Zymbals Gland tumors - Sadie's final vet vist :*(

[jorats]

Maybe there's a little ZG's tumor Support group up there. :hugs:

 

[Debbie]

Maybe there's a little ZG's tumor Support group up there. :hugs:

:sad3: :sad3:

Sadie's ear canal is starting to bleed a bit. There's some dried blood in there, and it's starting to have a smell to it. Not that usual infection smell, but not an ok smell either. :sad3: We have her on the tramadol and metacam, so I"m hoping she's not feeling too much pain yet. she's out playing with Rudy and Elsa right now. She's a bit wobbly, I guess the tramadol is making her feel a wee bit drunk.

 

[Godmother]

My heart goes out to Sadie & Hawkeye. Sweet ratties; it is so hard to see them get something like that.

 

[mamarat]

How's Sadie, Debbie?

 

[lilspaz68]

I am so terribly sorry Debbie...sweet Sadie's not giving up yet, and you're right by her side. :heart:

 

[ratlets]

I hope you guys are doing ok I know how rough it is. Best wishes to your ratties.

 

[Debbie]

Thank you for asking about our dear girl. :heart: Sadie is still hanging in there actually. Her face looks so sad, but thankfully the tumor hasn't broken through the skin, nor has it grown behind her eye like some often do.

I do see a bit of dried blood, just outside her ear canal, but we keep it clean with a gentle q-tipping. I do smell a hint of infection brewing, but I think the Baytril is just keeping it slightly at bay.

Sadie is eating her tramadol, and we hope it's helping to keep her a bit more comfy.

She is still eating like a little horse. She's at her dinner bowl right now, shoveling down peas, corn and brown rice. So that's a good sign. I often guear their quality of life, on how they are eating. In this case, she's not showing any sign that she's ready to leave just yet.

She also likes to come out and dart around the play area with her pals.

I do still think it's just a day by day thing. But so far, she's doing ok. I honestly didn't even know if she'd make it this long. So, we just cherish every day like it's her last. :sad3:

 

[lj]

Glad to hear that she's doing ok.

 

[mamarat]

Happy to hear Sadie is still doing good. :joy:

 

[Debbie]

Thought I'd post an update on our dear little Sugar Bear. Although no updates will be good ones, at least Sadie still with us. This is better than I had hoped for, to be honest. The tumor seemed to slow down a bit on growing....then in the last two days, looks to have taken off again. :sad3: :sad3:

Sadie is still taking her pain meds like a champ and has no trouble eating. She's the first to peal those pea skins and hangs out at the dinner bowl until it's completely polished off. So that's good. Her jaw is just off enough that one of her bottom teeth are overgrowing and is now in desperate need of a trim.

Sadly, she's looking more uncomfortable though. Yesterday, her fur started to look a bit disheveled and a little puffy. She's sleeping a lot now, and seems very quiet. She'll still plow through her food, but I think she's otherwise starting to feel what I can only imagine, to be a lot of pressure in her head :sad3:

The good thing is, this doesn't seem to be progressing like I've seen other ZGs in that it's not growing behind her eye and making it bulge or dry out, and it's not growing down under her jaw and starting to constrict her airway. But it is growing in her ear canal and is about the size of a grape on the side of her head :sad3: :sad3: I keep expecting to see it start to ulcerate on her temple...but so far it hasn't. The minute it does...we are done :sad3:

Although it's bigger now...here are a couple of pics from about 4 days ago. I don't think she'll have too much longer. I'm walking that fine line and don't want discomfort to quickly turn to suffering. We have a tentative appt for her on Friday :sad3: But I so hope to be able to cancel it. I just had to be sure heading into another weekend, that she has at least a check up first and maybe a tooth trim. :sad3:

My poor beautiful girl. :sad3:

 

[mamarat]

:hugs:

 

[LA]

:hugs:

 

[Godmother]

Poor sweet girl. It must be so hard for you to watch and wait.

 

[Debbie]

Well, we have decided to keep Sadie's appt today :sad3: I'm especially worried, going into the weekend and our vet's schedule (she's off this week from Saturday through Tuesday). Last week, I called around to the other vets I trust and made sure we were covered, so I'll probably do that today, just in case.

I'm really torn right now. On one hand, I know the tumor has got to be really painful for Sadie now. But on the other hand, she's still eating and last night was out playing with her friends (well, she doesn't play...but she does toodle around, and doesn't seem to mind crawling through the tubes with the others, or hanging out with us on the bed).

This morning, she was at the front of the cage, waiting to say hello.

I just know this could take an awful turn at any moment, and I'm afraid I'm keeping her with me.....for me. Do I let her go now, when she seems to be still doing ok, so I don't risk her suddenly going down hill and suffering over the weekend? Or do I let her go now, before her quality of life is completely gone? I don't think I'll be able to concentrate much on work today...I'll be tormented about the right decision for Sadie. :sad3:

I'm hoping our vet will help us make the right choice for Sadie. :sad3:

 

[Godmother]

What an awful decision. Your vet will probably be really helpful in guiding you. Unless you could have quick access to an emergency vet over the next few days, you are right to be cautious. Better for her to have her last days in relative comfort.

Thinking of you at this terrible time. Kisses to Sadie.

 

[mamarat]

Very hard decision to make, for sure. My thoughts are with you. Hawk's tumor started bleeding but I knew it could start at any time. And I was lucky it wasn't on a weekend. I'm so sorry. :hugs:

 

[Debbie]

Thank you guys. :hugs:

Well, I just called the other exotic vets I know. One is out of town for the next two weeks :sad3: The other is completely booked tomorrow and Monday (and her receptionist said they wouldn't even work me in, unless there was a cancellation :rant: ) and the other is my vet's boss...and he can be a real snot when he's booked, and would tell me I had to do a "drop off". THAT I will not do. I simply must be with my babies, all the way to the end. They need me!

So, I would basically put my Sugar Bear in a potentially bad position from Sat-Tues...so I don't know that I can do that. Today might just have to be the day...no matter how much it's going to break my heart. :sad3:

I will keep ya'll posted. Our appt isn't until this afternoon.

 

[lindsayfawn]

aww I'm so sorry to hear about Sadie. Poor girl. It's such a hard decision to make but what ever you do I'm sure you'll make the right one. :hugs:

 

[Debbie]

Well, we are back home and Sadie is still with us for now. She happily sat there eating an avacado slice when the vet walked in. She also proceeded to practically dance around the exam table. So Dr. S agreed that it wasn't quite time. We made another appt for Monday afternoon with the other vet (and I'm hoping I'll be able to push that one out too, but at least we have it scheduled in case).

Now I just have to hope she makes in through the weekend ok. :sad3: If today is any indication, I think she'll be ok. The vet also agreed that the bit of bleeding from her ear, but actually be taking some of the pressure off.

We are also prepared in case something happens though. I will be able to increase Sadie's pain med a bit more, and the vet sent me home with a couple of loaded syringes of valium. We have the ability to get Sadie more pain meds and help sedate her a bit and keep her comfy though the weekend if need be.

Right now, she munching on peas with her pals. So all fingers crossed I made the right decision bringing her back home. :sad3:

Sadie last night (as sad as she looks, she doesn't seem too bothered by this)

 

[Godmother]

That is so great that you have some "in-case" meds to keep her comfortable if things get worse. That must be a relief, and you will be able to have her with you for at least one more weekend.

That tumour is getting huge. No wonder you were worried.