This week Mr. Sauce and I made the very difficult decision to put my beloved Brian Boitano to sleep.
After the months and months and months of snot and bloody noses and antibiotics and weight loss, the docs did an x-ray and Brian has a “mass” in his skull.
For treatment, a brain scan and a biopsy are necessary; but to do this he’d have to go under anesthesia–which he isn’t a prime candidate for because he has a heart murmur and elevated blood pressure.
So there’d be a series of testing to see if he could go under in the first place. So he could be deemed a bad candidate and have gone through needles for nothing. We still wouldn’t know the thing in his head is and still couldn’t do anything about it.
If they found out it was cancer or whatnot, I wouldn’t do chemo. Brian is 13 years old. I am not going to spend nearly $3,500 with no guarantee that Brian would go on and be happy and healthy for years to come.
So I said, “no.”
That was last week. We came home on Monday and what was a slight puffiness on the right side of his face had escalated so much hat his eye is nearly 100% shut. I made the call on Wednesday.
This is an agonizing decision to make. Especially because he still does happy tail and still likes food (although he eats very little–hence the weight loss). He is alert and enjoys head scratches and makes happy meows when petted.
But I have to remind myself that there is a growth in there that won’t ever get smaller.
I don’t want Brian to suffer. I don’t want to keep dragging him to the vet. I don’t want to force pills (that are doing nothing) down his throat. I want him to leave this mortal coil happy and semi-comfortable (although his face doesn’t look comfortable); so the doctors are coming to us. He will be sent off to cross the Rainbow Bridge with his family in his home.
I didn’t go to work today so I could be with him (although he is sleeping the in the bedroom and has no interest in me at the moment). I will also be home with him tomorrow. Our appointment is late afternoon so Mr. Sauce can be there with Margot and me.
Anyway, I just thought I’d let all of you know since he has been a part of Dinner is Served 1972 since Day One. There is a CELEBRATION OF BRIAN to come.
Right now I am going to watch the Real Housewives of New York City and make a Bloody Mary.
Again, I am so sorry to hear about Brian’s passing. I can certainly empathize. I know he was such a great friend to you and you will miss him daily. Just always think about all your good memories you have with him and talk of him often. Having a great and caring vet makes a huge difference. My husband and I were in your shoes in October 2018 with our cat Gary. It was hard and we were heartbroken, but we did not want him to suffer as he was experiencing Kidney failure after battling chronic bladder issues his entire life. We speak of him often and even though it always makes me tear up, it still helps to remember what a character he was and how much we loved him.
Thanks, I think of him a lot. But we have Margot!
It’s so wonderful of you to have a vet come to your house. I’m so sorry he was so suddenly struck down. He should have been stealing the entire bed for a long time.
My heart is breaking for you, Mr. S, & Margot. But, I’ve been in your position, love on him & take all the time you need to recover. Kiss Brian for me ❤!