anyone close to me to be euthanized (I think thats the right word) however, I wouldn’t want to watch anyone I know to go through a lot of pain. I think it should be down to personal choice, however, animals are unable to make choices by themselves so it comes down to the owners decision.
I’m glad your kitty is getting better now, my cat isn’t very well at the moment- hopefully it will clear up soon though =]
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Jimmy Valentime Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 6:17 amIt’s a catch 22… like there are people in this country that can not afford d health care and suffer a lot …
an it bother a lot that somebody dog or cat gets better health care then somebody else mother or wife…
an then there are people that are well off ( this is not a diss to you Alison) that sometimes won’t let an animal go … even thought the animal just suffering at that point….
But at the same time animals, love you without reservation or stipulations … it hard to let something that pure go …Like if I had a dog with cancer,, I would let it be put down,…. if they are just going to be in pain all the time..
It awful to have to put an animal to sleep but at the same time… it is some times the best choice in an awful circumstance …
I am glad your kitten is better though your a good person .. I do not like to see good people suffer
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Adam Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 6:17 amYour vet will have a good handle on exactly what quality of life they can expect, if they think the animal will suffer then it’s surely an act of kindness. It’s a heartbreaking, terrible decision but it’s the right thing to do. You spend your time loving and caring for your pet and as a last act you can give them a parting gift of taking away the pain. Glad to hear that Bosely is looking better.
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Kristin Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 6:20 amas an avid pet owner and lover that question is always there the moment a pet is sick. My pets have always been more then that, they are family, friends and to think of putting them down is just heartbreaking. We recently had to put my dog down, it was the hardest descision my family had to make…we had him for 15 years and he WAS family but he was in pain, hurting 24/7 and when every single possible treatment or medicine didnt work we had to do what was best for him. It will remain one of the HARDEST things in the world to do but in the end it was the best thing for him. I know every single situation is different but I view it as a last resort when nothing else works or helps.
I am so glad to hear your kitty is better! It is great and wonderful news!
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Kris Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 6:20 amI stand firm in my belief that it is humane to euthanize under circumstances where it is clear that recovery is not possible (pets and people). The age of the patient is the biggest factor. If your cat is 15 years old and is just having normal complications from old age, I say that you should let him go. If he’s in his prime and just suddenly became ill, I say it’s worth it to have the vets do what they can to help him.
I just had this discussion with a friend whose cat was 16 or 17 years old, could hardly walk, could hardly sit up to eat or drink, was pretty much blind and deaf, and was loaded with cancer. My friend was all flustered about what to do, and her justification for not having her cat euthanized was “But I love him and I’ll miss him.” I had to give her a tough love lecture because there was no way that her cat was living comfortably and contently. She finally made the decision to euthanize.
I’m sure that you’ll weigh the facts and make the right decision for your cat.
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Rob Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 6:22 amI am a pet owner and an animal lover. I feel that we should not be the ones to decide when our animals die. Their lives are precious. Miracle recoveries happen in animals just as people.
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Keri Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 6:25 amWhen and under what circumstances?
It really depends on the circumstances. If they are in pain and the Dr has said there is no way out of this..then yes, it would be logical to not let the animal suffer any longer and we as humans need to make that hard decision for the animal friends we have.Humane or violent? I believe it’s humane when the animal is sick and will never get better. If it’s just because they want to get rid of an animal, violent and WRONG!
Have a great day! -
Gnome Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 6:28 amSorry about your kitty… Really am.
I can’t give you a sure answer on that…
All I can say is that if I was in the position of the kitty and depending on the gravity of the situation, I would beg you to euthanize me. There are moments that we have to recognize that there is nothing else we can do and just let things happen.But if I come to be in your position, watching someone I care sick and knowing that there is still a hope I would fight my heart to make my hope a reality.
I just can’t give up on someone I truly care, but I could easily give up on myself. And maybe when it come to the point when I am about to give up myself, there will be someone who cares about me that just won’t let that happen, and I will probably be thanked for the rest of my life for having this person by my side.
But as I said there are situations and situations…
And we, supposely, have to be wise enough to judge when is time for fighting and when is time for quiting…
I really wish all the best for you and your kitty and that all this episode ends with a happy end.
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Amanda Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 6:38 amWell, I have 3 cats myself and I know that I would do anything for them, especially if they were sick. They are like my kids and I believe that they deserve every chance possible. I think that the only time to euthanize is when it is truly for the animals well being. They should never have to suffer, but that is no reason not to give them all the chances that they deserve. I am studying to become a vet tech and I know that I will be euthanizing someone’s beloved animals someday. I understand that it will be hard every single time, but it is my job to be there not only the pet, but for the people involved. It will NEVER be easy, but sometimes it may be necessary.
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plaguey23 Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 6:39 amits a matter of quality of life, I couldn’t let me pet suffer when there is no pratical hope of them getting better. Until that point so we’ve always done what we could to help them get better.
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Tammy Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 6:39 amI too am an animal lover and have two cats of my own. They are just like my babies and i love them so much. So i think if they were in so much pain and there was absolutely no chance of them recovering then i would want to stop the suffering and put them to sleep. However if the doctor were to say there was any chance of a full recovery with no after effects i would hope they would be strong enough to pull through. My two cats are like soldiers. One of them came home once with a foxes tooth in his leg.
If we are talking about humans though I don’t know if I could decide how I feel about it. I certainly hope I will never be put in the situation of having to choose. I think as much as I treat my cats like humans in some instances, it would be totally different to be in that siutation with a real being. It would be so much more of a bigger decision to make.
I am so glad that your kitty is recovering. Give him a belly rub for me when he is feeling 100%
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Tatato Carneiro Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 6:41 amHe deserves life! Say “Yes” to life!
Human or animal, he has a life that must be preserved at all costs.
Don’t give up, never! -
Eric Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 6:41 amMy cat was very ill a few years ago, I can comepletely relate to that feeling of impending loss and all the questions you have to ask and answer before you can make a decision.
I am glad I waited it out, through talks with friends online and in discussion groups, you learn so much from people who have experienced similar situations.
It helped me to make the right decision, and my Sydney is alive, healthy and as big a pain in my butt as she has always been and will hopefully be for years to come.
get well soon Bosley!!
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Gemma Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 6:53 amFirstly I would like to say I am sorry that your cat has been poorly, but I am pleased to read that he is doing better.
This is such a hard situation to ponder, you can never really know how you will feel and react until it happens to you. I have a gorgeous little dog, and I love him to bits. I hope that he will live a happy and healthy life. I would not want him to suffer in anyway. I would hope that if anything happened to him, that the people taking care of him would do their absolute best to give him a chance at continuing his life happy and without suffering. But if all options have been exhusted then I would want to help ease my dog’s suffering, if that meant putting him to sleep, although it would be so hard, I would consider it, only as a last resort, if there was no chance of him fulfilling a pain-free life. I think that it is a humane thing to do.
At the moment you feel your cat will be ok, and for the moment he is, focus on that, love him, do everything you can to help him and only consider the alternative if there are no other options. I wish you and your cat all the best, a speedy recovery to him.
xx -
Silvia Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 6:53 amHi Allison,
I guess I’m the right person to contact with this… I know exactly how you feel now. I went through this several times…
You’ll probably hate me now for saying this, but it is not about what you want, Allison. It is NOT about you – it is about Bosley. Hence, whatever actions you allow the vets to take now must be the best for Bosley – only for Bosley. Even if this could mean that it is not the best for you. Fight for Bosley’s health and life, but only as long as your kitty does not have to suffer.
Maybe it’s a question of what country you live in, but vets usually don’t recommend euthanizing an animal as they recommend some pain killers. My dogs for example had to suffer for years (!) until the vets finally decided to euthanize them. I asked the vets several times before because my dogs suffered so much and were so much in pain. They got the strongest pain killers for dogs which were completely ineffective…
To euthanize an animal that is cureless ill is not violent – it is humane. Believe me, I really know what I am talking about. Those were some of the most horrible moments in my life, but it was the best for my dogs. The moment your pet falls into eternal sleep, you’ll feel your pet’s gratefulness so intense as if thankfulness would be something within reach.
Losing a pet hurts as much as losing a loved human being. Some people think that this it because people humanise their pets, but that’s not true. The point is that people have started to respect their pets as living beings and not just as a thing. It is alright that you feel as like as your baby is sick. I felt this as well. I mean, we buy our pets usually as puppies/kitties, bring them up, want the best for them and they’re definitively a part of our life. – Better than humans are actually. A dog for example… whatever you say it’s alright, whatever you do it’s all good. Even if you fail, your dog always loves you implicitly. Pets are always there for their humans and some of us try to do the same for our pets.
You believe that Bosley will be fine again. – Then fight. What did the vets say is Bosley’s illness? Whatsoever, try to help Bosley as long as it is the best for him and as long as he does not have to suffer. I wish you and your kitty once more much strength in the next days and weeks. – While fighting you shouldn’t forget not to be selfish but be human.
xo
SilviaPS
In case Bosley finally needs to be euthanized and you need someone to talk to… I’m only an e-mail away. Yet, I hope your sweet kitty will be fine again and live a long and wonderful life. Good luck! -
W0NK042 Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 6:54 amIt’s never easy, as each situation has different circumstances, none of which matter as it becomes a battle between the head & the heart.
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art phillips Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 6:54 amHow old is your cat? What is the prognosis? Has he been to the vet for illness before, what does the vet say? All this plays a factor in whether to euthanize or not. When they reach old age they may be alright for a short time but before long they are back to the vet. This can be very tough on both of you but probably tougher on you.
I had a little dog who I loved dearly. She reached the age of 16, average life for a dog. She had been to the vet 3 times in her last year. Each time she recovered she seemed fine only for a few months. Finally we realized that keeping her going was only to benefit us as we were so afraid to lose her. We finally had her euthanized. She would never know what was happening and it was the most humane thing to do to someone we loved so dearly. It’s tougher on you than it is on your pet but it’s something you have to face when you own a pet whose life span is shorter than yours. You will move on and always be grateful he/she was in your life. I now have another little dog whom I love dearly, I never forget my first pets but I will love all that come into my life before I leave this world. I know it’s a tough decision and my heart goes out to you, but you will make the right choice and if you choose to euthanize, remember, they are only here to please us for a short time, it’s natural and you will never forget them but you will move on. Good luck Allison. -
Irene Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 6:56 amMy heart goes out to you for what your experience, but I have to be honest, I don’t ‘really’ understand- I am not able to empathize, though my sympathy is great for your sorrow.
I have never had a pet before in my life.
Well, I have 2 times but I don’t really count them ,cause they died so quickly. One was a kitten, and it seems I was just meant to hold it so it wouldn’t die alone.The other was a puppy and well…i don’t want to think about it.
I have never had to make a decision on choosing a life of a pet, or being that close to one that it felt like “my baby”.
I am not sure what to say, except that I’m sorry you’ve had to go threw all this, and that bosely is/was sick.
But I like to stay positive nonetheless, your right! He is going to be fine now.
Keep your hopes up! I’m sure he can sense it from you.Try to have a blessed day!
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Heidi Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 6:58 amI just had to have my 13 year old cat euthanized a couple months ago. We tried for days to make her better, but she went into kidney failure and there was nothing they could do. I actually think it is humane, when there is no other option, to euthanize pets. They don’t understand why they have to be in pain and you can’t explain it to them.
Having sat by the bedside while my grandma passed away last month, I can even see why people would do assisted suicides. I don’t condone it at all, but I can really understand the motivation. They are in such pain and it’s so hard to watch.
