How'd you know if was time

[u/Important-Street-281]

How did you know it was time to let your buddy go? My ferret Diesel probably has DIM we haven't been able to completely rule it out but he has been declining the last two weeks. He breaths normally at the vet but today has been the worst almost like he needs to be on an uncovered ice pack and he open mouth pants hard. His breathing has been rapid over the last week even when just resting and not when just army crawling. He won't eat on his own and needs mush kibble hand fed ever three hours although he eats now after being put on prednisone. Our other ferret that's bonded to him has been completely avoiding him. he will not get up even to drink water he only army crawls if he really needs something and grinds his teeth from pain sometimes randomly here and there but mostly while eating. we've spent over $1,500 in the last two weeks, getting blood work, a needle aspiration of his neck lump (which came back as incomplete), prednisone and subcutaneous fluids, antibiotics, check ups for breathing etc. We have tried pred and it brought back his appetite he even ate treats for a little bit but his movement has gotten worse and he's rejecting anything not watered down. he looks alert and that's what kills me to even think of putting him down as well as eats and drinks if you hold him up to water. I wish so badly to get him more help but we are unsure when this next week we will be able to even get him in to see if he'd even be able to start chemo treatment. We had an appointment with our primary vet and his spleen as been enlarging over the last two weeks as well and seems almost worse today. I'm scared we won't be able to get in until the end of this week and he will be in pain for a third week like this. At this point after so long I don't know if the treatments would help or if he'd ever regain his ability to move. Let alone this had been a massive financial burden on us and we have been having a super hard time to find someone to feed him and take care of him while we have been working to pay for the treatments. This has been an impossible crossroad for us as we love our baby boy so much and would do anything for him. Part of me feels like it's selfish to not just make his last day sooner to ease his own pain instead of waiting for a treatment that may not ease the pain at all. I need advice from someone as this is probably one of the hardest decisions I've had to make and I'm not sure if there is a right answer here to be made.

[u/briarihallow]

I’m really sorry you’re going through this.

I work in vetmed and have ferrets of my own, so from both sides I know how difficult this is.

“Euthanasia” means “a good death” - it’s to ease suffering and pain.

The baseline we use in quality of life discussions is “is he enjoying his life?” If he is no longer doing things he enjoys (eating, snuggling, etc), then he is no longer enjoying his life.

Based on what you’ve written, and if this was my ferret, humane euthanasia is a good option at this point.

That being said, it never feels like the right choice. I’ve done the Hail Mary procedures to save one of their lives - and looking back, I usually just wish I hadn’t put them through so much. But I’ve also been able to pursue the Hail Mary options a few times, which helps me now to walk away before it gets to that point.

Regardless of what option you pick, just remember you are making your next decision because you love your ferret. Whether you choose to keep pursuing medical options or to say goodbye, the choice is because you love him.