Mella has a problem with polyps growing in his ears. We've had several removed over the past few years but after this last one, he just didn't really bounce back like he has in the past. Of course, he's about 15 now, too, so that needs to be taken into consideration. But, what concerns us is that this polyp has grown back after less than 2 months.
There is a surgery that can be done to go in and scrape his inner ear canal and remove the endings of where the polyp begins, but it's a pretty major surgery and quite expensive. AND, there is no guarantee that the polyp won't grow back again. We're concerned with Mel's general health - will he make it through the surgery? Will he not bounce back? Will he be fine? Will the polyp grow back and he have to endure yet another surgery?
A lot of people don't understand the love we have of our pets. They are members of our family. We just can't toss them aside like some do. Euthanizing Melvin is definitely out of the question - something Dan and I both agreed on. He's a healthy guy, other than these stupid polyps - just old.
Besides, we have about $1,000,000 invested in this guy.
About 6 years ago, one of our "old school" stereo speakers fell on him in the middle of the night and caused a compound fracture of his back left leg. After an emergency room treatment (this happened in the middle of the night on a Sunday in January) in Bettendorf, IA, a regular vet visit the next day (this was the worst excuse for a vet ever), an appointment at Kimberly Crest Vet Clinic in Davenport, IA with Dr. Less, 2 surgeries and $3500 later, Mel ended up having his leg amputated. Dr. Less tried his utmost to save the leg, but it just wasn't in the cards. I know - a lot of you probably gasped at the $3500 price tag, but like I said, Mel is special. He is one of us. We just couldn't put him down.
A few years ago, I broke my wrist from a fall on a small patch of black ice. I suffer from claustrophobia and the cast was really causing me problems with panic attacks from the claustrophobia. Mel knew. He'd come and snuggle with me to take some of the tension away. He would purr while he curled up on my shoulder while I was trying to sleep at night. He hardly left my side the entire time I was in my cast. How can you let a living being who is so caring like that get put down?
He's a cool cat. He splashes water from the water bowl all over the floor when he gets drinks. He NEVER has gotten on the counter tops. He's never had an accident on the floor - EVER. He's not a garbage picker. He drools. A lot. But that is because he's content. He's handsome. He's our tri-pod kitty. He's also deaf because of the polyps. But he's one of the best pets a person could ever ask for.
And he was a stray on top of it.
He found us.
We're the lucky ones.
