Aa
labored breathing and kitty euthanasia
we just had our beautiful five year old Maine Coon mix kitty put to sleep. she had leukemia, fluid around the lungs and heart disease. it is quite possible she had a tumor in the lungs but we didn't feel there was even time to get that ultra sounded and diagnosed. she was panting for breath, harder than I'd ever seen any dog, and it was painful to watch.
my husband and I both chose to be there with her as she was put to sleep. I do not regret this decision. what I don't understand however is this: the muscle relaxant they gave her seemed to paralyze her. she could not blink (as I've heard other animals HAVE done), and her gasping was so horrible I really feel as if she was suffocating. This is why we were having her put to sleep in the first place! I didn't want her to be in any more pain or fear than she already was. I began panicking and crying loudly for my husband to get the nurse.
As soon as she was stuck with the final needle, she ceased breathing.
My husband has promised me that after that muscle relaxer, she didn't feel anything, that she was not in distress. I understand that any drug that depresses the system can make you stop breathing as this is a voluntary AND involuntary function.
Did that shot make her suffocate? I will be haunted by this until I know for sure.
thank you.
Lisa, Zsa Zsa's mama
my husband and I both chose to be there with her as she was put to sleep. I do not regret this decision. what I don't understand however is this: the muscle relaxant they gave her seemed to paralyze her. she could not blink (as I've heard other animals HAVE done), and her gasping was so horrible I really feel as if she was suffocating. This is why we were having her put to sleep in the first place! I didn't want her to be in any more pain or fear than she already was. I began panicking and crying loudly for my husband to get the nurse.
As soon as she was stuck with the final needle, she ceased breathing.
My husband has promised me that after that muscle relaxer, she didn't feel anything, that she was not in distress. I understand that any drug that depresses the system can make you stop breathing as this is a voluntary AND involuntary function.
Did that shot make her suffocate? I will be haunted by this until I know for sure.
thank you.
Lisa, Zsa Zsa's mama
Hugs to you...
I came to bring you some comfort from my own experience. I just believe that your kitty did not suffer. Last year I was chocking on the food
and I could not breath at all for good minutes, untill I was resuced.
I was chocking and I could not breath and I was feeling panicky but I was not in any kind of pain. There was a fear, but no pain. None.
I think that your cat having so much relaxant had no anxiety inside,just because the relaxant would take it away... so it was in my opinion some comfort and gentle passing.
I know that I myself was about to loose consciousness as the lack of oxygen does ot you and also the lack of oxygen makes you not to feel the things as you do when you breath normally..
So I really think that your kitty did not suffer, it was just a gasp but it did not came with pain and the couple minutes it lasted I know it felt to you like eternity but it most likely did not feel like much to a kitty, It did not feel like much to me as I was feeling that I am getting weaker ..
She is comofortable now, she is in a good place where is no pain and only happiness and no suffering but only joy, she joined all our kitties that are ont he other side and they play together and waiting for us to join.
I know you are sad and this sadness will last and only you can embrace a thought of your kitty being in better place and find a clousure in that. Untill then .. let yourself to moarn, it is a loss, you did not only loose a kitty, you lost a part of something dear in your life, it is like a piece of you died with a cat..
When I get over animal grief I finally focus on how she is feeling now and
even if she or he suffered a bit when he or she was passing it does not matter now, no matter how I want to immerse yourself and analize it, it just really is in the past and it is closed for him and it is over and I try to then move gradually on the happy NOW where he or she is and I visualise more and more him on a beautiful flowery meadow with calming preasence of happy Goodness of a God and where all is beautiful an cats can do and be who they want to be not the limited persons they had to be here so they even can be walking like us, drinking tea in beautiful garden and they are
above all happy.. and they look so radiant and so in peace,
this is where they are. I hope to be there one day too, this is my cat's heaven..
Hugs
I came to bring you some comfort from my own experience. I just believe that your kitty did not suffer. Last year I was chocking on the food
and I could not breath at all for good minutes, untill I was resuced.
I was chocking and I could not breath and I was feeling panicky but I was not in any kind of pain. There was a fear, but no pain. None.
I think that your cat having so much relaxant had no anxiety inside,just because the relaxant would take it away... so it was in my opinion some comfort and gentle passing.
I know that I myself was about to loose consciousness as the lack of oxygen does ot you and also the lack of oxygen makes you not to feel the things as you do when you breath normally..
