Death of a pet

[MaggieMae]

A friend and I were reminiscing over the dogs he has had over the years of our friendship. He has one who is elderly now, deaf, blind, wanders around the place, sleeps under rigs, will have some bad days then rally...but he's nearing the end. I remember when he came to the place. Before that, there was Casey, and he felt the same way. He wouldn't take an old, dear friend to the vet to be put down. He'd do it himself if he had to. But luckily, he has a friend who is a neighbor who is also a primo vetrinarian. He asked the vet to stop by the tackroom, and his dog friend slipped away while doing what he had done for so many years...resting on a very thick saddle pad in a cozy tack room, surrounded by the familiar.

But it isn't always so nice..not for animals, and not for pets, either.

The best advice I can think of to give you is to make sure your next pet is properly socialized and you're able to handle it.

Thanks. That's what I keep wishing I had done. Just allow him to die naturally. Before I called the mobile vet, who couldn't come for a full day after I realized Boo needed to be put to sleep, I argued with my sister (who had given me the cat) that I should just allow him to die rather than put him through what I knew would be a helluva cat fight (literally) to catch him, unless he was too weak to fight back. But she insisted it was more inhumane to allow him the starve to death. Now I wonder... I suppose it's the guilt more than anything.

Your sister was wrong about the starving aspect not being painful for cats. I will leave my comments there, as this isn't a debate thread.

Putting a cherished loved one to sleep is never easy. I have been treating animals at a hospital for almost 15 years, and never get used to it emotionally, especially when I know the animal. Three weeks ago, my best four-legged friend in the world ( english bulldog ) had to be put to sleep. His hips were gone and he could no longer walk like he should and wanted to. The rest of him was doing fairly well, but at 10 years old, he was showing his age for a bulldog. The owners were so broken up about it, they dropped Wyatt Earp off at the hospital. I had known Wyatt since he was a little person. We were bestest friends. I have pictures of him in my house. His mom would bring him up to the hospital a lot, so he could say hi to me, and visit. I was the one that put my best canine friend in the world down. I leaned down, whispered in his ear "I love you Earpie," gave him a hug. and then gave him the shot. It was his time. I knew it. He knew it. Even though we both knew, it didn't make it any easier for me. That part of the job stinks.

As to the mobile vet, it is not easy coming to someone's home on the pet's home turf, and trying to treat them. The vet is at a disadvantage. I am sure the vet did the very best job he or she could do for you and your believed family member. Your cat may have been stressed out regardless of the scenario. Cats have that "sense" when something is "up" or wrong with them or us humans. If you had tried to put your cat in a carrier again, you could have gotten hurt. If the cat had bitten you, the vet would not have been able to help your cat pass on. That is the law.

From what you mentioned, it sounds like you did the right thing for your family member. Giving an injection, is the least amount of stress and pain on the animal. You saved your beloved friend a lot of misery by not prolonging things. That wouldn't have done you any good to see your friend suffer. Don't beat yourself up. Focus on the wonderful memories shared. You showed the ultimate love for your cherished friend.

Thanks for valuable information. The story about Wyatt Earp was similar to my own cocker's situation. He became so arthritic, he couldn't stand up alone. That time, I brought him to the vet to be euthanized, and although it was very difficult, I didn't feel the horrible guilt that I did with my cat's last moments. It wasn't so much his death as the fact that he was so damned terrified which I didn't handle well at all.

Each day gets easier, and frankly I felt rather guilty about feeling guilty over "just a cat" just moments ago as I was reading about someone's serious health problems, yet undiagnosed, in the HEALTH topic thread.

 

[MaggieMae]

Zoom-boing and Vel -- Thanks guys.

 

[Meister]

Sorry to hear about the loss in your family Maggie. It's a tough thing to do, just remember the memories.

 

[MaggieMae]

Sorry to hear about the loss in your family Maggie. It's a tough thing to do, just remember the memories.

Yeah, thanks. Unfortunately, Boo was a solid black cat and there's "memories" in every room, especially his favorite hiding places. He was also my auto-alarm to get the hell off the computer, both for his lunch and his dinner and was very vocal about it. Now I might be posting longer than normal. Can't wait, right?

 

[Amanda]

I'm truly sorry for your loss.

 

[Meister]

Sorry to hear about the loss in your family Maggie. It's a tough thing to do, just remember the memories.

