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Sunny
Oct 6, 2012 2:42:49 GMT -5
Post by shinkikker on Oct 6, 2012 2:42:49 GMT -5
I hope it's ok that I post this here, it's about my kitty not my ferret...
I am a college student and I go home next weekend for my fall break. We have to put my kitty, Sunny, to sleep the day after I get home. She is very old (about 13) and barely eats, she has been puking, pooping, and peeing all over the house and often gets lost and confused in our house. I know it is time for her to go but this is the first time I have ever had to put one of my pets down and I am hysterical about it, I am sitting in my shower crying my eyes out and having panic attacks right now.
She gets very scared at the vet and clings to me, so I just imagine them killing her there while she's scared out of her mind and confused and it just makes me want to die. I am so afraid to do this to her, I don't even know how to begin to handle it. I have had her since I was in 1st grade, she was my Christmas present. I named her Sunny because her favorite place to lay was in the sunbeams that shone through the window. I am going to miss her so much, and I am panicking about so many things...
Will they let me hold her while she dies? I don't want her to lay on some cold vet table, I want her to be warm in my arms and know that I love her so much. Should I show my other cat, Cleo, her body? I have heard mixed things about doing so. I want to bury her in our backyard, but what should I bring her home in? I am so confused and depressed about this and I have all of these questions and no one to talk to about them, it feels like.
I really really need support right now... I genuinely don't know how I am going to get through this. I keep having nightmares about it and I don't know what to do. Please help.
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Sunny
Oct 6, 2012 2:49:26 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Oct 6, 2012 2:49:26 GMT -5
Of course you can post about this here. <3 Some vets are willing to do house calls for this. And I've never heard of a vet where you're not allowed to stay with your pet in the last few minutes. I'm so sorry you have to let her go.
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Sunny
Oct 6, 2012 3:16:36 GMT -5
Post by darlene on Oct 6, 2012 3:16:36 GMT -5
I'm really so sorry you're having to go thru this. My feeling are that you r vet should let you be there to hold your kitty. I really can't see why he/she wouldn't. I've always treasured the time I can spend talking and loving on them. I personally like to let their buddies see the body,so they know what's happen. I think alot of people like to do that. What you're feeling is so natural,we love our furkids so much. Many times I've gone into the woods and just cry. And it can take a long time to get over it,then the pain gets less and less and the memories start to bring smiles. Give Sunny lots of love,maybe do something special with her. Sending you lots of prayers and hugs
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Sunny
Oct 6, 2012 6:32:48 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Oct 6, 2012 6:32:48 GMT -5
You will be freeing her spirit from a broken body - its hard . Her spirit will be free and young to enjoy life again.
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Sunny
Oct 6, 2012 7:57:10 GMT -5
Post by unclejoe on Oct 6, 2012 7:57:10 GMT -5
I've had to do this so many times, yet the animal lover in me not only still owns fuzzies but helps me get through these times by telling me that ending the suffering is the right thing to do for the furry one. You can ask the vet top to be there.
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Sunny
Oct 6, 2012 8:02:12 GMT -5
Post by shinkikker on Oct 6, 2012 8:02:12 GMT -5
I have been crying on and off for a few hours, I am so upset. I have never had to deal with this before I know it is her time. But I just feel terrible. I don't want her to be scared. And I read some things online about some vets not letting you be in the room when they do it, and also about the animal pooping/peeing when they finally die and I just lost it. I want to be there with her so badly and all of this is just so much.
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Sunny
Oct 6, 2012 9:29:22 GMT -5
Post by Sherry on Oct 6, 2012 9:29:22 GMT -5
Talk to the vet. Explain what you want, and ask him about the process. That will go a long way to allaying your fears. And definitely allow your other cat some time to say goodbye. That's so very important. All of our animals we've had to help cross seem to understand that they are not going to be in pain any longer and have said their goodbyes to us as well. I'm so sorry you are having to face this. For me, the hardest part was always holding myself together for my pet. I figure it's the least I can do for them. Here is a post that discusses the process of euthanasia. I found it helpful understanding exactly what was happening: holisticferret60.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=support&action=display&thread=481
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Sunny
Oct 6, 2012 9:38:43 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Oct 6, 2012 9:38:43 GMT -5
I had to do this ( again) this week. It is never easy, even when you know it is time. I use two different vet offices but both will come to the house and regardless of whether I go there or they come here, I am always an integral part of letting them go. I wish Sunny a better life on the other side. 13 is actually quite young for a cat, she must have been very, very sick. I am so sorry for what you are going thru.