So, I feel that we are able to give that kind of mercy to animals and after doing everything else, it is an act of kindness.
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Kelly Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 7:01 amThree years ago, one of my cats was accidentally let out of the house by my step-brother and he ended up getting hit by a car. He was in pretty bad shape when I came home from work and found him collapsed on our porch. We ended up having to take him to an emergency vet where they had to perform a bunch of surgery on him to repair a broken jaw, broken leg and possible internal injuries. The vet ended up asking me the same question at which I was pretty hysterical. I have had my Doyle since I was a sophomore in high school and he means a lot to me.
The vet explained the options for if his heart stopped during any of the surgeries. They said that if they weren’t able to resuscitate him during normal means, which I guess was like a kitty version of CPR and a defibrillator, that the option was either to euthanize or crack his chest.
I’ve never ever really believed in putting an animal to sleep. Very quickly they become like family. If someone in my family was sick or hurt I would do anything to make them better and not just “put them down”. However, the vet then explained the options and said that at that point they are pretty far gone and the chest thing — which rarely works — is *extremely* traumatic for the cat and if it was able to restart his heart some don’t end up surviving the next few days simply from the trauma of it. So I said if it came to that, and no other means would work, to euthanize instead of cracking his chest.
Luckily, neither of these options were ever needed and Doyle fully recovered from being hit by the car. He’s curled up on my bed purring in his sleep as we speak. But man, if it wasn’t one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make.
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Chris Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 7:03 amFirst I would like to say I hope Bosley keeps up the recovery. It is amazing how much we love our pets as a part of our family, and how far we will go to help them.
I find it just as hard to answer those questions at the vet if there is a wish to euthanize. It’s similar to having to answer a question about a DNR order on a human. At what point can we say enough is enough and we’ve done all we can.
I do believe there is a point we cross when the only humane option if we love our pets is to euthanize and not let them suffer.
It is nice to see that your heart matches your glowing smile.
I wish Bosley the best and a full recovery.
Sincerely,
Chris -
Sophie S Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 7:11 amPersonally, i don’t think there’s a good or bad answer to that. I would certainly depends on the moment. But no matter what, i’m sure you will take the right path and chose what’s best for your little baby.
For having kids myself, i know how hard it can be to hear such things. We don’t want to hear that it could go wrong, that it could be as bad and would need some needle shot to help him feel better.
But what’s the most hearthbreaking? See them suffer more and more even knowing that you can’t do more than all and everything you’ve done for him already? Or know that your baby is resting in peace? Sometimes… it’s worth sitting with ourselves and thinking that what are we doing… Are we doing it for ourselves?… or for the well-being of the little one we care so much about.No matter what… We’ll all be here for you both!!!
And i truely believe that your little Kitty will get better. I really hope so! -
nkc Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 7:17 amI dont know what to say,because i’ve never had pets really,well for long anyway.But i would say to not give up on your cat yet.The fact that hes doing better proves you shouldnt.It may be hard to see him in pain now,but he may make a full recovery.I also think deep down inside you will know what to do,you will know when his journey is over,as much as it may hurt.Trust your your heart and your gut.Be strong,Your kitty needs it.
Sorry im not very experienced with these kinds of thing.Im glad hes doing better.
Hang in there Allison
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Ross UK Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 7:18 amWow, I go away for a couple of weeks and come back to a couple of million posts – you really did keep up with your blog-a-day promise!
This is a tough question and probably causes a lot of contention. I know there are people who are pro-choice in humans, those who are anti-euthanasia in humans but would support it in the case of suffering animals, and there are people who are 100% against it all the time. I guess the difficulty is that a human can often make that sort of decision for themselves (although local laws can prevent them following through) but an animal can’t make that decision. It’s hard for a person to decide on behalf of a pet, because even though the pet might be in pain, how can we know how much pain and if the pet considers it to be bearable? In the case of a human we would consider a broken leg, for example, to be bearable and not something to euthanise over, but it is considered humane to euthanise in the case of a horse. If the horse was given the choice, would it want to wait and see if the leg could heal? What about arthritis? It can cause considerable pain, but most humans would consider it bearable and an even trade for a long life.
Euthanasia is not a decision I have had to face, thankfully, and I don’t envy anyone facing that decision. My dog was put to sleep many years ago, but that was a decision taken by my parents while I was at school so I wasn’t burdened with making the choice. I would simply advise anyone faced with it to put themselves in the position of the pet, and ask “what are my chances of recovery and to what extent?” and “how much pain am I in and is it preferable to the alternative?”
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arash Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 7:18 amI used to get really attached to my pets. For some reason Dogs Dig me Deeply.
But in recent years I started having problem with the whole pet story. The fact that we pick a few species of animals out of millions, in fact many dogs are created by human and never existed in wild before. And then we give one animal extreme care. They have hospitals more equiped than human’s. They have hotels and spas. On the other hand if you go to a chicken farm or I better call it chicken factory because they are not treated like live animals they are treated as food products. The eggs hatch, the little chicks go through inspection on a conveyor belt. They hand pick females (chickens) and they leave males (roosters) to be disposed.
Now my point is that; we are very racist animal lovers. And I don’t understand why one life should have so much more value than other.
P.S. Sorry allison this was not about you and mr. bosley, and there is never a bad time to show love and care, I just feel bad for some other animals. -
MonicaOP Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 7:21 amI have to say, if the kitty is healthy besides what is hurting him now is not good to euthanize. However, if the kitty is going to suffer for a long time and be in lots of pain that might not improve
, then I’ll have a different thought. I might sound awful, ’cause I wouldn’t do this to a person, never, ever, and I know how this feels my mom has been suffering Arthritis for 19 years.. in animals that might not understand what’s going on.. why let them suffer during the rest of their lives… and yeah I know I sound awful. Be well and I hope the kitty makes it.
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Danielle Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 7:50 amI have 3 cats and a dog and they are my babies. I don’t know how I would ever make that choice. I hope you share good news about your kitty real soon!
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Netra Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 7:55 amWe should not be in anymore powerful a position then God to decide upon what life is or is not important, be it a human or a cat!
You have taken on this little guys’ life as your responsibility Ali, give him the best chance that you can.
My cat had an accident and injured his leg badley. The vet told me that I could choose to have him put down, or I could fork over $1500.00 to do a surgery that may or may not fix the problem. To tell the truth I did not have a spare grand laying around to fix a cats leg! But he is my responsibility, and I could not watch him suffer, and taking his life was NOT an option. So I found a way to pay for the operation, and he is a fat happy kittie to this day.
Just give Bosley a shot.
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Erin Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 7:56 amI think there is no definite ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to that (unfortunately)… It just really depends on how sick he is. But if there is the smallest chance that he *will* get better, I’d rather wait and let him recover. I think euthanasia should be reserved for the completely no-win scenario when you know full well nothing can help and the only way to help is to end an animal’s suffering.
In any case, I really hope your kitty gets better. <3 -
Jenny Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 8:07 amAllison sweetie, I’m sorry your going through this.Every situation is different. I had to put my dog down 5 years ago and it was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. She was very sick with cancer. Lost so much weight,wouldn’t eat and couldn’t walk. I cried for days and still get teary eyed just remembering back to that day. Right now my parents dog is very sick. She has tumors and has had several bad infections she had a temp of 100 a few months back. Some days she looks like she feels really bad,won’t eat or get up and others you would never know anythings wrong. It’s hard. My parents love thier dog and want to keep her as long as they can but is it right to keep her if she’s suffering? Should they put her down? She’s not going to get better. Very tough decision to make when she looks at you with that cute little puppy dog face and greats you at the door.
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Teresa K. Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 8:12 amAllison,
First off you and your cat Bosley are in my thoughts. I’m definately hoping for a speedy recovery for him. Pets are a most precious gift.
I’ve been blessed to have two dogs in my life. My parents had our cocker spaniel/heintz-57 mix Snoopy before my brother and I were even born. He was sooo good with us and Snoopy even thought my brother and I were his children (he would always bark at our parents whenever they would even raise their voices at us! ). When he was fifteen we finally had to put him to sleep because he was blind and had cancer. It just didn’t make sense to keep him in pain for our benefit.
Shortly after Snoopy passed, we were blessed with our second dog, Peke-a-boo, who was a pekingese. When she was thirteen years old she very suddenly developed congestive heart failure. We tried to treat her with medication and she seemed to get better, but just as suddenly she slipped back into the congestive heart failure. It was absolutely heart wrenching to say goodbye to this beautiful, silly and wonderful creature. She was *my* baby. But I just couldn’t justify keeping her alive for my benefit. She would have been in so much pain and suffered so much. I still miss both of them.
To euthanize or not is a very tough question, and a very personal decision. But ultimately I believe the questions you have to ask yourself are if Bosley will truly get better (with or without medical intervention) and if he does will he have any quality of life? The hardest part of being a pet owner is being selfless enough to know when to let go and when to fight.
Much love,
Teresa
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vanda Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 8:19 amI know how you felt Allison we had to do the same to our dog he developed cancer on his back it spread so fast there was nothing that could be done we had him for 20 yrs its been 6mths now i miss him terribly i can still see him run in the back yard, we get so attached to them because they love us no matter what
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Barbara (Germany) Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 8:21 amThat’s really a hard decision to make.
Some years ago my parents and I had to do this for my guinea pig. The vet and we decided to let her die in peace and “dignity” (maybe the word is a little too strong, but I can’t find a better one). But we were all sad about it. And I hope we will never have to make such a decision for our cat. But I think if life is only painful and full of suffering it’s better to let your loved ones die.
That sounds very hard, I know. But death has always been something we are living with in my family and letting someone die doesn’t mean that you don’t love him or her. Maybe a weird analogy but my grandma who was very ill decided that she didn’t want to have any life prolonging measures and she died peacful at home with her family around.So why not letting your pet die the same way? Okay giving actively something that it will die is different. I see that. But as hard as it is to let someone go it’s sometimes better.
But I’m glad to hear that Bosley seems to be better. I hope he’ll recover completely soon.
Greetings from Germany
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Susana Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 8:24 amaw thats so sad, i’m so sorry Allison, I hope & pray he will be alright
. & as far as Euthanizing him I say NO don’t do it Allison! I mean if that is the only option & it’s better for him than thats a different situation but if he can pull through don’t do it. My friend had a horse that they were going to Euthanize but she decided not to because she believed he could pull through & he did! Just stay positive Allison, in the end it will be okay
I am praying for both of you
Take Care,
Susana
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Anna Hine Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 8:28 amI had a kitten that got really sick. Kept taking her to the vet n they figured out it was a ploblem with her digest system. I kept feeding her threw a sureng. But I realized that she wasn’t getting better n the vet said she was loosing weight to fast for a kitten. I couldn’t do anything but I didn’t want her to suffer any more. So the had to do it, n it was so sad but I knew I didn’t want her to suffer.
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Carmen H Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 8:31 amhi, I’m sorry to hear about your cat. Truly. I just had to put my cat to sleep Monday. I really didn’t want to. I’m not all for it at all. I still feel guilty about it. But she had a cancerous growth in her mouth and was unable to eat and wasn’t drinking water…So she would have just starved to death or dehydrated. Believe me, it was really hard. Crying in front of strangers… I think to euthanize an animal is a little odd. I kept telling my fiance, “so you would just put me to sleep if I was sick.” I miss my kitty, that is for sure. They are like a member of the family to an animal lover. I hope everything works out with your kitty. It is a tough decision.
