Thank you for this video. It has really helped me to organize my thoughts and to approach this decision more objectively. My 18 year old cat has end-stage kidney disease. It has been a journey for the last 3 years, from first diagnosis to the final stage. It is so hard to pull yourself away from the situation to make a clear decision. These tools are invaluable. ❤
My 20 year old doggo was struggling with arthritis and dementia ... he was fine for the previous 19 years (taking out the obvious slowdown) but the last year things started to advance at an increased pace. He started getting seizures once a month, struggled to walk/eat, became more and more blind and deaf... he would stumble while walking, and eventually be unable to stand up or walk on his own. Towards the end, he stop eating and drinking and i knew what was coming. I decided to do him the favor and put him to sleep, staying with him until the very end. 20 Years is a lot of time, and watching him go completely devastated me, but given enough time i managed to understand that it was the right thing to do, and to forgive myself rather than blame me for doing it.
Thank you so much Dr. Tracy! Especially for recommending that the sedative be given at the beginning and that it should be requested! Very unfair for a pet to have to endure needless additional pain and fear. I’m very surprised it’s not always done that way! So glad you are out there for the animals and their humans. Bless you!
I spent 45 yrs doing rescue/ rehab, and the area i live in they throw dogs away like trash. Ppl driving fine expensive vehicles will drive past a dog who is obviously starving to death and not even slow down. So, i ended up with many that had been so abused i couldn't adopt them out, i had several who i was the only one who could even get close to them. All things age, and I've lost several animals in the last 5 yrs , and i loved every single one with all my heart. I was made to undetstand and love animals. What i think about when i know a dog is older or is being treated for different problems as they age is this. When it gets to the point you are doing things TO them instead of FOR them , its time to let them go. Don't leave them to gave that alone, got they are most at peace when you are there. They love and trust you to care for them to the end. I always ask my vet to give a tranquilizer 1st so they aren't nervous. I actually prefer that the tranquilizer puts them into a light sleep. Deep enough that when the vet gives the 2nd shot they never know it. All they know is they went to sleep in your arms , and woke up in heaven. Ive had 2 NDE, and i give my word before God that they do go to the most beautiful place I've ever seen. I've been there, and ran across an open field full of flowers of every color, and i was blessed to look down to see my G.S. Aztec running beside me @ looking up mouth open like he was laughing.... it was real enough i didn't want to come back... so i know there is so much more. And they are waiting for us there. ❤❤❤❤❤❤
All good info, but really not that helpful when both your dogs went deaf and blind years before they got "old." (One had cataracts from diabetes, the other developed glaucoma. No idea why they both went deaf...inbreeding, maybe? They were sisters from the same litter.) It was pretty amazing how well they did, though, despite being deaf and blind, but it made it really hard to distinguish between things like "loss of interest in toys" and "just failed to find the toys." Ultimately, one developed dementia and when she could no longer recognize me (by scent) and spent her days searching for me, I made the call. Eight months later, the other stopped eating, dropped a lot of weight and became very weak, so I made the call for her too. It's been a rough year.
@@Dr.Tracy-vet Just for those who might find themselves in a similar situation...My two girls went blind and then deaf so gradually that I just adjusted and adapted accordingly. They were my family and I treated them as such, even as their worlds became smaller and smaller and my life was limited accordingly as a result (for six years!), because they needed constant care and supervision. I don't regret that time and all the extra cuddles and tummy scratches and meandering walks with them, since that was really all they had to bring joy to their lives. I'd acquired them as puppies and committed to seeing them through to the end and I feel I kept my promise to them (I let them go at 15). But now, just a few weeks into getting to know the senior dog I adopted from a rescue (he's 10), and I see how much more energetic and joyful he is, just because he can see and hear...the difference is night and day, and I find myself wondering if I should have made the call sooner for my girls because it's suddenly glaringly obvious to me just HOW limited their lives were. I had committed to seeing them through to the natural end of their lives, but I didn't take into consideration what that "natural" timeline would have been in the wild, without me there catering to their needs. I think, for me, if I find myself in that situation again in the future, the "it's time" marker will be when the dog is spending 20+ hours a day sleeping, because they can see and hear in their dreams, while the "awake world" is dark and silent.
