02/01/2022
It may seem awful sometimes when the owner doesn't want to be present for the last breath before euthanasia, but let me share a different perspective. My cat of 21 yrs had a large salivary gland tumor that spread to a golf ball size in the roof of his mouth. I never looked in because he acted fine until suddenly after 20 yrs he no longer wanted to eat dry food. I thought it was a bad tooth and was shocked at the size of the mass. The vet lasered the mass at age 20 because Mcat was in such good shape, He was "fine" again 3 days later eating again as usual and playing, but the tumour had already spread to the liver, and lungs. He did live another 14 months without issue until the last 2 wks. He began to get weak and stumble and then fell into the litter box and couldn't get out. I knew his time was near and the next morning when he had a drop of blood coming out of his nose it was time. He was my child of 21 yrs. I called the vet to take him when I got there because he had boarded at the clinic for 17 yrs and knew it well. Upon arriving he perked up and even got out of his box and stumbled his way back to the cat ward. The young vet on duty started talking about subq fluids or iv's to make him feel better or an appetite stimulant. What was I going to get? 2 more weeks and maybe find him at home suffocated in his own litter pan? I knew if I looked at him, I would agree to heroic efforts because I didn't want to let go. That would have only been selfish on my part and so I let him go with caring staff. A necropsy confirmed spread of the tumour throughout the liver, spleen, stomach, bowel and lungs. So a big thank you to the vet staff who have to love our pets at their last moments for us because as owners many of us are pet parents are losing a child. Don't judge us too harshly. Mcat at 20.
