hope she lived
- i have a four month old kitten who hurt her paw two days ago she no has an infection and high temp we took her to the vets and had her seen for £50 thry gave her antibiotics and painkillers if she is not better by tomorow we will have to put her to sleep as my mum cannot afford treatment for!!!:) i luv my little snowy soo much and i am now praying shes better by tomorrow!!!:(
- —Guest hafsa
Hurting.
- About three months ago my male cat of 7 years named Shamrock was diagnosed with a urinary blockage. Meaning a life or death situation where the animal goes under anesthesia while the blockage is removed. Afterwards, a three night stay is required so that the cat can be squeezed as to get him to urinate and remove the crystals. This procedure costs approximately $500, give or take a couple hundred. We are still struggling to pay the vet's bill today. Today my cat was diagnosed with the same thing. We went to a different vet because we still owe our vet money. I walked in thinking I was going to save his life, but I cannot afford it. I had to put him to sleep today, and I feel like a murderer. I should have been able to save him. I was supposed to take him to college with me.
- —Guest Britney
do vets care?
- We saved our cat from certain death about 5 years ago. She had been abused and had many wounds. At first she was scared of everyone, so she kept escaping from our house. But meanwhile I took care of all her wounds. There was a big scar on her nose when she finally decided to accept our help. When I took her to the vet they said it could be cancer and they would have to test her. I told them I knew what it was because I was the one that closed up the wound. So seeing that all they wanted was my money, I did not go back. She liked us so much that she never left the house. She became an indoor cat. 3 weeks ago, after 5 years living with us, she stopped eating suddenly. I took her to the vet, they gave her antibiotics etc. and charged me $133. She started eating again after 11 days, but deteriorated. Took her back to the vet said the bill would be a lot if I wanted them to take care of her with no guarantee or I would have to put her to sleep. It seems like they don't care.
- —hepi22
Hardest Choice I've Ever Had to Make
- My huge 12-year-old Maine Coon started losing weight about 3 months ago. I took him in for some dental work, and X-rays showed he had a herniated diaphragm, so his intestines were up in his chest cavity, squeezing his lungs and heart. I paid $2,700 for surgery knowing he might not live. He did, and was recovering beautifully for two weeks, then suddenly stopped eating again. Another X-ray showed a mass in his chest cavity that's pushing on his esophagus. A $1,500 cat scan is required to see what the mass is and whether or not it's operable, and if it is, surgery would cost $4,000. I can't put him through that again, and it seems insane to spend the money. He's the light of my life, but I know I'll lose him in a few years anyway... cats' life spans are not that long. I don't think he's suffering, but he's clearly uncomfortable and I don't want to keep him alive if it means he'll starve to death slowly... I also don't want to force him to eat. We'll probably have him put down this week.
- —Guest Adriane
The vigil
- My wife and I came home to find our beloved 13 year old Spot out by the back porch curled up and dying, she was losing weight for months but wasn't in pain so we didn't take her to the vet. Our vet of 20 years is good but can't work for free and we knew whatever was wrong with her wouldn't be a cheap fix. Our other 2 cats are subdued now, Spot is in my arms, you'd think she was asleep, barely breathing....It's over, she's gone now...God I'm going to miss her.
- —Guest Art Whittaker
Worst Decision I Ever Made
- I came home one evening and found my cat collapsed. He wasn't moving at all. At the animal hospital, they said it would cost $1,600 to keep him one night. I only had $500. I asked to used my sister's care credit accounts which had $2,000 and she reluctantly agreed. The vet said that he would probably need to stay more than one night and that after they found out what was wrong with him, he would then need treatment. She said that in her experience in cases like these, the outcome is usually not good. I decided to euthanize because I felt that I would run out of money before they could find out what was wrong and treat him for it. However, ever since then I felt that that was the wrong decision. They really didn't know what was wrong with him and when they brought him into the room to be euthanized, he was awake for a minute a so. I can't help thinking that I should have let him stay at least one night even if I had to have him euthanized the next day.
- —Guest Heartbroken
Unfortunately maybe
- Our vet, like more and more of them, does not make payment plans. You have to pay in full even if it's $500. I do not have that kind of money. My cat needs to go to the vet although he is slowly dying, I would like to take him to see if anything can be done to make him more comfortable, but payday is 10 days away. I am thinking he will probably die before then and it angers me that this situation has to occur.
- —Guest maryk
Must make the decision today
- My 14.5 year old cat is very sick. He has hyperthyroidism, hepatitis, pancreatitis, failing kidney function, feline version of sciatica, mineral build up in his intestines, and evidence of bleeding bowels. I cannot afford to manage all of his diseases. I am very sad. His litter mate suffered and died from some mysterious disease where he stopped making red blood cells. We couldn't make the decision to put him to sleep and he died at home and in a lot of pain. I don't want to put his brother through the same thing and I don't want to go through watching him fade.
