Time To Euthanize?

[vanvran]

Hi, for those who have Snowball's deterioration from tumor, fin rot, and probably a bacterial infection. I I decided to try one last treatment route--AP triple sulfa. I got him an airstone and cranked up the heat for him. He hasn't moved off the bottom of the tank is over a week, and has only eaten once in about a week and a half! Everytime I think he's dead, he moves a little bit, or his eyes move. It's awful. I almost feel like I should end his suffering. Am I prolonging his suffering by continuing to try new treatments

 

[catherine896]

Aww, Im sorry he is so unwell. I dont know what to say as I would be doing the same as you, trying everything!
I dont know what to suggest for you. Goodluck is all I can say

 

[vanvran]

Aww, Im sorry he is so unwell. I dont know what to say as I would be doing the same as you, trying everything!
I dont know what to suggest for you. Goodluck is all I can say

Hi, when you see your formerly gorgeous healthy fish, lying on the bottom of the tank unable to move, wasting away, it seems almost cruel to let him suffer like this. It's so much easier, IMO, when they just die overnight and don't suffer. This breaks my heart and I just worry about how he "feels."

 

[zoekin8yg]

Perhaps it is time to let him go

 

[Bert]

I too would probably be trying everything I could to save him until it finally hapend Very sad, I had two tetras go last night but, they were mean so I wasn't too upset It's really up to you, if you think this could help him then I'd say go for it. If you really think it's just going to make him feel worse then I'd say it's his time. It's hard for us to tell not seeing him and how he is everyday. I'm sorry and I hope he can pull it out!

 

[liz2]

When mine are really sick I just put them in clean warm water and cover the tank. Cowards way out I know but it means I dont keep looking at them and they can slip away in peace.

 

[vanvran]

When mine are really sick I just put them in clean warm water and cover the tank. Cowards way out I know but it means I dont keep looking at them and they can slip away in peace.

It's an obsession--I can't bear to watch him, yet I can't bear not to. Always waiting for a miraculous recovery..........

 

[mommyof2bettas]

I'm sorry that this is of no help but I'd like to wish Snowball good luck. Bettas are fish that really have lots of personality. It's so hard when you see your little buddy suffering. I wish you luck on whatever you choose to do. I know it's hard to have to make a decision like this.

 

[Jaded12]

Poor thing... If he's suffering maybe it's best to put him out of his misery quickly and painlessly as hard as it may be...

 

[heatmisr]

Is he still pine-coned?

 

[vanvran]

Is he still pine-coned?

Hi, it's so hard to tell, he's curled up and hiding. It was only noticeable at the bottom of his body. No matter how I turn the tank around, I can't tell. I can see this: what's left of his fins are very short and choppy. The lower 1/2 of his body is totally wasted -- he's breathing heavily and I see white specks, which is Ich, I guess. Since there was NO response to the Triple Sulfa, I stopped treatment after 2 complete treatment regimens. I bumped up the heater, put in the airstone, lowered the water. I've only seen him try to swim 3x times in the last week--I've never seen him come to the top for air. I drop pieces of pea and betta bites in his tank, and he moves near the food, but doesn't eat. I feel so helpless--I cannot believe he's still alive. Am I prolonging his agony by continuing to treat? Or, is the fact that he's still alive a sign that there's hope??

I'm sorry that this is of no help but I'd like to wish Snowball good luck. Bettas are fish that really have lots of personality. It's so hard when you see your little buddy suffering. I wish you luck on whatever you choose to do. I know it's hard to have to make a decision like this.

Thanks for your kind words, you're right--they are very special little fishies. I am hoping he will recover since he's still alive.

 

[l.michelle]

I know I may get flamed for saying this, but maybe it is time. It really sounds like the fish is suffering and from what you tell us here, things are looking very bleak. I know that euthanising is hard, I had to euthanise one of mine about a year ago, he was pretty much seemed to be paralyzed at the bottom of the tank (then in the shallow bowl) and wouldn't move unless touched and even then it was him on his side, not eating etc. I tried all sorts of meds and nothing took effect.

I guess the way to look at it maybe, (again my opinion) is say a dog or cat was displaying the same. They would be euthanised. It is hard, and it hurts, but I suppose in the long run you are at least ending the pain and suffering. I know that some may think, but one day tomorrow he could be up and swimming again, believe me, I have thought the same, but I really don't think by the sounds of it that it will be the case.

