Snails - Response on Threads Part 8

[Katmar]

Good morning, Gracie and Mad....
@Flowersoul , you are so right. I just hope I can help someone ELSE out one day... You guys have already been awesome with me and I am beyond grateful!!!

 

[Katmar]

Sure is nice to change batteries without an allen wrench.

Geez, Atty, you been doing that for a long time, eh?

 

[SilverBear]

Vet is as certain as possible (without performing biopsy) that
T'mato has colon cancer and it is progressing rather rapidly.
He went in early June for the same symptoms and she did not
palpate irregularities "in there" at that time. But this time,
she says there are growths felt and they most likely are inhibiting
the passing of waste. And as they enlarge, things will become
worse.

This is also likely contributing to his weight loss. Now down 8
pounds since his last annual physical, 2 pounds down since early
June.

So... he now will be on a special "Royal Canin" gastro-intestinal
diet of dry food, and his wet food will contain upped doses of
Miralax and Lactulose... to keep "things" as soft as possible.

But the long range ( < 6 months) prognosis is not good.

 

[Katmar]

Vet is as certain as possible (without performing biopsy) that
T'mato has colon cancer and it is progressing rather rapidly.
He went in early June for the same symptoms and she did not
palpate irregularities "in there" at that time. But this time,
she says there are growths felt and they most likely are inhibiting
the passing of waste. And as they enlarge, things will become
worse.

This is also likely contributing to his weight loss. Now down 8
pounds since his last annual physical, 2 pounds down since early
June.

So... he now will be on a special "Royal Canin" gastro-intestinal
diet of dry food, and his wet food will contain upped doses of
Miralax and Lactulose... to keep "things" as soft as possible.

But the long range ( < 6 months) prognosis is not good.

Oh, Bear, I'm so very sorry. You have done everything right. His comfort is all that matters now. Quality is much more important than quantity, at this point. I am so sorry. (((HUGS)))

 

[AttyPops]

I'm sorry Bear.
How old his he?

 

[daleron]

Not-so-good news re: T'mato. Will report more once he's home.
Going to pick him up now.

So so terribly sorry {{{{Bear}}}}

Good morning, Fran, Tibs, Kat, Dale, Atty & Bear!

Good morning Gracie

G'mornin, snails!.

Good morning MadO

 

[SilverBear]

I'm sorry Bear.
How old his he?

Will be 12 on 17aug16.

 

[MadOzodi]

(((T'mato)))

 

[oldbikeguy]

Poor T'mato sorry to hear that Bear

 

[SilverBear]

Oh, Bear, I'm so very sorry. You have done everything right. His comfort is all that matters now. Quality is much more important than quantity, at this point. I am so sorry. (((HUGS)))

Vet said to watch for total loss of appetite and just general lethargy.

His appetite has not been at all normal for about a week... but he
has been taking SOME food.

There is one option to have the affected section of colon removed and
stitching the two resulting ends together. Vet says it's a very aggressive
procedure, and would involve post-op chemo or radiation sessions in case
the cancer affected nearby lymph nodes. (Chemo and radiation to be
done 90 miles away in Ithaca... numerous times.)

 

[Katmar]

Will be 12 on 17aug16.

I'd call that middle age for a cat...Poor Baby..I hope he will be able to enjoy his new food.

 

[Katmar]

Vet said to watch for total loss of appetite and just general lethargy.

His appetite has not been at all normal for about a week... but he
has been taking SOME food.

There is one option to have the affected section of colon removed and
stitching the two resulting ends together. Vet says it's a very aggressive
procedure, and would involve post-op chemo or radiation sessions in case
the cancer affected nearby lymph nodes. (Chemo and radiation to be
done 90 miles away in Ithaca... numerous times.)

And, even then, there are no guarantees, Bear...

 

[SilverBear]

I'd call that middle age for a cat...Poor Baby..I hope he will be able to enjoy his new food.

About Cats: A Cat Years Calculator

Not everyone agrees on the same conversion formula. For a slightly different calculation, the Cat Bible, a book by Tracie Hotchner, provides the following list:

• 1-month-old kitten = 6-month-old human baby
• 3-month-old kitten = 4-year-old child
• 6-month-old kitten = 10 human years old
• 8-month-old kitten = 15-year-old human
• A 1-year-old cat has reached adulthood, the equivalent of 18 human years
• 2 human years = 24 cat years
• 4 human years = 35 cat years
• 6 human years = 42 cat years
• 8 human years = 50 cat years
• 10 human years = 60 cat years
• 12 human years = 70 cat years
• 14 human years = 80 cat years
• 16 human years = 84 cat years

 

[AttyPops]

I just looked it up,
15 years for the first year,
10 years for the next year,
4 years for each year after that

So 12 yo cat = 15 + 10 + (4 x 10) = 65 in human years.

 

[AttyPops]

Jinx

 

[SilverBear]

I just looked it up,
15 years for the first year,
10 years for the next year,
4 years for each year after that

So 12 yo cat = 15 + 10 + (4 x 10) = 65 in human years.

Yep... calculator at bottom of that ^^^ page says 65.

So, 65... 70... he's a senior.

 

[AttyPops]

The thing I think is a bit different for animals in that they can't fully understand what is going on and we can't explain it to them. And many have such short life spans. So IDK if you consider days MORE valuable because of that, or if you think of it as "near the end anyway".

But for all of us, as we age, we don't heal as well or as fast.

If you were loaded, and money is not an object, would you consider it humane to put him through all that to gain another few years? Do you think he would want that?

That's the question. THEN, if the answer is "yes", you ask yourself "can I afford it?". But if the answer is No, don't spend all your cash just due to emotion without considering the impact on him.

(I know you're thinking all this already, Bear. So I hope that doesn't come off wrongly. Just thinking out loud.)

 

[tiburonfirst]

he's a senior.

a treasured senior
follow your heart, bear you will choose was right for t'mato! (((hugs)))

 

[daleron]

Will be 12 on 17aug16.

We share a birthday

 

[SilverBear]

The thing I think is a bit different for animals in that they can't fully understand what is going on and we can't explain it to them. And many have such short life spans. So IDK if you consider days MORE valuable because of that, or if you think of it as "near the end anyway".

But for all of us, as we age, we don't heal as well or as fast.

If you were loaded, and money is not an object, would you consider it humane to put him through all that to gain another few years? Do you think he would want that?

That's the question. THEN, if the answer is "yes", you ask yourself "can I afford it?". But if the answer is No, don't spend all your cash just due to emotion without considering the impact on him.

(I know you're thinking all this already, Bear. So I hope that doesn't come off wrongly. Just thinking out loud.)

Hus and I talked about it last year when he had a bout of pancreatitis
(xrays, blood tests, ultrasound, many overnight vet stays) and we are
not going to prolong anything. But that ^ was easily treatable.

We were selfish with 3 of our last 4 cats. Not happening again.