Difficult news about Dixie Sue...

[electrolux137]

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The past couple of weeks, Dixie Sue had really been getting smelly. We thought it was because of her getting old and no longer being fully able to care for her personal hygiene.

However, after giving her a bath last week she immediately started smelling again. Really really badly. I picked her up to look at her. She meowed, and the fumes from her breath nearly knocked me over. I looked at her more closely and saw a small amount of thick stuff oozing out of the corner of her mouth.

So I took her to the vet today. He examined her and found that she has a tumor on the right side of her mouth along her gum line, about the size of a marble with an infection around it. He said that was what's causing the smell and ooze.

He said the tumor may or may not be malignant; the only way to find out would be to perform a surgical removal of it and then do a biopsy. The surgery would involve general anesthesia which could be risky for a cat her age (somewhere around 20 yrs. old). Furthermore, we'd be facing a bill of over $1100.00.

So I asked the question that had been hovering in the back of our minds and that was euthanasia. We really couldn't justify putting a cat her age through all that surgery and recovery time, even if we could afford it.

The euthanasia is $260.00, in itself a huge and unexpected expenditure. Fortunately we don't have to decide that right now. It seems that overall she is okay and comfortable. She's been eating and drinking water as usual. She just ... stinks. But we may have to deal with "The End" at some point, likely sooner than later.

The vet sent her home with some liquid antibiotics to take twice daily for two weeks. If the infection clears up, she may be okay for a while longer. We'll just have to see how it goes. But the tumor won't go away by itself. Whether or not it becomes a bigger problem will depend on whether or not it's malignant.

Here are some photos of her at the vet. She wasn't really freaking out (until the thermometer was inserted!) -- just pacing around and finding places to hide.

Please say some kitty prayers for Dixie Sue. She's really become a sweet and affectionate cat, and that was a long time coming from when we adopted her seven years ago.

Thanks...

[this post was last edited: 11/2/2016-16:31]

 

[human]

That's tough news to deal with. The best you can do is make happy and comfortable in the time she has left and when the inevitable happens, know you did all you could to give her the good life she deserved.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Exactly.

My Arthur will be gone a year on Nov 13.  It's awful.

 

[suckolux]

Sorry to hear this Charles, its one reason I considered no more pets. That tough part at the end and the bills.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

My cousin is facing this too.

My feeling is:  if you have that much love/compassion for a pet...... sholdn't another one benefit from that?


  I KNOW how hard 'the end' can be.... so many of us have been there.


  We are entrusted with their care foe THEIR lifetime.  It's easier to say when it's not you.


  In our thoughts.

 

[human]

I had to go through that with my cat Havoc about five years ago. She was 15. It just about tore a hole in my soul to have to let her go. I made it about three weeks before I broke down and got another cat. Lily is brings me a lot of happiness and I'm glad I have her but part of me also still misses Havoc. She was a special kitty.

 

[real1shep]

When I had my big farm in MO, we had a husband and wife vet team there in Columbia as friends. I got to see firsthand in their clinic, the cruel and ridiculous decisions to keep older pets going. And they tried to discourage it, while many vets milk the sentimentality of the situation. 


 


It's just wrong to let a pet suffer when they're older. It's not a badge of honor to brag to your friends that you spent $2,000+ saving your dog or cat to live just a bit longer....it's just cruel & unusual punishment. I've had to euthanize more than my share, because of the number of animals I've had over the yrs. It never gets any easier, but you become more steeled in your decision to not let them suffer. 


 


I've decided when my last two dogs go, there won't be anymore. But you know how these things go, sometimes animals 'pick' ya.


 


I fully sympathize with your heartache/decision.


 


Kevin


 

 

[electrolux137]

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Dixie Sue is responding to the antibiotics and is doing better. There is still the issue with the tumor that lingers. Arlee and I decided as long as she is comfortable and can eat, we'll hold off. If she takes a turn for the worse then we'll have a sad decision to make.


 


Thanks for all the love, concern and support.


 


 

 

[kirbysthebest]

Glad to hear Dixie Sue is doing better.   I just lost my kitty recently, It is never easy.


Good news is you may have Dixie Sue for several more years. 

 

[vacerator]

Yes,

so glad she is doing better!!

 

[raycarter]

John

I'm so sorry to hear of Arthur's passing.
I always loved seeing him in the pictures you've posted over the years. He looked like such a sweet cat.

