Bryon Carmoney was wondering whether he should have his 9 yo Weezer
operated on for a tumor on his liver or put him to sleep.  I think it is
best to do neither, unless Weezer is in constant pain.  Weezer is almost
surely too old to do well in surgery.  If he lived, his recovery would be
slow and he could feel terrible.  Not operating is a kind and rational
choice.
 
I think it is also kind to let a ferret die a natural death unless they
are in terrible pain.  I can understand feeling badly about not being
there when a ferret dies, but if you choose when they should die you
could be taking some good times with you away from them.
 
Death is the most natural thing we all do after breathing.  It is scary
and it certainly is not pretty, but I'm not sure it is improved by taking
a ferret to a vet and having them end their lives with a car ride and a
visit to a place they probably hate and are afraid of.  I have taken two
of the five ferrets I've lost to be put down because they were in pain,
and it was good to hold them and know they were out of pain.
 
The other two who died of age and illness I allowed to go on their own in
their own time.  I just tried to make them comfortable.  If I had taken
them to the vet when I thought they were not going to rally, I would have
been wrong.  They both had good days after the first time I thought they
were dying.  They grew weak and tired and hardly played at all, but until
they stopped eating I didn't even consider letting them go.  Not eating
and drinking is one way of choosing their own time, and I let them do
that.  It was very sad to watch them slip away, and they were
uncomfortable as it became harder to breathe, but that is the way death
often goes.
 
If your old guy is still walking around and eating, he is still interested
in life and enjoying himself when he's up for it.  Even if he sleeps all
the time, as long as he is eating he is not ready to leave.  He's just old
and slipping away.
 
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[Posted in FML issue 3659]