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David Hayes Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 8:33 amArash,
Like you say, we are “racist animal lovers” … or “specieist” animal lovers. But maybe it’s not a question of animal or human but of what we invest our love in. If we have a particular human or animal in our life that we focus our time and attention on, that individual becomes very important to us. This even applies to possessions or institutions … or TV shows. If people are involved in a cause, and the cause is lost or resolved, it leaves a whole in the lives of those who dedicated theirselves to it. Endings of things we care about are difficult. Even a favorite restaurant shutting down or a menu item not being available anymore. How much it hurts us is a function of how much we care. I’m sure the same feelings will be involved if our machines advance enough to be thought of as living.
I remember the first time I hit a bird with my car. I figured it knew how to get away. I felt bad for a long time that something died because I had a driver’s license. Now, I probably wouldn’t mourn road kill much beyond the length of the trip in which it happened (Unless I knew I was killing someone’s pet. Thank God that hasn’t happened yet and I hope it never does.). I have lived long enough to have a few pets die and maybe it has taught me not to get as attached — it hurts too much if you do. Still, I have 3 dogs and 3 cats and I think I would be pretty badly affected if any of them died. And some of it is not about the loss but the feeling of failure to be responsible enough to keep it from having happened — to keep those under my care from harm.
I think what really changed me was raising Sugar Gliders. They are small flying chipmunks from Austrailia. At one point I had about 30 of them. They weighed about 3 to 5 ounces at maturity and they treated humans like their own personal tree. They would be very content sleeping in a pocket. But they were fast if they decided to get away from you. They also bonded into families and would kill other gliders not in their own family. So, occassionally, one of them would open a cage and their family would get loose. I was lucky that two families never got loose because then it would be open warfare between the families and I wouldn’t know which cage to put them back into — they looked a lot alike even though they had widely ranging temperments and personalities. Anyway, I could spend hours chasing them to recapture them and get them back into their cages. So, my wife decided to stop telling me if any gliders escaped so that I wouldn’t stay up all night looking for them. The first thing I would always do when one escaped was to shut the seat of the toilets, because gliders are extremely curious (the reason I could catch them was that they were too curious to stay hidden for long — they wanted to be out exploring). So, not being told that the gliders were out, I didn’t make sure that the toilet seats were down. One glider drowned. Then my wife took some gliders to show to another breeder. She wanted a variety to show the breeder and she put gliders from different families in one carry case. I opened the case and found two gliders and some bare glider skeletins. I was horrified and my wife just shrugged her shoulders. After that, we got rid of the gliders. I didn’t have the stomach for it. After that, I have tried to encourage my wife not to get any more animals, but stays have a way of finding us. And usually, we find the animal’s home but sometimes we don’t. I try not to care as much, but the animal also makes a choice of who it wants to get affection from.
As to the question of euthanasia, I think it is often an economic question for people. If someone gets an inexpensive bird or gerbil for their child, it oftenmeans they can’t aford a larger pet. And vet costs don’t go down much based upon the size of the patient. Will a ten dollar bird receive a thousand dollar operation when the family can barely make the rent? The current trend for people who have rented from me in the last few months have been to buy multiple dogs (even though they aren’t allowed dogs on their lease and have proved unable to put aside money for rent). I think they are thought of as cheap protection for the home. Certainly, there is no money to properly care for these animals. I’ve even heard that people losing their homes to forclosure are using dogs like bombs. They adopt a dog and leave it alone in the house they are losing before abandoning the house and the dog so that the dog will tear up the house so the bank gets something back that is severely damaged. The moral debate on whether and when to euthanize only happens for families with the money to make the choice and care enough about their pet to make the decision be about what is best for the pet.
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lis Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 8:53 ami dont think any animal should be euthanized before we take every action to see if it can be prevented. Animals deserve ever chance, sometimes i think they are more deserving than even humans: they love, care, and show more kindness than even humans they are also more perceptive. Animals are amazing, and as a dog owner, my dog is like my ‘kid’ and iwould do anything to keep her alive but if she was in soo much pain, and there was nothing ANYONE could do i would wuthanize bc there is noting worse than seeing someone you love in pain!
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Matt Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 9:18 amI would say no. And I know this will sound silly but if I were sick I wouldn’t want anyone putting me down. The love and care that you give to your cat is far more powerful than anything else that you could possibly give to him.
If you have a belief that he will be ok, then you are probably right. Don’t be afraid =)
Matt =)
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Steven Kirk Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 9:38 amHey Allison,
We’ve discussed kitties before.
I don’t know what your “pet history” is, if you’ve lost pets and what the circumstances were, but I’ve been down this road before…and it fucking sucks.
It’s traumatic enough to have a pet just pass away in front of you (we had an older cat who had a stroke in the middle of the night about 8 years ago), but to have to make the decision…God…I don’t wish that on anyone.
In the past few years, we’ve had to make the decision twice. Once it was due to an emergency, once it was thrust upon us…and I don’t know which was worse.
One cat, Eponine, developed a tumor on her shoulder that continued to grow and impede her ability to get around. She seemed fine otherwise, eating, drinking, cat-box time, etc., but you could see the growing discomfort. The vet said there was nothing they could do, and we had to make “the choice”.
It was one of the hardest things I have ever done…handing that cat carrier over to the vet…
The other cat, Ditto, threw a blood clot and had a stroke and was paralyzed. I rushed him to the emergency vet, and was told that the stroke was caused by fluid gathering around the lungs, causing massive stress on his internal organs.
What else was I to do?
The one thing I appreciated is that I was given the facts and the choice. Ditto, for all intents and purposes, was gone. The vet could have just done the obvious, inevitable and humane thing and came out afterward and told me it was over, but he gave me the respect and the dignity to involve me in the process.
If you trust your vet, trust him/her to help you make the right decision.
The fact that you’re so emotionally invested speaks volumes as to the person you are…and you’re not alone.
Best of luck, to you and Bosely.
Steve
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SuperRhonda Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 9:45 amIf anyone believes in an everlasting soul, then you must consider living beings as two parts. The Body, a confining and troublesome “suit” to be worn for only a while, then The Spirit, an eternal soul which cannot be killed. Look at all life in this way, and it becomes less burdensome to worry about a dear pet.
I believe we are given the gift of animals in order to learn from them–protect, care for, find comfort in, etc. Also, to revisit this cycle of life we so often ignore. As animals are a gift to us, something to be held dear to humans and within the protection of our hands, yes, it comes upon us to make hard decisions from this duty.
Sometimes, we pet parents are holding on when the pet is basically saying, “Let me go. I’ll try my best to stay because it’s causing you sorrow, but I’m hurting. I’ll hang on just for you, though I’d really like to leave now.” We all know how selfless they are.
)Anyway, if an animal literally has no happy way to live, then I think pet parents should mentally give them the “ok” to go. We can’t selfishly hold on to a borrowed soul trapped in a worthless body.
That being said, I’d do EVERYTHING in my power to help an animal, until my gut and its eyes told me to stop. Don’t get me wrong—If one of my furkids died, I’d be hysterical with grief! However, I hope my heart would finally settle on the fact that I loved this being’s SOUL more than its BODY. And, the soul never dies.
Many religions around the world teach this philosophy. However, for Christians, sometimes there is a problem believing that animals have a soul just like we do. Maybe their souls ARE different. Who knows. However, there are several scriptures that point to God loving each animal specifically and giving them a purpose. Here is one particularly bold and beautiful sentence from the book of Job: “In His hand is the SOUL OF EVERY LIVING THING and the breath of every human being!”
I’d apologize for going all philosophical on you, Al, but I’m not sorry for it. Heh. We’ve got to think deeply to live deeply.
Love everyone and everything in this way—soul to soul!
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Lydia Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 10:22 amI would want vets to do whatever they can to save my animal(s) but, not if it is only to buy him/her a little bit of time and have him/her be in pain for the rest of him/her life. I couldn’t stand seeing my animal suffer knowing there is no chance of him/her getting better.
I feel for you and your kitty. I hope he recovers completely and very soon.
PS: today I received my autographed photo of the company members of Crossed Wires in Prague. Beautiful! Thank you.
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Silvia Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 10:25 amPS
Whatever decision you’re going to make, be sure you do the right thing. As I’ve already told you somewhere else in your blog… It’s easy to make the difference between right or wrong, but to chose the better of two good options or the better of two evils, that’s what’s often crucial in our life.
So euthanize – yes or no? Normally I’d say listen to your heart, but as I’ve already told you above… it’s not about you, it’s only about Bosley. Yet, I recommend pumping the vets for information. Let they show you every single possibility dear sweet Bosley has. E.g. cureless sick is not equal to fatally ill. Many cureless animal diseases can be medicated which allows a lot of animals to live a good life. The eternal sleep is the very last solution to consider.
So, when should an animal be euthanized? I’d say when a medical treatment only postpones the inevitable. This does not mean that one should let one’s pet euthanized at that forecast. One has to balance. So if your pet will die, but still can have some nice weeks or even months, then you should definitely decide against euthanizing. If the opposite is the case and your pet would suffer to the very end, it would be cruel and inhuman to say ‘No’ when the vet wants to euthanize.
Concerning pain… Well, it is true, animals cannot tell us where it hurts for they can’t speak. Yet, they can show us. Of course there are some body parts which they can’t reach, but as far as possible they try to show. We humans just have to pay attention and to understand. Animals have and use a body language as like as human beings do. You have to learn it otherwise you’ll never see and understand. My first dog for example tried to show me where the pain was, but I misunderstood. I thought it was her left hind leg and so did the vet, but it was her colon.
The joy of life…. an illness or pain does not mean that there is no reason to enjoy life anymore. All my pets no matter whether they died in old age or were released – they all loved and enjoyed their life even in pain. As soon as the pain was somehow bearable they tried to play… but those who were in pain did not enjoy their condition and when there is more illness and more pain in a pet’s life, it’s better to release him or her… but this should always be the last option.
xo
Silvia -
Mariko Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 11:13 amSorry to hear that your furry friend is sick. I hope he recovers quickly and fully. Might you post a picture of yourself and your “baby” when he is back on his paws?
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Jesse Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 11:21 amHi Allison
Again I have much sympathy for you and what you are going through. You said you saw some improvements from him this morning, so maybe he will pull through, I sure hope so. I sense the way that you’re feeling, you should do whatever it takes to save him. If your baby is crying and it hurts you should do whatever it takes to make him feel better. Try the best to save him because you love him. If he was an adult and requested not to do it, that’s a different story. But Allison if your baby hurts then do the best to save him. I remember when I lost Pumpkin a bird, beautiful was she, but never forgotten. Always ummm
-jesse
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Ruthie Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 11:30 amNot to cop out on this topic, but I think the Marley and Me handled this topic with such grace…potraying a family’s love for their pet and agony over such a decision…but compassion above all. Sometimes we have to set our aching hearts aside, look that beloved pet in the eye and say “thank you”…then let go.
It seems like knowing when would be a difficult thing to judge, but ultimately, I think when that time comes we just know. It’s getting past our own desire to hold on that makes us waver.
Pets are such teachers.
I hope Bosley makes it through, Allison. -
S. Suzuki Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 11:35 amThis is a very tough choice to make for any pet owner. For me, it was always about their quality of life because both my dogs were very active (especially my little one, never saw a dog that loved life as much as she did). I really hoped they would go in their sleep, peacefully, but ended up having to euthanize both.
It simply came down to am I helping or hurting them by not euthanizing them. With the older one (Diddo), there really wasn’t a choice. He was gone, his body just hadn’t caught up yet. Ripley (the little one) was different. I pretty much had all of last year to go back and forth on this question when it came to her, and try everything I could to keep her quality of life as good as she was used to. Her last day, all I could do was hold her because she couldn’t move or eat anymore without screaming (that’s literally what it sounded like).