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Sunny
Oct 6, 2012 9:45:13 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Oct 6, 2012 9:45:13 GMT -5
When I had to put my old kitty, Rahja to sleep, they let me hold him as he dozed off. I wrapped him in his blankey on my lap and he went peacefully. We got a box from the vet to take him home in, you may want to bring one or ask by phone. Some vets do things differently, but you will find your questions answered if you call them first. My other cats did not see him after. I am very close to my cats and find they do not need the same closure as other animals, they are more independant. Sorry you are going through this, it hurts for awhile but it is the most comfortable and dignified way for an elder pet to go free.
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Sunny
Oct 6, 2012 9:55:33 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Oct 6, 2012 9:55:33 GMT -5
This is always one of the hardest, most wrenching things that we are faced with as animal lovers...as others have said, talk with the vet, take a favourite blanket, comfort the little one -- it's the last that we can do, to show our love and respect...prayers for the little one and you.
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Sunny
Oct 6, 2012 10:50:23 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Oct 6, 2012 10:50:23 GMT -5
I am sorry Most vets will allow you to be there, but some may not. Call to ask and tell them how much you want to be there. As for the box, when we let my ferret go, they provided us a box to bring him home in. We chose to bring him home to let the other pets say goodbye. It was a very heart-wrenching experience, but I am glad we did it. Then we returned him to the vet for cremation. Hope this answered some of your questions. So sorry you are having to go through this. Might I suggest giving him some of his favorite treats while at the vet to calm him? Or, bringing a tiny bit of food he normally isn't allowed to have (chocolate or tuna). I did this with our ferret and as he was going to sleep, he got to lick off some ferret lax (my kids love this over ferretone, so they don't get it much!). I took peace knowing he thought "Mm yum, sleepy..." rather than "Why am I tired? Why did I get poked?" etc. He seemed very content during the process due to having a comfort food. The process can be overwhelming as their muscles relax, they can pee/poop. Often times, they can twitch after they are gone as well. Or even take a big sigh. But they are gone and it is just their bodies relaxing. i think the hardest part for me was that Booth's eyes stayed open and we couldn't close them, and for about 3 minutes he was still breathing, even though his brain function had stopped. So be sure to talk to your vet about the process. Be ready with what to expect. Thankfully our vet told us all of this before she gave it to him. But it was still the hardest thing I've ever done. If you need to talk, feel free to message me.
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Sunny
Oct 6, 2012 10:54:23 GMT -5
Post by shinkikker on Oct 6, 2012 10:54:23 GMT -5
Thank you guys for all of the support. I feel quite numb right now, almost emotionless. I love her and I want her to be free of pain and confusion. I know I will feel better eventually, it just really sucks knowing that I will have to go through all the crappy parts before I get to that point : [
I am definitely going to call the vet on Monday to ask. They are open until 1 today but I don't think I have enough composure right now to be able to talk on the phone about it. I just talked to my boyfriend while he was here a bit ago and could barely keep myself together.
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Sunny
Oct 6, 2012 20:50:05 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Oct 6, 2012 20:50:05 GMT -5
I'm a vet tech and see this nearly every day. It's never easy- but it's certainly the most dignified, peaceful death you could ever give your furry family members. You need to talk with your veterinarian. We always allow people the choice to be there or to not.
A few things to know- your pet will not close their eyes. They may lose their urine or stools, and they can have phantom breaths which is just gas releasing from their body. It's hard to hold yourself together for your pet- but do try. The animals get nervous when their owners get nervous. Case by case- veterinarians may choose to sedate the animal prior to the actual euthanasia simply to calm them if they are nervous. Some veterinarians will go to your home-some will not. Some specialize in home euthanasias.
I'm very, very sorry for your loss and pain. I wish you and your kitty the best. I know how hard it is, how sad, but it's truly a death I wish we could give our human counterparts. My deepest condolences. <3
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Sunny
Oct 6, 2012 21:19:54 GMT -5
Post by Heather on Oct 6, 2012 21:19:54 GMT -5
One thing to investigate....my vet will do house calls for this. My kitty passed away (by vet assist), in the quiet of his home, on my sofa surrounded by his kitty friends. My vet sat on the floor while I sat next to her while holding my Samurai, who was curled up in his cat bed on the sofa. Samurai raised his head, greeted her and went back to sleep (at 22 yrs that was the total of his energy most days ) He never even jumped when she administered the drug. It was gentle, peaceful. This type of decision is never easy. Do make sure that if it's your intention to be with your kitty, that you explain this desire to your vet. One vet that I was using informed me (when I brough my Mayhem in) that they didn't allow anyone to witness the wee one's passing as it was distressing. What was distressing was the battle that ensued when I informed her and then the owner of the vet service that it would be a dark day in h*ll when one of my furfriends passed away in the cold sterile backroom alone with strangers. So, make sure of your vet's policies concerning this proceedure. I would double check to make sure that your vet might actually have home service, because it's well worth it. Good luck, ciao
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