...to think this is vile behaviour from a vet?

[ReluctantRenegade]

Hi all,

I'm very upset as I type this and desperately need some advice. The situation is my cat's 17 and has a few chronic health conditions including kidney (stage 2 at last blood analysis a few months ago) and heart disease. He had two seizures about a week ago which I think were caused by the hot weather as he was struggling to keep cool despite our best efforts. He has had one seizure before several months ago so three in total.

I took him to the vets today and they recommended having him put down because of the combination of these various illnesses which I can understand as on paper it looks bad but they don't live with him so aren't getting the full picture. I know they're professionals but they don't see him eating, sleeping and enjoying getting affection from his owners who've loved and cared for him for 17 years so they're just looking at him as a list of symptoms rather than as a living entity.

Anyway, I said to the vet putting him to sleep has been something that's on my mind but he has improved in some ways now he is taking diuretics for the heart disease. Obviously the seizures were nasty to witness and probably awful for him and he was quite disoriented following this but this is improving now and he hasn't had further seizures since the weather has cooled down.

What disgusted me however and made me feel utterly powerless and on my own with regards to his care is she said they could put him down then and there at the appointment even though he was just booked in for a check-up so naturally I refused as it seemed too abrupt and I don't think he is suffering to the extent he needs to be put down immediately. Of course there is an element of suffering with any chronic health condition but people suffer with multiple ailments and aren't sent to their deaths, their conditions are managed.

What really has upset me though other than their haste to end his life is the vet would only give me enough diuretic medication for him for the next week as she said she thinks he needs to be put down within the next week. Is this even allowed? She thinks he is suffering but is going to make him suffer more by not authorising medication to keep him comfortable for his time left in the world, whether that be weeks or months? AIBU or is this highly unethical of her to refuse to re-prescribe medication for him?

Lastly, this vets is subsidised so I think there's an element of it being cheaper for them to have him die than treating him there and have heard other owners disagree with this practice's 'recommendation' to put their pets to sleep. I pay what I can afford but it's cheaper than a standard vets so I think this is probably relevant to their eagerness to put animals down.

I pay what I can afford but it's cheaper than a standard vets so I think this is probably relevant to their eagerness to put animals down.

You could argue that they wouldn’t make a huge profit by prolonging life through expensive treatments so are free to recommend whatever they think is best for the animal.

I’m sorry your cat is so ill. I don’t agree that the vet is being unprofessional. Presumably you’re free to try another practice if you like.

I'm sorry you're upset but it sounds like the vet is just being honest with you about the situation. You're upset and lashing out and probably not thinking clearly because it's a horrible thing to hear.

Better a week too soon than a day too late imo. Cats are very good at masking illness and one of the that's on a load of medicines and is still having seizures probably isn't having the best quality of life.

Sorry about your cat but I'm with the vet. I had an elderly cat with kidney disease and it was horrible, he was lucky to be pts and didn't have to suffer on.
Console yourself with the fact that they had a lovely life with you, honestly I think it would be best.

Its so upsetting when our pets are ill but I think that not being motivated by profit means the vet is more likely to be giving you an honest assessments of your pets suffering and genuinely believes being PTS is for the best.

Vets very rarely make those sorts of statements without good reason to - setting aside your love for this animal, please try to think about their general quality of life, and how their health is impacting them. It's better to a day too early and a day too late.

I'm so sorry, and it comes across in your post how much you love your cat, but I honestly think the vet was right both in offering to euthanise then and there, and in only prescribing a limited amount of medication for a cat that is clearly suffering.

I'd urge you to think of the saying that's used a lot on here - better a week too soon than a day too late.

YABU.

This is about the cat’s welfare, not your emotions.

The vet is recommending euthanasia because in her professional opinion that is the best and most humane course of action for the cat who is obviously very ill, is not going to get better and has unacceptably poor quality of life.

If you disagree with her opinion, you are free to go to another vet to get a second opinion.

You’re being unfair to your cat.

And I say that as someone who kept her much, much loved pet alive for a year longer than I should have.

I’m sorry, it’s so sad. But vets are professionals and if it’s in the cat’s best interests then it could be time to let go.

Sad I know, but the vet is right. It's the best thing for your cat.

Sorry, OP, but it is time.

I’m so sorry OP.

But the earlier poster is correct - in terms of financial gain it makes much more sense for a vet to prolong life (and expensive medication and treatment and check ups) as long as possible.

I think using words like “disgusted” and asking “is this allowed” is unfair on a professional person trying to do their job. By all means get a second opinion if you want one. But I know a few vets and I’ve never come across one who recommends PTS lightly.

people suffer with multiple ailments and aren't sent to their deaths, their conditions are managed

People understand why they feel so awful, their treatment options and can tell you if they are in pain.

Cats hide pain very well, too well.

