I have friend who's cat has lymphoma (cancer). The Vet says it will cost almost $4,000 for the cat to be treated and he may still only live another 6 months to a year and the quality of life will be minimal. Should he spend the money or have the cat euthanized?
2006-11-07 19:35:50 · 20 answers · asked by Billy 4 in Pets ➔ Cats
I was actually discussing the very same thing with a friend of mine who's an animal rescue worker last week when I helped her trap some local strays. She helps thousands of feral cats find homes every year. :)
My friend's answer was that if a new arrival to the center is found to have feline lymphoma they euthanize it and that's the ONLY time they do that. She said the reason why is because the disease and it's treatment are extremely expensive for the cat's owner and painful for both the owner and the cat so it's the humane thing to do.
Sad but true and she'd know, so I'd have to say that as hard as it would be I'd have to have my pet euthanized if it were mine.
2006-11-07 19:42:47 · answer #1 · answered by this_isridiculous 3 · 5⤊ 0⤋
I'm actually in the exact same situation. Last year my cat was diagnosed with lymphoma and had a tumor in his intestines so he didn't eat, drink, pee, or poo. He had literally wasted away in the time span of a week. We took him to the vet and paid for the surgery to remove the tumor. The vet told us that even with the medication (a pill a day), he wouldn't live more than another two months or so. Of course, he's gone on to live for well over a year now, which is amazing.
However, now he's beginning to show signs of the cancer again. One of his back legs no longer has any muscle in it, so he resorted to hopping around on three. We didn't want to get any more operations done if he was getting around just fine. Just this past week, though, his other leg now refuses to work.
It's incredibly difficult to make a decision about whether to put an animal down or not. Money is no issue for our family if it will truly allow the pet to have a good life. My cat is completely healthy otherwise and still meows every other second to say hi.
In the end, you can't always take what the vets say at face value. It's more of a rough estimate based on what they've seen in the past, but it is entirely possible that the operation and medication (if the cancer isn't too far along) will help the cat tremendously.
Personally, I won't give up on my kitty until he is either in pain or he simpley can't do anything on his own. It just isn't fait for him that way.
I hope thins work out for your friend's cat.
2006-11-07 20:00:03 · answer #2 · answered by sailorsolar_2000 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋
that is a hard one, there isn't anything I wouldn't do for my cats and I would put out the 4 grand but I would think twice if my cat(s) would only live another 6 months to a year. Depends a lot on the quality of life they would have.
I've already in a years time spend a good grand on them with vet bills, one of my cats has feline herpes, feline asthma, mild allergies and a slight constipation problem. most of those vet bills were to treat all the upper respitory problems he has had and then me and the vet came to the conclusion that he has feline herpes. We do what we have to to keep them healthy.
2006-11-07 22:51:34 · answer #3 · answered by macleod709 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My cat was diagnosed with Inflammatory Bowel Disease 1 1/2 years ago. I had to medicate him every day by giving him pills he hated. It got to the point he ran and hid from me knowing it was time for his medication. He threw up regularly despite the medication, he stopped being playful, and just always seemed unhappy. I couldn't tell at the time he was in pain, but now realize he was in fact suffering. In addition to the IBD, he had a bleeding ulcer that was not diagnosed - he must have been suffering from this too, but i was unaware. Between the initial surgery, taking him to several vets to try to find one who could help him, and all the subsequent testing, i spent over $5,000. I would have spent twice that if i thought i could have saved him and he would have been happy and pain-free again. He died a month ago. I hate that he was suffering all that time. It was devastating losing him, but knowing that he was suffering in silence made it even worse. I would never want to allow that to happen again when there's no hope of recovery. It's not about the money; it's about the quality of his life and doing what's right for him when he can't speak for himself.
2006-11-08 05:19:27 · answer #4 · answered by dreamcatchertt 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
you cant make this decision for someone else because no one but your friend herself will know how much she loves the cat and how much it means to her. If it was my cat I wouldnt go through with the opperation if it ment that the cat would be left in great pain. I wouldnt want to put it through that. I would fell selfish! But if there was a good chance that the cat would have a good quality of life after the opperation then I would def consider it. Its a lot of money though.
2006-11-07 19:41:29 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The real issue here is that the cat will suffer without an understanding of why-and still either die or have a poor quality of life. Subjecting an animal to this doesn't indicate love to me.
2006-11-07 21:21:50 · answer #6 · answered by barbara 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Hi...well I guess it depends on the outcome as I have spent lots of money on my animals only to have to lose them a few weeks down the line...I wouldn't do it again in the way that it was something that was going to kill them anyway...it was just that it cost so much to get to the point of them knowing what they were dealing with...If it was going to be cured then yes I would spend it but if it was a no win thing then I would do the kindest thing & not put it thru all the trauma & suffering when there was no hope...
Regards Jake
2006-11-07 19:43:52 · answer #7 · answered by Jake 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I teach veterinary students for a living and we discuss this very subject often. It is very difficult to be objective and unselfish at a time when the animal's quality of life needs to be assessed. Many treatments, especially surgery, can be very hard on an animal, especially during recovery. To put an animal through that only to maintain a minimal quality of life afterwards does not seem fair. We see too many clients spending too much money and trying to keep their animals alive for too long and they often suffer greatly for it. Tell your friend to try to be objective about it. One question he can ask himself is, "Would I want my cat's last day to be painfree or painfull?"
2006-11-07 19:51:17 · answer #8 · answered by Star 4 · 5⤊ 0⤋
If the animal will not have a nice life even after the treatment, then I would not go ahead with it. The added stress of the operation and so forth would just upset the animal even further as its health deteriorates.
However, if the treatment would cure my animal and give it a nice life - how much I spend? Every penny I could scrape together. I'd pay the Earth because that is what my animals are worth to me. When you get an animal you have a responsibility to give it what it needs, not just dispose of it because your budget is tight. The animal doesn't care how much money you have.
2006-11-07 20:47:07 · answer #9 · answered by Jason 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
I have actually talked to people about this. I have five dogs and have given it thought to each one. A couple of them have a strong desire to heal and get through things so I would probably do more for them. They are very resilient. However I have one that is old, hit by a car and i took her through HW treatment when I got her (suprised she survived it.) She may not survive much in the way of treatment for anything else. My daughters male rottie mix is the last one left in his litter due to some type of gland abnormailty (birth defect - spay and neuter!!!) I really believe it is up to the pet, the situation and the possible outcomes. I think in several situations its much more humane to let them go. Don't try to hang on to them for your own personal satisfaction.
And the 4K could be used to save several other pets in rescue.
We depend on donations to save several animals a year and we are not the only rescue to put themselves in debt of a young animal with a greater chance for survival and a good long life.
We are trying to help Emma now!!!
http://adoptastray.com/
2006-11-08 00:23:18 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