His was three years ago and hers was about 6 months ago. I don’t think I’ll ever feel good about what I had to do, but I know I made the right choice given the circumstances.
I’m really hoping Mr. Bosely pulls through.
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SrA Reed Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 11:37 amCats only have one life like every other living creature. Human or not you should give it a chance to live life as long as possible. If his time comes then it is his time. But until them, give him a chance. What if you were in his shoes? Would you want your life cut short just so you can be relieved of the pain? Maybe being alive and feeling the breeze of fresh air and seeing you everyday gives him comfort. I say no euthanizing.
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Lauren Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 12:01 pmAs a pet owner, making the decision on whether to put them to sleep or not is one of the hardest things we ever have to do. For most of us, our pets are more than just animal companions, they’re family. I always believe that we should give them as much of a fighting chance as possible and that euthanasia should only be used when there is no chance for recovery. Losing a pet is utterly devasting and incredibly emotional but releasing them from the suffering they may be going through is a great gift and they often have a way of letting you know when it is time anyway. I will pray that your cat is not yet at that stage and will make a full recovery.
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Dan Frisby Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 12:26 pmA very ache of the heart decision, Allison, that pet lovers often have to decide. I had one faithful friend, Lady, a beautiful and devoted dog, who was poisoned by an old man who hated animals. I was at a Conference in a distant city and a good friend took Lady for a walk in the evenings of the 3 days i was gone. Unbeknown to my friend, the old man had thrown a piece of bologna laced with transmission fluid in their walking path-Lady ate it and my friend was not aware. When I returned home my friend said Lady was sick-I took her to the Vet (15 miles away) and he diagnosed the problem and kept her overnight with special meds. I spent part of the next day with her in his back room letting her know I was there. Vet told me there is a chance we can pull her through.Next day when I returned he told me that it had been too long in her system-that she could not survive and told me what she was going through. Amidst my tears and ache I held Lady as he administered the meds that would relieve her of the pain and agony.
Everyone has to make their own decision-and it is not easy when a faithful friend is hurting.
Bless you, Allison. May the tenderness of your heart and your love for Kitty help you to choose what is best for her- one thing she knows- that she is loved by Allison! -
Amanda N. Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 12:45 pmOk first off I had to check up what euthanize meant.I sort of got what it meant in the context you were using it,but I wanted to be sure.
Oh god Allison I am so sorry your kitty has reached bad health.I was really hoping that he would get better.I think I agree with most of the others.Depending on how bad the state of the animal is I would make the decision to euthanize or not.If my doggies were ever in severe pain,then yes I would have them put down.But before that I would definitely do everything in my power to make sure the cat has a chance of living.It sounds like Bosley still has a really good chance.It’s good that he is sitting up,that sounds like it is a good sign.
I am really hoping and wishing the best for your cat Bosley.He sounds like a strong little man,don’t worry everything will work out for the best.
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Jessica M Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 1:07 pmI say NO to euthanasia. I don’t think we’re entitled to take a life, because whatever the circumstances, that’s still what it is.
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Mark M. Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 1:13 pmIf my pet is suffering a lot I would think about it. I just wouldn’t want to watch my pet suffer. I hope your kitty pulls through. I have a cat also and know how hard it would be if I had this decision.
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Neil Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 1:26 pmDear Allison;
I know I’ve told you before that I lost my dog a year ago to congestive heart failure. She died in my arms at 2am on the day of my youngest daughter’s HS graduation day. It was the most heartbreaking day of my life. I often wonder if euthanizing her would have been better. She suffered so much from her heart failure. Euthanizing her would have been a much less painful way to go. She would have just closed her eyes and gone to sleep … forever. I know the emotional strain you feel. It’s hard letting go of a “friend” of the furry persuation. But only you can decide if euthanasia is the best option. Remember this, all vetrinarians are animal people, they only want to do what is best for the pet animal. They do understand your feelings. That’s why they are in the field of animal medicine. You need to take the time and sit down to think about what’s best for Bosely .. not what you want for him. I hope this helps, my friend!
- Neil
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Scott123 Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 1:41 pmNothing, Nothing will fill you with more pain and sadness than euthanizing your pet.
You are right. Boz deserves every shot.
I do not envy you in this, but I (we are) here if you need me (us).
That’s all I will say on this.Friend whose been in your shoes,
Scott123 -
shinefloyd / luigi Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 2:28 pmAllison…. I am sorry about Bosley… but still… I have Faith.
talking about the choice to euthanize… never is too easy to take the desition, always depend of the situation and the persons.
it is great to hear your beautiful words about your feelings to Bosley.
Fight… have Faith and show your love to him… He needs you so much in this hard moment.
I´d like to have your cat in my arms.
take care.
sending my best feelings and energy to Bosley.
Hoping good news soon. -
Smallvillekent Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 2:38 pmAllison, I am glad kitty Bosely is doing better. Euthanizing a pet is not a easy yes or no answer. My personal response is no, however, if the pet is in major pain and there is no hope maybe. It is a heart breaking decision to make. They say cats have nine lives so I hope Bosely has many more to spare. We are all here for you Allison.
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Massena1 Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 2:48 pmI’m so sorry to hear about your kitten.
I can relate as a pet owner. “Don’t worry, we’re working on the cure” my hubby always tells our very old dogs when we talk about their declining health.
I am too biased on the topic to say anything worthwhile on euthanizing your pets. Our dogs are family members for us. It hurts my soul that their lives are so brief compared to ours. I’ve wept for the dogs of my friends when they’ve passed because I knew how much they would be missed and how much pain it cost my friends.
A friend of mine fought her dog’s cancer for years even though it was a huge ordeal and super costly. My in-laws bought their old dog a doggie wheelchair and have their dog in a diaper bc he has so many accidents. Another friend has bought her dog a super expensive back support pillow and has hurt her own back carrying her heavy dog outside to go potty. Our own dog was operated on last year, but we got lucky and he recovered nicely. He can’t jump anymore, his hearing and sight are going, he has some potty accidents when he’s inside, but he’s not in pain anymore so that’s good.
I have about 5 friends who share with me their tales of extreme pet care because they know I’ll understand because I’m nuts about my dogs, too. To outsiders, the way we treat our pets may seem ridiculous, especially when there are human beings in need everywhere, but we understand it. We understand how the unconditional love and loyalty of a pet can be a blessing beyond measure. We understand how far we’re willing to go to keep from losing something dear to us.
However, I will say, my friend who fought her dog’s cancer for years, did eventually put her dog to sleep for her sake because the pain had gotten too bad. No matter how much you love your pet, if the time comes when putting him or her to rest would be the kinder option for their sake, I think you’ll know.
By the way, if you ever feel yourself getting really stressed out worrying about your kitten, I suggest you go for a run to clear your head. That’s what I did to handle the stress when my older dog got sick and running helped me release all the anxiety I was feeling and clear my head.
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Tom G. Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 2:50 pmDid I do that right (above)? I’m not too computer literate. If only I had Chloe’s skills! Anyway, Allison, I sure hope you kitty is better, and stays that way.
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Lindsey Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 3:27 pmI believe that when an animal is in so much pain and suffering that it can’t even do anything, that is a good time to put it down, but to just put it down because of something small…it’s wrong. The same goes for humans….if something were to happen to me where I became a vegetable and couldn’t enjoy life, I wouldn’t want to live.
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Nicola Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 3:35 pmHey Allison,
This is actually really appropriate for me at the moment, I had to put my dog to sleep just last week and I totally support you when you say ‘I refuse to believe he is any less entitled to a shot than you or me’. My dog was really sick and struggled to walk in the end, she was 9 and a healthy dog otherwise. A tuma made her so miserable and we tried with operations etc and were faced with the possibility of having to euthanize numerous times, in the end it was the best thing for her. Hard for me, but totally better for her. This made me think of euthanasia with people too, obviously a somewhat controversial topic during debate. Me personally, am for it. I think it’s totally humane, particularly in the situations were people can make the decision for themselves and they now have to struggle and have to fight for their ‘right’ to do it. If they know their quality of life is none and are comfortable with whatever, if any, consequences of their actions then who are we to say ‘hey, you cant do that!’
Unfortunately there are cases where people cannot make the decision for themselves, with little communication skills. Somewhat like pets, in this sense, the decision falls to those closest, but with massive consideration I still believe the correct decision can be made particularly in extreme cases. I must admit it was such a difficult decision for me to make, but after seeing my dog so sick I knew she would only get worse and be more uncomfortable. I didn’t want her to be kept alive for my sake, because i wanted her around. It is crazy how attached you become but they have character and are part of a family. So I chose for her suffering to be ended and crossed that bridge, it was a bumpy journey but i know it was better for my dog.
I hope your cat gets better and back to himself soon,
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Mario Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 4:50 pmIf it was my pet I would do everything I can.
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drjkillebrew Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 5:20 pmTRUST ME.. YOU WILL KNOW EXACTLY WHAT TO DO AND EXACTLY WHEN TO DO IT… JUST LISTEN WITH YOUR HEART NOT YOUR HEAD… IVE BEEN THERE (:
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arash Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 5:21 pmDavid,
Maybe if you put the seat down on your own your wife wouldn’t have to let the suger gliders loose!!! -
Erik A. Williams Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 6:08 pmI’m so sorry to hear about your Bosley. The simple answer to euthanasia is no. With animals just as it is with any other creature, there in never a time to knowingly take a life, no matter how much they may deserve it, no matter how much they may have hurt you or your family or your friends. There is never, ever a time when you should use your immeasurable power as a human on this slowly-tilting sphere to take remove the chance for a precious vessel to continue.
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Eduardo Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 6:10 pmoh thats realy bad I felt realy bad when my little bunny broke his leg they didnt stop asking that, I think that is the last thing to think but its realy painfull to see your pet suffer but my bunny recovered so never lose the hope .
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Robert Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 6:10 pmAllison
A few years ago my family had a dog and he was called Major, not to bright as dogs go but he was friendly and extremely loyal. Now as he approached the end of his life he began to develop problems with his back legs not unlike other dogs. The day he put to sleep I can remember telling my mother that if things were to go bad, he wasn’t to be put to sleep until I returned from work. Looking back now and I loved him more than anything, I realise that it was an incredibly selfish thing to ask, and I’m glad that I was told “ok, we‘ll wait till you come home.” to my face, and then the vet was called as soon I had left.
The best thing was that he was put to rest as soon as possible, the quality of his life had sunk to such a level it was the best choice for all involved especially the dog.
To euthanize or not depends on their chances with or without medication, if the medication helps or they get better on their own then (No give them every fighting chance.) If not and their condition isn‘t improving and there in pain, then (Yes they should be spared needless suffering.)
As for it being human or Violent? Stopping pain is certainly the more human thing to do, I wouldn’t say its violent unless the situation where it is being used is on a healthy animal.
Also I truly hope bosley continues to travel the road of recovery. -
Erik A. Williams Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 6:12 pmI realize in the comment I just posted I went a little off topic because of another story in the news I’ve been reading a lot about. I do feel euthanasia is never a good choice. Beyond that, I hope Bosley gets well soon!
