Making decision about treating cat's jaw cancer

anon94785555
Wed, 19 Sep 2018 17:28:53 +0000

My dog story. Shih tzu developed problems the summer kid was far away. Hurting and sweet dog became untouchable for awhile. Turned out to be something cerebellar (not initial lumbar disc as time and steroids did not change and symptoms evolved). Kept him alive until son returned to say goodbye. He died the following Monday before euthanasia was to be done. I’ll never forget his last day- let him lie outside in the grass and on my lap (my comfort, I finally decided I had to let go sometime, not after hours). I think he understood and I thank him for letting me keep him going. My elderly father then recalled how he still remembered being away at college when his childhood dog died. That reinforced my feelings to make our dog wait.

We went into pet ownership having made decisions about the extent of treatment we were willing to undergo. Considered what would happen if a pet were in the wild and favored letting nature take its course more than with humans. I also remember elderly relatives who gradually lost interest in the world and stopped seeing doctors, getting more done. Both died at home and were discovered. Peaceful.