did i do the right thing

[julie5]

hi havnt been on for a while
my cat tibby took ill on saturday
she lost all feeling in her back legs
we rushed her up the vet
who told us that she had blood clots
and also a serious heart murmer
they said there wasnt anything they
could do and asked that we had her
put to sleep she was seven years old
ive never felt so devistated in all my life
i keep bursting into tears and cant eat since
this happened.I know she was in a lot of pain
the way she was crying did i do the right thing
because it certainly dosnt feel like it.
she never had any problems at all this was the
first time she had been ill
any advice would be really gratefully accepted
thanks julie

[head]

saddle thrombuses are quite common in cats and can affect a cat at any age. it is not based on diet, it is not based on genetics, it is just a misfortune that affects cats because of the phlebotomic anatomy (the way the vessels are shaped). the doctor was right in the sense there is no cure and yes it is a very painful experience for the cat. personally, if you wrote on this board saying you chose to not euthanize in that situation i think personally i would not only be shocked but utterly outraged. you deffinately made the right decision in this case and although it is hard (and life short lived considerably) it was the right thing to d o.

[creativz]

I'm sorry, it's always so difficult to accept. :( You've released her from the pain, she's at peace now.

[mr gerbil]

You did the right thing, and remember that you're not alone. I was working at a vet surgery for a couple of weeks recently, and I saw a few animals put to sleep there. They seemed much happier once they had been injected, although the owners were understandably upset.

As pet owners, we need to put our animal's interests at heart. Unfortunately, their happiness sometimes comes to an end, and we need to relieve their suffering in the only way possible.

[julie5]

thanks for your replies they really mean a lot to me.
it was the hardest decition ive ever had to make.
i really miss her loads the house is empty without her
thanks again it makes me feel a little better knowing
i did the right thing.
even though it dosnt feel like it.

[mr gerbil]

Perhaps, when you're ready, you should get another cat. I know people tend to say 'oh I couldn't have another one', but it does help you to move on, and adds some company. Think about it at some point.

[AllAnimalLover]

It is always hard to loose a pet. I don't know what I am going to do when Charlie gets ill and that enevitable decision has to be made.

Your cat will never be gone. Keeps her memories close and she will live in your heart forever. She knows you loved her, and sometimes it's the best thing, and they know that. They understand. Take care

[brandy pup]

Julie, let me first say that I am very sorry for your loss. I know excatly what you faced. What you are going thru is very common it's called 2nd guessing.

Aug. 2nd my cat Prince came to me paralized in the rear legs. He was in pain. I rushed to the vet and after much testing and such came to inform me about the saddle thrombisis. (SP) And the reason for it cardiomyopthy (SP). (heart disease)

The op said that this isn't diet related, that is correct. However it is genetic. I have Princes brother. Chances are he will be fine but I need to test his heart to be sure.

What happens is that the heart starts to work harder then it should. A normal cats heartbeat is around 140 bpm. Prince when I took him into ER was at 260 bpm. What his heart did was dislodge a clot that travled his arteries to the tail area. There the atery goes into a Y shape with one artery to each leg. That is were the clot lodged hence his non use of rear legs and massive pain. Prince also had a heart murrmur.

Prince is only a year old. I live with a vet tech and we decided to give it 3 days of supportive care. With much pain med, heart meds, blood meds we did supportive care for Prince. (it's not cheap) I have continued round the clock care (with my friends help) and Prince is doing well.

He will have a short life, he can block again at any time. I give him 3 injections a day with heart pills once a day. Right now he is getting antibiotics becuase he regained use of his legs and rubbed one paw raw. The vets are amazed, they have never seen a cat recover from this.

In all my research I have come across very few cats that survived this. It Is EXTREMALY PAINFUL when the cat blocks. I caught prince very ealy in the block, I managed his pain with buprenex (kitty morphine) It is also expensive and time consuming. I can not leave Prince alone for long, I will not be able to go on vacations etc. But what I did was right for Prince. (Plus I had lots of help)

I know your bawiling your eyes out right now. But what you did for your kitty was the right choice for your kitty. It's very hard. And the 2nd guessing is terrible but it's a normal part of the process of grieving.

Please dont compare my situation to yours as it is not the same. I also have lots of expensives with this. Weekly vet trips, I have to keep his paw cleaned, meds etc. And I had help with the care. Had Prince been older 5 years + or something I most likly would have laid him to rest.

I hope you heal soon. Never forget your dear kitty. Always keep him with you in your heart.

http://www.dsl.org/hcm/

http://members.aol.com/jchinitz/hcm/definitn.htm

[Shrelana]

You did the right thing...I have a 10 year old cat who (thank goodness) is still in her playful stage, but I know that when she gets to the point where she is suffering, I will have to let her end her suffering....It may help some to go to the Pet Losses/Support forum and go to the Rainbow Bridge post....This helped me immensly when my dog and horse passed away

[julie5]

I would like to thank everyone for there replies
it makes me feel a bit better but this really is hard to come to terms with im glad i came on here to talk to people that understand what im going through my family seem to think i should be over this by now
i dont think i will every get over this she really was one special little cat she used to jump up on the arm of the chair when ever i left the house for a kiss.
i still think of her all the time but at least shes not in any pain anymore that the only thing that keeps me going. thanks again everyone best wishes to you all julie

[Bubblehead1123]

Oh goodness, you did do the right thing.

I know what your going through, My cat Loony, he had bladder stones and they said they would never go away and he would just keep on getting them, so we had to put him to sleep... Its very sad.. Sorry about your cat.