Goodbye Smixy

[Abby08]

Thank you Abby, it's just so f**king hard. Smicky was still eating and drinking, in fact, he would steal all of the other cat's food (he always did that), and he would eat all of the snacks you would give him, but his mouth started bleeding about a month ago. He was also very skinny and frail looking for the last couple of months, he wouldn't gain any weight. We had him to the vet three weeks in a row for antibiotic shots, when my wife took him yesterday for another one, the vet said he had cancer. He said these cancers are very fast moving, and he wouldn't live long even if we had the cancer removed. He was already an older cat when we got him from the rescue place, and always had mouth problems and would slobber heavily. He had very long fangs that would cut his lower lips when he would eat. My wife was always cleaning his mouth, and applying herbal remedies, and it helped a lot. I know we gave him a good life for his last few years, but the guilt of putting an animal down is oppressive. Sorry for the rambling, my heart is broken.

My poor wife is all tore up, and I'm not far behind her.

My cat's tumor was at the base of her tongue and, prevented her from eating, a fact we didn't know, because we were also treating her for kidney disease, giving her Sub Q fluids every other day......sadly, we learned that was the only fluid she was getting.......a fact that has me wracked with guilt (I had no idea she couldn't drink, I'd see her at the water bowl several times a day, appearing to be drinking) she was eating, very little but, I associated it with the kidney disease.

That's what you do, you second guess yourself......even though, you know you did everything you could.

I'm sure your Smixy knows he was loved.

[Standing Wolf]

My cat's tumor was at the base of her tongue and, prevented her from eating, a fact we didn't know, because we were also treating her for kidney disease, giving her Sub Q fluids every other day......sadly, we learned that was the only fluid she was getting.......a fact that has me wracked with guilt (I had no idea she couldn't drink, I'd see her at the water bowl several times a day, appearing to be drinking) she was eating, very little but, I associated it with the kidney disease.

That's what you do, you second guess yourself......even though, you know you did everything you could.

I'm sure your Smixy knows he was loved.

I always say that if I could choose a superpower it would be to be able to communicate telepathically with animals. If a person could do that with one of their pets and know exactly how they felt, where it hurt, etc., it would make getting them the treatment they need so much easier. As it is, so much is guesswork and sometimes wishful thinking. With my own cats, there were times I probably should have taken that last responsible act of a loving pet owner sooner, and didn't because I held out hope when hope was just an illusion. We make some mistakes, but I'd like to think that we mostly get it right. No decision like that will ever come close to the time I had to put down a long-time and very loved pet, one of the smartest cats I've ever known, because although he was in perfect health he was a an FIV carrier. How hard he fought to stay alive during that process haunts me to this day. If those kinds of memories prompt us to stop what we're doing - like posting on a message board - and go hang out and love on the furry family members we still have with us - so much the better.

[RMNIXON]

If pets are no longer eating properly it is a good sign they are in serious pain. It takes a lot to override hunger and basic instincts!

All pet owners should keep that in mind.

[Abby08]

If pets are no longer eating properly it is a good sign they are in serious pain. It takes a lot to override hunger and basic instincts!

All pet owners should keep that in mind.

Well, thanks for adding to my guilt.

[Just AnotherPerson]

I am so sorry my friend. <3

[Cletus]

Well, thanks for adding to my guilt.

You only feel guilty because you cared. That means you have no reason to feel guilty, but you are going to anyway.

[Cotton1]

CB, I'm sorry and my condolences to all.