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aldo sebastian Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 7:17 pmis a hard decision, I’m thinking about how we can think about if someone lives or dies .. we always want to spend as much as we can with the being that we love but sometimes we do not realize that we can hurt!.
normally i think that if that happens we hope that our pet recovered and we hope goes ahead, but we can prolong the suffering for our interest. thinking in ourself and not in them. we have to take difficult decisions but we must always think about the consequences. i hope never live this situatuion with my pet (LUNA IS HER NAME) who i love so much but if would be the case i prefer to remember how happy she was and not remember how unhappy she could bethat is my oppinion i hope you cat be ok and dont have to take a so hard decition …
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Brittany Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 7:27 pmAwww poor Bosely! I’m glad he’s feeling better! I don’t know what I would say if the vet asked me if they could euthanize my pet. Well if I had one. I guess it all depends on how strong the animal is. Recently, my aunt and uncle put down their 13 or 14 year old Schnauzer. He was blind in one eye and had terrible arthritis in his legs. It was very sad, but letting him live any longer in agonizing pain would just make his life worse and miserable.
So euthenizing without a good reason? Definetly no! If they still have a fighting chance, let them fight it!
You and Bosley take care!
Much love & support,
BrittanyXOXOXO -
David Hayes Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 7:40 pmArash,
I’ve been putting the seat down on toilets since I was very, very young. I found out that there is a diference between seat and lid after marriage. My wife wants the seat down, but not the lid. The problem is, the gliders can’t get out with or without the seat down, but they can’t get in if the lid is down.
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Dan Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 7:47 pmdefinitely hard, 3 edged sword, balance your emotional pain of losing a loved one vs their love of you and their desire to stay vs the quality of life of your cat who unfortunately cant tell you how much they are suffering, in the end putting them down is our final gift
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Robin Hebert Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 8:33 pmSo sorry you’re dealing with this. We have had to put 2 cats down since they were suffering. I dont think its wrong in that case. I totally agree with Brittany.
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BOUROUX Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 8:53 pmHi Allison.
i dont think any animal should be euthanized before we take every action to see if it can be prevented. Money is often an important factor for people who are not wealthy.
Fortunately for your cat, it will not be a problem.
Now it is the health of your cat you should discuss with the veterinarian. The future quality of life of your cat will guide your decision.
If your pet can heal quickly and not suffer so be patient.
I wish you good luck to you and your cat.
Good night.
Claude. -
Aziza Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 8:56 pmawww, poor Bosely. But I’m glad he’s much better. Euthanasia isn’t an easy topic for anyone- if I took one decision I know I would be wondering what would effects would there be if I took the other.
Take care Ally.
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BOUROUX Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 9:30 pmCirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte is set to become Canada’s first space tourist when he travels on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft in September.
First artist in space, It’s a poetic and social mission.
He founded the One Drop foundation for the preservation of water.
He fights for every human on earth could have access to water.
In space he will recite poems and will promote the water.
The evolution of this circus artist is truly inspiring. -
David Hayes Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 9:47 pmBosely’s ordeal made me aware of something I never thought of before. His transfusion … where do they get the blood for animal transfusions? Does a cat need cat blood or will human blood work for them? I can’t imagine an Animal Red Cross with blood donations from each species to help others of their kind when they need transfused blood. I’ll have to look into that. I guess pets of people who are Jehovah’s Witnesses wouldn’t allow blood transfusions for their pets.
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william Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 10:02 pmWOW! your cat was really sick! gald to hear he is doing better though! I feel that if your pet does not have a reasonable amount of quiltity of life and is in pain or discomfort then yes, put it to sleep, never let them suffer pointlessly!
later,
william -
BOUROUX Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 10:15 pmBy The ONE DROP Foundation
In this very first video, Guy Laliberté, directly from Star City in Russia, explains why he embarked on this groundbreaking journey. His commitment to the cause of water for all and the poetic nature of his mission are most definitely the driving forces…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K82R-KTYHrw&feature=channel_page
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Maria Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 10:15 pmWow, honestly if it was my dog I don’t think I’d want her to live in pain but if there was NO other way AT ALL to save her life I guess I’d put her to sleep. But if there is a way I would do anything possible to save her. Honestly, I hope never to be in a position where I have to make that decision cause I’m really bad with important,pressuring decisions!
xo Maria
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Rosewell Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 10:28 pmeuthanize, what does that word mean?
i didnt find a proper Norwegian-English dictionary so i couldnt look it up.
thx for any help
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David Hayes Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 10:28 pmAs to all animals deserving medical care, I am reminded of the story of a woman who had two chickens. One got a bad cold so she killed the healthy one to make chicken soup for the one that was sick.
I was going to say more … but why?
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David Hayes Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 10:34 pmRosewell,
From medterms.com:
Definition of Euthanasia
Euthanasia:The word “euthanasia” comes straight out of the Greek — “eu”, goodly or well + “thanatos”, death = the good death — and for 18th-century writers in England that was what euthanasia meant, a “good” death, a welcome way to depart quietly and well from life.The most commonly understood meaning of euthanasia today is more than the old dictionary definition of dying well — a good and easy death. It refers, for example, to the situation when a doctor induces the death with a lethal injection, of a patient who is suffering unrelievably and has persistently requested the doctor to do so.
Suicide, whether irrational or rational, for unrelated reasons is not euthanasia. Nor is the forced killing of another person.
The Netherlands is the only country in the world where euthanasia is openly practiced. It is not specifically allowed by statute, but Dutch law accepts a standard defense from doctors who have adhered to official guidelines. These guidelines hinge on the voluntariness of the request and the unrelievable-ness of the suffering. Euthanasia and assisted suicide are defined by the State Commission on Euthanasia. Euthanasia is the intentional termination of life by somebody other than the person concerned at his or her request. Assisted suicide means intentionally helping a patient to terminate his or her life at his or her request.
Under Dutch law euthanasia is the termination of life by a doctor at the express wish of a patient. The request to the doctor must be voluntary, explicit and carefully considered and it must have been made repeatedly. Moreover, the patient’s suffering must be unbearable and without any prospect of improvement.
Pain relief administered by a Dutch doctor may shorten a patient’s life. As is the case in other countries, in this is seen as a normal medical decision in terminal care and not as euthanasia.
Euthanasia is a matter of continuing controversy, a tinderbox for debate, an issue on which positions range widely and include enthusiastic advocacy, guarded acceptance, outright rejection, and vehement condemnation, equating euthanasia with murder.
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Robin Says:
June 5th, 2009 at 12:04 amHope Bosely pulls through Allison, as a pet owner I do know that they are as big a part of family as anyone…if not bigger!
It’s a very difficult decision, a few days ago while at work walking along a street I came accross a pigeon that had more than likely struck by a car and was just sitting stunned by the side of the road in the very hot sunshine…
I managed to pick him up and put him in shade , I then contacted the wildlife center and local council who stated that I should just leave it!!
By a fluke of fortune, an animal welfare driver saw me standing to the side of the road and took him off to another animal welfare centre…looking at the bird, it’s wings were not broken and prognosis seems good.
In my mind a life is a life…although I’m prpbably going to be known as pigeon man for the rest of my career!
I’s always a real shock to me of other people not seeming to care about animals, it’s their huge loss not knowing the pure joy and warmth a pet can make to create a home.
On making the difficult decision to euthanize, well it depends on the chance of a certain quality of life, it’s a see saw between the amount of suffering verses a the chance of a a certain quality of life.
A few years ago our family dog of nearly sixteen years was put down, as she was no longer able to walk, was not eating or drinking..in fact I was placing water in a syringe and placing it in her mouth to attempt to entice her to drink.
It was the most upsetting thing I have had to deal with.
All my pets have and are a real and genuine part of my family, while there is hope of recovery don’t give up.Best wishes on Bosely pulling through, he’s very lucky to have an owner who cares so much!
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Silvia Says:
June 5th, 2009 at 12:35 amQuote: “His transfusion … where do they get the blood for animal transfusions? Does a cat need cat blood or will human blood work for them?”
Hi David,
Cats need blood from other cats, dogs need blood from other dogs and so on.
Vets’ve started a few years ago to ask the owners of healthy pets for blood donation. A lot of people agree and so the vets have some blood for cats and dogs and maybe even for some other pets. Animal blood donors get the same care as like as human blood donors get… sometimes maybe even better. It’s voluntarily and uncompensated.
best wishes,
Silvia -
Beth Says:
June 5th, 2009 at 1:20 amThat’s such and ambiguous question.
It may depend on the exact situation. My first thought would be that it would be inhumane to euthanize. However, if they are in so much pain that it would end their misery then perhaps it would be the right thing to do. I would hate to be put in a position to make such an enormous decision like that. It would be a horrible experience, actually more so for the patient than myself. There are many variables to consider, for example if we’re talking about an animal we’ll never know exactly how much pain they’re in. Atleast a human being can communicate that information and also what they might want you to do about it, and if they still want to be here or not. Whereas with animals all you really know is that they’re in pain of some sort and there’s only so much you can do with that information.If I were in that position I’d be way to scared to just let them pass on if I thought there was even a one percent chance they would be okay. I would wonder for ever if it was the wrong decision and would they have gotten better and would they still be here now if I had only chosen otherwise.
There are just so many different reasons to go either way it would depend on all aspects of each individual situation.
Bosley’s lucky to have you as an owner. You’ll fight for him and he’ll be fine.
xoxo
Beth -
David Hayes Says:
June 5th, 2009 at 1:32 amSilvia,
Thanks for the explanation about the source for blood for pets. But voluntary? I doubt that the pets said okay. I hope they at least get a t-shirt out of it and some time in the pet canteen. I’m sure that the pets do better giving blood than most human donors. They seem to not care very much when they get their shots.
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Beth Says:
June 5th, 2009 at 1:38 amTeresa: I’m sorry to hear about ur dogs Snoopy and Peke-a-boo and actually everyone else’s pets for that matter. I’ve had a couple here and there growing up and I have a cat now that I couldn’t bear to say goodbye to. I will also add that I love the names you gave to your pets. That’s very cute and creative…
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Beth Says:
June 5th, 2009 at 1:52 amJessica says: I say NO to euthanasia. I don’t think we’re entitled to take a life, because whatever the circumstances, that’s still what it is.
Even after what I said before I think this pretty much spells it out for everyone. That would however be the black and white version of the answer.
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Beth Says:
June 5th, 2009 at 2:00 amDavid all I can say of the story about the woman with the two chickens is Oh My God!
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Syleo Says:
June 5th, 2009 at 2:05 amits simple kill her
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Silvia Says:
June 5th, 2009 at 2:06 amDavid,
Well, OK, it’s not quite voluntary for the animals. Their humans chose. The pets get some water and dog/cat biscuits and their owners get a “thank you very much”. That’s it.
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Silvia Says:
June 5th, 2009 at 2:36 amBeth,
Pets do communicate. They cannot speak as like as we do, but if possible, they try to show us what’s wrong. We have to pay attention in order to understand.
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Jade Ruby Says:
June 5th, 2009 at 2:44 amBeth Says:
“David all I can say of the story about the woman with the two chickens is Oh My God!”I remember when I was a kid I got an Easter chick one year. I raised that chick into a fine rooster. Then my parents had it slaughtered and served for dinner. That was a lesson for me about how some people regard all animals. However, I also remember our dog Peppy that we raised from a puppy until she was nine. She had always been healthy, then one day she suddenly became ill. We took her to the vets, and brought her home. The next morning I flew downstairs to check up on her, and she had passed away during the night. I was devastated.
So, when it comes to euthanasia for pets: definitely yes when the time comes, and you’ve done all you can afford to do for your beloved pet.