So I really think that your kitty did not suffer, it was just a gasp but it did not came with pain and the couple minutes it lasted I know it felt to you like eternity but it most likely did not feel like much to a kitty, It did not feel like much to me as I was feeling that I am getting weaker ..
She is comofortable now, she is in a good place where is no pain and only happiness and no suffering but only joy, she joined all our kitties that are ont he other side and they play together and waiting for us to join.
I know you are sad and this sadness will last and only you can embrace a thought of your kitty being in better place and find a clousure in that. Untill then .. let yourself to moarn, it is a loss, you did not only loose a kitty, you lost a part of something dear in your life, it is like a piece of you died with a cat..
When I get over animal grief I finally focus on how she is feeling now and
even if she or he suffered a bit when he or she was passing it does not matter now, no matter how I want to immerse yourself and analize it, it just really is in the past and it is closed for him and it is over and I try to then move gradually on the happy NOW where he or she is and I visualise more and more him on a beautiful flowery meadow with calming preasence of happy Goodness of a God and where all is beautiful an cats can do and be who they want to be not the limited persons they had to be here so they even can be walking like us, drinking tea in beautiful garden and they are
above all happy.. and they look so radiant and so in peace,
this is where they are. I hope to be there one day too, this is my cat's heaven..
Hugs
Hi Hi!!! I'm still here!! had a death in the family and had to go to New York. My favourite aunt passed away, diagnosed with cancer only two weeks prior. we found out on our way to the airport that she was gone. the family's been a wreck!
wanted you to know I'm here again. how are you doing? more soon!
xxx
wanted you to know I'm here again. how are you doing? more soon!
xxx
Lisa, thank you for sharing your tattoo design - I love it :) You said you'd like to have the tattoo on your wrist. I would also like a place where it is visible (no, not my nose :)) - I have a tattoo but it's on my shoulder blade, and it's only visible "to the public" in the summer...I still have to think about it...
The apartment is so empty without Zoe. Whenever I come back home, I expect both Daphne the dog and Zoe to welcome me...I can't complain because Daphne does welcome me, still there's no Zoe.
I'm downloading a few pics of Zoe...
Hope you're beginning to feel slightly better.(((Lisa)))
paulina
The apartment is so empty without Zoe. Whenever I come back home, I expect both Daphne the dog and Zoe to welcome me...I can't complain because Daphne does welcome me, still there's no Zoe.
I'm downloading a few pics of Zoe...
Hope you're beginning to feel slightly better.(((Lisa)))
paulina
that leukemia hits so fast when it's active!
I'm glad you and your mother have each other for solace. Pet lovers will tell you, although our pets are our children and no matter how many human qualities they have, what makes that bond so strong is that they ARE animals. they don't have the bitterness that humans can develop, they won't frown at your bad breath, they won't tell you that those jeans make your bottom look fat. Thank heavens!
I've uploaded my tattoo design to my profile here. I will be glad to design one for you if you'd like. I like the idea of the using Greek symbolism! Where are you thinking of putting it? Just be mindful: noses don't make very good tattoo palettes :D
Do you have pics of your kitty here? I would love to see her.
happy halloween!
Lisa~
I'm glad you and your mother have each other for solace. Pet lovers will tell you, although our pets are our children and no matter how many human qualities they have, what makes that bond so strong is that they ARE animals. they don't have the bitterness that humans can develop, they won't frown at your bad breath, they won't tell you that those jeans make your bottom look fat. Thank heavens!
I've uploaded my tattoo design to my profile here. I will be glad to design one for you if you'd like. I like the idea of the using Greek symbolism! Where are you thinking of putting it? Just be mindful: noses don't make very good tattoo palettes :D
Do you have pics of your kitty here? I would love to see her.
happy halloween!
Lisa~
Lisa, I was thinking about getting a tattoo to commemorate Zoe as well...I'm terrible at designing graphics, so it'd be really nice to see your design - I think this is a great idea, as the other ones you mentioned. (I thought about a tattoo of Zoe's name is Greek as Zoe is originally a Greek name).
Zoe was a bit of a princess (all cats seem to be royal somehow) and used to have her own tumbler for water...We've been filling it with fresh water every day...My mother lives with us (she's 66) and she's taken Zoe's death really badly, although she is a human doctor. So we cry together. And we still need to find something to help Daphne, the dog, to deal with the loss.
On a different note, when I was younger, we had a cat, also found as a kitten in the street. He was diagnosed with feline leukemia. The vets wanted to start giving him interpherone (sp?) but he was too sick...the illness was progressing dramatically.
