Vet recommended putting cat down, wanted other options

[Taryn and Smokey]

My cat was diagnosed yesterday and was supposed to start insulin today. He stopped eating last night and is lethargic and still not eating. He is still willing to walk around. He is 17 years old.

I took him to the vet Monday because he was peeing in my shoes but otherwise acting normal. Yesterday the vet called me and told me his blood work came back and he had diabetes and stuff that suggested fatty liver disease or other problems with his liver. I think she said something about ketones too

The quote for his treatment at the emergency clinic is 8-11k. The vet said his prognosis isn’t good, since he went downhill so fast and is old and said if I could live with myself for not trying to save him I should put him down. I was prepared for 4K but I don’t think I can afford 11k.

Are there any options I could explore with a smaller price tag?
appetite stimulant + subcutaneous fluids + if he eats, insulin? I am brand new to this and not sure

And is there anything I could do that’s palliative care so I could take him home tonight bring him in to be put down tomorrow instead of today?

I’m going to the emergency vet now so if anyone has any ideas for options I can ask them about, I’d appreciate them.


I know asking about euthanasia isn’t good on this forum, and I don’t want to do it, but I’m am brand new to this and 24 hours ago had no idea he was sick, so I am very much not prepared for any of this.

 

[Dyana]

My kitty had DKA and I took him to the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. He was there for 8.5 days (over Christmas) and he was in critical care and slowly and eventually came home with a feeding tube. I had just bought a house and the bankers encouraged me to get a home equity loan, so I did. The total for the hospital stay was about $4,800, but that was 20 years ago. He was 11 at the time and lived to be 20. I thought the price at the university was well worth it compared to human care.

 

[Rebecca & Max (GA)]

I’m sorry that I don’t have much to offer aside from tagging a few of the admins or others who know DKA.
I do know it’s near impossible to treat at home once it’s gone past a certain point (that’s not much from my understanding). It requires IV fluids and often IV insulin to get the glucose down. Appetite stimulants, pain meds, anti nausea meds are often needed too. I am not sure where you are located (but asking either just looking at the time). I know I would prefer MY vet to euthanize over an ER clinic, but the choice isn’t always ours. I cannot say if it would be inhumane to bring your cat home and wait till morning for your vet. I pulled my boy (suspected renal failure and a 10K estimate), and brought him right to our vet, so a bit different. Will they keep him over night on fluids and insulin until the morning? That shouldn’t cost what they estimated. That was for a week +, as that’s what it can take to fight DKA, unfortunately. We got a few more days with my boy, but in the end, the renal failure was bigger than him.

@Bron and Sheba (GA) can you offer any advice?
@Sienne and Gabby (GA) this a newbie that needs help!

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

A lot may depend on whether your vet actually knows how to treat those conditions. When my cat was diagnosed with diabetes, she was critically ill with diabetic ketoacidosis, pancreatitis, and hepatic lipidosis. She was hospitalized on an ICU for 3-4 days and survived. She was younger than your cat.
Not every vet can effectively treat DKA. It can be a life threatening condition. The emergency vets may be able to give you a better assessment of your cat’s prognosis. Also, they typically will overestimate the cost.

 

[Gracie85]

If you really think you are at this point, have you looked into whether there are any at-home euthanasia vets in your area?
Another option, if the vet really doesn't think there is a chance, is to just bring him home, make him comfortable in his own bed, in his own home, and at least he is where he is happy and comfortable and knows he is loved. You could always ask the vet for some pain meds when you take him home, to make him more comfortable. If he makes it until morning, then you can see if you can find another option for treating him, and if he doesn't....well, passing peacefully in your own loving home is much better than doing so all stressed out and full of iv tubes, etc, in a strange cage at the vets.
We don't have to make it happen for them, there is nothing wrong with letting it happen naturally, when you are at that point anyway.

 

[Taryn and Smokey]

Unfortunately the emergency vet ran a couple more tests and found an obstructed gallbladder, something with his kidneys, and what they think is lymphoma in addition to the fatty liver and DKA. She also thought there might be something up with his pancreas but would need to do more tests. He’d need more tests, surgery for his gall bladder, and treatment for DKA and the rest of the issues. The vet doesn’t think the prognosis is good, so I’ve decided against subjecting him to all that stress and instead he got fluids, pain meds, anti nausea meds and insulin and is home for the night. On the bright side, the emergency vet was willing to give him stuff to make him comfortable, whereas the other vet told me I could go to the emergency clinic or put him down then and there, but not take him home for the night.

We’ve been cuddling on the couch watching bird videos. He been purring a lot when I pet him like he normally does and he’s licked the tears off my face a few times. I had a friend bringing him his favourite human snacks so he can eat as much tuna, chickpeas, and chips as he wants. Before bed I’ll check on the at home euthanasia places the vet suggested and tomorrow morning I’ll say goodbye.

Thank you for your replies. I've had him since I was 9, so it was a hard decision to make, but I think I knew it when I left for his appointment and was just hoping I was wrong. When I turned on the car, “in the arms of an angel was playing”. I don’t really believe in signs from the universe, but I heard that and haven’t stopped crying since.

 

[Gracie85]

I am so very sorry. It's amazing how such small creatures can take up such a big part of our hearts.

 

[Nikkiz]

We just went through a similar situation with ER hospitalization and such. I would highly recommend in home euthanasia. We would never do it at the vet or ER if at all possible. It is so much better for your buddy to pass at home where they feel safe and comfortable.