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Cat in heart failure :( Have to decide whether to treat or euthanise

15 replies

MegBusset · 22/03/2008 11:37

Our beloved mog (who's 12) has had hyperthyroidism for six months, and in the last two days has stopped eating, got very listless and unable to jump . This morning the vet has confirmed that she is in the early stages of heart failure. She is not in any immediate discomfort although she is totally not herself, is lying on the floor panting

We have the option to put her into a 24-hour clinic to see if they can stabilise her and maybe find a course of treatment. This will cost £400-500 for the weekend alone (we have no insurance but do have some savings) but could run into much higher figures if she needs ongoing treatment. Of course there is no guarantee that she would respond to treatment, and could mean that she dies in a strange environment this weekend. (She is very nervous and hates the vets)

Our other option is to have her put down at home this afternoon.

We are really devastated and not sure what to do. We cannot afford thousands of pounds of ongoing treatment, but could book her in for the weekend to see if she stabilises. But maybe it would be fairer for her to go comfortably at home, before she gets in any pain. The long-term prognosis is not great, basically at best we could buy her a few more weeks or months.

Please help, this is such an awful decision to have to make

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scorpio1 · 22/03/2008 11:38

Me, personally, i would have her put down, with everyone who loves her around her. Our cat was very poorly and it broke my heart.

Money is irrelevant to me in situations like this; but her welfare was top and i didn't want her in pain anymore.

StrangeTown · 22/03/2008 11:40

I had something similar with my cat although she was much younger. Vet said we could try a heart op, but didn't hold out much hope. I opted to have her put down. She too was very listless and lying down in corners a lot, really distressing.

Hope you are OK. It is horrible decision, whatever you decide will be the right one for you and your cat.

scorpio1 · 22/03/2008 11:40

our cat did the hiding thing too.

belgo · 22/03/2008 11:40

I would have her put down due to her age. Very sorry. I lost a cat very suddenly to undiagnosed heart failure. She was only six. She died alone in a neighbour's garden.

winniethewino · 22/03/2008 11:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MegBusset · 22/03/2008 12:39

Thank you all for your replies. The vet is coming this afternoon to put her to sleep at home

She can't really walk, is lying in the kitchen and foaming a bit at the mouth I think the stress of treatment would finish her off anyway. At least this way she will be calm and warm. I have had a very happy 10 years with her (she was a rescue cat) and feel it is the last act of kindness I can do for her. I am crying my eyes out but in my heart I know it is the right thing.

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belgo · 22/03/2008 12:40
Sad
PortAndLemon · 22/03/2008 12:53

I think you're doing the right hting. The intensive treatment at best will only buy her a bit more time, and would be stressful for her. Better that she goes now in her own home surrounded by her family.

MegBusset · 22/03/2008 16:18

She's gone

It was very quick and the vet said definitely the right thing to do, she had fluid on the heart which they wouldn't have been able to treat.

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ScarletA · 22/03/2008 16:23

Oh love, am so sad for you. We had to do the same thing for our dear old dog last month and it has been very hard.

What helped me was knowing that he died, like your cat did, in his own home being held by the person who loved him most in the world. My Mum said she would like to go that way.

You did the right thing although it will hurt. Sending you a big hug

winniethewino · 22/03/2008 22:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

noddyholder · 22/03/2008 22:47

Please thinkabout having her put to sleep/My sister had exactly the same situation a month ago and she did.I have heart failuer and before my medication was sorted the breathlessness was truly distressing and I wouldn't wish it on anyone or cats either.I have cats and love them so know how hard it is xxx

noddyholder · 22/03/2008 22:47

sorry I didn't read it all before i posted You did the right thing

Araldia · 22/03/2008 22:49

Ours is going through this now (14), they gave him tablets to ease the water on his lungs and said that he may live for years, months or days, he's not getting any better, and today he's not been good at all. Why is it always weekends and bank holidays when kids and pets get really really unwell?

MegBusset · 23/03/2008 10:50

Araldia Hope he is more comfortable today.

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