Is it getting closer to time?

[sillywoody]

My beloved 17 year old boy Silly is slowly losing some quality of life, but I don’t feel it’s time. He still has a great appetite, purrs,

He has ckd, highest dose amlodipine, but he still recently went almost blind…this or dementia has caused him to be VERY disoriented. If he’s not using the litter or eating he HAS to be beside me or on my lap, or he’s meowling. He’s doped up on gabapentin at night and during the day to help him calm down, but as soon as it wears he’s meowling and anxious again. I work from home and accommodate him 90% of the day but going back to office work upcoming months.

Is this a bad quality of life for him? Am I awful to think he should still be on this earth until we know for sure he’s in pain?

 

[mewlittle]

Sorry I have no advice ,most my kitties went on their own time with no warning besides one that kept trying to cling on I had to make the hard discision to send her to the rainbow bridge her name is Mewlittle the one in my profile picture, I hope for the best and I hope he passes in no pain and he has a great last day (how ever he joins Mewlittle) much hugs and love it ain't easy but bunches of hugs

 

[KarenKat]

There’s never an easy answer to this question. Our boy Trin was only 10 years old when we decided to put him to sleep. He had IBD that likely turned into lymphoma. He was on medication which was almost impossible to administer (this guy was 15 lbs and fought hard). He also was cranky on the meds. We gave him a last week of spoiling him and took him off the meds. The dilemma is that there is always some enjoyment we see from them, so unless it is well past time we find reasons to keep them going.

Just do your best, try and evaluate if he has more good times than bad and make any decision with love. There isn’t a wrong answer. My sympathies that your kitty isn’t well .

 

[FeebysOwner]

How else is his ckd being treated? Is he to the point of needing sub-q fluids? Dehydration can create very uncomfortable affects on the body and let toxins build up in the system that can mimic dementia - and, it can attribute to high blood pressure, among a whole host of related issues. Perhaps, gabapentin isn't really the answer.

Eating well isn't the only indicator, but IMO, it means he still wants to 'hang around' and isn't feeling so bad that he doesn't want to eat.

 

[sivyaleah]

This is always a difficult emotional decision to make.

When we made the decision to allow our old boy to rest, it was made clear to us that his time had come. He had been living with CKD, and a host of other concurrent illnesses for a few years but with great vet and home care, was doing pretty darn well all things considered. Still using his box, still eating, still playing with his sister, still loving to us.

However, over the course of 2 days that changed dramatically and he began having small seizures. And refused food. He was lethargic and just looked, tired. That, was alarming. I called the vet immediately. We brought him in and she gave us the bad news that his kidneys had gone into full failure and it was a matter of time - but one never knows when that will be. She administered some health support (fluids, I can't remember what else). We took him home to figure out our next move. That was a rough evening.

For the first time in nearly 10 years he was with us, he remained downstairs instead of coming up to sleep with us. I found him on the Ripple Rug in the same position we'd left him the night before. I picked him up and he suddenly felt light as a feather, so frail and small and he was NOT a small boy. He was barely responsive to me. Husband woke up and I told him, it's time. Called the vet who saw us right away so that we could let him have his final rest.

I was not familiar with the quality of life list at that time but have come across it many times since then. Perhaps, it will help you make a good decision.

I am of the mind, better a day too soon then a day too late. It is our duty as their guardians to be sure they do not suffer. My thoughts are with you.

https://360petmedical.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Quality-of-Life-Scale.pdf

 

[fionasmom]

https://vet.osu.edu/vmc/sites/defau...ionAnimals/HonoringtheBond/HowDoIKnowWhen.pdf

This is another quality of life scale that might be helpful. Only you can make the decision for your friend though and it certainly may not come down to a numerical score.

Eating is often the final determiner, even for some vets. I, myself, have tended to use that with both dogs and cats, although that is not to say that it might have been the best thing to do.

I am sorry that you are facing this.

 

[artiemom]

This is such a heart wrenching decision to make. I had to do it a few years ago, with Artie. He suffered from both IBD and MegaColon, in addition to heart murmur, chicken allergy, losing fur from the meds, arthritis, spot on his lung, hypercalcemia from the lactulose, the fur loss was from the pred. It seemed every time I turned around, it was something else.

I will tell you my story:
It seemed Artie's life was revolving around medication.. several times a day. He became such a good kitty about the medication, except the lactulose. It was at a point where I would have to literally pull the half in and half out, poop out of him. The Specialist suggested the only thing left to do was surgery, and he would not suggest it. He was also getting daily sub-q's...

Artie was so fussy with food.. refusing it all.. He also stopped sleeping with me.. That was a huge sign.. He always slept with me.. And he stopped having any interest in playing....

This decision is so personal. I felt so guilty about the decision. Artie was my soul cat. I am still so attached to his memory.

What made me decide, was the fact that I was increasing meds, causing the side effects. His life revolved around the meds. He was not playing, yet he was still 'my guy'... He could not poop.. he was so fussy with his food. I think I exhausted every food on the market, to see if it would agree with him. I was getting sick from trying to take care of him...

Such a horrible decision to make.. but as my Vet kept telling me, each time I asked: "It is better to be early than to be too late"... I guess for memories... I do not know..

If your kitty is not enjoying life; and I mean a normal cat's life... being a cat... then it is time to seriously consider it... I mean it...

