...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.

Your body your choice, your cat your choice
Disgusting - cats are sentient beings, not commodities or slaves.

It's sad, but vet has the animals best interests at heart not yours. You are not trained to understand if your animal is suffering. I would imagine in weeks to come you certainly won't be still saying 'he is getting better'

YABU

I suspect there are economic aspects at play. You can put large sums into keeping your sick cat alive for another year, OP, if you have those sums. A subsidized service has to consider how to use the funds at its disposal to help the largest number. So if you want the expensive meds for relatively little benefit to your cat, it’s your call.

I do not think it is at all vile behaviour from the vet. I think they are probably right and can see that more clearly than you as the owner can.

In my experience, vets do not suggest putting animals to sleep lightly. I have found them more inclined to continue treating for as long as possible.

Your vet is right, it’s horrible having to have a pet put to sleep and your cat may seem mostly fine at home but cats are exceptionally good at hiding Illness or pain

At the beginning of the year I had two 16 year old cats. One had kidney disease. I had to have him PTS just as lock down started, as he wasn't well. The other Gcat is now 17, was in the vet on Tuesday and Wednesday having a dental done. He has stage 2 kidney disease, but they were happy to do his teeth and see him again in December for blood tests.

The vet was very clear that being PTS was the best thing for long haired Gcat, but have not recommended that for short haired Gcat, and are happy to monitor him at present.

I agree with you. I think vets are Too quick to suggest euthanasia too quickly. You see his you’re cat is and whether he’s in pain. X

Cats will purr as a stress response. It is not always a sign your cat is happy.

You've said your vet has behaved vile, unethical, questioned their professional opinion, accused them of putting their financial gain ahead of the welfare of your aged and sick cat. The vast majority of PP agree with the vet, as do I who was brought up by a vet and am surrounded by animals my whole life.
I get it is difficult for all concerned but do you need to make such inflammatory comments about a professional doing their job.

Sorry to hear about your cat.

We had our 18 year old cat PTS in 2018. He had an overactive thyroid which was well managed with meds for several years, though he still was skinny despite eating loads. However, towards the end he was genuinely suffering, became incontinent, not eating, poor mobilising etc. We hated seeing him suffer and agreed with the vet the best plan was to put him to sleep.

I am amazed at the number of 'loving' pet owners on here who are encouraging the OP to prolong her pet's suffering. She was clear in her first post that her pet has a number of chronic conditions, including heart and kidney disease. The choice of wording suggests to me that the kidney and heart problems are the most serious conditions, but that there are other, less serious problems as well. It may be possible to keep a cat 'comfortable' if it only had one of these conditions, though who is to say what is comfortable to a cat? But with several conditions, at least two of which are serious, I don't understand why anyone who professes to live their pet would want to put them through this? The stress of regular visits to the vet alone is unpleasant for the animal, let alone the treatment, whether it be forcing medication down their throat or inserting needles into their skin. All cause more distress to an animal who is already suffering.
I do understand how you feel, our old boy was 17 when he died. He, too, had a seizure and I called the vet straight away. Sadly he died before I could get him there, but I had already decided that if our vet said it would be better to let our cat go, I would accept their advice .
We cannot compare a cat, or any animal to a human. A human being, for the most part, understands why they are in pain and that treatment is intended to cure, or at least, manage their condition. An animal does not have the capacity to understand that. All they know is that they feel ill. OP, in your first post, you acknowledge that your pet is suffering. You love your pet, clearly, so why on earth would you want or allow them to contunue to suffer?

I am amazed at the number of 'loving' pet owners on here who are encouraging the OP to prolong her pet's suffering.

I find it incredibly disturbing too. Better 17 good years than 20 years where 3 are spent receiving intensive treatment. Quality over quantity every time I think for animals and people. Life is about so much more than merely existing.

My much loved dog was sixteen years old, with kidney cancer, when she was put to sleep. I was very upset but she was suffering and it was the kindest thing to do. Sometimes you have to put your own feelings aside and do what's best for your pet.

I'm so sorry OP. I love my own cat fiercely and cant ever imagine losing her (I know o will one day).
Having said that, I think the vet is probably right. She sounds a bit abrupt and not very tactful, but I think she is right.

