My cat has liver failure. Is at-home passing humane or euthanasia?

Poor guy. It is tough when you are in these situations where you are deciding on continued care (which isn’t 100% guarantees to work) or Humane euthanasia. Unfortunately we don’t have enough information about your cats particular case to help you decide things here. Perhaps a consultation would be best to comb through all of the details such as lab work findings (even seeing the normals is quite helpful), medications tried so far, and his physical exam findings would also be helpful. But generally speaking if your pet is ill from liver disease, which can be any condition such as hepatitis, hepatic lipidosis (carries a poorer prognosis unless aggressive treatment is implemented including a feeding tube in most situations), liver cancer or even gallbladder disease can cause elevated liver enzymes, then it’s best fo an abdominal ultrasound to determine what specific liver condition is present. The prognosis of your pet should be determined by your vet and then carefully considered when determining if continued care should be done or if Humane euthanasia is the better option. I hope this helps and best wishes moving forward with a good decision regarding Elmo’s care.

I am so sorry you have to go through this. It is so difficult to make these choices for our pets because we want them to be with us forever. Sometimes, we need to make a tough decision that will end their pain and suffering. Our thoughts are with you at this difficult time.

I'm sorry to hear about Huck's passing. Without knowing what caused the liver issues, it would be hard to say, but it does sound like your vet was doing everything they could. Younger cats with liver issues may have congenital problems that would not be treatable with antibiotics as it's a problem with the liver itself, rather than an infection. If possible, you can request a necropsy (animal autopsy) to see if the direct cause can be determined, however it would be hard to say. If you're having trouble coping with Huck's passing, seeking out something such as The Rainbow Bridge where you can talk with other pet owners and create a virtual memorial for Huck may help in your time of need.

Hi, it sounds like he is going to pass away, I would personally request a home visit so that he can be put to sleep without suffering . He could be going for days and it’s not fair on him in this condition. I understand why you don t want him to take to the vets, however at home it will be less traumatic and there is the option of giving him a sedation so that he does not realise so much what’s happening. Thinking of you at this difficult time,

I am so sorry for your heartache, I know how difficult this time is. You have a couple of options to consider. 1) Let her pass at home. Make sure she's got a warm comfortable bed, allow her to be propped into a whatever position seems most comfortable. If she's having any difficulty breathing, it may help to prop her so that she's sort of lying on her chest, (so the breastbone is on the surface)--this allows both of her lungs to expand most comfortably. There is no medication that I can advise you to give her, but just being with her is the best thing you can do to make her comfortable. You can keep things she really likes (a cat toy she used to love, etc) and familiar scents (one of your worn t-shirts,etc) in the bed with her. Don't try to force her to eat or drink. 2) Call an emergency clinic. They likely have 24/7 full services, including euthanasia. Additionally, they may be able to refer you to "on-call" in home euthanasia services in your area. More and more of these at home services are available 24 hrs in metropolitan areas. Costs will vary, but will be more expensive than taking her in to your family veterinarian, due to the 24/7 service. You and your kitty are in my thoughts. Thank you for trusting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello. Honestly, waiting for Chloe to pass naturally can be a rough, painful & a distressing way to go. You just said you do not want her to suffer I would definitely have your veterinarian evaluate her to see if there is anything reasonable that can be done to help her. Perhaps she is a little dehydrated & just needs some subcutaneous fluids. If not, she should be allowed to go peacefully surrounded by the people that she loves. She will be sedated so that when her final moments come, there is no stress with her or you. This is the most humane way to allow Chloe to move on with dignity. There might be some things available to ease her discomfort for a while longer, but only you & your veterinarian can decide if this is the right time to let her go. Good luck & thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Having him euthanized is a valid option if his quality of life is not good. If he cannot control his bowels and is not able to eat, that is not a happy life for him. Older cats can have liver, kidney disease and diabetes that can cause illness. You may want to have a vet examine him to see what the treatment options maybe before making that difficult decision. They can tell you want to expect long term to see what his quality of life will be like if he starts on a treatment. You know him better than anyone, so you will be able to know best how happy he currently is.