Gidgett has cancer

[Poppyseed]

Gidgett wasn't acting right on Friday night. She woke me up from a nap breathing heavily. I felt her stomach and it felt as if she had two large lumps, which I suspected was a blockage. But she seemed fine enough to wait until the morning not warranting an emergency visit. After I got her out she was walking around but still her sides seemed a little sunken in and she would stop to breathe as if she was in pain more then anything. So we took her to my work (at a vets office, not an exotic vet but she has been working with me rather well with them) to be seen.

First thing we suspected was a blockage. SO we gave her an enema but not much poop came out even after leaving her in the kennel to work it through. Then we took x-rays. That was when we found two rather LARGE tumors in her stomach.

She is 7 and already has adrenal so is not going through surgery for that and large fast growing mass removals. I did not feel these masses a couple of weeks ago so they are growing aggressively and more than likely are malignant ): I cried so hard when I found out surgery and chemo or just putting her on pain meds and letting her live until its time were my only options. To be quite honest, I almost elected euthanisation that day because of how much pain she seemed in. But we elected to try the pain meds and see if they help. With her age and her other underlying problems I really feel she would just die on the operating table or have a hard long recovery. That and I do not have the means for $2000+ surgery and expensive chemo treatments thereafter. I really wish I could at least try and I beat myself up for not being able to but I have to think of my other pets needs as well as her quality of life.

She is doing better on pain meds. She is on metacam and we know time could come as close to a few days from now but we are hoping to have longer with her. She is the sweetest ferret and we have been through quite a bit together. Really I'm just looking for support but any advice is appreciated on how to make her more comfortable. After pain meds she played with Chris with her favorite squeky mouse and appears to be sleeping rather comfortably so her quality of life is good on them.

It's hard I don't want to loose her so badly.

[nakedrats]

*HUGS*

I wish we could just hold onto them forever.  I know how much this sucks.  I had a similar disaster with my Squeezelkin this past november and I had to let her go.  They are such sweet sweet babies, but eventually time comes to let them go.  We can't do more than love them while we have them and you have certainly given her a long life full of love and mischief, and that's all a plucky little weasel can hope for.  Treasure the time you have left and pack it chock full of cuddling and all her favorite games.  Please giver her some kisses for me and tickle her belly.

[Poppyseed]

I did just that Nakedrats. It's so sad too because she normally rolls right over when you pet her for belly scritching and she kind of does it now but can't enjoy it because of her tumors that stick out a bit ): It's not external, they are definitely inside but they are getting easier to feel unfortunately and she becomes more and more uncomfortable. I let her out today and she just went right to my dirty clothes pile (no time for laundry with two jobs and all these animals lol) and fell asleep ): I'm feeding her often now and I think that helps a bit along with the pain meds but I know I'm just prolonging the inevitable. I'm really considering bringing her in Friday if she's the same or not significantly better to be PTS because I know my days off are few and far between and I will not want to go in on a day I have to work ): I don't know though, it's a tough decision.

It's really weird what some people consider to be the line. One of my co workers thinks I should not prolong it and get it done asap as the pain meds just masks the internal problem. She says she has carried it on to where they no longer recognised their owner and died when she wasn't there and she hates that and doesn't want to see me do that (although she's nice about it, not controlling). Another just says keep her doped up and happy as possible until she passes on her own. I think I'm somewhere in the middle. I don't want her to pass from this in total pain. But I feel like I need more time with her. It feels as if time is slipping away further and further ):

[nakedrats]

It's different for everyone.  I use the "list" method.  I identify the things in their life that makes them happy.  If they don't really do them anymore, then they aren't having a good time of it anymore.  It's a rough decision to make and nobody can really make it for you.

*hugs*

[Poppyseed]

Well, she's no longer eating on her own and sleeps all day. Her weight loss has grown substantially and her tumor keeps feeling larger and larger ): I'm trying to feed her but she grows less and less interested in food.

It's time, I am taking her in tomorrow. It's just so strange as last week she was doing wonderfully and I even commented on someone's post about her great improvement on melatonin. She was doing beautifully. This hit so sudden I'm baffled, I thought for sure she would make it to summer ):

[nakedrats]

*HUGS*  I'm so sorry Poppyseed.  Fly high, little Gidgett.