It's very hard to make the decision about euthanasia - but I think it's better this way. Yes, it's very hard on us (I'm crying as I'm writing this...) because we are left behind, but our friends don't have to suffer so much any longer.
Your Zsa Zsa was so beautiful, you were lucky and - may I say - priviledged to share your life with. Just like we were priviledged to be here with Zoe.
love and hugs, iwona
Zoe was a bit of a princess (all cats seem to be royal somehow) and used to have her own tumbler for water...We've been filling it with fresh water every day...My mother lives with us (she's 66) and she's taken Zoe's death really badly, although she is a human doctor. So we cry together. And we still need to find something to help Daphne, the dog, to deal with the loss.
On a different note, when I was younger, we had a cat, also found as a kitten in the street. He was diagnosed with feline leukemia. The vets wanted to start giving him interpherone (sp?) but he was too sick...the illness was progressing dramatically.
It's very hard to make the decision about euthanasia - but I think it's better this way. Yes, it's very hard on us (I'm crying as I'm writing this...) because we are left behind, but our friends don't have to suffer so much any longer.
Your Zsa Zsa was so beautiful, you were lucky and - may I say - priviledged to share your life with. Just like we were priviledged to be here with Zoe.
love and hugs, iwona
I am so sorry for your loss of Zoe! I am glad you got to be with her at the end, loving her and helping her cross over.
A couple of things we have done since ZZ died that have helped somewhat: We have her bathmat and her bowl under our bed, a tribute to her in a quiet unseen way. We know it's there, but no one can see it when coming in the room, thinking we are strange, waiting for a cat who will never show up.
Also, I wanted to memorialise her in some way. So I designed a tattoo that I will be getting in a few weeks, inked in a place where everyone CAN see it (inside, left wrist). It was very cathartic just designing it! I'll post pics here as soon as I get it done.
The third thing, although not everyone can, nor will want to do this: we have a very old kitchen, with very old cabinets. In the bottom cabinet where we kept her food, I took a black sharpie and began writing on the front of the door (it's painted white). She would always sit there and look up at me hopefully, waiting for a treat. I wrote things like "I love you sweet kitty", and drew little hearts and kitty images. My son picked up the pen later that day and he added a few things as well. My husband is the most soft-hearted individual when it comes to pets, so he hasn't written anything yet, and may never do so. But maybe he'll surprise us all.
I didn't mean to make this about offering advice; we have to deal with our grief in our own way. But once the shock has worn off and the ache has dulled, you may find yourself wanting to do something for Zoe to honour her memory. For me, a grave marker was just not enough!
hugs and love from Georgia~
Lisa
A couple of things we have done since ZZ died that have helped somewhat: We have her bathmat and her bowl under our bed, a tribute to her in a quiet unseen way. We know it's there, but no one can see it when coming in the room, thinking we are strange, waiting for a cat who will never show up.
Also, I wanted to memorialise her in some way. So I designed a tattoo that I will be getting in a few weeks, inked in a place where everyone CAN see it (inside, left wrist). It was very cathartic just designing it! I'll post pics here as soon as I get it done.
The third thing, although not everyone can, nor will want to do this: we have a very old kitchen, with very old cabinets. In the bottom cabinet where we kept her food, I took a black sharpie and began writing on the front of the door (it's painted white). She would always sit there and look up at me hopefully, waiting for a treat. I wrote things like "I love you sweet kitty", and drew little hearts and kitty images. My son picked up the pen later that day and he added a few things as well. My husband is the most soft-hearted individual when it comes to pets, so he hasn't written anything yet, and may never do so. But maybe he'll surprise us all.
I didn't mean to make this about offering advice; we have to deal with our grief in our own way. But once the shock has worn off and the ache has dulled, you may find yourself wanting to do something for Zoe to honour her memory. For me, a grave marker was just not enough!
hugs and love from Georgia~
Lisa
I lost my kitty, Zoe, on Oct.27th, to FIP. Her suffering was unbearable, she was almost screaming for help. I knew we had to take her to the vet to alleviate her pain. I'm in Poland, but the procedure here is the same: Zoe was given a sedative/muscle relaxant, we had some time with her, then the vet gave her Pentobarbital...We stayed with her until all her "earthly" body functions stopped. In a way, I'm grateful for having been able to be with Zoe to the very end - I'd never had the chance of properly saying goodbye to my beloved dog.
When I knew she had gone "over the Rainbow bridge", I whispered to her ear "into Paradise may the Angels lead you".