Yeah, thanks. Unfortunately, Boo was a solid black cat and there's "memories" in every room, especially his favorite hiding places. He was also my auto-alarm to get the hell off the computer, both for his lunch and his dinner and was very vocal about it. Now I might be posting longer than normal. Can't wait, right?

Oh no....tell me it ain't so. Looking forward to it Maggie.

 

[trams]

so sorry for your loss

 

[Shogun]

My Mother will be putting her cat of 20 years to sleep today. Cancer. He was the kind of feline that always wanted to play, always wanted affection. He had the brightest baby blue eyes i've ever seen on a cat. Originally, his name was Nuts because he was white except for his ears, tail and well... but he became Buster and loved to catch mice and bring us dead birds. He will be missed.

 

[Meister]

My Mother will be putting her cat of 20 years to sleep today. Cancer. He was the kind of feline that always wanted to play, always wanted affection. He had the brightest baby blue eyes i've ever seen on a cat. Originally, his name was Nuts because he was white except for his ears, tail and well... but he became Buster and loved to catch mice and bring us dead birds. He will be missed.

Sorry to hear of the loss, Sho. It's always hard to say goobye to a good friend/family menber.

 

[Luissa]

Hi everyone - I thought a lot about whether to post anything because I don't want to appear like I'm just looking for sympathy. Then I decided I have some advice, which I'd like to share.

I had to have my cat "Boo" put down yesterday. He had an obstruction in his throat which varied from being just annoying to him to bothering him so much that he sometimes couldn't eat. Finally, after four days, it got to the point where he was acting like he was in a trance and when he was very briefly up and about, would only drink water and nibble at food, then go back to his safe hiding place.

So I decided, after four years and the vet previously telling me that since he didn't know what was causing the obstruction and would would need to do exploratory surgery, that it was time to have him euthanized (he was also around 13 years old). Well the cat has always been xenophobic, and never liked being picked up or held, but he was fiercely attached to me (and me alone). I knew that just to get him into a carrier to take him to the vet again (bad, bloody experience the first time), that transporting him myself was out of the question. So, I called the mobile vet unit and had them come to the house to put him down.

My advice is if you can avoid that situation--having your frightened cat's (or dog's) last memory that of looking at you as though you have betrayed him while these strange men are chasing and trying to grab it--choose a more humane and compassionate option. After all, animals in the wild go off alone to hide and then die and they probably die of starvation before some wild critter starts attacking them. I wish with all my heart I could have been able to just hold my cat and let him know that I was hurting as much as he was, instead of putting him through such a horrible ending.

Thanks for reading my sad story.

sorry about your kitty, I am sure it is really hard to go through that.
My parents and I our probably going to have to make that decision for my dog who is going to be thirteen this year probably in the next year. SHe is going deaf and blind,and she has arthritis among other things. I have no idea how I will do it which is why I am sure my parents will. I hope for her sake she will just go in the night sometime.

 

[Shogun]

My Mother will be putting her cat of 20 years to sleep today. Cancer. He was the kind of feline that always wanted to play, always wanted affection. He had the brightest baby blue eyes i've ever seen on a cat. Originally, his name was Nuts because he was white except for his ears, tail and well... but he became Buster and loved to catch mice and bring us dead birds. He will be missed.

Sorry to hear of the loss, Sho. It's always hard to say goobye to a good friend/family menber.

Indeed. thank you.

 

[Luissa]

My Mother will be putting her cat of 20 years to sleep today. Cancer. He was the kind of feline that always wanted to play, always wanted affection. He had the brightest baby blue eyes i've ever seen on a cat. Originally, his name was Nuts because he was white except for his ears, tail and well... but he became Buster and loved to catch mice and bring us dead birds. He will be missed.

Sorry to hear of the loss, Sho. It's always hard to say goobye to a good friend/family menber.

Indeed. thank you.

I second that Shogun.

 

[MaggieMae]

My Mother will be putting her cat of 20 years to sleep today. Cancer. He was the kind of feline that always wanted to play, always wanted affection. He had the brightest baby blue eyes i've ever seen on a cat. Originally, his name was Nuts because he was white except for his ears, tail and well... but he became Buster and loved to catch mice and bring us dead birds. He will be missed.

The dead mice and birds were "gifts" from Buster. Cats think their human moms should be just as proud of their "catch" !!

Tell your mom to be brave. Every day gets a little easier.

