Remmy's tumor

[jorats]

That's really good that he's feeling better.

 

[Cigar]

My big question today is this: are there any dangers associated with necrotic tissue?

In other news, when he sits down I can see a size difference in each leg but that's probably because I've been watching so closely. Puzzle's been giving him extra cuddles and even coming to me more often. Well, except when I pull out the metacam. Then he knows his teeth are getting snipped. :roll:

LJ was over Monday before we went to her place and I had her take a look at him. She said it's big but it's not BIG, and her guess is that we'll have plenty more time together. :3

 

[mamarat]

That's good, a day in a rat's life is like a month in ours. Hugs, Cigar.

 

[Cigar]

Well, I woke up today and scooped him up for kisses and ended up with a bunch of blood all over my arm. He must have been hurting last night 'cause he chewed the scab off.. I'm running out of metacam. For the sake of being cost effective, would any of you object to using children's ibuprofen?

I convinced him to sit still long enough to snap a shot of his sore. What's with the hole at the center? There's no infection coming from it, it's just.. a hole.
[spoiler:amhtepqv]

[/spoiler:amhtepqv]
[spoiler:amhtepqv]

[/spoiler:amhtepqv]

 

[jorats]

Are you sure it's hurting him? You could try a low dose of Ibuprofen first and keep hiking it up until you see him comfortable.

 

[Cigar]

Licking and chewing can indicate pain, don't they? That's what the vet said.

 

[mamarat]

Yes it can show pain. My Sam had something like that and it wouldn't heal, (sad to say his was cancer) and the vet had him on Metacam and I had to put an antibiotic cream on it. Vet thought it would stop the itching at least. So sad for your sweetie.

 

[jorats]

Ya, that could indicate pain or discomfort. I wonder if a cortisone cream might help?

 

[Cigar]

Unless he licks it off. lol

 

[jorats]

Ugh...right.

Unless he licks it off. lol

 

[Cigar]

The hole in the sore that I put in a spoiler in my last post has grown. I gave the metacam some time to work before I prodded his leg today and the tumor has grown.. Sigh. His grandma [my mom] visited yesterday and commented that he's 100% still himself, she was expecting him to be lethargic. I'll take a picture when he wakes up from his nap and post it for future reference. He's almost out of pred so we'll be doing a re-check with Dr Jason soon.

 

[Cigar]

I just talked to Dr Jason and we agreed that there's nothing else we can do for him.. Today I can smell infection in his leg when I hold it to my nose and the hole expanded more. It just look so unhealthy and painful, even if he doesn't show it so much. His behavior isn't different AT ALL, he just sleeps deeper.. It almost feels like I'm the grim reaper sentencing an otherwise healthy, happy, loving child to death.. What would you do? Am I right? Wrong? Do I wait? Do I do it?.. Someone please help me..

 

[mamarat]

I would wait till that light goes out of his eyes. It is such a hard decision but if you think he's in pain...I'm so sorry Cigar.

 

[jorats]

If he's behaving normal and still has quality of life, he can be that way until you notice that he no longer is able to cope. Only you can see that. You know when it's time.
(((hugs)))

 

[Cigar]

Here's what we're looking at right now. [spoiler:2su071o5]

[/spoiler:2su071o5] There's no pus, but it smells awful. I guess cancer isn't supposed to smell like roses.. I'm still worried about infection but he's been on Baytril since he started the pred? I'm going to go with what you guys are saying, he isn't even close to giving up just yet. Lindy is going to stop by and have a look at his leg this weekend I hope. I cried so much today I tired myself out and fell asleep on her.

Should I continue the pred or just stick with baytril and metacam at this point?

Even after soaking his leg and ticking him off, he's happy to forgive me and have a snuggle..

Thankyou for being so supportive guys. :cuddle:

 

[jorats]

That doesn't look so bad really. What does your vet recommend about the pred? I would probably stop it if there are no changes at all.
Why are you soaking his leg?

 

[mamarat]

Sam's cancer looked a lot worse than that at the end but there was no smell. He was only on Metacam too and the Polysporine cream.

 

[Cigar]

The vet doesn't think there's much more that can be done because the tumor's not responding to the pred, so I guess I'll just do Baytril (for my own peace of mind) and Metacam.

I soaked his leg in some warm water and baking soda.. Ever since I was little, that's been the one thing that soothed open wounds and reduced irritation and swelling. When I rescued a bunny with urine scalding on his feet and legs he loved to sit in a tub of baking soda, eventually he began hopping more.

 

[jorats]

If you are continuing to soak it, it's stopping the scabbing over and could be why it's starting to smell. Try not to soak it for a bit and see how that goes.

 

[Cigar]

Good point, Jo!