For a vet to offer to PTS your cat asap, and limit further medication, they obviously feel that it is cruel to prolong your pets life. I’m sorry this is such an upsetting prospect but if you love your cat you need to put them first and end their suffering.

I'm sorry OP, this is a horrible thing to have to go through

I recently had to have my very old dog PTS and it was so hard and so sad, but I knew deep down that I was doing the right thing because he'd had enough.

My exH had a similar reaction to you though. DDog was his, then ours, and then when he moved out he couldn't take DDog so he stayed with me. ExH didn't want to accept that it was time, but once DDog had gone to sleep he realised that we had done the right thing.

Your lovely cat has given you 17 years of love and loyalty. It's time to give him something back.

I am so sorry that your cat is so unwell

However I don't think your vet is being unethical in her views. Too many people keep their pets around for their own benefit, rather than for the benefit of an animal. A 17yo cat with kidney disease, heart disease and seizures probably doesn't have the greatest quality of life, in all honesty.

Better to have them PTS a week to soon than a day too late. Remember, cats and dogs have no concept of death or mortality and will have no idea what's happening. To them, it's just like falling asleep.

I'm so sorry your cat is ill but you're keeping him alive for you, not for him. A vet knows how these illnesses are affecting him and will know the best treatment. Sadly, this means being PTS. My heart broke when I had to have my dear pet PTS, five years later I still cry sometimes just thinking of her. But I know that it was the right thing to do as I had the power to stop her pain and I did it for her not for me. Your last memories of him may be of an extremely ill cat, or even wondering where he is and finding him dead and that's not how you want to remember him. It's really awful but it's the kind thing to do.
With regards to the vet - they make money from keeping animals alive not killing them so I don't see the logic in your argument in afraid.

Ime preferable to my dm's dcat's vet. Took a grand off (70yo) dm and a week later said (18yo) dcat would be better off pts..
Charged her another 250..

But I know a few vets and I’ve never come across one who recommends PTS lightly.

Agreed.

A close friend of mine is a very, very experienced small animal vet, so I know that vets DO NOT recommend euthanasia lightly.

Lots of owners leave it way too late to put an animal to sleep .. I expect he was trying to do the right thing by the animal .

I would be sitting with you on this op. You know your cat. If this is the first time the vet has suggested it then I would think it was hasty and shocking given the reason you were there.

The vet is giving you their considered professional opinion. Only giving you enough for a week means your cat will need to be reassessed, so they can suggest PTS more strongly if he has deteriorated as they are expecting him to.

I lived with a load of vets at uni and they all adore animals. They are the biggest saps, adopting the difficult cases no one else wants, animals that need frequent medical care, lots of expense etc, but still have quality of life. Their partners usually have to put their foot down and refuse any more rescues. These are not the kind of people who are in it for money (with those skills they could have gone to med school and be a human doctor for more money), and they are not the sort of people who are in it to allow animals to suffer.

Cats mask pain really well because if they show pain it makes them vulnerable in the wild. If you don't PTS he will probably go off on his own to die alone and in pain. You may never get to say goodbye, or even know what happened to him.

This is so hard OP and heartbreaking - but deep down you must know that the vet is not telling you what they’re telling you to be mean to you - they’re doing it to be kind to your lovely cat. They have absolutely no reason to lie to you, and every reason to look out for your cat. Suggesting it ‘to cut costs’ makes no sense.

You’re clutching at straws because the idea of loss is so painful. I get that. But it’s not about how much you will miss your cat; it’s about how much pain he is in. It is cruel to keep him alive when you have the option not to.

I'm sorry for what you're going through, it's never easy, and you've had many years with him

You could ask for a different vets opinion of him if you like.

I think, though, that the vet has seen your old boy with clearer eyes than an owner can - we are so close that we barely register gradual decline. Your vet is saying very clearly that it is time, he is suffering.

I'm sorry.

Your cat is dying.

Kidney failure is painful and distressing for a cat (or anything, for that matter) to endure.

The vet isn't prolonging his suffering.

You are.

Take him back tomorrow and let him go gently.

I think if your cat is still eating, drinking and enjoying time with you, then he isn't ready to be put to sleep. Most people know if/when the time comes.

I had a dog who had a stroke at 13 and then a couple of mini siezures months and months later. They were put on meds and were happy and enjoying life and passed away at 16.5 years.

When she had the stroke the vet told me 13 was a good age and asked "how long do you want her to live?" every time we visited for repeat meds. EVERY bloody month. My dog would still bound around like a puppy until near the end. I used to really like the vet but rapidly went off him.

I totally sympathise with you. If you are sure your cat isn't suffering, and you will know from their behaviour, the can you go to another vet like PDSA? I too would be concerned that they want to put him to sleep because it will be cheaper in the long run than the medication.

I'm so sorry you have had such an upsetting experience.