Have a pet die at home, or have him put to sleep?

Question

I have a cat that is 17 yrs old- he'll be 18 in Feb. He has had kidney disease for approx 6 years, but until recently has been stable. He has recently lost weight, and is often dehydrated and needs IV's of fluid to re-hydrate. There is no cure, and he'll only get worse, never better. The treatments work temporarily, but need to be ongoing- and they stress him, & me. His quality of life stinks- he sleeps 22 hrs a day, and I am considering having him put to sleep- and the vet supports this. But I feel so so so guilty- should I let nature take its course, or "help" him thru the misery?

Answer 1

I had a cat get Chronic Renal Failure (CRF) (kidney failure). We did supportive care of IVs. Check out the Yahoo Groups... there is a wonderful CRF group there who can advise you better. They helped me give several months of quality life to my poor dying cat. I too was giving subcutaneous fluids to my cat during periods when he "crashed"

The thing about CRF is that it doesn't cause suffering in the sense of pain and agony. My vet had a good analogy: the toxins that build up in the cats blood make him feel the way a person does with a bad hangover. Tired and under the weather but not suffering. The more you can keep him hydrated, the more his kideys will flush and the toxins will stay low.

Look into the diets for renal failure cats. They're lower in the things that cause the blood toxins to build up.

Realistically you know it's not curable. 17-18 is a very age for a cat.

My cat had a sudden "crash" one weekend and even with lots of sub-Q fluids he just lay there half asleep.... a few hours late he went totally unconcious and was dead. It was so sudden we didn't have time to get a hold of a vet for euthanasia. This is what you should expect if you let him die at home.

The plus of having the vet do it is that he doesnt' have that last few hours of the "crash" when his kidneys totally shut down.... but the alternative is that his last hour's memory is the stressful trip to the vet clinic and then being held down by a stranger for a needle. It's a really hard choice to make.

Kudos for you for being so caring that you're thinking about this. Why don't you ask this question on the CRF list... they'll be really experienced with this and can help you. They're really wonderful people! They were so supportive when I struggled with my cat, Tippy.

Best of luck to you!

Answer 2

I had the same problem with my father's cat. he had been in the family for I don't know how long. The cat was a wonderful companion to my father. In the end, I decided to bring him home from the vet's. He also slept for long periods and didn't eat or drink much if at all. He didn't seem in pain, but the vet gave me some premeasured pain medicine. I would find the cat in various places he loved to sleep for the next few days and he would start to purr When I pet him. We both knew he was on the way out and one morning I woke to find him dead on the kitchen floor.

The thing is, he died at home where he was most comfortable and at ease, not on some stainless steel table in an impersonal and stressful setting. The best thing is to make sure your cat is not in pain and let him die where he is loved and where he loves to be.

I buried our cat in the back yard before my father woke and let my father know first thing. He seemed pleased that I buried the cat and didn't just dispose of the fellah.

It's hard to do, but in the nd you will feel better knowing that you did the right thing by your cat.

Answer 3

My heart goes out to you what a horrible situation you're in. You know what the right thing to do is don't you honey? Put yourself in your cats situation....he's nearly 18, wow this is a great age for a cat so you've obviously given him a fabulous life for him to get to such a grand old age, especially as he has had this kidney problem for the last 6 years so well done to you!!! Do you think he would thank you for letting his suffering drag on until he dies a painful slow death at home or do you think he would want you to cuddle him close and tell him how much you love him and thank him for enriching your life and say goodbye to him whilst he is put to a gentle painless sleep by your vet? I know which option I would choose. Don't feel guilty sweetie, feel proud of doing the right thing for your cat. Good luck I'll be thinking of you xx

Answer 4

Having been through this situation myself, I would have to say put him to sleep. My dog was 17 years old and dying of bladder cancer. He lived through it for about 5 or 6 years, and then he got really bad. His body was starting to shut down day by day. It was the hardest thing I have ever done, but I had him put to sleep because he was suffering so bad. I had Fred from the time I was 8, till the time I was 19. He took me through elementary school, Jr. High, High School, and part of College. He was my best friend and confidant, but he was also in pain, and I couldn't be selfish and keep him alive for my own reasons. The vet came to my house and administered the I.V.; Fred died in my arms, but the peace I saw come over him before he left confirmed that I had made the right choice. Don't feel guilty if you have him put to sleep. You won't be wishing his life away, you will be blessing it away. I hope this helps.