I have a question, What is the shortest amount of interaction you would have with a cat before determining that euthanasia is necessary? What signs and symptoms would lead you to that conclusion?
Hi Dr. Tracy - would you consider discussing end of life for an animal with a liver shunt. I've taken on a foster dog, diagnosed with an inoperable shunt, displaying some odd [but typical for a shunt] neurological behaviors, the drinking a lot, peeing a lot, fish breath, restlessness, circling. We don't know his age, best guess 8 yo. He also has CHF. I am wondering are there certain behaviors that mean the end is near? I have no direct contact with the vet since I'm fostering him through a [wonderful] agency. Should I start considering euthanasia now? What if he's not exhibiting pain, but could he be scared, and confused? Is that something taken into consideration for euthanasia? Thank you for your time.
My sincerest apologies for the delayed response, with our business I am only able to get to comments every month or so. I am unsure if you have made a decision for him or not yet, but he is dealing with a lot of issues. With the CHF my biggest concern is his resting respiratory rate- is he able to rest comfortably and not have to shift around a lot.... is he able to go into a good deep sleep without heavy breathing. If not, I am concerned that it is not under control, and you may need to adjust any meds he is on. Unfortunately, the liver shunt will probably make his CHF worse and less prone to being helped with heart meds. We also worry that as the liver values continue to rise, he may eventually develop high ammonia values in his blood. This will cause him to be very neurologic- drunken walk (ataxia), not want to eat/drink, sometimes you can even see head pressing into walls and furniture, circling when walking and it can also lead to seizures. It is very intensive therapy to correct this, and basically unsuccessful if the shunt cannot be corrected, so if you are starting to see any of those symptoms, I would recommend considering euthanasia soon. I am so sorry you are watching her go through this, but what an amazing gift you can give him- a loving, safe home/ family as his disease progresses.
@Dr.Tracy-vet thank you very much for the reply! I was unaware of the potential for seizure with his encephalopathy ( right term). If that happens, I'll be much more prepared now. I'll also monitor his heart rate. Thank you again!
My 14 year old kitty had chylothorax 13 days ago. He went in patient for a week with daily drainage. Took him home last week and kept a close eye on him: breath rating, offering multiple kinds of food to trigger some appetite (nope), water everywhere etc. On Friday I had to drain him again and I felt like it was a mistake because he shut down quickly. His breathing was ok but he refused food and water altogether. He was responsive to cuddles and such but I felt his life was miserable. On Sunday I took him to the vet to put him on euthanasia, which was offered from day 1 due to the bad prognosis...even though they validated it, I feel like I let my cat be killed. Other times I regret not having done it from the beginning so he didn't have to suffer...idk 😢
I am so sorry you and your cat had to go through that. How heartbreaking. I try to remind people that everything we do is out of love, there is no right or wrong decision when you are dealing with this, all you can do base your decisions off of what you think is the best thing to do when in the moment. It is part of the grieving process to look back and second guess yourself, try as you might to not torture yourself we all do it. My hope is eventually you will be able to realize that your love and support was all your kitty needed, and he knew he was loved.
@@Dr.Tracy-vet thank you for taking your time to answer my comment. This is my first time grieving and it feels overwhelming not knowing what to expect. Your video and other vet's content are helping me big time to navigate these waters. Thank you very much from the bottom of my heart ❤️
Luna has arthritis in her back legs. That's her disability. She is mentally ok and is eating and drinking. She does not seem ready. I cannot determine her quality of life.
This is also a hard one to evaluate when everything else is normal. The quality of life scales are more of a guide in these cases to see if you are seeing changes over time. As long as it seems like you are able to control any pain she may have with her arthritis, and she seems like she is having more good days then bad, usually it is safe to say she is doing ok. If she seems to be in a lot of pain, talk with your vet to see if there are additional medications they can prescribe to help her have more comfortable days.
I have a question, please if someone could answer me.. when i put down my cat, when the lady gave my cat to me his eyes were so watery? I know this is a random question but i just wanted to know if it was because of pain?
this is the hardest thing i have ever had to consider - mines currently lost 4 / 5 joys... i just don't want her to suffer . thank you for this video.
