Posted on 03/23/2009 5:39:30 PM PDT by GRRRRR
My oldest cat-14 years old, Smokie, has bone cancer in his jaw. Most of his right mandible has been eaten away. It was swollen and sore a week ago and I took him into the vet today.
Vet said there isn't much to do for him, just watch how he eats and his overall behaviors will tell us how he's doing. She said there is a surgery, they don't do it, to remove the affected bone area and replace it with steel. It's 1500$ at least and no guarantees of recovery or cure.
She had to sedate him for x-rays today and it took three hours for Smokie to come out of it. He's eaten 3/4 of a can of food and is all back to 'normal' for now.
She also gave me some oral pain killers for him, 2mL every other day.
OK gang, any thoughts on how long this might take for my best buddy? I almost sent him off this morning, I KNEW it was cancer before I even took him in...
There came a point for both of them when there was only one thing I could do for them. Hurt like hell...still does sometimes, but it was the right thing to do for them.
GRRRRR,
I know how painful this is for you. Our little 14yr. old Scottie had to be put to sleep. She had bladder cancer.
I couldn’t stand the thought of it, and held on far too long. The pain became unbearable, and we finally had to take her to be put to sleep. It was very difficult even knowing that it was for the best.
You will know when it is time for Smokie to go. In retrospect, I know it really is the kindest thing to do for them.
Prayers. God bless.
Smokie has beautiful eyes...a very handsome cat.
Our dog had melanoma and we went through 6 surgeries, an experimental drug trial and chemo. After a year, she died of a totally unrelated spleen disorder (genetic). We are now working through over $10,000 of bills from the NCSU Vet School. Looking back on it, she was lethargic and not herself from the first surgery on. When confronted with the second surgery, we should have said good bye.
Had we known the total cost, we would have probably said “no” at the beginning. But the vets were very good at prodding us to keep going to the next step. Looking back, I wish we had let her go sooner and given the money to the Salvation Army.
A new puppy (different bloodline) will arrive this September and we will start over.
He's lived a long life and I'm sure it was filled with joy and much love from you. The kindest thing you can do for him now is to let him go to Rainbow Bridge. You and the vet both know that he's suffering or he would not be needing pain pills.
Hold him and talk to him while he crosses over. He should not have to leave without feeling your love and your presence at the end of his time with you. It's hard to do - but he's given you a lot in his life and you owe him this much in return.
I know how much you love him because you cared enough to post about him. The kindess thing you can do is to give him the dignity of not going through the pain and agony of his life slipping away each day.
I know you’ve had a bad experience, but if you ever have a need to treat your dog for cancer again, I can’t speak highly enough of Dave Ruslander over in Cary. State is sort of catch-as-catch-can, from what I have been able to tell.
Beautiful kitty. Prayers for Smokie. Hang in there. I know how hard it is to see a pet get sick.
I'm sorry
The vet told us to keep Jackie as long as she was comfortable and doing okay, and he would give us pain meds if we wanted. He did not recommend any further treatment. She really never did seem to be in pain at all so we didn't do the pain pills.
Once poor Jackie got so that the tumor in her mouth and throat was making it hard for her to breathe (she managed to eat okay right up to the end; don't know how she did it when she was having trouble breathing, but she did; she loved her chow!) we took her in and had her put to sleep. She was the best little dog; totally her own self, and rarely did anything we told her to do unless she felt like it, anyway. We loved her like crazy, but we would not have had her jaw taken apart since the cancer was in several other places, and was spreading everywhere.
If I were you, I would not have the surgery done if it has spread. Bone cancer may not be the spreader that melanoma is. Ask the vet if the cancer has already spread.
I am so sorry that your poor kitty is going through this and that you are going to have to make a tough decision.
Although I’ve never had cats (always dogs) I understand how much a part of your family any pet can be.
Your pet loving friends will be here for you....
Smokie will trust you to do what’s right. It will be tough.
I still miss my old Abyssinian, Leon after 8 years.
No surgery, no treatments, just do it. Put your friend down, it is the kindest thing to do for him. I waited and let a dear friend suffer too long because I couldn’t bear to part with him. I have felt bad about it ever since. Do it.
I spent $1500 at Cornell's vet hospital to have them tell me that the cat had cancer. I had considered radiation treatments initially, but when he came down with a bad nasal infection after I got him back home, I decided I couldn't put him through all the trauma of radiation treatments, especially since there was no guarantee that it would work. I figured he'd been poked and prodded enough, and that he deserved to be happy for the time he had left. It's tough to let go, and I wish you well with whatever decision you make.
We had to have our 18 year old Shadow put to sleep in December. Discovered he had cancer in the jaw, and somehow his jaw had gotten broken. One of the toughest things I have ever had to do.
Our prayers are with you.
I will, right now he’s sitting on the couch waiting for me to go to bed.
For many years, he’s reminded me when bedtime is. When he’s not able to do that any more it will be time. Thanks.
Sorry about your cat. My oldest one (nearly 10) is at the vet’s recuperating from a second surgery for a leg broken in two places after she escaped from a dog attack three weeks ago.
Love him till he shows signs of pain, then do what you have too. I'm so sorry.
sw
I’m so sad for you. We lost our 14yo kitty in Dec to liver failure.
I am sorry about your Smokie. It’s a terrible dilemma to find yourself in but I know you will do the right thing when the time comes.
Back in Oct, I posted here the day I took my feline friend in for his final journey and the heartfelt outpouring of our fellow FReepers helped a great deal.
Take care.
Regardless of what you decide, just always be thinking of the 14 years of love and companionship the little guy has given you, that is what counts.
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