If your pet had a terminal illness...

[catnapper]

what would you do?

Would you wait til it was "time" and put them down at the last minute? Would you let them die peacefully on their own? Would you Put them to sleep befoe the disease could progress to the really painful part?

Nicki's been losing weight the past few weeks, despite eating normally and today I found a rather large mass on her stomach, hiding right behind her largest fatty tumor. The thought of cancer jumped into my mind and before I can even get her to the vet, I wonder how I would handle it if I were told it IS cancer, and she'd only have a limited life left.

Part of me never wants to put her down. I cried myself to sleep a few weeks ago thinking of that day. Another part HATES the idea that she could ever be in any type of pain, and that part says if its terminal to just make her end come sooner rather than later... sooner so she could die in peace now - before the pain set in and makes her last days with us a blur of pain.

Of course, hubby tells me I'm over reactig and that Miss Nicki will be with us for a good long time.

[sparks19]

I sure hope you have nothing to worry about.

I would say as long as they are not in pain let them live out their lives. If they pass away at home in their sleep well that's wonderful, I bet the dog couldn't have been happier. If there is any decline in her quality of life or if she starts experiencing any pain then that would be the time to think about letting her go peacefully.

Hopefully you won't have to make this decision for a long long time.

[cyber-sibes]

Here's praying she'll be fine... and if she isn't, you'll know when it's time. Had to face that decision last Nov., with my 17 year. old cat. I worried about making that decision too, but he let me know when it was time. Have a talk with her, she'll let you know. Can't explain how, they just do. And enjoy every precious moment you still have together.

[RedHedd]

Here's praying she'll be fine... and if she isn't, you'll know when it's time. Had to face that decision last Nov., with my 17 year. old cat. I worried about making that decision too, but he let me know when it was time. Have a talk with her, she'll let you know. Can't explain how, they just do. And enjoy every precious moment you still have together.

Ditto - I went through this with Goldie who was with me for almost 15 years. I made her last few months with me as comfortable as possible and when it was time, she told me. I could see the tumor and she could barely move it was so large and painful. The hardest thing I've ever had to do. I still miss her and I remember her last few months with me and the constant TLC she required.

[PinkSunshine]

We lost our 6 year old APBT 2 years ago due to testicular cancer.

The last 6 months of his life were hard. He wasn't in *pain* persay but his quality of life had declined. He ate very little, had very little 'play energy', ect. We (mainly DH, it was his dog) made the decision to put him down when his health declined sharply after only a few weeks. The day before we were to take him in to be PTS he passed away on his own. His passing was very peaceful and I swear that dog waited for DH to get home from work to die. He died in his arms 20 min's after he got home

[Miss Z]

I'm so sorry about Nicki, I can't imagine how terrible that thought preying on your mind is. I had a rabbit who had a terminal internal tumour, but we didn't know until it got very bad and it was too late. I hope this is nothing to worry about, and perhaps you will have spotted it quick enough to get it removed if it is serious.

[Freckles]

Ask the vet what he would do if Nicki was his.

[jazzcat]

Disney lost her mind which was painful enough - for all of us. On top of that she got a severe and painful infection in her mouth that could have been treated with antibiotics but the chances of it returning were great. I knew she had no quality of life and trying to treat the infection was just going to prolong her suffering so the decision to let her go was made.

I think the main things are quality of life and pain.

I hope your hubby is right. Hugs to you and Nicki.

[Pembroke_Corgi]

I hope everything is alright with Nicki.

I know how hard it is to think about that...my cat Yogi died last year at age 17, and we knew her kidneys were failing. We put her to sleep as she was about to die to save her suffering the last few hours she would have had. She had a good life until then, and spent the last week or so of her life mainly sleeping but also being glad to spend time with us. I get teared up thinking about it, it was so hard to see her die but at least I was there with her. I still miss her so much.

[Grace]

I think the main things are quality of life and pain.

My feelings also. Three years ago we had to make the decision for two of our cats within a 3 month time period. One was in pain; the other had no quality of life. We made the right decision both times - but it was excrutiatingly difficult.

[G535]

Quality of life is what it's all about, once that's gone the rest is just existing, not living.

We had to make the decision for our jack russel on 25th March this year, it's still painful to write this.

I hope your Nicki has many more years left with you.