I love my girl so much and I would prolong her life if it was best for her, but sadly your lovely boy sounds as if he is suffering.

The animal doesn't know you are prolonging its life. All it knows is that it's in pain (seizures etc) and being dragged to the vet (which cant be nice for them) to be poked at and goggled at.

I'm sorry but I would think very seriously about giving him a peaceful end.

It’s heartbreaking, OP, but the vast majority of vets have the welfare and wellbeing of the animals in their care at the very heart of what they do. You are blinded by the love and long relationship you’ve had with him. Of course you don’t want to lose him but the vet has to give you their evidence-based, experienced, professional opinion re what is in the best interests of your pet. Vets don’t euthanise their clients for fun, or because they can’t be arsed to treat them anymore. Aside from anything else, it’d be a pretty poor business model.

Let him go. It’s hard but it’s time.

So sorry you’re going through this, it’s awful isn’t it ? . However, I do agree with your vet. Part of being a pet owner is knowing when to let go, it seems like the time has come for your cat. Are you really keeping him alive for his sake, or your own ? He must be suffering, do the right thing.

YABU OP.

I know it’s hard, but you have to put the needs of your cat above your own.

There’s the saying “if love could have saved you, you would have lived for ever”. So true, the strength of our love for our best friends would mean that they would always be here.

Sadly, we have to use the strength of our love to let them go as peacefully as possible. For us, it’s a devastating decision, it hurts like hell and the raw grief is overwhelming - 5 months on I still miss my amazing cat horribly. It was very unexpected and sudden, I thought I had years left with him by my side.

But that pain we feel is the strongest sign of how much we loved them - enough to let them go peacefully when the time comes. The chance to be with them, gently stroke them, tell them how much we love them as they pass away.

Your vet may not have had the best bedside manner, but will have considered everything in the best interest of your cat. I would take the few days before his next appointment to come to terms with letting him go before the pain/stress of another seizure. It is likely that the vet will want to continue prescribing medication on a weekly basis - which will also be very stressful for him.

It’s horribly overwhelming when PTS is brought up when you’re not expecting it, so I really do feel for you.

I once saw a vet on Animal Hospital asked about PTS. He said it was a privilege to be able to help a beloved pet go without stress and with dignity. His words have stayed with me through the years as pets have come into my life all too briefly. Remember that you are doing a kindness- if it helps to reduce stress many vets have reduced call out charges for home visits to PTS and this can reduce the stress involved in taking your cat to the surgery. I’m so sorry you are going through this.

To me, my two most important commitments I make to my pets, are to give them a good life, and also to give them a good death, in a timely fashion, that means that they don't suffer unnecessarily. Their wellbeing comes before my natural desire to have them with me for as long as I can. Sometimes, just because we can prolong their lives, this doesn't mean that we should.

It's sad, but vet has the animals best interests at heart not yours

I wish I could believe that. Twice vets have killed my cats.

And on more than one occasion I have been told that the kindest thing would be putting my cat to sleep only for them to live many more happy years.

@ReluctantRenegade

From pp - a bet

'.in reality, owners often have a very limited understanding of the implications of how their pets illness will be making their pet feel, or the progression of it, and people hang onto to the ‘he’s still going for walks’ or ‘she’s still eating’ when in many cases the quality of life is long gone'

a vet

I really understand how you feel, OP. I had to face this painful decision for a beloved cat a few years ago. She was only thirteen and a half, but she'd developed all sorts of health conditions and was also over grooming due to stress; she couldn't adjust to life with a toddler in the house. I considered rehoming her, but the vet explained honestly that she wouldn't cope with such a change in her state of health and that the kindest thing to do would be to PTS.

It was very much for my cat's benefit rather than the benefit of the practice, as prolonging her life would have meant a lot of very expensive treatments.

It was one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make, but it was the right one, and I was with my beloved cat as she passed away peacefully.

For you, OP

Your vet doesn’t think it’s fair to prolong the inevitable They are not emotionally attached to your cat so they are able to give their opinion purely on medical grounds. It is very hard to let go I have been through it but he is a very good age and sometimes it is kinder to let them go to sleep. Another seizure would be cruel for the cat to go through in my opinion