The days are growing a bit shorter, and the nights longer.
I went to the vet today (to bring Mr. Presley for his rabies and distemper shots) and naturally most of the conversation centered around Precious. Our family vet had read all of the reports faxed to him from the specialists and agreed that the situation is very tough indeed.
We talked through the diagnosis and prognosis to the point where the conversation turned to quality of life and how to know when enough is enough. My own realization is that she’s not going to simply wake up one day and miraculously spring up and resume her old ways.
My Vet was helpful with this discussion and we both agree that unless there is a turn-around soon that the decline will continue and her quality of life will worsen (and so will ours). I had asked whether or not, if the tumor continued to grow or if the brain disease continued to spread, if Precious would be affected in other ways, and he indicated that its possible that other parts of the body could be affected – leading to issues with the respiratory system, or other body functions. Obviously, we don’t want it to come to that, and if it did, I would take her in immediately to relief her suffering.
She hasn’t taken initiative to eat or drink on her own. The best she did today was lick a spoon covered in prescription food that I provided her after her syringe feeding.
We also talked over the option of super-doses of steroids, something I need to contemplate.
And we also talked about the process of letting her go. The toughest choice which may be the only choice given what’s before her.
It doesn’t look like God is going to answer my prayer on this one.
Tonight she’s more lethargic than ever. She wasn’t much interested in baby food (shredded meat) mixed with water tonight.
One more feeding perhaps. And then I leave her to rest.
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