It's ALL about quality of life

I may be giving the impression that I'm in denial, and mean, for keeping Brian alive. Yikes, couldn't be further from the truth. If the pain becomes unmanageable, I would press the plunger myself!

Asked the vet a couple of panic-stricken times if it was time, and she said "Oh God no, he's still got some fight in him."

Dr. Alice Villalobos' quality of life scale quantifies what I already intuitively know:

1) HURT: Adequate pain control, including breathing ability, is first and foremost on the scale. Is the pet’s pain successfully managed? Is oxygen neccesary?
2) HUNGER: Is the pet eating enough? Does hand feeding help? Does the patient require a feeding tube?
3) HYDRATION: Is the patient hydrated? For patients not drinking enough, use subcutaneous fluids once or twice daily to supplement fluid intake.
4) HYGIENE: The patient should be kept brushed and cleaned, particularly after elimination. Avoid pressure sores and keep all wounds clean.
5) HAPPINESS: Does the pet express joy and interest? Is he responsive to things around him (family, toys, etc.)? Is the pet depressed, lonely, anxious, bored or afraid? Can the pet's bed
be close to the family activities and not be isolated?
6) MOBILITY: Can the patient get up without assistance? Does the pet need human or mechanical help (e.g. a cart)? Does he feel like going for a walk? Is he having seizures or stumbling? (Some caregivers feel euthanasia is preferable to amputation, but an animal
who has limited mobility but is still alert and responsive can have a good quality of life as long as his caregivers are committed to helping him.)
7) MORE GOOD DAYS THAN BAD: When bad days outnumber good days, quality of life might be too compromised. When a healthy human-animal bond is no longer possible, the caregiver must be made aware that the end is near. The decision needs to be made if the pet is suffering. If death comes peacefully and painlessly, that is OK.

Patients can be scored, with ten points being the highest score per number. 35 total points and lower, out of 70, is unacceptable.

Thankfully, Brian is still near-perfect! He'll let us know. For now, every minute counts. :)