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verbicideI took Hobbes to the vet today. He needed a checkup and a blood test. It's just so ...maddening. He's down a pound and his age has really started to show. He has definitely declined in the past six months. I always torture my poor vet by asking how much time I've got with him, and she's wonderful and always tries to answer as kindly and honestly as possible. It's looking like maybe a year if I'm lucky, but he could always suddenly rapidly decline.
He's about 17 years old now. He's got two major diseases (diabetes and asthma) and it's just taking its toll on him.
I'm trying to prepare myself as much as humanly possible, but I just can't bear the thought of losing him. But--I'm going to have to, because at some point--he's going to die. And if he's in miserable health and unhappy, I'm going to put him to sleep.
We had a long talk about dental care again. His teeth could use a cleaning, but with the diabetes, he's at a higher risk for dying on the table. And also, dental work is insanely expensive. I feel so defensive bringing that point up, because it makes me feel like I can put a dollar amount on how much I love my cat.
But realistically, he's a very old cat, his teeth don't seem to be causing him any apparent pain, and I'm doing the best I can, goddammit. I could do the dental work, and he could still be dead in 3 months, and that would be a colossal waste of money.
Dr. Henkle was very nice and went out of her way to say some very nice things about how well cared-for Hobbes is. And it really made me feel better, because well: DUH. Outside of age and some disease, he's in great shape. His temperature is great, his chest sounds great, he's happy, and just a delightful, loving animal.
We'll get the blood results back on Tuesday and see what the next step is.
He's about 17 years old now. He's got two major diseases (diabetes and asthma) and it's just taking its toll on him.
I'm trying to prepare myself as much as humanly possible, but I just can't bear the thought of losing him. But--I'm going to have to, because at some point--he's going to die. And if he's in miserable health and unhappy, I'm going to put him to sleep.
We had a long talk about dental care again. His teeth could use a cleaning, but with the diabetes, he's at a higher risk for dying on the table. And also, dental work is insanely expensive. I feel so defensive bringing that point up, because it makes me feel like I can put a dollar amount on how much I love my cat.
But realistically, he's a very old cat, his teeth don't seem to be causing him any apparent pain, and I'm doing the best I can, goddammit. I could do the dental work, and he could still be dead in 3 months, and that would be a colossal waste of money.
Dr. Henkle was very nice and went out of her way to say some very nice things about how well cared-for Hobbes is. And it really made me feel better, because well: DUH. Outside of age and some disease, he's in great shape. His temperature is great, his chest sounds great, he's happy, and just a delightful, loving animal.
We'll get the blood results back on Tuesday and see what the next step is.