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Silvia Says:
June 5th, 2009 at 4:03 amI once had some budgies. One of them got sick – fatally sick, but not contagious. I forgot the word, but there was something wrong with his lungs. The vet said that my budgie would die and that he couldn’t do anything. He even didn’t want to euthanize. Vally had to die a most horrible death… he had to asphyxiate. What was I supposed to do? Breaking his neck in order to save him from death by suffocation? I really thought about this that night, but I didn’t have the heart to do it. I can still hear him gasping for breath… it took hours until he fell dead to the ground…
I guess this answers the question whether euthanasia is humane or not. Or was Vally’s gruesome death more human than giving the painless, eternal sleep?
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Beth Says:
June 5th, 2009 at 5:14 amSilvia: Yeh I just meant they cant actually like speak english to tell us exactly whats wrong. I know they can in other ways but not in the same way that humans can.
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Catherine Says:
June 5th, 2009 at 6:49 amHi Allison,
That’s a really tough decision. I had a horse a few years back, named Harley, who was the love of my life. She was amazing and fantastic and just perfect for me. When she got very sick I never thought it would become my decision whether to have her put down or not, but it did. She was in a lot of pain and I didn’t want her to suffer, so I asked the vet to euthanize her. It was the worst feeling in the world to hold Harley’s head in my lap as the vet’s syringe plunged into her neck … but it’s also really nice to know that she went somewhere where she could be happy and not be in pain.So, good luck with your cat. You’ll know the right choice when you see it.
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David Hayes Says:
June 5th, 2009 at 8:12 amMy wife and I had an African Gray parrot named Jerry. Jerry turned out to be a female. Jerry loved peanuts. After her death, we had an autopsy done and she had some birth defects and some problems with her heart complicated by the colesteral from the peanuts. My wife went to feed Jerry and she was lying on the bottom of her cage still alive. The only vet that dealt with birds was miles away. My wife held Jerry in a blanket as we rushed to the vet’s office. Jerry had a decent vocabulary. She referred to me as “White Guy” and would call out “Come here White Guy” whenever she wanted attention from me. But on the trip to the hospital, she didn’t have any words. Half way to the vets, she started to scream in agony and died a few minutes later. It is very strange when a pet that actually can talk to you dies.
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David Hayes Says:
June 5th, 2009 at 8:24 amSpikeTheLobster,
Welcome to the blog.
I’m assuming because of your name that, although you have had to resort to euthanasia in the past for sick animals, you aren’t a fan of large pots full of boiling water.
Intermission. Time for a joke. A man in a restaurant orders a lobster. When it comes, his lobster has only one claw. He calls the waiter over and asks what happened. The waiter explained that sometimes the lobsters fight and occassionally one of them loses a claw in the battle. So the man asks, “Could you take this one back and bring me the winner?”
For the record, I don’t eat lobster … and I’m not a vegetarian … but I haven’t added any new or different kinds of meat to my diet since I was a child. But I would be an instant vegitarian if I ever had to kill something in order to eat it. I know … another topic, another time.
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Silvia Says:
June 5th, 2009 at 8:37 amDavid,
Quote: “The only vet that dealt with birds was miles away.”
When I had birds I learnt that every vet for small animals (cats, dogs, birds, snakes, guinea pigs, rats, etc.) knows how to deal with them. Before I bought my budgies I was told to look for a special vet for birds. When I went to the vet with my dog Tara – I can’t remember why – but I spoke to him about my birds as well. He then asked me why I didn’t come to him for he treated birds too. So, if you’ll ever have a bird again, ask the vets in you area which one of them also treats birds…. I mean, just in case you didn’t do or know that.
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David Hayes Says:
June 5th, 2009 at 8:59 amSilvia,
My wife got a ferret a few months ago. I’ve always heard how fierce they can be, but Margie is really sweet and not at all aggressive. But our local vet won’t see ferrets — has a huge fear of them. And the local vets I have checked with aren’t willing to treat birds or even clip their nails or wings. I’ve had more luck with pet shop owners for treating birds that with vets. But I certainly hope we are done with birds forever. Now that we have cats, that’s a good reason not to get another bird — not that I need a reason. My favorite birds were my cockatoos, but they only mature to the intelligence of a two or three year old child. Imagine having a child that never gets older than two or three. It gets very tiring. They want constant attention and will act out or even self mutilate if they don’t get it. I used to work far too many hours to satisfy the birds with the time I had left. When I fed my Mullikan Cockatoo Macho (not a name I gave him) every morning, he would want to come out and play with me. I would tell him, “I’m sorry. I can’t play. I have to go to work.” When my wife got up later, she would hear Macho mumbling, “Gotta go to work. Work, work, work! Gotta go to work!” He used to sleep in the bed with his previous owner. I tried it a few times. Macho still said the same things in bed … except when he was in bed, he whispered. He has new owners somewhere … God help them. Macho used to always say, “Macho a bad, bad, bad bird!” I used to tell him that he was wrong. But he was right. He was very jealous for attention and he could scream so that he could be heard a quarter mile away if he didn’t get what he wanted. He bit a wooden ball on the top of a railing post in half. It was 3 inch diameter and hard wood. And I trusted him to gnaw on my finger. When we took him to a pet store to re-sell him, the owner ignored our warning to not put him out with other birds. He jumped down off a perch and bit the head off another bird.
Australia doesn’t allow cockatoos to be exported anymore, but they are considered pests because they do a huge amount of crop damage. They are hunted and trapped so they can be killed.
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Patrizio Says:
June 5th, 2009 at 9:03 amCross your fingers, hope that the cats really have 7 lives!
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joe Says:
June 5th, 2009 at 9:10 amnoooooo
please?
that’s how I’d “feel”. -
Silvia Says:
June 5th, 2009 at 9:29 amDavid,
All pets can be jealous, especially those who has no companion of their own kind. I guess Macho is not meant to be a pet, is he? I once had two hamsters with similar characteristics to Macho. While I was having a bath, the female ate her own offspring and her male broke out and didn’t want to come out anymore. I had to disassemble the whole kitchen in order to catch him. It took me about five hours to reassemble the cupboards.
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Silvia Says:
June 5th, 2009 at 9:32 amHi Allison,
How is your kitty today?
xo
Silvia -
Alexandra Says:
June 5th, 2009 at 11:19 amYou know I actually don’t have a pet. But somehow I feel really sad if things like that happen to other people.
And I agree with everyone who says the only human thing to do is to put them to sleep, no matter how heartbreaking it is, if no treatments work and your pet have to suffer.I would like to expand that kind of topic…if its ok.
Just think you would be in that position. How would you wanna be treatened if something terrible (accident or disease) would happen to you? Would you like to stay in a coma, in pain?…or would you rather die as the one human being everyone remembers and donate your organs, if possible and save another life?
I was thinking about something like that for a really long time. And I read so much about it. So I decided as a 22 year old adult to get a organ donor card in case s.th. would happen.So have you known that even if you are 70 years old and you die and some of your organs are totally fine, that its still possible to save a other persons life with your “70 year old” organs?!
Isn’t that fascinating? So I think everyone should have that card,don’t you?
If possible I would really like to know your opinion on that and everyone else who is visiting your blog…what are you thinking about donating organs?Would you do it? And why if yes or no?Alex
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Brent Says:
June 5th, 2009 at 1:31 pmYou have the right idea already. Love, faith and hope. Add a little prayer to the faith component and the recipe is complete. You’ve done all that you can.
I just said a prayer for your kitty. I have faith it will be answered, and I hope it is soon!
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daniela Says:
June 5th, 2009 at 1:34 pmI think , animals should also get all opportunities. I mean you can’t say that it is ‘just’ a pet….how sad would life be without them?
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daniela Says:
June 5th, 2009 at 1:43 pmI’ve got to say that you keep on inspiering me !I’m from germany, and I’m really glad that you’re so talented. i like your character (smallville) best
i think chloe is the most down to earth , she’s not getting crazy and stays true to herselfe throughout the many seasons. I hope you send more of those video blogs on youtube because i think the conection’s better. I wish you luck and continuing success
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Jennifer Says:
June 5th, 2009 at 1:55 pmI had a dog that became very ill. We did everything we could and in the end putting him to sleep was the best thing for him. It’s so hard for animals because they don’t understand what is wrong, you can’t explain things to them, they just know they don’t feel well. Putting down my dog was the hardest thing I ever had to do, but I know it was the right choice. It wasn’t fair to him for me to keep giving him medicine that wasn’t working, and keeping him around for myself. He need to be free of pain, and that was the only way I could do it.
I know it’s a hard decision, and only one you can make. Just know that your kitty loves you and will love you no matter what choice you make in the end. -
Silvia Says:
June 5th, 2009 at 2:31 pmHi Alex,
Quote: “So have you known that even if you are 70 years old and you die and some of your organs are totally fine…”; “So I think everyone should have that card,don’t you?”
- Well, only if one is healthy. E.g. People with an autoimmune disease shouldn’t donate blood or organs because of the antibodies. People who need some new organs or blood are already sick enough; their bodies shouldn’t additionally have to fight somebody else’s antibodies. That could be life threatening for the blood or organ recipients.
Quote: “what are you thinking about donating organs?”
- It’s a good thing. Healthy people should have an organ donor card, but only if they feel okay with it.
Quote: “Would you do it? And why if yes or no?“
- No, vide supra.
best wishes,
Silvia -
Roy Says:
June 5th, 2009 at 2:49 pmWell I hope your cat is getting better, any type of medical issue with an animal is usually tough to watch, as they are like a child, with you being their parent. Unfortunately, it does happen, and euthanizing pets has became so common placed in our society as a form of control on the pet population, that many people do not think twice. However, like mentioned above, with the cracking of the cat’s chest… some techniques are just too traumatic for an animal, as it is human medicine, and well they aren’t human so they wonder what we are doing to them. Its good that euthanizing is so strongly looked against by pet owners though, because a pet is just like a human, even if it can’t speak to us! Everyone and everything deserves the chance for a miracle, and miracles happen for everyone and everything.
Once again, I hope your cat keeps on improving!!
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Alexandra Says:
June 5th, 2009 at 4:00 pmHey Silvia,
yeah you right with the fact that nobody with an autoimmune disease shouldn’t donate blood or organs because of the antibodies. But every clinic has tests to see if everything is allright. Means they scan if you have diabetes, HIV, hepatitis and so on…so even if you would have a card and you get one day a disease they wouldn’t use you as a donator anymore. So there is no risk for the organ recipients.
“It’s a good thing. Healthy people should have an organ donor card, but only if they feel okay with it.”
I totaly agree. Its still something big to do. And nothing you can decide in a second. But I guess if you see someone close die and nobody could help. It kind of changes your mind. Thats what helped me to make my decision.
Thank you for your response,
take care Alex -
Effulgent Says:
June 5th, 2009 at 4:33 pmIt’s a hard one to call regardless of how one waxes poetic on the topic, until your faced with it you don’t know the heart wrenching panic at facing loosing your “family” member. Having had many pets i can only speak frm my own experiences, and on this subject imparticular, the only way i was able to put down my furbaby was when i realized i was putting them thru so much uncessary pain and distress (they just want to be near us and comforted as best as possible…as they do not deal with pain in the same way we whinge n moan about it..nor do they panic at realizing death is near…its when they instinctually seek to be sheltered and comforted in the quiet familiar) I didnt want to do that to my precious buddy, add to their distress, id given & done my best for them for 16 years and it didnt compair to what was given to me in return. So the very least i could do was make them comfortable as possible…and stay with with them while ‘nature’ took her course.
Too often we do all we can to keep an animal alive, surgeries ..therapies..meds…on and on in a freightening sterile cold enviroment…and its the last place they want to be when its down to their last hours. And we tell ourselves its for them…when the truth is…its for us.
