Would a vet euthanise if they thought it was too soon?

[Poppingby]

Had my lovely old boy put to sleep today. There were more procedures and tests we could have tried, but he was so miserable and poorly and hated the vet so much and I just couldn't do it to him in the end. But now I'm worried I should have given him more time or maybe he would have recovered really well if we'd tried something else. The vet didn't hesitate when we said we thought he'd had enough. Would she have said something if she thought we were too hasty?

Such kindness on the thread. Sorry OP am sad for you x

Yes. I was struck by the kindness on this thread. It is comforting. Losing the cat has hit me much harder than I expected and since I'm of the age where my friends are losing their parents, their own health, and even partners all over the place it seems insensitive to cry to them about it. So, thank you for the sympathy and reassurance on this thread. 💐

I am really sorry for your loss. My lovely vet told me years ago something that has always stayed with me. It’s better to go a day too early, than a day too late. You did the ultimate kind
thing for your dear cat. I am really sorry.

Sending condolences. I had the same thoughts after we had our old boy pts. Should I have had the blood tests etc, but the vet had said even if it found anything would I want to give an almost 19 year old cat invasive treatments? She didn't really give recommendations either way, I think all they can do is give options. I made my peace that it was his time.

I know what you mean about feeling strange showing grief when people are losing family members, but remember these pets are like family to us aren't they x

You put your dog first and had pts. Now you miss him and do wonder if there was more you could do but no they could have done a few more tests and your dog would have hated them and his last days would have been miserable. You spared your dog that misery. I wish all dog owners would put their pets needs first.

@Poppingby i cried more when our lovely girl was pts than when my father died. I’m sure that makes me some sort of psychopath, but she was just my favourite person in the whole world 🤍. I was surprised how kind people in my real life were actually, no-one at all was of the “just a cat” school despite having their own stuff going on.

We adopted a little boy cat indecently quickly afterwards and he was a hissy horror who had been a stray kitten - he gave me a focus when I was so, so sad, and I’m sure our girl popped him up on the Cats Protection website for me. (I realise this approach is not for everyone.)

No, they really wouldn’t. It’s very normal to have those feelings of guilt; it’s a horrendous thing to have to do, but it was absolutely the right thing 💐

I’m so sorry for your loss. There are all sorts of factors that can come into this decision as to when the time is right and I’m absolutely sure you have made the best decision. It’s not always best to put them through procedures for what might be little benefit.

Sincere condolences. I remember my last visit with a dog and they’d X-rayd her etc and she was absolutely riddled with cancer - had they not done the X-rays themselves they would have questioned wether it was the right animal. I then told them to make sure she never woke up from the anaesthetic. I have questioned myself 100x times but I know it was the right thing to do - and deep down you know as well. It doesn’t make it easier though 😘

I've been in a very similar situation only last week OP. It all seemed to happen so suddenly, massive weight loss and likely intestinal malignancies showing on scan(I wasn't putting him through a surgical biopsy to make sure). The vet was lovely, but IME they really leave any decision on euthanasia firmly in the hands of the owners.

We really tried to find if there was a way to make him comfortable, so we could have him a bit longer, but sadly there wasn't. I worry we left it a little too long, but it wasn't just me who needed persuading. He was a very much loved family cat and so everyone needed persuading that it was the end of the road.

He had a very peaceful ending in my arms. We only ended up having him for a comparatively short time (he was a rescue and almost certainly a fair bit older than his estimated age), but he lit up every single day he lived with us.

Be kind to yourself OP. You did the right thing. I really don't think there is such a thing as too soon when there are significant health/Quality of Life issues.

This has really given me pause. Elton managed CKD with such bravery, but there definitely came a moment when he was scared by how ill he felt. I hope we managed to give him a peaceful ending in the end.

"Losing the cat has hit me a lot harder than I expected..."

When they have been with you a long time it feels like the end of an era. We bought a couple of puppies when our daughter's were in primary school and they died within months of each other last year. Nearly every picture we have of thoses dogs has the girls in it with them, growing toward adulthood. It was impossible not to look at them and not see the shadows of two little girls behind them. It hit me hard when they died as we also became empty nesters the same year and it felt like those little phantoms let themselves out of the door behind the dogs. My DDs are both in their 20s now and those dogs were the last link to their childhood. I cried for weeks after they passed, even though we already had a couple of younger rescue dogs as well. In fact, we all just huddled in a ball together and mourned the old generation.

My DH decided to cheer me up by buying me a puppy, a breed I grew up with, and he now represents a new era, me remembering who I was before I became a mum and me being able to be a bit selfish again now that my children are independent. So he has started a whole new era of his own! No doubt he will tear my heart to peices when he passes, but right now he is a breath of fresh air and a great distraction for the other dogs.

You made the best decision for him , taking on the responsbility of putting him first , not dragging him on for yourself .

I know you'll think "What if we'd done xyz"

Our old girl was 17yo . She was treated by the vets but we got to the stage where she wasn't doing so well. Her CatFriend next door died aged 21yo so she missed him. My main worry was she'd go off somewhere to die being a cat they can be a bit too independant .

I took her in for a check up and decided to take her back in a few days to euthanise (( so everyone could say goodbye)
The vet did say "For what its worth you're doing the right thing" .

💕

The right time is when they stop eating - or drinking - so sorry for your loss

Yes, I agree with this. I had to ask the vet each time if they thought it was the right decision. They all said it was. My incoming cat (in a couple of months) was taken to three vets to be PTS. Thankfully they all refused as she was three and healthy.

I agree. My cat was put to sleep a day too late and it was the vets fault. I could never forgive.

I’m in this position now with my 17 year old boy. It is so tough, but I think it will have to be sooner rather than later. I’m sorry for your loss.

She was probably relieved. A vet once told me the worst part of her job was owners insisting on invasive or unpleasant treatments because of their own interests/not wanting to say goodbye which is completely understandable but not necessarily in the best interests of their pet

Sorry for your loss OP.

It's a very hard decision to make, deciding when an old or ill or both, much loved pet should be PTS.

I've always made the decision based on my pets quality of life, and on what a vet has advised.

My last cat to be PTS had failing kidneys, lost her half body weight, very weak but was bright eyed and affectionate. A mass found in her tummy, was the deciding factor. She was too weak to tolerate being put under for investigation.