Heartbreak. The Veterinarian advised me to euthanise two of our pets before our trip.

Spinner1

Spinner1

Joined
Jan 3, 2009
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592
I'm having a real heartbreaking difficulty with having two of our pets killed...:(

Rainbow the 20 plus years old cat and Cay the 14 year old dog.

Rainbow has had diabetes for over a year now. It is not under control though we've tried everything. Cass (my daughter) and I take between 2 to sometimes 5 blood samples a day from her ears.

We do this to keep track of her glucose levels in her blood. It fluctuates between 3.8 to 27.6. Even when extremely high, I can not give her a shot of more than one unit of a small 50 unit syringe. The amount is so minute it's less than 1/2 mm. She doesn't need much but she can not live without it.

Cay has some blood in the urine, a very enlarged prostate...to the point that the vet can not feel it anymore as it has moved so far forward. Cancer has not been ruled out... His liver values are elevated to above 300. The vet thinks he is too old to be operated on.

Cass and I figured that we will bring these pets with us when we fly from Finland to the East Coast and they will be traveling to Alaska with us on our, -maybe month to two months journey.... I figured that we will care for them and take the blood tests and give the insulin shots etc....

On our last vet visit, the vet recommended that we should euthanize them and take their ashes with us instead. She said it would be best for these animals and for us.

I realize how difficult it would be to find veterinarians on the road in emergency situations....and how difficult it would be to find a crematorium on the road if needed.

When I look into the eyes of these beloved pets, who look at me with trust and devotion, and I think that I'd have to end their lives, my heart breaks time and time again. :( I feel like I'd be betraying them...

I have a really difficult time of taking them to the vet for their last shot.

Isn't there any other solutions...?

With heavy heart, -Spinner :(


Rainbow.jpg



Rainbow.jpg




Cayenne.jpg




Cayenne.jpg
 
There comes a time when there are no good options. When you can continue to keep your friends alive with some chance of them being able to enjoy life, the decision is easy. But when they are already in bad shape at their age, a trip like this is an almost certain disaster for them: disorientation and further weakness.

I don't know about your dog, but 20 years old is lot for a cat, with diabetes? Not going to be a good trip. My daughter had a similar decison to make for her own cat recently. We know how hard it is.
 
Spinner, you know your little friends much better than the Vet does!!
You're the one that snuggles with them daily and holds them and communicates with them!!
When it's time to say good bye to them, I think they'll let you know!!!!
Maybe you can find another Vet and get some better treatment for Rainbow and Cay. I'm not a doctor but I've never heard the term "too old to be operated on".
Take care my friend and I pray your little pals get well!!!!
Michael
 
Do you have to go? If you can't stay there with your pets it could be rather hard on them to put such elderly animals through the stress of long distance travel.
I can't have my animals put down unless they are in pain and their quality of life has deteriorated to the point that they are visibly suffering.
If yours has reached that point you have to consider that maybe you are keeping them alive for you, not their welfare. Only you can answer that question and ultimately make the decision. It's never an easy one and when we take on the responsibility of pet ownership we have to be responsible for their welfare even if it means hurting ourselves very deeply.
Best of luck in whatever you decide and my heart goes out to you.
 
My wife is the administrator at a veterinary clinic. One thing they tell clients in your position is that the last kind act you can do for a pet is put then down to relieve their suffering. Do not think of it as “killing” the animal, but easing the pain and poor quality of life their health problems have created. Hope this is of some help…
 
Spinner1 - You have my deepest condolences. I had to make the decision to euthanize my cat a few months back and it is one of, if not the most, difficult things I have ever had to do. I will pray for you and your family members (including your pets) and I will also send up some smoke. May GOD help you. -DT
 
As a best friend, it's your solemn task to decide when to make that final trip to the vet's office.

Are the animals suffering chronic pain? Constant discomfort? Is their suffering relieved with medication? Do the animals still play outdoors? Do they still perform 'jobs'? Do they still have control of their body functions? Are they still hygienic? These are factors I would take into consideration.

Maybe now is the time, maybe it's not. Only YOU can decide.

I wouldn't put down an elderly pet just to make a vacation trip more convenient.

But I certainly would not drag an elderly and ill animal around the world either... it would be joyless and cruel.
 
I feel for your dilemma, last May, before Blade I had to make the decision for my 18 year old cat.

She had had a stroke, so I kept her comfortable, waiting for the end, but she came back a long way, the end didn't come. I've had a few of my companions go peacefully, at home, in there own time, and had hoped that for Nik.

She was no longer in danger on dieing, but had lost the use of her hind legs. I didn't feel like I could burden anyone with her care while I was travelling, so it was time to make the decision.

I found a vet who made house calls, my daughter uses her in lieu of transporting her critters to the vet. She was wonderful and understanding, helped my work through my process.

It was a beautiful spring day, so we (me, the vet, my 2 dogs and Nik) all went out back on the patio. Spent time together as we did in the past, and then the vet administered the shot as I held Nik in my arms. She seemed to understand, and passed quickly, for which I was grateful.

This is the first I've spoken of this, I have tears streaming down my face as I type. I did the right and necesary thing, as difficult as it was.

I'm not sure if this will help in your descision, but it has helped me in the telling.


Thank you, and you'll be in my thoughts and prayers.


My Nik, RIP

niki.jpg
 
I appreciate all your feed back. I thank you for caring and for giving me strength and your viewpoints.

This is not a vacation. We have a home in Alaska. My husband has been working there already over a year and Cass and I stayed here to take care of things so we can move.