- —Guest eadreel
My beloved 20 year old kitty has gone
- I had to put my 20year old kitty to sleep today. She had a heart murmur, was almost blind and suffering from dimentia and senility. My heart is broken
- —Guest noreen
My worst fear was realized
- I still miss my little boy. One week after I exhausted unemployment benefits back in March of this year, my 11 month old kitten suffered a blockage and could not urinate. After I paid up my rent and utilities I had enough money left over for the taxi ride to the vet and partial payment of the fee to euthanize him. Not a day goes by that I don't think of him, and I hate myself for not having the money to help him. I realize he might not have survived anyway, but that doesn't make me feel any better. What happened to him was so damned unfair!
- —Guest Andi
Making that decision is hard
- Our cat of 14 years has a nasal carcinoma that we have had fully diagnosed at a cost of more than $2,000 and we are treating her with anti-inflammatory drugs daily, as well as meds for her thyroid. The tumor has tripled in size and bleeding from her nose has started. Amazingly, she's the same ol' crusty kitty, demanding to be fed, jumping in front of the computer screen, and purring. With the distortion in her face, it's impossible to fathom that she can see out of her left eye. We have no idea whether she's in pain - no whining, or any other indication. The vet has told us that the "end" would be marked by the bleeding, and then seizures. This weekend is the closest we have come to consider putting her down because of the bleeding, but it has since subsided. It is a hard call when they can't tell you what's up, but I look to her behaviour as a bellweather. If she stops eating and interacting, then I suppose we are done.
- —robinregina
My dear cat, Sammy
- Yesterday I had to get my beloved,dear Sammy put down.He was 10 yrs, 2 mos old. He had been very sick with advanced liver disease and anemia. He was on 2 medicines. I just found out last Thursday what he had.It happened really quickly. He had been to the vets for his annual check up and shots at the end of May. Everything was good, except he needed to lose 3 or 4 lbs. He has lost 5 pounds in almost 4 weeks, was vomiting,very tired out, and hiding a lot. He had gotten worse in his last week. I knew it would be time soon, so I gave him a lot of extra attention and love.It hurts a lot, but I couldn't stand to let him suffer if he had no chance of getting better. The doctor told me that was the kindest thing I could do for my friend. I really miss my Sammy so much! When I feel better, I'm going to get another kitten to love.
- —Guest Karen
Euthanizing a cat.
- Money has to be a factor with a pet for most people. Of course you wouldnt let a child die, but you might a pet. 1st of all hospitals doctors have payment plans, vets do not. 2nd of all no matter how broke you are job loss whatever the case maybe if a human needs life saving medical treatment you will get it no matter your insurance situation. When it comes to pets vets will not they all think about the money!!!! Cats live into there teens after that anything is gravy. sad to say sometimes you have to put a cat to sleep. The bright side is that there are shelters with many cats that need a happy home. So while one cats life my end another one gets saved. Put it this way if only people that had money could have a cat many many more would have to be put to sleep without ever being given the change to live in a happy home for any amount of time.
- —Guest Mark
Will my guilt ever go away?
- I was awake all night again last night. It has been 2 years since I had my beloved friend and pet euthanised. It was late afternoon and the vet was closing. My kitty was barely 5 years old but the vet convinced me that he had symptoms of renal failure - it was after he took his last breath that the nurse said he probably would have lived 3 months more. Obviously she had no idea how much that time would have meant to me. I miss my kitty so. I am full of guilt for taking his life. When I was sick he would not leave my side. I gave up on him in a second. Sadder than this is that I had to give my second kitty away and his new momma found that this one has a heart murmur - I swear he has a broken heart caused by the loss of his family. This woman is kind and much more financially stable...she loves him and he adores her. I have lost both of my boys
- —Guest Audrey
possibly kidney failure :( ?
- my cat was a cat the SPCA found, & her name is Mellow. No one knows how old she is or what happened in her past, but they know she was abused. So she's shy, but she always is with me, on my bed, on the couch, when i sleep, everywhere ♥ & a few weeks ago i've noticed hair loss,weight loss, & depression. it's been a rocky road but this is the worst ever. i've been crying, and crying, and crying. im going to get tests for her friday, & im really hoping its only diabetes but even the vet thinks its kidney failure :( its soo upsetting.. :( ugh. & im only 13 soo its soo horrible, its like loosing aa bestfriend,
- —Guest kenzie