Answer 5

As the previous owner of a very old, very much loved dog who was ill in her last years, I have to say that I support "help" in this time of need. There is no need to allow an animal to suffer when it is the kind thing to do to ease their misery. There is nothing wrong with being humanitarian and letting the animal pass, with you there to comfort it, when it is suffering.

My husband came to the decision about a year before I did. He wouldn't have forced me to do this to the dog that I had loved since a child, he knew it was a decision I had to make on my own.

Finally the day came when she couldn't walk, couldn't move, and just looked to be in agony. Why would you let someone you love live in agony? I realized that I was keeping her alive for ME, not for HER.

No one comes to this decisions easily (I'm crying just thinking about it and it was a year and a half ago!) but I know I did the right thing.

I urge you to think about her quality of life, your quality of life, and what you two would say to each other right now, if you could. I think that will settle this for you and ease your heart. You are NOT doing something horrible, but setting your beloved pet free.

I offer my compassion in your hour of need.

Answer 6

I am truly sorry about your cat. As a pet lover for more years than I will admit to I can only give you support and give you my feelings about it. As I'm sitting here with my two dogs, one next to me the other next to him and one of our three cats in my lap I know you have a hard decision to make. I feel that you are doing you kitty a disservice if you let him suffer with his illness. I had a cat that was 18 who was diabetic and he got so bad at the end he couldn't jump up in my lap. I have always held my pet when the Vet put them to sleep. Then I would spend enough time with them to regain my composer before leaving the Vets. I left the pet behind for cremation and they will go in the ground when I do. I have had to put 11 beloved pet to sleep over the years and on was a horse that we had for 28 years. I can sympathize with your up coming loss but please think of your cat not how much you will miss him but know that he will be at peace and so will you...I wish you the best with your decision...And my condolence...

Answer 7

I would take him to the vet to get euthanized. If their is no cure and he is going through all of this pain he should be put down. All the vets do is give him a quick injection and he will get tiered and fall into a deep sleep. His heart will stop but his spirit will keep living,

Answer 8

If he is that bad the only human thing to do is let the vet put the poor little guy to sleep, that is not living that is torture. I couldn't sit there and see how miserable he is and not do anything.you will feel bad that is just being a human, but if he could talk he would ask you to let the vet help him. I am sorry that you have to see this happen.

Answer 9

I had a min/pin dog that developed cancer in the sinus area of his skull. When he deteriorated to the point where he could no longer breath through his nose and had a bloody discharge from his nostrils and had a large tumor restricting his mouth breathing, I anguished. The morality within caused me to have doubts whether I had the right to be the instrument of my companions death. Finally, one day I caught Mickey looking at with eyes that said to me, as he labored to breathe, "You've always helped me in the past when I was ill, please help me now" That did it for me, I overcame my moral objection and took Mickey to the vet to be put down. I held him as the drug was being administered and he licked my hand moments before it was over. I was very painless and fast.

Answer 10

My mom works in kidney dialysis and renal failure. According to her when you stop treatment the patient does not feel pain, they just become increasingly tired as time wears on. It can take a few weeks after you quit treatment for them to pass, but he will not be suffering. Patients in kidney failure eventually fall asleep and die. I would choose to keep him at home where he is more comfortable. I would hate to be ripped out of my home, scared out of my mind, and to die in a vet clinic. Trust me, your cat does not know what's going on, just that he is for some reason really tired. One of these days he will more than likely just go to sleep and pass over to the rainbrow bridge (a really helpfull poem for you). Any questions feel free to e-mail me, but like I said this advice is from my mom who directly deals with these issues every day.