thanks Guys... your thoughts do help
It is just SO darn hard. I think we both feel that despite the 'advice' from the vet we did the right thing in giving Joey a little more time to see what it brings.
I have agonised over it all afternoon since the vets and keep asking myself, have we done the right thing. But for now, anyways I believe that the choice we made today was the right one.
Paul has been called out and I had the house to myself (well plus the 30+ furries!) and went in to sit with Joey tonight for an hour. I took him in some freshly cooked chicken and mushy rice which he just devoured, sat petting him a while and took him out of his pen and onto my knee for BIG cuddles. Do you know he thoroughly enjoyed it too. It wasn't a moody, sad purr but a happy brisk purr. he kneaded my knee and kept looking up at me with those loving little slanty eyes as if to say Thank you. It just broke my heart really but made me all the more sure I did do the right thing today.
I gave him a really good once over AGAIN tonight just to make sure I'm not seeing things and his fur is starting to grow back where he was bald before (in places) his coat he has left has started to get a little 'shine' about it too. His skin is still flaky and dry in places and his feet are probably the worst although the discharge from his feet has stopped since his injections this afternoon. Vet did say that this could be related to Liver issues.
I think what I really need to work out for Joey's sake is if this is tumors / cysts on his liver or kidneys what will the next few months hold for him. Likewise if he does only have a few weeks or months left is it really worth putting him through all the stress of blood tests and/or x-rays, etc to confirm something we probably already know the answer to??
I think for now, whilst he is obviously going to be uncomfortable on some level, especially with his feet we don't think / feel he is in a lot of pain and discomfort and certainly if he was I would very much doubt he would be as interactive, vocal or wolfing down food, especially chicken, at the great rate he has today.
We can only wait and see what the next few days will bring. I believe that regardless Joey does not have long on this earth but we want to do the best by Joey and ensure that however long or short a time he has left, he is left with the dignity he was stripped off through his neglect.