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Cara Says:
June 5th, 2009 at 5:24 pmI’m so sorry to hear about your cat. I have a pet too, a dog, and I remember one night she had a sort of rash, you could tell she was very itchy to the point she was loosing it. I kept scratching her back that gave her some relief.
Somtimes she would whine and cry like she was in pain, I almost started crying because I had no idea how to help her.
Luckily she finally calmed down and got some sleep but I felt like a Mother trying to comfort her baby…she’s fine now and I’m happy she didn’t have to go to the Vet.
I wish all the best for you and your cat. It’s hard to make the choice, giving some time is good. Wish you the best and the best for your cat.
Take Care,
Cara -
arash Says:
June 5th, 2009 at 6:38 pmCara,
I am sorry if your dog was in pain because of “A rash”. I never meant to hurt any body. -
Alice Says:
June 5th, 2009 at 6:56 pmIt depends. Sometimes euthanasia is the thing to do. Like if your pet’s illness is incurable and he/she is in pain, euthanasia will prevent further suffering. And the best way is to use intravenous injection of sodium pentobarbital (I read that in Ingrid Newkirk’s 250 Things You Can Do To Make Your Cat Adore You). But if it’s something that can be cured, I’d pay whatever it would cost to help save the life of my probably my best friend, like I would for myself and my family. They deserve to live and be treated like we do! You should really read Ingrid Newkirk’s book I mentionned earlier (co-founder of PETA), it’s great and has lots of info.
Take Care!
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Jade Ruby Says:
June 5th, 2009 at 6:58 pmarash,
Cut it out.
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Gilles Belanger Says:
June 5th, 2009 at 7:23 pmhey allison and all.. i hope bosely is ok allison. its awful when a pet u love is really sick. i think if the animal is really in pain and theres nothing to do then its best to put them to sleep.. but i believe in miracles. so just do what you think would be right. but hopfully ur cat will be better ..
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arash Says:
June 5th, 2009 at 8:06 pmJade Ruby,
I guess, I stand corrected. -
arash Says:
June 5th, 2009 at 8:23 pmI am sorry Jade, I usually have a hard time sharing the stressful part of my days with other people and keep it to myself but instead just goof around to make myself feel better and get over it.
I hope no body ever gets offended by any of my comments. I appologize if that has been the case. -
Jade Ruby Says:
June 5th, 2009 at 9:44 pmAw arash, no need to act rash, or apologize rashly, it wasn’t arashment after all.
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David Hayes Says:
June 5th, 2009 at 10:13 pmNo need to cut it out if the skin itches, just use a little Kal-O-Mine Lotion.
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arash Says:
June 5th, 2009 at 10:21 pmSo will our community ever have an election or I am getting all the publicity for nothing.
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David Hayes Says:
June 5th, 2009 at 10:39 pmFor nothing. This isn’t a democracy.
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David Hayes Says:
June 5th, 2009 at 10:41 pmArash,
I missed the end of the Tomato movie. Did the Incredible Edible Hulk get his just deserts at the end?
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arash Says:
June 5th, 2009 at 10:52 pmI was saving him for the sequal (next mackevent) but he turned red.
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Megan Says:
June 6th, 2009 at 4:30 amHi Allison,
I am a huge fan and a long time reader of your posts but this is my first time commenting on your blog. Being the cat lover that I am I felt inclined to put in my two sense here. First, I am so sorry to hear that your kitty is ill and I really pray that he recovers 100%! Second, the reason I feel so passionate about this topic is because i’m a huge animal lover and the “mommy” of two beautiful kitties! I’m 27, married for 7 years, and my husband and I honestly consider our cats to be our children. They give us so much joy and comfort and emotional satisfaction it’s impossible for me to understand how anyone could mistreat these magnificent creatures! That being said, I think that animals deserve the same respect in death as humans do. I’m not saying that people who euthanize their pets are bad people or that they didn’t love their pets very much, I just disagree with their logic. When people are sick, we take them to the doctor and pay for the necessary medical treatments until that is no longer possible…then we do whatever it takes to make them comfortable. Even if I couldn’t afford medical treatment for my ‘babies’ I would get whatever drugs were medically necessary to keep them out of pain until God decided to take them up to kitty heaven.
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RJChasez Says:
June 6th, 2009 at 5:59 amI know I don’t exactly comment all that often here, but I’m so sorry to hear that Bosley’s sick, Allison.
I hope he gets better soon.As for the subject of euthanization, it’s a subject I’m very torn on. My dog, Tiffy, who passed away in November, was an integral part of my life since I was only a child. She came into our lives when I was only nine years old, and was like the younger sister I never had. She developed a form of canine Cancer, and though it originally went away via surgery, it did come back. She was in a bit of pain during her last year of life, but I just didn’t have the heart to put her down. It somehow seemed very cruel to take her life, even though she was very ill. I just wanted her to live out her life, for however long that it was. Perhaps I let her hang on too long, because the last day she was alive, she was really suffering. I planned to have her put down the following day, but as it turned out, she passed on that night, and the decision was taken out of my hands. Maybe that’s the way it was meant to be, though the way things played out still sort of haunts me.
So I guess what I’m trying to say is that, for some people, Euthanizing is an option, but for others, it’s just another decision that is very hard to make. You have to do what you feel is best, ultimately. If you decide the condition the animal is in is one that they can survive for a certain period of time, then by all means, let them live. But if you feel it’d be best to let them go, you just have to let them go. I honestly don’t know what I’d do if I was ever presented with this situation again with my puppy or my ferret. It’s so very hard. I really hope Bosley recovers well, so that you won’t be faced with this sort of decision.
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Nathan Says:
June 6th, 2009 at 6:09 amHey Allison,
As a lover of animals I can imagine how hard that would be. I hope your cat recovers and the bond between you both gets stronger and stronger. Animals are amazing and I hope it works out for you so youcan have the weatlh of good memories with your pet that I have had with all mine.
All the best,
Nathan
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Silke Says:
June 6th, 2009 at 7:07 amEverybody who has pets have to make this decision one day ! I have paid hundreds of dollars to vets, but sometimes you the only reason why you not make the right decicion to let your pet go! I have lost 2 dogs and 1 cat it is always bad, but a life only with pain is not the life i wish my pet! My cats name is shiva she is a Anatoly cat white with a blue and a green eye, she is now 6 and one day I have to make the decision again! I wrote about my last cat Mietzi, it is in german in Abschied/ Abschied von meinem Liebling http://www.nordsternchens-katzen.de/
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paul Says:
June 6th, 2009 at 7:17 am“Now my point is that; we are very racist animal lovers. And I don’t understand why one life should have so much more value than other.”
arash, you have a point. It is completely irrational, to lavish care on one animal while eating other animals. But isn’t being irrational okay at times? Sure we anthropomorphize our pets, treat them like they’re people… but is there anything really wrong with that?
I love both my cats. I pamper them, I talk to them, I do all that silly stuff. And then all three of us share a chicken sandwich. Go figure.
(I have never met a vegetarian cat.)
As fond as I am of cats– and I’ve always been a cat person– I know in a sense that they are in a sense just little biological machines. They operate largely on instinct. I don’t believe they have anything much like consciousness or any sense of the future… in this they are perhaps fortunate, in that they have no foreboding of death.
Perfect Zen creatures, they live purely in the moment. They don’t worry about the future, and they’ll never have to stress over questions like euthanasia.
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arash Says:
June 6th, 2009 at 10:48 am… so if you see lots of tomatos on the stage in next year’s Academy awards, that would be about my movie!
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arash Says:
June 6th, 2009 at 11:27 ampaul,
There is absolutly nothing wrong about loving our pets. I just want to make it clear that it is not about them, it is about us! We need to be the source of love. We need to care, to connect, and be sure that relationship is under our control from start to end. You dress your dog. He hates it, but still you do. You make sure he has cute haircuts, does he care how he looks? Even paying $2000. for his operation, there is always ‘your’ moral obligation that is involved.
At the end it is how much you love him rather than how much he needs to be loved. -
JBdude27 Says:
June 6th, 2009 at 2:08 pmIts great that Bosely feels better. Well i would say “no” to euthanasia.Usually If it would suffer too much/too long and the meds couldnt do anything to help soo yeah i will agree that.
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arash Says:
June 6th, 2009 at 4:22 pmSo first we tried to keep wild animals as pets but we had to constantly keep them in cages or chained because there was no way they would chose to stay with us. Then finally we started creating genatically designed dogs incapable of surviving on their own, teaching them how to shake hands and behave well. Now they have to be ‘rescued’ from shelter because they have been ignored and neglected by their previous ‘owner’.
The dog and the chicken are both serving us. The difference is that as humans we have more needs than just food. -
arash Says:
June 6th, 2009 at 4:25 pmNow the cat is a whole different story.
Am I on top of the list of most frequent posters yet ? -
garbhan Says:
June 6th, 2009 at 5:07 pmhmmm, maybe this is my catholic upbringing coming to surface or maybe my own personal views but in any terms i wouldnt. i mean i believe nature should take its course. i mean if the cat got worse and you went a head with the euthanize you will be constantly asking yourself, what if i held on for an hour, would i have made a different decision. im a firm believer in miracles and positive energy. i think if you go through with anything like that one needs to be prepared with the consequences.
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Joy Says:
June 6th, 2009 at 5:57 pmMy dog is my best friends. Sounds corny or what have you, but she knows all my secrets. I strongly agree with your beleifs that our pets should have the same opportunity of life as we do. I know this sounds dumb, but do what your heart tells you. Don’t listen to the doctor, or the screaming cries of your kitty, and you’ll make the right decision. We have those instincts for a reason, and if you have that connection with your animal, you know whats best for him.
Don’t worry, everything will fall into place the way it should
I pray for you always
JOY -
ShinyStarlet Says:
June 6th, 2009 at 7:27 pmHi Allison,
I love this question because I am very passionate about this topic. First let me state that I believe a dog, cat, ect., is a dog, cat, ect. I also believe that the life of an animal carries the same value as mine. My 15 years as an acute care nurse have made indelible marks onto my brain.
For me life is about quality, not quantity. I feel this for my animals as well myself.
I don’t necessarily agree with euthanization, but I don’t believe in “heroic measures.”
I have broken a few ribs in my time as an Intensive Care Nurse while doing chest compressions. I have held my tongue when families come in once a day to visit their loved one on a ventilator praying to God. I never understood that. If they believe in God so strongly why not let God make the choices.
In regard to my animals I say what works for me will work for them. Knowing what I know now, I will never have chemotherapy, I will never have a feeding tube, I will never allow my body to become dependent. If I cannot take care of myself I want to shuffle off the mortal coil. Same for Sebastian, my dog, and Giles, my cat. If either of them come down with a strange life-threatening disease I would like to take them home and die a natural death without heroics. If it’s something emergent but self-limiting I say fix em up doc. All animals deserve a chance to live. Which sounds like what your kitty had if he/she perked up after treatment.To sum up. No, I don’t believe in euthanasia as a rule. But I believe in allowing animals(including humans) to live as natural a life as possible. I also look at pets a bit different because society and the way we treat animals has change. I would rather let my beautiful Sebastian live a full natural life. One in which he can run and play until his last day. Grieve for him then rescue another dog who needs a girl, because I am a girl who needs a dog.
The hardest decision a person will ever make is when another creature’s life is in your hands. Make a choice that you can live with forever.
I wish for you the best, Allison.