I am so sorry you are going through this. 💔
Thank you for this video. It has really helped me to organize my thoughts and to approach this decision more objectively. My 18 year old cat has end-stage kidney disease. It has been a journey for the last 3 years, from first diagnosis to the final stage. It is so hard to pull yourself away from the situation to make a clear decision. These tools are invaluable. ❤
Thank you from the bottom of my heart. We rescued a senior dog with stage 3 heartworm. I REALLY needed the information. God Bless😢
My 20 year old doggo was struggling with arthritis and dementia ... he was fine for the previous 19 years (taking out the obvious slowdown) but the last year things started to advance at an increased pace. He started getting seizures once a month, struggled to walk/eat, became more and more blind and deaf... he would stumble while walking, and eventually be unable to stand up or walk on his own. Towards the end, he stop eating and drinking and i knew what was coming. I decided to do him the favor and put him to sleep, staying with him until the very end.
20 Years is a lot of time, and watching him go completely devastated me, but given enough time i managed to understand that it was the right thing to do, and to forgive myself rather than blame me for doing it.
Thank you so much Dr. Tracy! Especially for recommending that the sedative be given at the beginning and that it should be requested! Very unfair for a pet to have to endure needless additional pain and fear. I’m very surprised it’s not always done that way! So glad you are out there for the animals and their humans. Bless you!
I spent 45 yrs doing rescue/ rehab, and the area i live in they throw dogs away like trash. Ppl driving fine expensive vehicles will drive past a dog who is obviously starving to death and not even slow down. So, i ended up with many that had been so abused i couldn't adopt them out, i had several who i was the only one who could even get close to them. All things age, and I've lost several animals in the last 5 yrs , and i loved every single one with all my heart. I was made to undetstand and love animals. What i think about when i know a dog is older or is being treated for different problems as they age is this. When it gets to the point you are doing things TO them instead of FOR them , its time to let them go. Don't leave them to gave that alone, got they are most at peace when you are there. They love and trust you to care for them to the end. I always ask my vet to give a tranquilizer 1st so they aren't nervous. I actually prefer that the tranquilizer puts them into a light sleep. Deep enough that when the vet gives the 2nd shot they never know it. All they know is they went to sleep in your arms , and woke up in heaven. Ive had 2 NDE, and i give my word before God that they do go to the most beautiful place I've ever seen. I've been there, and ran across an open field full of flowers of every color, and i was blessed to look down to see my G.S. Aztec running beside me @ looking up mouth open like he was laughing.... it was real enough i didn't want to come back... so i know there is so much more. And they are waiting for us there. ❤❤❤❤❤❤
well done Dr Tracy
All good info, but really not that helpful when both your dogs went deaf and blind years before they got "old." (One had cataracts from diabetes, the other developed glaucoma. No idea why they both went deaf...inbreeding, maybe? They were sisters from the same litter.) It was pretty amazing how well they did, though, despite being deaf and blind, but it made it really hard to distinguish between things like "loss of interest in toys" and "just failed to find the toys." Ultimately, one developed dementia and when she could no longer recognize me (by scent) and spent her days searching for me, I made the call. Eight months later, the other stopped eating, dropped a lot of weight and became very weak, so I made the call for her too. It's been a rough year.
I am so sorry you had to go through that with two dogs, and yes, quality of life in those cases are very hard to determine....
@@Dr.Tracy-vet Just for those who might find themselves in a similar situation...My two girls went blind and then deaf so gradually that I just adjusted and adapted accordingly. They were my family and I treated them as such, even as their worlds became smaller and smaller and my life was limited accordingly as a result (for six years!), because they needed constant care and supervision. I don't regret that time and all the extra cuddles and tummy scratches and meandering walks with them, since that was really all they had to bring joy to their lives. I'd acquired them as puppies and committed to seeing them through to the end and I feel I kept my promise to them (I let them go at 15).
But now, just a few weeks into getting to know the senior dog I adopted from a rescue (he's 10), and I see how much more energetic and joyful he is, just because he can see and hear...the difference is night and day, and I find myself wondering if I should have made the call sooner for my girls because it's suddenly glaringly obvious to me just HOW limited their lives were. I had committed to seeing them through to the natural end of their lives, but I didn't take into consideration what that "natural" timeline would have been in the wild, without me there catering to their needs. I think, for me, if I find myself in that situation again in the future, the "it's time" marker will be when the dog is spending 20+ hours a day sleeping, because they can see and hear in their dreams, while the "awake world" is dark and silent.