The decision has to be yours though, don't let anyone talk you out of how you feel, whether to keep him alive or euthanise. The stuff above is only my opinion. It really sounds like you have tried everything to help him and I am sure he appreciates it.

I hope for the best for you

 

[Jaded12]

I know I may get flamed for saying this, but maybe it is time. It really sounds like the fish is suffering and from what you tell us here, things are looking very bleak. I know that euthanising is hard, I had to euthanise one of mine about a year ago, he was pretty much seemed to be paralyzed at the bottom of the tank (then in the shallow bowl) and wouldn't move unless touched and even then it was him on his side, not eating etc. I tried all sorts of meds and nothing took effect.

I guess the way to look at it maybe, (again my opinion) is say a dog or cat was displaying the same. They would be euthanised. It is hard, and it hurts, but I suppose in the long run you are at least ending the pain and suffering. I know that some may think, but one day tomorrow he could be up and swimming again, believe me, I have thought the same, but I really don't think by the sounds of it that it will be the case.

The decision has to be yours though, don't let anyone talk you out of how you feel, whether to keep him alive or euthanise. The stuff above is only my opinion. It really sounds like you have tried everything to help him and I am sure he appreciates it.

I hope for the best for you

I have to agree, there's no point in letting him suffer... Pineconing is caused by kidney failure... which is incurable and will just cause him a very slow, agonizing death, then add in the fin rot he seems to be displaying, and the ich, all of these infections at once are a sure sign that his immune system is shutting down... Why make him suffer long then he needs to...? The kindest thing you can do for him right now is put him down... not sick back and wait to see what happens...

 

[liz2]

How is he? They are little troopers they seem to hang on for ages, not like silly guppies who just die at the drop of a pin.
Hope you are ok. hugs xx

 

[vanvran]

How is he? They are little troopers they seem to hang on for ages, not like silly guppies who just die at the drop of a pin.
Hope you are ok. hugs xx

Hi Liz2, thanks for keeping up with Snowball. He's awful. I cannot believe he's still hanging in there. You're so right, guppies are here one day, gone the next with no signs of a problem. My experience with bettas has not been very good. My first betta seemed to take forever to die--but he was 3 years old. Snowball isn't even a year old yet. He's pushing his body along the bottom just to move from one spot to another. I tried feeding him frozen bloodworms (thawed of course) by eye dropper and he watched them fall around him but can't even seem to find the food. He did eat a few betta bites. So I was very hopeful. I'm thinking of giving him an epsom salt bath, what do you think? I can't see pineconing now. He's really wasting away.

I know I may get flamed for saying this, but maybe it is time. It really sounds like the fish is suffering and from what you tell us here, things are looking very bleak. I know that euthanising is hard, I had to euthanise one of mine about a year ago, he was pretty much seemed to be paralyzed at the bottom of the tank (then in the shallow bowl) and wouldn't move unless touched and even then it was him on his side, not eating etc. I tried all sorts of meds and nothing took effect.

I guess the way to look at it maybe, (again my opinion) is say a dog or cat was displaying the same. They would be euthanised. It is hard, and it hurts, but I suppose in the long run you are at least ending the pain and suffering. I know that some may think, but one day tomorrow he could be up and swimming again, believe me, I have thought the same, but I really don't think by the sounds of it that it will be the case.

The decision has to be yours though, don't let anyone talk you out of how you feel, whether to keep him alive or euthanise. The stuff above is only my opinion. It really sounds like you have tried everything to help him and I am sure he appreciates it.

I hope for the best for you

I have to agree, there's no point in letting him suffer... Pineconing is caused by kidney failure... which is incurable and will just cause him a very slow, agonizing death, then add in the fin rot he seems to be displaying, and the ich, all of these infections at once are a sure sign that his immune system is shutting down... Why make him suffer long then he needs to...? The kindest thing you can do for him right now is put him down... not sick back and wait to see what happens...

I agree with you both. Excellent point out the dogs/cats. I wouldn't hesitate to put them to sleep if they were suffering like this. It would seem to be the only humane thing to do. It seems as though the toughest meds out there aren't making a bit of difference.