4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[hillfamily]

My vet has just phoned to say the blood tests results for my Jack Cat have come back and they're not good. He has impaired Kidney and Liver Function

 

Jack is 15 years old and this was not unexpected but we are now in a difficult position (this is where I need your thoughts on the decision I have to make). Jack needs to take for the rest of his life, a low dose anti-inflammatory to help his painful joints but this is going to speed up the inevitable failure of his liver and kidneys as they are already starting to fail

 

The thoughts from the vet is that he is an old boy and if he takes an anti-inflam although this is going to shorten what life he has left, he will at least not be in pain. (If I don't go with the anti-flams he will live longer but he is going to be in discomfort from his aching joints).

 

 

She has told me to think on it overnight and to pop in to see her tomorrow morning with my decision, thoughts and questions.

 

 

I think I will go with him taking the anti-flams because I feel he has lived a good life, he's an old boy at 15 years and although it will shorten his life he won't be suffering with his achy joints.

 

What would you do :

 

 

 

Mods I know this should be in 'other animals' but pretty pretty please could it stay here for a while so people can offer advice Thank You

[Christian]

Sorry to hear that Jack is unwell Pam.

 

I would agree with you, go for the tablets and ease his pain.

 

Hugs

 

C x

[chelsea]

oh dear a difficult one im so sorry to hear about Jack, Pam.

 

If it were me personally - I would choose to let my animal take the drugs and have a pain free rest of its life. We had a similar situation with our old rescue GSD, she had arthritis quite badly and was aching and not walking well, we gave her tablets after advice from the vet and she was like a different dog really active and perky and she was like that up until she sadly passed away. She really benefitted from the tablets.

 

good luck whatever decision you make.

[Karen & co.]

What a hard choice

 

I'd go with the tablets and ensure that his time is comfortable

 

Karen x

[Joojoo]

Hi Pam

 

I'm so sorry to hear about Jack. I have to say I would agree with him having the tablets for the rest of his days. It's about quality of life at the end of the day, and you wouldn't want to see him in pain. At least this way, he will be able to enjoy what time he has got left.

 

xx

[hillfamily]

Thanks Guys............in my mind as soon as I spoke with the vet this evening, that's the decision I was going to make, I just wanted to hear others say it aswell :D

 

I saw first hand over the weekend how much happier he can be when on a low dose anti-inflam. He was attacked last week by the neighbourhood bully cat and had to go to the vets to have his wounds seen to. He was given a anti-inflam to ease the pain and once he had recovered from his injuries I could see that he was moving easier :D

[Chickvic]

I would also go for the tablets and ease the pain. What kind of life would it be otherwise? He may live longer but would he enjoy it?

[Helen&Lee]

So sorry to hear about your dilema

 

My immediate thought is based on my two dogs, I would never want them to be in pain.

If /when I have to put my dogs to sleep, I would like to think I'd do it before they were in pain or suffering.

 

I'm really sorry Pam, it's a terrible decision for you, but I think you are right to go for the tablets, even though you will be shortening his days left with you.

 

Helen

[jackiepoppies]

Hi there,

You ARE on the right bit, this is where we support each other with our various problems.

Refer back to the heading...'The Nesting Box'.....! This is family orientated, we don't exlude kids, cats, lizards or parents and relations to name a few of recent topics. [and some topics are imported....?ducks? ]If we did [exclude some supposingly irrelevant topisc] ,it wouldn't be read!

 

You will do what is right for your faithful friend.

Jackiex

[Tessa the Duchess]

So sorry to hear about Jack. We had exactly the same situation with our dog Sasha. She was prescribed anti-inflam for her arthritis and for a while was a different dog. She had regular check ups and the vet told us that her liver and kidneys were not doing well. She got really bad and we thought we might lose her. We happened to meet a homeopathic vet and she told us to buy Rhus Tox 300 and add garlic and ginger to every meal. She came off the anti flams and three years later she is still going strong, she is a very stiff in the mornings, just like her owner but her quality of life is great and I am soooo glad we decided to switch to homeopathy. Just another thing for you to think about.

 

Tessa

[hillfamily]

I just have this teeny tiniest weeniest thought in my mind that the vet said if he was a young cat she wouldn't recommend this course of treatment and I wonder what would they do/recommend if he was a young cat

 

She didn't offer any other options so I know there aren't any.

 

There is no way whatsoever that he can left in any pain. In that respect there's no choice to make - he will have the anti-inflams.

 

it's just getting my head round the thought that I have actively made the decision to shorten his life

[Keanie Bean]

What a hard choice to have to make, but I'm sure he would thank you for it. If it was me I would rather be out of pain and be able to enjoy the time left.

