Kimmi,
My heart just aches for you contemplating the loss of your adored pet, Roxie. We lost our 14-yr. old ginger cat, Cecil right before Christmas a little more than a year ago. He also had cancer and had grown progressively weaker, in spite of very good care and management of symptoms. We were concerned that we could help him along his journey at the right time, so that he did not have any more pain than was necessary and so that certain things did not occur that would be frightening or undignified for him. It can be very hard to make that decision, but it is also one of the most important things we can do for our pets to help them avoid unnecessary suffering. Because we had never been through this before, our wonderful vet helped us come up with some circumstances that would let us know when the time had come. Ours (and these are very individual) were when Cecil had stopped eating for more than two consecutive days and when he did not seem to have any interest in the pleasurable things that he typically did. One does not want them to get to a point where they cannot stand, have seizures, or other problems that can occur if we wait too long. We were fully informed about these possibilities. Worse yet, if the pet is alone at home or everyone in the home is asleep at such a time.
When the time was right, we had our vet come to the house. We wrapped Cecil in towels warm from the clothes dryer. We held him in our arms and the vet gave him some Valium, which made him sleep. We let him sleep for about five minutes, before the vet gave the second injection. It was very peaceful and he simply stopped breathing. I know this sounds awful and it still makes me cry a little to remember that night. But the point is that I wish we had known how peaceful that kind of passing could be. The fear and agony of anticipating the inevitable was a terrible strain on both of us. Afterwards, we felt so relieved to know that Cecil was no longer suffering and we were so comforted to know that we made the right decision for him at the end of his life. It was one of the most important things we could do for Cecil, and the last thing we could do for him in what was a wonderful life.
Well, now I am into waterworks. My heart goes out to you. I can tell that your family has given Roxie a wonderful life. Keep remembering that.
My heart just aches for you contemplating the loss of your adored pet, Roxie. We lost our 14-yr. old ginger cat, Cecil right before Christmas a little more than a year ago. He also had cancer and had grown progressively weaker, in spite of very good care and management of symptoms. We were concerned that we could help him along his journey at the right time, so that he did not have any more pain than was necessary and so that certain things did not occur that would be frightening or undignified for him. It can be very hard to make that decision, but it is also one of the most important things we can do for our pets to help them avoid unnecessary suffering. Because we had never been through this before, our wonderful vet helped us come up with some circumstances that would let us know when the time had come. Ours (and these are very individual) were when Cecil had stopped eating for more than two consecutive days and when he did not seem to have any interest in the pleasurable things that he typically did. One does not want them to get to a point where they cannot stand, have seizures, or other problems that can occur if we wait too long. We were fully informed about these possibilities. Worse yet, if the pet is alone at home or everyone in the home is asleep at such a time.
When the time was right, we had our vet come to the house. We wrapped Cecil in towels warm from the clothes dryer. We held him in our arms and the vet gave him some Valium, which made him sleep. We let him sleep for about five minutes, before the vet gave the second injection. It was very peaceful and he simply stopped breathing. I know this sounds awful and it still makes me cry a little to remember that night. But the point is that I wish we had known how peaceful that kind of passing could be. The fear and agony of anticipating the inevitable was a terrible strain on both of us. Afterwards, we felt so relieved to know that Cecil was no longer suffering and we were so comforted to know that we made the right decision for him at the end of his life. It was one of the most important things we could do for Cecil, and the last thing we could do for him in what was a wonderful life.
Well, now I am into waterworks. My heart goes out to you. I can tell that your family has given Roxie a wonderful life. Keep remembering that.
