I have kept dogs and cats for 30 years as well as having worked at vets. I am sorry to
say
that this cat is suffering and it would have been far kinder to have had the vet put
her
out of her misery a while ago. Cats are NOT like people and do not give obvious signs
of
pain. Many purr when in severe pain. The fact she did not respond when her paw was
squeezed hard is NOT an idication that she is not in pain. In situations like this the
cat's welfare should be put first not the desire of the owner. I have had the
misfirune of
having to deal with a cat that was in the end stage of cancer because the owner wanted
a
natural death. Valium will not do it.
I wrote this reply to the list as well in the hope that others will not be tempeted to
allow an animal to suffer like this.
Richard Goldman wrote:
> My friends' cat is dying. She has colon cancer, and is starting to slip
> into a coma slowly, not taking food, nor water for a couple of days now.
> They don't want a Vet to come in and put her down 'instantly' but would
> rather let nature takes its course slowly/naturally. But they also do not
> want her to suffer. She is apparently not suffering now.
> They have 2mg Valium tabs that they started giving her last night, one
> actually, that made her very relaxed. They have more.
> Anyone know:
> how many mgs. of Valium a cat can take? and how much would it take to
> OD her?
> Is there a better/gentler way? like . . . do cats respond to morphine?
> Has anyone had any personal experience with this?
> My friends really do not just want a Vet to come in an 'stop her heart'.
> And fortunatly the cat is not in major suffering mode. Not yet anyway.
> Just labored breathing, and extreme lethargy, and non-eating/drinking, and
> barely moving, and also: not very responsive to external pain (like if you
> squeeze her paw HARD she doesn't notice or flinch).
>
> Please email me privately if you have any suggestions.
> Thanks,
> Richard Goldman
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
--
bw
colin
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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