Marie.. PTS or not?? Please help.

Rachael · May 22, 2011

Really I would just really appreciate some opinions.

Marie is such a special, special girl. So I know that makes it a lot harder. She is the last of a big rescue family, when she goes it will be like the end of an era... it will be so sad.

She is 32 months old. She has skin cancer of her lower back, to the side. It's big now, but it's not infected and it doesn't really bother her at all. It has bled sometimes, but not recently.

She has bumble foot on both of her back feet. Something her family were all prone to. She doesn't bother with that either really and they aren't too bad compared to a couple of ratties we've had/I've seen.

She has a lump under her arm, but it hasn't really grown at all, it's not tiny.. but it isn't big. It doesn't cause her problems when moving.

Her breathing is a bit noisy and not quite right, but that's mainly lung scarring I think.

The main issue is that she had quite a lot of blood from her girl parts about 2 weeks ago. She has been on Baytril, she had a little blood 2 days ago but nothing serious. But there is a bit of 'infection' smell from there

She isn't well enough, or young enough IMO, to get spayed.

She has so many health problems and she isn't really active, because she's old... but she doesn't seem in pain as such. She still wants to have cuddles and attention and doesn't eat loads (she never has), but she does eat, and she drinks. It sounds really bad when I write it all down. I hope people don't think we have left her suffer, there have been a few times we *almost* took her but then realised it was too soon. In the morning we are taking another rattie, Kitty, to be PTS.... so really have to decide about Marie.

lilspaz68 · May 22, 2011

Rachael said:
Really I would just really appreciate some opinions.

Marie is such a special, special girl. So I know that makes it a lot harder. She is the last of a big rescue family, when she goes it will be like the end of an era... it will be so sad.

She is 32 months old. She has skin cancer of her lower back, to the side. It's big now, but it's not infected and it doesn't really bother her at all. It has bled sometimes, but not recently.

She has bumble foot on both of her back feet. Something her family were all prone to. She doesn't bother with that either really and they aren't too bad compared to a couple of ratties we've had/I've seen.

She has a lump under her arm, but it hasn't really grown at all, it's not tiny.. but it isn't big. It doesn't cause her problems when moving.

Her breathing is a bit noisy and not quite right, but that's mainly lung scarring I think.

The main issue is that she had quite a lot of blood from her girl parts about 2 weeks ago. She has been on Baytril, she had a little blood 2 days ago but nothing serious. But there is a bit of 'infection' smell from there She isn't well enough, or young enough IMO, to get spayed.

She has so many health problems and she isn't really active, because she's old... but she doesn't seem in pain as such. She still wants to have cuddles and attention and doesn't eat loads (she never has), but she does eat, and she drinks. It sounds really bad when I write it all down. I hope people don't think we have left her suffer, there have been a few times we *almost* took her but then realised it was too soon. In the morning we are taking another rattie, Kitty, to be PTS.... so really have to decide about Marie.

She doesn't sound quite ready to me either. All those things add up to the icky parts of aging but nothing (as long as pain is managed) that says PTS now! She probably needs to be helped to clean her vaginal area, as when the girls stop grooming they can get a bit of smelly discharge. She's already on abs for the genital bleeding which could also be myco. I think it will be soonish but not right away for your special girl.

jorats · May 22, 2011

I'd say if she's not in pain then it's not time yet. You'll know... ((hugs))

Godmother · May 22, 2011

Yes, it doesn't sound as if she is ready. Is your vet handy in case things change quickly?

purinpurin · May 22, 2011

Putting a pet to sleep is always such a difficult decision to make.

I've had to put many pets to sleep, but I learned my lesson after my first pet dog. She was really, really sick; and deep inside, I knew it was "time", but I didn't want to believe it. I kept her alive for my sake; every time my parents suggested putting her to sleep, I threw a tantrum like the spoiled brat I was, and said they were cruel for wanting to "kill" her.

My parents ended up spending thousands upon thousands of dollars for useless and pointless surgeries and basically because of my selfishness, my poor dog had to be put through anaesthesia numerous times, even though the surgeries for various concerns wasn't doing much to help. She died suffering, and I never made that same mistake again.

Only you can make the decision because you know your pet best. If you feel it is time (and like others say, you will know when it comes), then it is time. It's sad seeing our pets go, but we all know they'll be as healthy as they ever were, waiting for us at the Rainbow Bridge with slobbery kissies.