View Full Version : Old cat decisions
Made an appt with a vet we have used before to have our old Siamese checked out since he has lost weight, drinks and pees a lot lately. $360 later we have a diagnosis of early stage kidney disease which she says can be somewhat ameliorated with prescription food, potassium powder ($36) and steroids. The food is $3 a can and I haven't picked up the compounded steroid but imagine it is pricey too. He is turning up his nose at the $3 food so it may be a struggle to keep him eating that. The ingredients are suspect to me anyway for the price - carrageenan? Vet wants us back in a month for a re-check at $183 for another lab. I am wrestling with the expense of keeping this old man cat going for who knows how long. It seems like as with humans, we are expected to do everything possible to keep a pet alive even when they are very old. My thought is to give him better ingredient cat food supplemented with home-made along with the potassium. Lots of water and attention of course and any future pain alleviation. Thoughts?
early morning
6-14-23, 3:33pm
I think old animals (and old people!) should be as happy and as comfortable as possible. I'd give him food he enjoys, attention as/when he wants, and yes to the pain alleviation. I don't see the point in prolonging a life that is unhappy, possibly miserable, for the animal OR person living it. I agree with your thoughts on the matter.
iris lilies
6-14-23, 5:56pm
I agree with early morning, but since you all have the money to do whatever you need to do for this cat, this isn’t really a financial decision is it? I am sure he will be taken care of.
i disagree with your thought “we are expected to do…” whatever. You need to do what is right for you, not sure where the voices you hear are coming from. No vet has ever shamed me for my decisions.
But if he won’t eat, the decision is made for you. The steroid may well make a change in his appetite however. But a gentle assisted death is a decent option.
If you want to trade “vet bill horrors” I spent $300 for a year’s treatment of Bravecto for our single dog, flea and tick treatment that is new for me here in
Hermann where deer ticks thrive. That doesn’t even count Heartworm meds and routine appointKent’s.
How old is this cat?
We aren't certain of his age but he was at least 2 when we rescued him back in 2010. Guessing 16 or more. He is also completely deaf within the last year though we just figured that out.
I would try 3-6 months of the vet's plan and re-evaluate after you see what the meds and food do for him.
I would also try making my own food, but I know people say you can't get all the nutrients in there, but I say I bet it's very possible if you do your research.
iris lilies
6-14-23, 6:46pm
I would try 3-6 months of the vet's plan and re-evaluate after you see what the meds and food do for him.
I would also try making my own food, but I know people say you can't get all the nutrients in there, but I say I bet it's very possible if you do your research.
Our head of bulldog rescue makes her own food for dogs needing special diets.
iris lilies
6-14-23, 6:48pm
We aren't certain of his age but he was at least 2 when we rescued him back in 2010. Guessing 16 or more. He is also completely deaf within the last year though we just figured that out.
At 16, for a cat who isn’t a special one, I would let him go. But that steroid will jumpstart him.
It is one thing to euthanize a sickly pet, it is another when they are hyped up on steroids.
littlebittybobby
6-14-23, 8:21pm
Okay---After the steroids, try hot dogs, sliced up. That gives them something to live for.
Okay---After the steroids, try hot dogs, sliced up. That gives them something to live for.
And chicken livers and fish.
littlebittybobby
6-15-23, 2:31pm
Okay----I just took Sadie to the vet I've used for 30 years. I've had this indoor/outdoor declawed spaded(spayed)catt for almost ten years, come October. I got Sadie from an office lady where I was working, who was divorcing and losing her home to foreclosure. She picked the catt up in the parking lott at the shop, 5 years prior, and had her vet work done. Sadie was prolly dumped by someone who did not like grumpy catts. But anyway----vets in this community have undewrgone severe yuppification. Most of this new breed o' vet would prolly set an appointment 6 weeks ahead, and charge $100 to tell you what kind of catt or dog it was. The old skool vet is getting VERY scarce. See? Now, they are 417 People, into eat, drink & be merry & gracious living. . Yup. My longtime vet has undergone some policy changes, due to this situation. Because people who are not rich end up dumping their sick petts on her, because they can't pay, she has resorted to requiring a CASH advance payment, when you bring one in. I'm concerned Sadie may not be curable at any price, but that's a different matter, but I had to give the vet $150 up front, and leave Sadie, for an exam. That said, in ten years, I haven't spent a dime on her for vet care & did the shots myself. But anyway, hopefully we can keep Sadie going for awhile longer. She's a catt.
The old skool vet is getting VERY scarce.
That's the truth for sure. I recall when I was growing up that it was about getting a rabies shot, draining an abcess or euthanizing a pet. Now we have million dollar orthopedic surgery centers for dogs. After talking to the pharmacist, I decided to try the compounded steroid for a month. I will continue with his Fancy Feast and boiled chicken but since he's not eating the prescription stuff not sure what else I can do but perhaps look into making food for him. He loves people food - even whole wheat bread.
That's the truth for sure. I recall when I was growing up that it was about getting a rabies shot, draining an abcess or euthanizing a pet. Now we have million dollar orthopedic surgery centers for dogs. After talking to the pharmacist, I decided to try the compounded steroid for a month. I will continue with his Fancy Feast and boiled chicken but since he's not eating the prescription stuff not sure what else I can do but perhaps look into making food for him. He loves people food - even whole wheat bread.
That sounds like a good plan--at 16 he should be all about eating whatever he wants. It's not like it is going to shorten his life.
Teacher Terry
6-19-23, 9:14pm
Pinky toe, I am sorry about your kitty. If she won’t eat the special food I would give her what she wants. Locally vet prices have skyrocketed and they really push people to get a yearly dental for small dogs and they cost 1k. I have been doing them every 2 years instead. My 9 year old Maltese has a heart murmur that has gotten worse in 6 months. They wanted me to do 1k of tests and if healthy enough a dental even though it’s only been a year since the last one.
The internet has provided me the information to make a good decision. From research I only need an ultrasound for 640 to determine if Amy needs heart medication. I don’t need the heart X-ray and having them read by a dog cardiologist.That would be another 400. The ultrasound is read by a cardiologist.
Amy also has an anal gland infection that won’t go away. Besides 2 different rounds of antibiotics she also had her glands infused with medication. That’s another 400. When I asked the vet if she might need the offending gland removed she said it’s not a good idea for anesthesia with her heart problem yet they were pressuring me to get a dental and you need anesthesia for that. I had a dog in the past that needed his anal gland removed because of infection that couldn’t be cured.
It appears that vets have bought fancy equipment that they need to pay for and have begun treating animals like people and upsell expensive treatments. I have priced different vets and talked to many people that all said their vets are expensive. I have also noticed that the day my vet does surgery used to be scheduled a month in advance and any appointments took that long to get into. Sometimes now she doesn’t have any surgeries scheduled and even though she only works two days a week I can now get in quickly.
Teacher Terry, we have many of the same vet issues. I have found that vets that have long time practices in more out of the way locations around town (still with good reputations) often have older more experienced vets and less of the fancy new stuff. That is what I was looking for.
Had the same issue with dentists in the past with a new practice in a "fancy" downtown area. They had all the lastest and greatest and even had a "practice manager". But it turns out the work was not the best.
Teacher Terry
6-21-23, 1:49am
Sweetana, the whole situation sucks and it seems like more vets are moving this direction. We also have that problem with dentists.
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