"It’s Time To Fight Alongside Him"

I truly believe that having my own pets helps me become a better veterinarian. They provide me with valuable medical insights, and when it's time to say goodbye, it serves as a difficult reminder of my clients' emotions. My first cat, Potato, profoundly shaped my understanding of owning and treating cats, as well as the challenging decisions involved in euthanizing a pet with chronic disease.

Potato ended up at my hospital after a compassionate technician discovered him outdoors, lying on the sidewalk and crying. He was a senior, declawed, grey cat who had somehow found himself outside and helpless. It quickly became apparent that he was extremely sick; he refused to eat, and his bloodwork results were alarming. I called my husband and asked if I could bring him home to give him 'a few good final days.'

An abdominal ultrasound revealed that Potato was very sick with a disease called triaditis, causing severe inflammation of his pancreas, liver, and gastrointestinal tract. His condition was so severe that his survival was uncertain. I remember asking the ultrasonographer for his opinion. I still recall his words: 'The degree of his disease is severe, but Potato isn't giving up, so it's time to fight alongside him.'

A few days turned into nine months together, and that's how I ended up with my very first cat. Looking back, it's amusing to think that despite being a vet, I had no clue about how to be a cat owner. You can imagine this led to many frantic phone calls to friends for guidance.

Potato overcame his bout with triaditis, only to face a new challenge a few months later: nasal cancer. Initially, he showed mild symptoms like sneezing and slight nasal discharge. However, as the disease progressed, his sneezing fits intensified. Towards the end, they became more frequent and violent, though there were occasional reprieves. With his sense of smell compromised, Potato's appetite waned despite efforts to entice him.

I made the difficult decision to let Potato go when I witnessed a particularly violent sneezing fit that seemed to last an eternity. After it subsided, his once-vibrant face and body appeared drained. With his head hung low, eyes closed, and rapid breaths, he was clearly exhausted. It dawned on me then that his symptoms would only worsen, and the few 'good days' he had left couldn't outweigh the onset of these 'bad days.’

As Potato peacefully passed away in my arms at home, I thanked him for teaching me how to be a cat mom, and I felt immense gratitude that his suffering was brief. When contemplating euthanasia for a pet with a chronic disease, it's crucial to weigh their good days against the bad. You might find it helpful to assign each day a rating and track them on a calendar.

I find it remarkable how much a furry friend can enrich our lives. In the short time I had with Potato, he taught me about the early morning serenades some cats love to perform, the value of letting things unfold naturally, and the profound challenge of saying goodbye to a beloved pet battling chronic illness.