Geriatric cat with allergies and arthritis contemplating euthanasia
My cat, Miss Kittie, is about 15 years old (female neutered Calico cat). We've had her since she was born. She's mainly an inside cat. About 6 years ago she started having problems with itchy ears. At about the same time she also started limping on her back right leg. Long story short, she has an allergy to something, don't know what exactly. She also has arthritis in both back legs (worse in the right leg) and on her back next to her tail. Her vet gave her prednisone for the allergy and nothing for the arthritis. We've been working to get releif for Miss Kittie. The Prednisone worked, but her vet won't let her stay on it, they have taken it away from her. She is now so miserable, she doesn't sleep that much and is always trying to scratch at her ears or licking the air. She is also limping worse every day. I am not sure what I should do at this point. The problem is that we are getting ready to have some major construction done on our house, the room where Miss Kittie has her box is going to be torn down. I am trying to get her to use a kitty door to go out to the garage to use her box, but she has a hard time getting through the door because of her stiffness. Everytime she moves she makes a little noise like she's hurting and she Meows at me every time I walk by her, even if she's sleeping, she wakes up and mow's at me. I am wondering if it is time to think about putting her to sleep?? It kills me to even think about it, but she's miserable. Each time I talk to her vet about this, they just want to put her on some more drugs. She is taking an anti-histamine, a pill for Hyperthyroid, and was taking Prednisone. She is not a good traveler and hates going in the car to go to the vet. Her vet wants me to take her to an allergy specialist and I don't think she'll handle that too well. What do I do???? At this point I am putting pills in her food and them forcing 2 pills a day down her throat. Is it time to let her go?? Please help me make a decision. I feel terrible just thinking about it, but everybody says I'm letting her live for me, not for her!!! I hope I didn't ramble too much and you can make sense of this! Thank you! |
Ask a vet plans available
- Ask the online vet a question for just $8.95; or
- Sign up for a one month membership for just $19.95 and ask the online vet unlimited questions about your pet.
- Find answers to common pet health and behavior questions $3.95/article
- Read up on previous ask the vet pet health questions for just $3.95
Vet question of the day
Add to
Dog with problems walking
When I came home from work yesterday, Sparrow(6yo female neutered mix breed), who stays in my basement with access to the crawl space under the house, was having trouble going up the stairs. She seemed sick - hot nose & depressed. She has a knot midway up her tail about the size of a quarter. Her hindquarters are slightly swollen and tender. Her behind was dirty with dust, some fecal matter, and little black dots that looked like flea eggs (she doesn't have fleas - she's on med from the vet.) It seemed she had been dragging her bottom on the ground. My gut feeling is that she may have been bitten by a spider or god forbid a snake (in my basement?!!) but I'm also worried that she's hurt her back. She can still walk - even jump on the bed - but she is not moving correctly. She is still eating and drinking. She's not any worse this morning, but no better. She's not limping, but she acts stiff - is not moving her hind legs with ease, but I don't see where they look out of whack. For example, when she goes up steps, she just goes one step at a time, very slowly and carefully when she usually bounds & skips steps. It doesn't look like she's knuckling over, and her feet and legs look normal. Another thought after babying her this morning - she has had trouble in the past with her anal glands being blocked. Usually I try to massage & expel them when I bathe her. I haven't noticed her dragging her butt, which usually happens when her glands are filled and need expelling, but is it possible this could be the problem? Or constipation?
- Click
here to read the answer
More
pet
health questions
Pet Care Articles and Pet Supplies Deals
| Dogs - dog care | 
Sign
up for the Ask the Vet newsletter
- Click
hereWe're in the news! Read full article here. |