 

[MaggieMae]

For all the cat and dog lovers who were so kind, here's nonstop laughs (and cries). A montage of photographs, one for each.

Funny Cat pictures & photos #1 @ www.3Gold.com entertainment site

Funny Dog pictures & photos #1 @ www.3Gold.com entertainment site

 

[Ringel05]

I should check out these forums a little more.
I know exactly what you have gone through, it's heart wrenching every time.
My prayers go out for you, may your pain be lifted and may you always remember the love you shared with Boo. May you find comfort in those memories.

 

[MaggieMae]

I should check out these forums a little more.
I know exactly what you have gone through, it's heart wrenching every time.
My prayers go out for you, may your pain be lifted and may you always remember the love you shared with Boo. May you find comfort in those memories.

I am, thank you. The good memories have begun to overshadow the bad one that lingered for days.

 

[Ringel05]

I should check out these forums a little more.
I know exactly what you have gone through, it's heart wrenching every time.
My prayers go out for you, may your pain be lifted and may you always remember the love you shared with Boo. May you find comfort in those memories.

I am, thank you. The good memories have begun to overshadow the bad one that lingered for days.

I always remember Baby and Mugsy fondly, my wife's two cats when we first met. We now have three, Little Boy 19 (and still going strong-sorta), Jasper 9 and (yes it's true) Boo 3. I call him a Boo in a china shop. This little tiny scared to death kitten is now 21lbs, he'll chase other animals out of the yard but let a person come to the door and "woosh", he's gone, hence the name. It took him 3 weeks to get used to my wife and a year and a half to get used me.

 

[RodISHI]

Thanks. That's what I keep wishing I had done. Just allow him to die naturally. Before I called the mobile vet, who couldn't come for a full day after I realized Boo needed to be put to sleep, I argued with my sister (who had given me the cat) that I should just allow him to die rather than put him through what I knew would be a helluva cat fight (literally) to catch him, unless he was too weak to fight back. But she insisted it was more inhumane to allow him the starve to death. Now I wonder... I suppose it's the guilt more than anything.

Sorry for your loss Maggie and the trauma you experienced seeing your beloved cat put down. I had a dear Peke dies in my arms after a car had hit him. He had knocked the back door open and followed me and I did not know it. He looked at me like, "I'm so sorry mom" and he passed. He had been ran over in our drive by my grandmother a few years before. The vet was a specialist that put thirteen pieces of bone in his little hip back together. He road on the tank of the motorcycle, went water skiing with me, you name that dog was there. I cried for months nad even years after whenever I would see his pictures, he slept on my pillow curled up on my shoulder. We then had a chow that was with me 24/7 for 17 years. The dog only spent three nights of his life away from me. I had to fly on business so he had to stay with hubby. Certain family members got very angry with me for refusing to let the vet put him to sleep. His last three days he was on an IV at home. He died in my husbands arms. I could not watch at that point. My chow's litter mate/sister we had for 10 years, she had cancer and had been given a death sentence yet lived for another four years after a surgery and lots of meds for a year, one day she just did not feel good needed help getting around it was that quick when the time came...and she died in Rod's arms, I could not watch. I still miss them all. I have no regrets for not taking them into a vet and having them put to sleep when any of them got ill.

 

[Cold Fusion38]

Maggie you made the RIGHT decision to spare him any more suffering. I had to put the cat I grew up with to "sleep". It was tough because he would put his arms around my neck and cling to me like a scared kid. The vet gave him a shot to calm him down so I sat with him for 20 minutes just holding my dear friend who was ALWAYS there for me when I wasn't feeling well. After he was pretty well sedated the vet gave him the shot to stop his heart......She said his heart had stopped and I ran out crying my eyes out.....I look back on it and think I should have held him for five or ten more minutes until his spirit had gone away even though I don't necessarily belive in the after life.......I still miss him 20 years later but I DID make the right decision for HIM of that I have no doubt nor should you. You loved and cared for him as a family member and gave him untold years of happiness. I am SO SO sorry for your pain and loss. My older brother's cat died after being with him for HALF his life TWENTY TWO YEARS he had her.......It's hard to hear your older brother crying his eyes out.

 

[Cold Fusion38]

Thank you Maggie for starting this post where we can ALL show that we can feel other people's pain as if it were our own. I mourn the loss of you cat because I know from personal exp how hard it can be. I give you all my best wishes and my strength to help you through your greif. You will and SHOULD love again.