 

I'm sure you have made the right decision.

 

Sarah.x

[hillfamily]

So sorry to hear about Jack. We had exactly the same situation with our dog Sasha. She was prescribed anti-inflam for her arthritis and for a while was a different dog. She had regular check ups and the vet told us that her liver and kidneys were not doing well. She got really bad and we thought we might lose her. We happened to meet a homeopathic vet and she told us to buy Rhus Tox 300 and add garlic and ginger to every meal. She came off the anti flams and three years later she is still going strong, she is a very stiff in the mornings, just like her owner but her quality of life is great and I am soooo glad we decided to switch to homeopathy. Just another thing for you to think about.

 

Tessa

 

Thanks for the info Tessa :D

 

I have thought about Homeopathy and use it frequently for my chooks

 

I will chat to my vet about it tomorrow - she's very open minded to alternative options

[pepe]

Poor Jack and poor you, 15 years is a fantastic age and its better to live the rest pain free than to live longer in pain. My dog has been on epiphen for years and I know it shortens his life, I think he is starting with kidney problems but i cant watch him having several fits every week. Hes 12 now, so not doing too bad. Good luck with everything.

[tiggerlady]

Hi Pam! Sorry to hear about your poorly puss..I too would agree with the others.Its good your vet has explained it all so well.To be pain free and give up perhaps a couple of months is a choice Im sure we'd all make as humans.As guardians of our animal friends we re honour bound to do the best by them as they cant make those decisions themselves! an Im sure thats the right way to go with the treatment.((hugs))xx

[hillfamily]

Hi Pam! Sorry to hear about your poorly puss..I too would agree with the others.Its good your vet has explained it all so well.To be pain free and give up perhaps a couple of months is a choice Im sure we'd all make as humans.As guardians of our animal friends we re honour bound to do the best by them as they cant make those decisions themselves! an Im sure thats the right way to go with the treatment.((hugs))xx

 

Totally agree - thanks Jane

 

*waves hello* Hope all is well in Sunny Eastbourne :D

[Fleur]

would glucosamine help maybe? loads of people buy it from us (holland and barrett) for their dogs and cats.

[Milly]

One other thing to take into consideration is - how is he at taking pills? We had this dilemma with our old cat (who died a couple of years ago). Although my husband is normally very good at getting pills into cats, this one really didn't like it and got very distressed, so we decided to stop.

 

It's a hard choice you have to make - you have my sympathy.

 

Milly

[Chook n Boo Mum]

Hi Pam,

 

Sorry to hear about Jack, he's a lovely old man, although I think he was out of the way until the end of our Hen Party, with just little Tizzy making himself known throughout!

 

Having had the experience of old labradors with failing bits, I would go with whatever keeps him happy and comfortable. You'll know when things aren't working anymore, the sparkle goes.

 

Hugs to you all, Sha x

[hillfamily]

fortunately this can be taken in drops in his food - will just have to feed him separately from the other furry purries

 

Jack Cat hates tablets and there is no way I could get them in him on a daily basis - it's bad enough with his worm tab every 3 months The vet knows this and that's why she recommended an anti-flam in drop form

 

I've been very fortunate that the last 2 times he's needed antibiotics the vets had started to use a slow release injection which although more expensive has been a god send for Jack (and my fingers)

[Tessa the Duchess]

Wanted to add, that along with the homeopathy, ginger and garlic we also add a couple of drops of cod liver oil to the food, must taste awful

 

Tessa

[hillfamily]

crossed posts there Sha

 

Our Jack Cat is a cat of routine so he wouldn't have appeared until the end of the course as he gets up at 2ish for a late lunch - you can set your watch by him

 

*waves hello* - how's things with your new girls, been meaning to email you but life is and has been just a teensy bit hectic hope it's all going well

[Egluntyne]

Sorry to hear about Jack.

 

I agree re the tablets. Even if it does shorten his life slightly, better that he lives his remaining days free from pain.

 

He and you would have no pleasure if he was lingering in agony.

 

Homoeopathy or even acupuncture may offer other ways of looking at the problem.

[hillfamily]

Wanted to add, that along with the homeopathy, ginger and garlic we also add a couple of drops of cod liver oil to the food, must taste awful

 

Tessa

 

Thanks for that Tessa - i've written it all down and will take the info with me to the vet in the morning

 

 

Night Night everyone and thanks for all the advice, thoughts and hugs :D Jack Cat is already asleep on my bed (as always) so it must be nearly my bedtime aswell

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I agree with everyone, better to have a painfree slightly shorter life than suffer for longer.

 

Sorry you have to make this decision, but you are doing what you feel is best for him.