I have a relative who does not believe in euthanasia. All of his cats have suffered, so much. His last cat was deaf, blind, sever uncontrolled hyperthyroid, arthritis, heart issues, not eating..They were medicating her, doing sub-q's, etc. yet, because she purred, he did not think she was sick entire to die... I felt so bad for his kitty.. She suffered for years... even his Vet suggested putting her down. But they did not believe in it.. My heart breaks for the kitty... finally, she succumbed.. poor thing....

When you begin to think it is time... well, I think it is time....

I wish you luck, and love in your decision.. ((((HUGS))))))

 

[sillywoody]

How else is his ckd being treated? Is he to the point of needing sub-q fluids? Dehydration can create very uncomfortable affects on the body and let toxins build up in the system that can mimic dementia - and, it can attribute to high blood pressure, among a whole host of related issues. Perhaps, gabapentin isn't really the answer.

Eating well isn't the only indicator, but IMO, it means he still wants to 'hang around' and isn't feeling so bad that he doesn't want to eat.

This is interesting. His blood results just came back really good actually, improved. I'll mention this to my vet nonetheless. Oh he likes to eat, and is very purry still. I decided I'll keep him around as long as he wants to be here as long as he's not in pain.

 

[sillywoody]

This is such a heart wrenching decision to make. I had to do it a few years ago, with Artie. He suffered from both IBD and MegaColon, in addition to heart murmur, chicken allergy, losing fur from the meds, arthritis, spot on his lung, hypercalcemia from the lactulose, the fur loss was from the pred. It seemed every time I turned around, it was something else.

I will tell you my story:
It seemed Artie's life was revolving around medication.. several times a day. He became such a good kitty about the medication, except the lactulose. It was at a point where I would have to literally pull the half in and half out, poop out of him. The Specialist suggested the only thing left to do was surgery, and he would not suggest it. He was also getting daily sub-q's...

Artie was so fussy with food.. refusing it all.. He also stopped sleeping with me.. That was a huge sign.. He always slept with me.. And he stopped having any interest in playing....

This decision is so personal. I felt so guilty about the decision. Artie was my soul cat. I am still so attached to his memory.

What made me decide, was the fact that I was increasing meds, causing the side effects. His life revolved around the meds. He was not playing, yet he was still 'my guy'... He could not poop.. he was so fussy with his food. I think I exhausted every food on the market, to see if it would agree with him. I was getting sick from trying to take care of him...

Such a horrible decision to make.. but as my Vet kept telling me, each time I asked: "It is better to be early than to be too late"... I guess for memories... I do not know..

If your kitty is not enjoying life; and I mean a normal cat's life... being a cat... then it is time to seriously consider it... I mean it...

I have a relative who does not believe in euthanasia. All of his cats have suffered, so much. His last cat was deaf, blind, sever uncontrolled hyperthyroid, arthritis, heart issues, not eating..They were medicating her, doing sub-q's, etc. yet, because she purred, he did not think she was sick entire to die... I felt so bad for his kitty.. She suffered for years... even his Vet suggested putting her down. But they did not believe in it.. My heart breaks for the kitty... finally, she succumbed.. poor thing....

When you begin to think it is time... well, I think it is time....

I wish you luck, and love in your decision.. ((((HUGS))))))

Thanks for sharing, I will definitely take this all into consideration. Silly got his blood results back and they were actulally improved from last time. He's had a pretty couple days so we're just taking it day by day now I guess.

 

[sillywoody]

https://vet.osu.edu/vmc/sites/defau...ionAnimals/HonoringtheBond/HowDoIKnowWhen.pdf

This is another quality of life scale that might be helpful. Only you can make the decision for your friend though and it certainly may not come down to a numerical score.

Eating is often the final determiner, even for some vets. I, myself, have tended to use that with both dogs and cats, although that is not to say that it might have been the best thing to do.

I am sorry that you are facing this.

My vet gave this resource to me too, it has been really helpful. Thanks!

 

[sillywoody]

This is always a difficult emotional decision to make.

When we made the decision to allow our old boy to rest, it was made clear to us that his time had come. He had been living with CKD, and a host of other concurrent illnesses for a few years but with great vet and home care, was doing pretty darn well all things considered. Still using his box, still eating, still playing with his sister, still loving to us.

However, over the course of 2 days that changed dramatically and he began having small seizures. And refused food. He was lethargic and just looked, tired. That, was alarming. I called the vet immediately. We brought him in and she gave us the bad news that his kidneys had gone into full failure and it was a matter of time - but one never knows when that will be. She administered some health support (fluids, I can't remember what else). We took him home to figure out our next move. That was a rough evening.

For the first time in nearly 10 years he was with us, he remained downstairs instead of coming up to sleep with us. I found him on the Ripple Rug in the same position we'd left him the night before. I picked him up and he suddenly felt light as a feather, so frail and small and he was NOT a small boy. He was barely responsive to me. Husband woke up and I told him, it's time. Called the vet who saw us right away so that we could let him have his final rest.

I was not familiar with the quality of life list at that time but have come across it many times since then. Perhaps, it will help you make a good decision.

I am of the mind, better a day too soon then a day too late. It is our duty as their guardians to be sure they do not suffer. My thoughts are with you.

https://360petmedical.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Quality-of-Life-Scale.pdf

This is heartbreaking, it sounds like you gave him an amazing quality of life and a good sendoff. I almost hope the answer is as clear for Silly as it was for your old boy.