Serena's denouement

 Today was Sweet Serena's long awaited visit with the specialists to try to unravel her various ailments. The appointment was initially made with the orthopedic surgeon because when the appointment was made her primary issue was lameness. Today she was actually beginning to bear weight on that leg, continuing the slow, gradual improvement I've been seeing over the past week. He quickly realized that her primary issue was no longer the leg and shifted her to an internist, for which I was very grateful. She did a comprehensive workup, including blood work, xrays, and an ultrasound of the abdominal cavity. The conclusion that I expected was kidney failure, but it was far more advanced than I realized. The situation had deteriorated rapidly over the past two weeks and the prognosis was poor.

She was said to be at the stage of hospitalization, probably for a couple days, in the hope that they could more or less stabilize her condition and make her more comfortable. But again, there was little hope in actually improving or even significantly prolonging the outcome. Serena was scared going in there without me today and I did not want to leave her there.

I brought her home instead, with meds to stimulate her appetite and control vomiting. Although she hasn't been eating well, or keeping it down when she does, she does seem to feel better the last couple of days, probably because her leg is getting better and she can move about more easily. I gave her the appetite stimulant when we got home, and she didn't want to eat then, but a few hours later she ate about half a can of dog food. 

She can have anything she wants from now on as far as I'm concerned, when and if she wants it. We'll watch her go about her usual daily routine and I'll make the call when I think her quality of life is gone. She's very stoic so she's kind of tough to read. I hope we'll have weeks, but it could be days, I don't think anyone can say.

She did not want to go in there without me today.

When they brought her back out to my van later in the afternoon, 

she hopped in on her own and didn't want to get out again, even at home.