@@randomspirit That is insight that I hope will help others find helpful, thank you for sharing.
I have a question,
What is the shortest amount of interaction you would have with a cat before determining that euthanasia is necessary?
What signs and symptoms would lead you to that conclusion?
Thank you. This was helpful.
Hi Dr. Tracy - would you consider discussing end of life for an animal with a liver shunt. I've taken on a foster dog, diagnosed with an inoperable shunt, displaying some odd [but typical for a shunt] neurological behaviors, the drinking a lot, peeing a lot, fish breath, restlessness, circling. We don't know his age, best guess 8 yo. He also has CHF. I am wondering are there certain behaviors that mean the end is near? I have no direct contact with the vet since I'm fostering him through a [wonderful] agency. Should I start considering euthanasia now? What if he's not exhibiting pain, but could he be scared, and confused? Is that something taken into consideration for euthanasia? Thank you for your time.
My sincerest apologies for the delayed response, with our business I am only able to get to comments every month or so. I am unsure if you have made a decision for him or not yet, but he is dealing with a lot of issues. With the CHF my biggest concern is his resting respiratory rate- is he able to rest comfortably and not have to shift around a lot.... is he able to go into a good deep sleep without heavy breathing. If not, I am concerned that it is not under control, and you may need to adjust any meds he is on.
Unfortunately, the liver shunt will probably make his CHF worse and less prone to being helped with heart meds. We also worry that as the liver values continue to rise, he may eventually develop high ammonia values in his blood. This will cause him to be very neurologic- drunken walk (ataxia), not want to eat/drink, sometimes you can even see head pressing into walls and furniture, circling when walking and it can also lead to seizures. It is very intensive therapy to correct this, and basically unsuccessful if the shunt cannot be corrected, so if you are starting to see any of those symptoms, I would recommend considering euthanasia soon.
I am so sorry you are watching her go through this, but what an amazing gift you can give him- a loving, safe home/ family as his disease progresses.
@Dr.Tracy-vet thank you very much for the reply! I was unaware of the potential for seizure with his encephalopathy ( right term). If that happens, I'll be much more prepared now. I'll also monitor his heart rate. Thank you again!
My 14 year old kitty had chylothorax 13 days ago. He went in patient for a week with daily drainage. Took him home last week and kept a close eye on him: breath rating, offering multiple kinds of food to trigger some appetite (nope), water everywhere etc.
On Friday I had to drain him again and I felt like it was a mistake because he shut down quickly. His breathing was ok but he refused food and water altogether. He was responsive to cuddles and such but I felt his life was miserable. On Sunday I took him to the vet to put him on euthanasia, which was offered from day 1 due to the bad prognosis...even though they validated it, I feel like I let my cat be killed. Other times I regret not having done it from the beginning so he didn't have to suffer...idk 😢
I am so sorry you and your cat had to go through that. How heartbreaking. I try to remind people that everything we do is out of love, there is no right or wrong decision when you are dealing with this, all you can do base your decisions off of what you think is the best thing to do when in the moment. It is part of the grieving process to look back and second guess yourself, try as you might to not torture yourself we all do it. My hope is eventually you will be able to realize that your love and support was all your kitty needed, and he knew he was loved.
@@Dr.Tracy-vet thank you for taking your time to answer my comment. This is my first time grieving and it feels overwhelming not knowing what to expect. Your video and other vet's content are helping me big time to navigate these waters. Thank you very much from the bottom of my heart ❤️
Luna has arthritis in her back legs. That's her disability. She is mentally ok and is eating and drinking. She does not seem ready. I cannot determine her quality of life.
This is also a hard one to evaluate when everything else is normal. The quality of life scales are more of a guide in these cases to see if you are seeing changes over time. As long as it seems like you are able to control any pain she may have with her arthritis, and she seems like she is having more good days then bad, usually it is safe to say she is doing ok. If she seems to be in a lot of pain, talk with your vet to see if there are additional medications they can prescribe to help her have more comfortable days.
I have a question, please if someone could answer me.. when i put down my cat, when the lady gave my cat to me his eyes were so watery? I know this is a random question but i just wanted to know if it was because of pain?
Our vet believes it should be used for humans in Australia too. 😢
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