I feel your pain...because I'm in so much pain right now, as is the rest of my family. Zoe was a stray I found in a street a few years ago. She was best friends with my dog, Daphne, who is looking for her everywhere and seems to feel lonely. And she was a real FIGHTER. She was our companion when the times were really bad for my small family and she was very brave during her treatment...
Big hugs to you!
When I knew she had gone "over the Rainbow bridge", I whispered to her ear "into Paradise may the Angels lead you".
I feel your pain...because I'm in so much pain right now, as is the rest of my family. Zoe was a stray I found in a street a few years ago. She was best friends with my dog, Daphne, who is looking for her everywhere and seems to feel lonely. And she was a real FIGHTER. She was our companion when the times were really bad for my small family and she was very brave during her treatment...
Big hugs to you!
thank you all so much for these beautiful posts! I'm doing better every day. Yesterday was the first morning I worked since she died, and I knew it was going to be tough coming home without here there to greet me at the door and lay down on the floor to have her belly rubbed. Every little thing I did til I finally went to bed was something I had done with her, and I just let it all be what it was, empty, a little lonely, and so very quiet. I'm a pet-talker..I tell them everything I'm doing, what I'm thinking, etc. She was a good listener! I'm proud she was my friend.
you guys rock, seriously. thank you again for your kindness and empathy and support.
hugs to all~
>^..^<
you guys rock, seriously. thank you again for your kindness and empathy and support.
hugs to all~
>^..^<
I am just so deeply sorry for your loss. These wonderful people here on the cat forum are well informed and so caring. They got me through many tough times with my sweet old girl Hissie. My husband and me had to put our Hissie to sleep some weeks ago. It was heartbreaking and still is. Jade, the Rainbow Bridge just says it all.
Hiss was given a sedative first by the vet. And we were given time alone with Hissie. The sedative totally put Hissie to sleep. Then, the vet came in and gave the final shot to stop her heart. And it seemed to take at least 5 minutes before the vet said her heart had stopped. I thought it was much faster than that. I never said anything about the length of time it took her heart to stop before now. Yet, Hissie was so sedated, I know she never suffered during the process.
Snpdrgon, your kitty was very beautiful. I know you are hurting. Just take it one day at a time, hon. That is what I do. I still feel like I should look up here in the house and see my Hissie. But, Hissie and your beautiful cat are no longer suffering. God bless you during this time.
Hiss was given a sedative first by the vet. And we were given time alone with Hissie. The sedative totally put Hissie to sleep. Then, the vet came in and gave the final shot to stop her heart. And it seemed to take at least 5 minutes before the vet said her heart had stopped. I thought it was much faster than that. I never said anything about the length of time it took her heart to stop before now. Yet, Hissie was so sedated, I know she never suffered during the process.
Snpdrgon, your kitty was very beautiful. I know you are hurting. Just take it one day at a time, hon. That is what I do. I still feel like I should look up here in the house and see my Hissie. But, Hissie and your beautiful cat are no longer suffering. God bless you during this time.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Me, too. I'm so sorry you lost your kitty. She was so young.
We didn't have a good experience putting our last cat to sleep either so I understand your distress completely. I hope Nancy was able to put your mind at ease. Do you know the Rainbow Bridge? I'll print it out for you in case you don't. It's a very comforting poem, but will make you cry.
Rainbow Bridge
Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....
Author unknown...
We didn't have a good experience putting our last cat to sleep either so I understand your distress completely. I hope Nancy was able to put your mind at ease. Do you know the Rainbow Bridge? I'll print it out for you in case you don't. It's a very comforting poem, but will make you cry.
Rainbow Bridge
Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....
Author unknown...
I'm also so sorry for your loss. I had to put my kitty Alex to sleep last year after kidney failure and all I did was cry the whole time they were doing it. I do believe she didn't suffer though and glad that you were able to say your goodbyes with her. I know it doesn't help right now but you definitely did the right thing for the beautiful kitty.
I just wanted to say I'm so sorry for your loss. It sounds like you certainly had her best interest at heart. She will suffer no more.
ok, thank you, Nancy. I didn't know that about the heart attack thing. No one seems to understand why I wanted to make sure she wasn't in pain!
>^..^<
>^..^<
As you said, she was having great difficulty breathing and that was part of reason you were ending her pain. The muscle relaxer is primarily intended to relax the heart muscle so that final injection will make her heart stop but without the pain of a heart attack. She was in distress before the muscle relaxer, in less distress after the muscle relaxer, and in no distress after the final injection.
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