This isn't really an advice post, just more opinions in general but I will give my own personal situation just to give a basis for discussion. We have a very senior kitty who will be 18 in April. He had a growth on his nose (looked like a wart) that we had removed summer of 2011 I believe. We didn't have it biopsied because his blood levels were all normal and didn't want to put him through the stress of chemo even if it was cancer. The growth has since come back and is now growing under his nose and mashing his face up. DH (it's his cat) wants to have it removed again now while there are no issues. He is afraid it may be growing into his brain or something. I am of the opinion that since it is not effecting his breathing, that we should leave it alone. He handled being put under quite fine before, but now he is a year older and it gets more dangerous the older they get.
With that said, how do you decide when the risk is worth the payoff?? I try to use the Quality of Life theory, but I'm sure that isn't the only criterion that people use. In this day and age do you feel like maybe it's not such a risk to put older animals under?
With that said, how do you decide when the risk is worth the payoff?? I try to use the Quality of Life theory, but I'm sure that isn't the only criterion that people use. In this day and age do you feel like maybe it's not such a risk to put older animals under?