The diagnosis was a brain tumor that was inhibiting Mike's ability to regulate his electrolytes. We came home with a prescription for Medrol to keep the tumor's growth under control. One pill every three days.
Now it's one pill each day. Along with the rest of the medicine cabinet.
If you had asked me a week or so ago whether he had another year in him, I would have said no. Now? It's a maybe. His health has definitely declined in the last few months. He's totally blind, so he bumps into stuff a lot. And he has dropped weight. But over the last few days he has rallied yet again.
And this is why it's so hard to make the call. I'm sure you're wondering why we do all of this to prolong the life of a clearly sick cat. But each time we think "this is it - this is the end," he bounces back. His bounces are not quite so high as they once were, but the old guy still wants to live. So he does. For a while longer.
I'm not against euthanizing an animal. But I'm not willing to do it when it's for my convenience rather than to ease the animal's suffering. Until Mike makes it clear that he's done, we'll keep on keeping on.