Our animals came to Finland from Alaska when we moved here ten years ago to care for my aging Mother. (I was the only child) Now that my Mother has passed away, we have nothing to keep us here and we miss our home in Alaska.

We have sold the livestock and the farm and are getting ready to move back home again. The international movers will be here next week to get our things.

Our animals are a big part of our family and they have been with us since their youth. They traveled with us when we drove from Alaska to the East Coast and they flew to Finland with us. We do not abandon our animals when we move.

We figured that our two cats would fly in the cabin with us. The dog down below. When we get to Pennsylvania where my MIL lives, I will buy a 4WD, crew cab truck and either a camper or a travel trailer and continue our way to California and from there via BC and Yukon, home to Alaska.

It is a long haul and we plan to visit family and friends on the way as we haven't seen them in the last 10 years.

Hope this little background helps you to understand what we are going to have to do as far as our traveling is concerned.

Please keep on sending us your thoughts and viewpoints. It will make it a little easier to think of the difficult decision I have to make soon...


Thank you, -Spinner
 
The perspective helps. Your animals really only have to put up with the flight from Finland and a short trip to Pennsylvania. Once you have your truck and camper, you could care for them almost as well as in a house.

I still can't say about the cat but the dog should be OK. The trip may not be a vacation, but it sounds like an adventure! We need T.K.C. here, she just did about the same thing!
 
You have given them long years on this earth, remember that there is considerable stress in traveling to your pets. As tough as it is It may be time.

I have a friend that works in air freight, it's not unusual to have animals die on the trip, even young healthy ones.

Better to give them as painless a passing as possible in your arms then risk discomfort and possible death alone.
 
This is not a vacation.

We figured that our two cats would fly in the cabin with us. The dog down below. When we get to Pennsylvania where my MIL lives, I will buy a 4WD, crew cab truck and either a camper or a travel trailer and continue our way to California and from there via BC and Yukon, home to Alaska.
Click to expand...

I'm glad you're not going to abandon the animals when you move; that happens here all the time.

But an optional truck ride across the entire country and up to Alaska? That's not going to be a pleasant trip with two elderly animals who require constant care and perhaps medical attention along the way. Excuse me if I don't have all of the background details, but it still sounds cruel and unnecessary.

It may simply be one of those situations where there's no Right answer. I don't envy you having to decide.

Best Wishes,
-Bob
 
Hi Spinner1! I am sorry that you are having such a tough time with sick pets!!

Last Winter, I drove from MA. to Alaska, with my dog. He is 8 years old, and healthy. Whilst I was visiting my Dad, we found a tumor on his paw, and he had to have surgery! I was grateful that it happened in CT. where they had a good Vet. There were places in Canada that if I had an emergency, I would NOT have been able to find a Vet.

AAA was OUT of the Pet book that they normally carry. See if you CAN get one from AAA, perhaps there are Vets. listed there, along with all the pet friendly hotels etc. Maybe there will be Vets. listed or someone to call to help you find a Vet.

It really concerns me about your sick pets. You are going home to AK, right?

I know my dog had to have a health certificate to get across the border. Would your fur babies Vet. sign them off on that?
What is the vehicle you are in breaks down, would they make it in the car? I a really worried about them and you!!

Please PM me or E-mail me, if I can help. Or if you want to ask me anything about my drive to AK. with my dog. It was just the two of us.

I hope I have helped.




 
I do not envy the choice that you have to make.

Part if being a good animal parent IS knowing when the animals are suffering, and put them to sleep for their comfort. I KNOW this is not an easy thing to do, as we just have to put our 20 + year old cat to sleep. He could barely stand up. Yes, it broke our hearts, but it was best for him.

I know you will do what is best for your furry children.

Let me know if I CAN help you in any way.
 
This is so difficult.... I appreciate your support, thank you. You all help me take a step back and to look at the situation with varied viewpoints and logics....

I find myself pretty emotional when it comes to this situation with our beloved animal friends... I am so close to them that it was hard to look at the euthanasia through all the emotions and through hope. Yet I have to look at it. You have made that easier.

I have shed tears reading your posts on this thread... Thank you for caring and sharing...


With affection, -Spinner
 
Spinner, this is a wonderful & supportive community.

I am always happy to try and help.
 
My black lab Sorsha had Addisons Disease.
She was very well trained and wouldnt think of messing in the house.
After she got sick she had bouts of incontinence, midnight vomiting (in my bed....ugh) , and periods of "Addisons Crashes" that meant overnite hospital stays to stabilize her.
If she had an accident in the house I had to console her as she would be devastated that she couldnt make it to the door. That and with addisons any extreme stress/excitement can cause a "crash".
Near the end I had to carry her up and down the stairs and pick up after her more frequently. She never lost the love in her eyes and would wag her tail and play as much as she could.
On our last day I carried her down stairsand went to make her food and get her medicine. I turned and there she lay on her side, no tail wag, ears flat and a look in her eyes that said "I cant stay any longer".
We drove to the vet and I stroked her head the whole way. As i went to pick her up to bring her in she looked up then her eyes went glassy and she breathed her last breath. I like to think she did it to save me the pain of giving the word to put her down but I know it was just her time.

No one person can tell you what to do in this situation but your 2 loyal friends will let you know when thay can no longer stay. I know it sounds korney but look in their eyes and you'll know what to do.

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Spinner,
Any chance you were in New York recently. Took the ferry over to connecticut and saw a dog that looked just like the one you posted.
 
Spinner1 said:
This is not a vacation. We have a home in Alaska. My husband has been working there already over a year and Cass and I stayed here to take care of things so we can move.
Click to expand...


You haven't seen your husband in over a year?
 
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