The Mozart Report and other Updatery

[rolanni]

So, Mozart's triumphant return home from the vet on Thursday segued into a Friday in which he would not eat, and would not drink.  Two tongue-laps of tuna juice was all that we could get into him; he was clearly miserable, and spent a good bit of the morning and early afternoon Under Things.  I called the vet to give the follow-up report, fully expecting to hear; "Bring him in; it's time."

But the vet had one more trick up his sleeve -- prednisone, which, he said, would calm Mozart's stomach, and also increase his appetite.  Asyouknowbob, it's also a steroid and very hard on the kidneys, and Mozart is in kidney failure.  Steve did go into town to pick up the medicine, since the run of treatment is seven days.  He may, says the vet, become seduced back to eating in seven days.

So, we're doing it, but I worry that we may have crossed a line.  We have, when confronted with The Choice in the past, always erred on the side of No Suffering.  We do everything we can during their lives to be sure that our cats live in a place where Nothing Bad Happens To Cats.  We try to be sure that they cross when they are ready; we haven't ever tried to prolong their stay into the place where there's no joy, just because it's hard to say good-bye.  In retrospect, I think we kept Socks with us a little too long.  Had we had the cancer diagnosis sooner. . .but the vets were -- as they should have been -- looking for horses instead of zebras, and we could only do the best we knew how.

Mozart. . .is fading.  We know he's not going to "get better."  I just wish I had a better handle on where he is, and how he feels.

So, that. . .

Writing is happening; and a book is taking form, a surprising book in a number of ways.  It always amazes me how logical my backbrain is, in its own chaotic fashion.

In Archers Beach news:  This is a Distant Early Warning for those folks who want to have a signed or signed-and-personalized copy of Carousel Seas to go with their signed or signed-and-personalized copy of Carousel Sun:  Uncle Hugo will again be taking preorders for signed books.  This is a DISTANT EARLY WARNING, not a Call to Action.  Actual pre-ordering will not open until after Labor Day.  We'll tell you when.

And?  I think that's all the news that's fit to print.

Comments

[grassrose.livejournal.com]

I feel like the "can they be persuaded to eat" is a decent yardstick - at least, for dogs. We lost our Jessie in February to lung cancer. There came a time when we couldn't get the Prednisone into her (we weren't going to manhandle a 17-year-old dog twice a day, or drag her to the vet for shots). Two things influenced our decision to say goodbye. The first was when she refused bacon. We had been feeding her wet food, fresh cooked or even raw food, and finally handfuls of Zuke's treats. When even bacon didn't pique her interest...
The second thing was when, after a short wheezing session, she came over to me and just looked at me sadly. She may have whined a little. She didn't want to cuddle. She certainly didn't want a treat. All I could conclude was that she was asking for me to make it stop, Our vet made a house call, and we said goodbye to her while she lay in "her" chair.

I think that having lived with Mozart for all these years, you'll be able to understand, when he tells you he's had enough.

Good thoughts, prayers, and virtual hugs headed your way - grab whichever helps.