When do you consider putting a family pet to sleep?

Question

My family pet is a severe dieabetic. Today, more issues have surfaced. She is only 5 years old. Every 4 months I seem to be rushing her to the emergency room at the vet. This morning I was asked what I wanted to do......
Of course I say, give her what ever she needs.
I figure, if she doesn't give up, I can't either.
Is that the right thing to do - or am I being selfish.

Answer 1

If you think the cat is in pain and is suffering badly, then I would suggest you have her put to sleep, just to rid her of her misery. If the vet thinks he/she can do something and the cat won't be suffering too much, then I would try and do whatever necessary to help her. Good luck!

Answer 2

The right time is when the quality of her life is no longer good. When she can no longer do what dogs do. It's a horrible decision to have to make, but feel assured that euthanization is very humane. No pain. Sure, I have seen a double dose needed, don't think that it was needed because the pet wasn't ready. More than likely it's needed because of poor circulation, blown vein, etc. If she is spending more time taking medications, going to the doctor and un able to do her normal doggie things, it may be something to consider. Although your vet can help you determine if that is an option, ultimately, it is up to you. If you choose the option of humanely euthanizing her, you can be present to say your good-byes and walk away knowing the love she has given you and you her. For the past 5 yrs you have given her a great home, a great life, unconditional love and will meet her again when you cross the rainbow bridge to be with her again.

Answer 3

It's breaks my heart to read your story.
I feel for you and your pet and understand what you're going through.

I guess, if you would listen to your heart, you would know what is the best thing to do.

That is what I always do. If I'm confused with a situation, I take time out and really listen to what my heart says. Somehow, the decision just comes naturally.

If you feel that your pet is still fighting and still wants to live, then I think that you shouldn't also give up hope. If however, you see that your pet is suffering and in great pain, I would say that you could consider putting your pet to sleep. You could ask your vet for the best option, but for me as long as there is something that you can do, you shouldn't stop trying to save the life of your pet.

I had a puppy once, about 3 mos. she was very close to me coz she would always cry at night (she was separated from her mother) and I would rub her belly to put her to sleep. I got very attached to her. But she got ill and when we took her to the vet, it was too late. the vet did give us some medicine but said that we shouldn't keep our hopes up coz her case was quite hopeless. That night I made her go to my room, but I guess she knew she was dying because she wouldn't enter our house. i saw this look in her eyes like she was saying "it's okay, I can go now". My mother stayed with her the whole night but I couldn't bear to see her dying. The next morning she died and my father buried her. I did not see her as I didn't want to remember her dead.

It still makes me cry whenever I think of her.

Losing a beloved pet is always hard. And I know that caring for a diabetic cat is not always cheap. And I commend you for giving so much of you time, energy and resources (money) to your pet.

In the end, when you have to choose between a decision, it's best to follow your heart and remember what's best for you and your pet. That why, whatever may happen, you won't regret what you did because you know in your heart that it was the best that you could do.

Answer 4

How much pain and discomfort is the pet in? How much pleasure does she get out of her life? I assume you are giving her shot (s) every day. She won't get better and she will get worse?
I guess the time to let go would be when the pain the animal is in outweighs the pleasure she gets out of the rest of her life.
I don't know when that is. You are closest to the beast and know what she is feeling as well as anybody.
The fact that the vet asked you about it is a clue. Vet's don't like to put down animals they can save. And they don't like prolonging suffering.

Answer 5

My 12 year old diabetic kat died of a stroke as a complication of her diabetes. After many selfish years of giving her shots twice a day, dosing her food and watching her not feel well, I wish I had had the selflessness to give her peace. I will NEVER put another kitty through that. Sometimes Peace is the best thing you can do, no more feeling bad, no more needles, no more sickness... just peace. The saying is "peace and love" not "peace and shots." It would have been much easier for me to hold her while the Vet put her to sleep, than to hold her like I did while she had seizures. If your kitty is THAT ill that your vet is asking you, perhaps your vet knows that Peace is the best thing for your baby. You will be able to grieve guiltlessly, while your kitty goes peacefully. Whatever you decide, my heart goes out to you.

Answer 6

You and your family will know when its time. With me and my situation, my pet was in so much pain, and I began thinking, I want the best quality of life for her, not quanity. If that means I could give her another 4 months of a happy life, before she would become dependent on her meds, which made her lethargic, caused vommitting, diaherria, and her hair fall out, and just total discomfort, I let her go rather than her experience her final years in all that pain, I let her go with the best 4 months of her life. She had cancer. Its something you will know when the time is right.

Answer 7

To me, it's a quality of life issue. If she's upbeat, enjoying life, then you owe it to her to do what you can. That's part of the responsibility of being a pet owner. If there's pain or no joy in life, then you have to consider that. A hard part of being a pet owner. I'm going thru this decisions with 2 old dogs, and it's a very difficult decision to make. But when there are bad days, with no good days, you have

Answer 8

I have had to do that four times and each time it gets more difficult and the sorrow over the death of my family pet (part of the family) is not at all easy.

I kept my pets as long as I could.. until they actually gave up. I know it can be expensive but I will KEEP my pet(s) allive as long as they... AS LONG AS THEY are not suffering. If I can make a determination that they are suffering and their quality of life is not there anymore, then I make the decision to put them to sleep... That is certainly fair to the pet and it will help in putting your own mind at ease even after the pet has been put to sleep.

Answer 9

you sound like a great mum, and yes your doing the right thing,i have a cat thomas,and he has emphysema just last week he was struggling to breath so we took him to the vets and found out he has fluid on his lungs,so they asked did we want to get them drained as it would be expensive,damn right we got him drained anyway they took another xray the following morning and found out that he has tumours in both lungs and he didn't have long left.anyway we were all heartbroken and stuck with the decision should we shouldn't we,so we went to the vets to see him and the second he saw us he was purring and licking us,and just like his old self,so i ask the vet in his opinion was he suffering and he said not at the moment but he will give him a few weeks till he goes drastically down hill,well i looked at him and thought well he will let me know when he is in pain,so we brought him home he is on 3 different kinds of medication and yes its costing me a fortune but as soon as he gives up so will we,if this was a baby what had cancer everyone would be saying omg how awful,but cause it isn't everyone thinks just cause you have the option of puttin him to sleep you should use,i know my cat thank you very much and if he is suffering i will know hope this helps xxxxx

Answer 10

I sympathize with your concerns. Our pets need our protection and love. The vet can advise you if your pet is in pain or discomfort. Also, going to the vet can be very expensive and you are the only one to determine if you can afford the costs. If your pet is umcomforable and is in pain,then that would be the right decision to put him to sleep. You would be doing this because of the love you have for your animal.