 

[electrolux137]

Dixie Sue

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We're going to have to say good-bye to Dixie Sue, probably this weekend. She's not doing well at all. Her oral infection has returned. The cyst on her gumline has gotten bigger and her mouth is full of pus. She doesn't seem to be in any pain but is barely eating. I think the time has come to give her a quiet and painless transition across the Rainbow Bridge -- especially since the vet said it could be possible for the dogs to get sick from her infection.



*sigh*

 

[vacuumlad1650]

Oh dear...I'm so very sorry Charles Richard. This is always a hard thing to do, but it's the right thing to do. This way she won't have to suffer. My deepest condolences.
Andy

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Kind thoughts to you, Charles.

So many of us have been there, it's the KINDEST thing you can do. Remember: you gave her a great life. Try to grateful, more than sad. I know, it's hard.
John

 

[human]

Hard as it can be to accept--I know, I've been there--it truly is the final act of love for your furry companion.

 

[kirbysthebest]

I am so sorry

My thoughts are with you, and Dixie Sue.

 

[electroluxxxx]

My condolences,

To you an Arlee at this time. As Human stated it is indeed the final act of love. She had an amazing home with 2 awesome people and I bet she wouldn't have had her life lived any other way. all you can do now is hold her in your arms and remember all of the good times you all have had. Think of it not as saying goodbye but as a "we will meet again" situation.

Good luck to Dixie Due as she embarks on her new journey to the other side of the Rainbow Bridge to a place of everlasting and eternal life without any sickness, pain or suffering.

Mike

 

[electrolux137]

Dixie Sue Gets a Reprieve

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<div data-contents="true">
<div data-offset-key="f0rrb-0-0" data-editor="9k55c" data-block="true">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="f0rrb-0-0"><span data-offset-key="f0rrb-0-0"><span data-text="true">Well, "what to wondering eyes should appear" is a suddenly-improving Dixie Sue.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div data-offset-key="74k01-0-0" data-editor="9k55c" data-block="true">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="74k01-0-0"><span data-offset-key="74k01-0-0"> </span></div>
</div>
<div data-offset-key="escgc-0-0" data-editor="9k55c" data-block="true">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="escgc-0-0"><span data-offset-key="escgc-0-0"><span data-text="true">She is still weak and frail and doesn't do a whole lot (not that she ever did). However, over the past couple of days the infection in her mouth has almost completely cleared up on its own. We were very worried when it recurred with a vengeance after the course of antibiotics was finished.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div data-offset-key="fj3fm-0-0" data-editor="9k55c" data-block="true">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="fj3fm-0-0"><span data-offset-key="fj3fm-0-0"> </span></div>
</div>
<div data-offset-key="e2244-0-0" data-editor="9k55c" data-block="true">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="e2244-0-0"><span data-offset-key="e2244-0-0"><span data-text="true">Thankfully, she really is doing a lot better. There's no more pus or drooling, and she's been eating better.</span></span></div>
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<div data-offset-key="1pskc-0-0" data-editor="9k55c" data-block="true">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="1pskc-0-0"><span data-offset-key="1pskc-0-0"> </span></div>
</div>
<div data-offset-key="c58pm-0-0" data-editor="9k55c" data-block="true">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="c58pm-0-0"><span data-offset-key="c58pm-0-0"><span data-text="true">So, for the time being she has been granted a stay of execution as we hope she continues to get better.</span></span></div>
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<div data-offset-key="d5vlu-0-0" data-editor="9k55c" data-block="true">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="d5vlu-0-0"><span data-offset-key="d5vlu-0-0"> </span></div>
</div>
<div data-offset-key="ejcf0-0-0" data-editor="9k55c" data-block="true">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="ejcf0-0-0"><span data-offset-key="ejcf0-0-0"><span data-text="true">I don't know how long this will last -- we're being "cautiously optimistic" given her age and just how sick she was -- but we're certainly embracing her up-turn.</span></span></div>
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="btf2o-0-0"><span data-offset-key="btf2o-0-0"> </span></div>
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<div data-offset-key="in2b-0-0" data-editor="9k55c" data-block="true">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="in2b-0-0"><span data-offset-key="in2b-0-0"><span data-text="true">Thanks to everyone for your love, support and commiseration.</span></span></div>
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[human]

That's great news

Treasure the gift of an extension of time you have with her, however long or short it might be.