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David Hayes Says:
June 6th, 2009 at 10:29 pmIt’s amazing how much of this site’s momentum has been lost. For a time, the site could keep going for quite a while without Allison here to keep priming the pump and spinning the wheels. Now the new posts seem to dry up relatively quickly.
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Ivy Says:
June 6th, 2009 at 10:48 pmHey Allison, I’ve been reading for a while but never really comment.
One of my dogs was acting a bit strange a little while ago, but I completely freaked out. And I started thinking about you and your kitty. I’m just wondering how he is doing, since you haven’t posted an updates.
I do hope he is doing ok. I honestly don’t know what I’d do if I lost my dogs right now.
I’ve considered replying to your post, but I’m not too clear where I stand in regards to Euthanasia.
You know, I recently lost my grandma and my grandpa – both in the span of 3 months. They were like my parents. I wasn’t home when my grandpa passed away, but I rushed back as soon as my grandma was hospitalized, less than a month after he passed.
My grandma had several things going on, and she was in and out of the ICU. My parents and my uncle, they all kept saying that she was suffering a lot, and maybe her passing would be for the best, because it wasn’t humane to be bed ridden, being hooked up to all these things. Euthanasia is illegal (well, here, and for humans, of course), and I think everyone kept saying that, but I’m not sure if they’d have gone through with it, had they had the actual choice.
In everyone’s mind I was selfish, because I kept telling her to pull through. I never gave up hope, even when I knew the inevitable would happen.
I spent two months in the hospital by her side – I literally dropped everything to be with her. I could have never willingly terminate her life.
I know during her last days she was suffering but I still didn’t want her to go. And it was really selfish of me, but I wanted to keep her with me.
I know it must be different for pets. My oldest dog is 11 and frankly I’m starting to get a bit scared. As I said, I freak out about little things. I don’t think I could stand another loss – and the thought of ever putting her down, it just scares me too much.
Sorry, I went slightly off topic, but it usually happens when I start writing.
I hope Bosely is ok, really! I hope the next post is about how well you are both doing!
Keep up your great work, I’m deeply inpired by this site and your creativity!
Ivy
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David Hayes Says:
June 6th, 2009 at 10:52 pmHere’s the kind of thing that catches Allison’s eye [from Yahoo News]:
June 6, 2009
“Teen Wins Team State Title by Herself — Again”
Stuart Kantor
Special to Rivals HighMORE TRACK & FIELD: Goodman is poetry in motion | Lamb takes the triple jump to new levels
Bonnie Richardson, from tiny Rochelle, Texas (population 600), has accomplished what no other Texas high school track and field athlete has ever achieved: back-to-back team state championships – by herself.Richardson lunges for the finish in the 100.
Richardson captured first in the long jump (17-04.50), second in the discus (126-09) and first in the high jump (5-8) on Friday for a total of 28 points. Returning to Myers Stadium on the campus of the University of Texas on Saturday, Richardson placed third in the 200 (25.78) and fourth in the 100 (12.51) for a two-day total of 38 points – two points better than second-place Cayuga in Class A.In her typical laid-back fashion, Richardson didn’t get too excited.
“My family already did the math,” Richardson said while waiting for her celebratory prime rib sandwich at Red Robin restaurant. “They were jumping up and down; it was kind of embarrassing.”
Since Rochelle High School has no track, Richardson – this year’s entire girls’ track team – practices at nearby Brady High School, where there are gas stations and a Wal-Mart.
“Brady’s going to town,” she said.
For the second consecutive year, Richardson went to town on the competition. She said her performance last year was “a little better, but I high jumped better this year and threw the disc better. I can’t be too disappointed.”
News of Richardson’s feat spread last year as she dominated the University Interscholastic League State Championships. Now she’s the first to do it twice.
How does she feel?
“I’m tired and glad it’s over,” Richardson said. “High school’s officially over.”
The valedictorian in a class of 14 at Brady High School, Richardson has committed to Texas A&M.
“I hope not to look stupid because of the age difference with some of the athletes I’ll be competing against,” Richardson said. “I’m playing catch-up.”
At the start of her junior year, Richardson had decided on academic pursuits in lieu of athletic dreams.
“Then I started winning and people started calling,” she said. “I changed my mind because the coaches gave me confidence.”
After two state titles, Richardson does have one regret.
“I wish I hadn’t stuck with the same five events, that I had branched out more,” she said. “I would’ve [liked to] have vaulted, but we don’t have the money or interest in Rochelle to have a pit. I’ve never done hurdles, and I want to.”
Richardson has lived in Rochelle her whole life and loves fishing and hunting “anything that moves.” And although she won’t compete in track over the summer, she will work on a local ranch taking care of livestock.
In a true out-of-nowhere existence over the past 12 months, Richardson speaks with the affable charm representative of small-town America still untouched by the plethora of chains and urban development. And even though she claims, “Track and field is a dying sport in Rochelle,” Richardson’s remarkable achievement has breathed a momentary surge of life into an otherwise quiet Texas town.
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Silvia Says:
June 7th, 2009 at 6:27 amHi Arash
Quote: „I just want to make it clear that it is not about them, it is about us!”
- When it comes to a matter of the heart we usually think it is about us. This is even true sometimes, but not all the time. When you really love someone, no matter if human or animal, you put the welfare of your loved one above your own. At least we should do that. Some of us even do. Yet, the human race is selfish. Too selfish when it come to matters of the heart and we’re afraid of losing a loved one. Hence, we do everything in order to keep them with us. But on what costs? Life prolonging treatments as senseless as those can be with no regards to the possible agony of our loved ones. That’s not humane, that is selfish. So when a pet is fatally sick, it is definitely not about us anymore, it’s only about the pet. In this case the pet’s welfare is more important than the pet owner’s selfishly wishes. I once had a neighbour who had two rabbits. One of them got cancer and my neighbour was egoistic to this rabbit’s very end. She filled this poor animal up with medicine day by day. What for? Her sick rabbit was lying there all the time and didn’t seem to enjoy life anymore… she was just lying there as if she was in coma. That wasn’t humane anymore. I mean, sleeping until death – what life is this? I’m not saying that pet should be euthanized as soon as they become sick. I think that as long as there is a chance for the animal to get healthy again, we ought to try to do everything possible… as long as the pet does not have to suffer. Cancer for example… a lot of pets get cancer nowadays. Some of them can be treated like cancer in humans. Yet a lot of tumours can’t be treated. There is hope now for those pets – mistletoe therapy. Thanks to this our pets don’t have to suffer for a few weeks or months anymore. Pets gain up to five years more to live, with less and sometimes even without pain. The mistletoe therapy restores the quality of life.
Quote: “You make sure he has cute haircuts, does he care how he looks?”
- Yes, he does. E.g. when a dog is shorn, no matter if it was because of a medical test or because somebody just did, he is so ashamed of that. A lot of dogs hide themselves under their owners’ bed or sofa and do not want to come out anymore because they do not want to be seen like this. You see, they do care. They really do!
Quote: “Then finally we started creating genatically designed dogs incapable of surviving on their own…”
- Maybe. Still, they can survive if they find enough food. There are many domestic dogs who live on their own on the streets or in wilderness… all around the world.
best wishes,
Silvia -
Silvia Says:
June 7th, 2009 at 6:35 amHi Allison,
I understand that you’re possibly not in the mood for making any blog entries. Well, I guess I’m not the only one who’d likes to know how your kitty is by now. Yet, take your time.
Lots of love,
Silvia -
Dave 'TheBog1' Says:
June 7th, 2009 at 4:35 pmThis is a question I’ve thought about constantly. In my mind and in my way of thinking, life is life. The force, the essence, the ‘breath of God’ is in everything that lives. If the subject of debate were people, the answer almost instantly would be no, but because it’s a ‘pet’, an ‘inferior’ species that ‘relies’ or ‘requires’ human support, it suddenly becomes debatable. My personal opinion is that euthanasia is never acceptable. I have no doubt, at all, that every creature wants to live. It may be in pain, it may be in misery but at least it’s alive and I’m sure that if animals and humans could adequately communicate, they’d voice that they’d take another day at life over the permanence and irreversibility of death any day, no matter the consequences.
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viviane Says:
June 7th, 2009 at 7:09 pmwell on your kitten I hope he is right! I understand because I had enough when my dog got sick!
on euthanize … well I do not agree, at least not to euthanize human! I think no one except God has the right to take the life of a person as he who gave his life! I know it is difficult to see a person suffering but I believe in miracles … work in a hospital and have seen many miracles … I saw many cases where everyone thought they had way more in order and everything is right … this is my opinion…
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Raquel Emanuele Says:
June 7th, 2009 at 7:23 pmWell, something is very complicated, because you are dealing with a life, but until that point that life can go?
We know that we welcome the passage of … born without asking and without wanting to die, the important is what we and what we?
Facing a life of danger, then you have to think about that person (animal) that this suffering there, but usually does in all but the patient, because most of us human beings is selfish …
I am in favor when it is not sure that it is worth waiting, because it hangs the life of all, family, friends …
Before you say anything, yes I believe in miracles, but miracles do not happen always and in all cases, therefore, must always think in what is best for those who love and it would be better for us.
Leaving from someone hurts, so it hurts even more to that person (animal) happy, very quiet and sad.
Who loves, protects and open hand if necessary.
Well, that’s it. Kisses. Bye -
Ciera Says:
June 7th, 2009 at 10:30 pmI had a similar issue with a kitty of mine. She was old and had kidney failure. It wasn’t a matter of if she was going to die, rather, when. I didn’t know if I should euthanize or not; I prayed. It just didn’t seem right. Even if I am on my last leg, I don’t think I’d want someone to pull the plug. If I die, I don’t want any “what ifs” looming. At any rate, while I was deciding, my kitty died overnight. I do not believe I would euthanize a pet, but I’ll never say never.
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Brian Griffin Says:
June 12th, 2009 at 6:47 pmI don’t believe in euthanize, as long as a pet will not live a life of pain. But otherwise, I believe a cat or dog has as much a right to life as we do. As long as the pet will not live a life of pain. Because, feeling pain to exist, would be cruel and inhuman. But animals should have a right to proper medical attention. So they can have a chance to get well, like your kitty. Just a little sensitive to the issue of chronic pain, that’s all.
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Mike Says:
June 18th, 2009 at 6:10 pmHey Allison,
It’s a hard question to deal with, and one I was faced with just this week. I ended up having to have my cat euthanized and it was probably the hardest decision I’ve made in my life. You can only do what you feel is best for your pet, which is not always what is best for you.
I noticed in another post that you kitty is better, I’m glad to hear it. Hope to see some pics soon.
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luzaleja Says:
October 21st, 2009 at 2:41 pmHey… I’m new, I know this blog is old, but I wanted to post so… hehe
I think, right now, I would say no… however, I also think that I have no real valid opinion if I’m not going through it… because I can say many many things, but once I’m facing the problem I might change my mind.
I also think everyone diserves a shot at life… I support the idea that a kitty diserves it as much as the next person…
Luz
PS: I’m from Bogotá, Colombia, so I’m sorry if my english is hard to understand hehe -
Speeger Says:
January 19th, 2010 at 7:05 am2yrs ago my 15 yr old baby became deathly ill, refusing to eat or drink. I considered euthanizing her, but instead nursed her back to health. The reason I’m writing this is because this week she once again became deathly ill as before. I once again struggled with the thought of euthanizing. It took several days of constant care, but I’m once again happy to say she’s back to her healthy, happy self. She will soon be celebrating her 18th birthday! So much to consider: quality of life, the severity of pain, etc..
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