When our shearer Liz, came in the spring, we could see just how thin our old sheep Zelda had gotten over the winter. Liz told us that Zelda only had a few teeth left and it was hard for her to chew, hard to get enough to eat.
It was easy for me to see that it would be cruel to make Zelda go through another winter. We decided to give her grain to supplement her diet over the summer and euthanize her before the winter came.
Now that the days are getting cooler and the idea of euthanizing Zelda is becoming a reality, I’m not as brave about it as I was in the spring when it seemed so far away.
I still believe it’s the right thing to do, that she’s already lived a good and long life for a sheep and that she would suffer unnecessarily in the winter. But knowing all that still doesn’t make it easy.
There’s still some time before the cold days and snow come. So until then, I’ll keep finding good snacks to feed her that she can eat. It seems like Zelda’s always hungry these days.
I know the feeling. My 13 yr old cat has a tumor in his stomach. I took him to the vet to see if he was Diabetic and no…his blood work came back he has a tumor. The vet told me to let her operate. I can’t do that to him. I also can’t put him to sleep yet. He was 25 lbs. And now has lost 5 lbs. I love my cat. The hardest decision I have is that I have to have him put to sleep. But when he gets up on the bed next to me at night and looks at me with love in his eyes I chicken out. I am not sure if he is suffering. I will not subject him to surgery on his stomach as the shock could kill him. I know deep down if he starts getting skinnier I will have him euthanized. I just can’t do it yet. She looks good. She doesn’t look like she is suffering yet. Maybe she might make it thru another winter. Maybe she won’t. But you will know when the time is right. take care.
I think as long as we’re aware of it Margie, then we can do what we need to at the right time. Good luck with your cat.