Hi, we have had a trying few months and I haven't been to the site much. I miss checking in everyday. Things for us humans are starting to look up, so as my luck would have it, we had a bad visit at the vet today for my little guy Sammy.
His mouth was acting up again and it was painful enough that he stopped eating yesterday, so we went in for a check up and antibiotics. His mouth was just horrible, worse than it has ever been. When the doc was palpating his belly, she got concerned. She is not 100% sure (but sounds pretty dang sure) that his intestines feel thickened, indicating possible GI cancer. She thinks that cancer taxing his immune system is why his mouth infection got so bad so quickly this time.
Since he is weak, right now we are going to focus on treating his mouth and getting him to gain a little weight over the next few weeks. There is a slight chance his belly is inflamed as a side effect from the awful mouth infection. When his mouth is under control and he is eating well without assistance, she wants to try a steroid treatment, which would help a small cell cancer. We would also have to get his rotten teeth extracted and a biopsy will be necessary for his belly. If it is large cell, we will have to discuss chemotherapy. I really don't want Sammy to have to go through that.
At this point, if we don't see marked improvement in his appetite over the next few days as the antibiotics start to work, that will be a strong indication that he does have a serious issue other than his mouth and we will need to start making decisions.
We need positive vibes, please. For the next few days I have to syringe feed him a/d (he HATES syringe feeding) and give him antibiotics (a course of Clavamox and then a course of Antirobe, with which I am unfamiliar). Hopefully, his poor mouth will feel better soon, and then we can deal with his belly. If it is cancer, hopefully it is the small cell type.
Thank you for being here and giving me a place to worry.
His mouth was acting up again and it was painful enough that he stopped eating yesterday, so we went in for a check up and antibiotics. His mouth was just horrible, worse than it has ever been. When the doc was palpating his belly, she got concerned. She is not 100% sure (but sounds pretty dang sure) that his intestines feel thickened, indicating possible GI cancer. She thinks that cancer taxing his immune system is why his mouth infection got so bad so quickly this time.
Since he is weak, right now we are going to focus on treating his mouth and getting him to gain a little weight over the next few weeks. There is a slight chance his belly is inflamed as a side effect from the awful mouth infection. When his mouth is under control and he is eating well without assistance, she wants to try a steroid treatment, which would help a small cell cancer. We would also have to get his rotten teeth extracted and a biopsy will be necessary for his belly. If it is large cell, we will have to discuss chemotherapy. I really don't want Sammy to have to go through that.
At this point, if we don't see marked improvement in his appetite over the next few days as the antibiotics start to work, that will be a strong indication that he does have a serious issue other than his mouth and we will need to start making decisions.
We need positive vibes, please. For the next few days I have to syringe feed him a/d (he HATES syringe feeding) and give him antibiotics (a course of Clavamox and then a course of Antirobe, with which I am unfamiliar). Hopefully, his poor mouth will feel better soon, and then we can deal with his belly. If it is cancer, hopefully it is the small cell type.
Thank you for being here and giving me a place to worry.