Da da da da, da da da da... PETS!!!

[Ed Hocken]

There's only one way to handle this. Make the cat mop up your piss, Nathan.

[Timothy225]

That is true. The world would be a better place if everyone was on NUKE™.

Special delivery for a Mr. Hughes!

[Lisa]

Hey, gang….

Well, this is long overdue, but I need to tell you guys about something that’s been going on that I haven’t told you about. But – the vet found a tumor on Edison’s liver.

I got the news on the weekend that Rob and Lesley got engaged, so I just didn’t have the heart to post it when we had so much to celebrate – I didn’t want to rain on their parade. The only one who knows is Howard, my fellow crazy-cat person.

I had taken him in for a sonogram and blood work, because during his previous check up, the vet felt a small mass down by his liver. And the blood work is standard now to make sure the kidney, liver and thyroid meds are all still working. Anyway, the sonogram picked up the tumor. They don’t know if it’s benign or malignant, although there are some good signs pointing to it being benign. First of all, the nurse was in with the sonogram specialist, and he told her that the tumor didn’t look aggressive, which is a good sign that it’s hopefully benign. The other good sign is that his blood work came back very good. The meds are doing the job, and his kidney and thyroid levels are pretty much normal. His liver levels are a tiny bit elevated, but not even enough to get excited about. He’s eating and drinking, and peeing and pooping, his eyes are clear and bright, his gums look clean. He’s wound down some, but he’s 15 – and his energy level is actually not bad for a cat that old. If he sees a bird on the windowsill, he’s across the apartment like a shot to go play stare-down at the window. Really, the vet told me that (as strange as this sounds) other than the tumor, he’s in really good shape for as old as he is.

Anyway, the only way to tell if it’s benign or malignant is to do a biopsy. I’ve talked it over with the vet, with George, with my best friend Kerrin, and with my family, and I’ve decided against that, or any kind of surgery. Here’s why: even for a biopsy, they’d have to put him under, and it’s still an invasive procedure. Now, anesthesia is very dangerous for an older animal – in fact, when I take Edison in for his teeth cleaning once a year, they have to run extensive blood work on him to make sure he’d even wake up from the anesthesia. So putting him under is not something to be taken lightly. In order to find out if the tumor is benign or malignant, I could wind up killing him – and then what if it was benign and I could have had a little more time with him, you know?

Second, there are pet cancer treatments in the event that it’s malignant. But – the vet honestly advised against them. He said it would be anywhere from $5,000 to $8,000, and odds are with as old as he is, he’d never survive the surgery. I could empty out my nest egg only to wind up killing him. Plus, even if he survived the surgery, then there’s chemo treatments, etc. – and no, I’m just not putting him through that. I mean, what’s the point?

The vet’s advice was, honestly, to do nothing. He said that with as old as he is, he’s in very good shape. As long as he’s not in any pain, his advice was – keep him comfortable, love him to bits, spoil him even more than I already have, and take it as it comes. And even though I was sobbing my head off on the day I found out, this really is the best advice. If I have him even another year or so, as long as he’s not in any pain, he’d be 16 at that point, and that’s a pretty good run for any cat. When I pick him up, he likes being held with his belly across my shoulder, which would put pressure on his liver area – and now, I’m just always careful to pay attention to if he acts like he’s in pain when I pick him up, and so far, so good.

I think back to five years ago, when I still lived in Forest Hills. It was actually right before I moved to California for those six months, and my neighbor across the hall found out her 15 year old cat, Scooter, had a tumor in her stomach – and they WERE able to determine that it was malignant. Valerie was in the same condition I was when I got home from the vet – sobbing, talking it over with friends about what to do. And it turns out that vet (a different one than Edison’s) gave her the exact same advice – do nothing. It’s pointless to operate when she’d probably die during surgery. Just keep her happy, loved, and comfortable, and if she’s in any pain when the time comes, deal with it then. And even with a malignancy, the vet said untreated and not in any pain, she could live another two years.

I remember sitting on the floor, petting Scooter when Valerie asked me what she should do. And I said, “Honestly, Valerie, I know it’s breaking your heart. But the vet’s advice is good advice. If you have two more years with her, untreated, as long as she’s not hurting – that puts her at 17 by the time she winds down from this. And really, 17 is a pretty good run, even for a healthy cat.” So I’ve been thinking about that advice that I gave her back then, and how I really need to take that advice myself and apply it to my Edison.

So that’s what’s been going on – I felt like I should finally tell you guys, but I just wanted to wait till the timing was a little better.

[Abraham Smashington]

I'm sorry to hear that Lisa. But the vet is totally right. Spoil the HELL outta that cat while you can. *thinkinggoodcatthoughtsfist*

[BillyG]

That's too bad Lisa. I think Edison deserves a new mouse squeaky toy.

[Abraham Smashington]

We're going through the same thing with our dog Brussells right now. IT's heartbreaking but at the same time she's not in pain and seems to be as happy as she can be. Hang in there

[Lisa]

That's too bad Lisa. I think Edison deserves a new mouse squeaky toy.

Oh, he got one - the day after the diagnosis, George came over with a brand new mouse (with rattle beads in his tummy). He doesn't beat up his toys the way he used to in his younger days, but he'll slowly walk by it, stop, give it a good smack, and then continue on his way. That's Edison's way of being all, "MANDELBAUM! MANDELBAUM!"

We're going through the same thing with our dog Brussells right now. IT's heartbreaking but at the same time she's not in pain and seems to be as happy as she can be. Hang in there

Awww, Rob, I'm sorry - I didn't know! You guys hang in there, too. Is that her picture? All the pictures here are coming up as little red x's on my work computer lately. I'll be able to see her on my Mac at home, I'm sure. Give her a hug and kiss from Edison and me!

[Timothy225]

Something in my eye

Sorry you guys are going through this with your pets. I hope you guys get as much time as you can with them, and absolutely spoil 'em rotten.

The vet's right - you could do all the surgery and treatment, but if it could kill them, what's the point? Best to do nothing, let 'em live out their lives, then be there with them when they go.

"sendinggoodthoughtsandprayerstoEdsionandBrusselsf ist"

[Abraham Smashington]

Awws.

[Lisa]

Awws.

OMG, that guy rules!!! He just does! I'm gonna donate a few bucks to him when I get paid.

Actually, he seems to have a private cat version of Best Friends Animal Society: http://www.bestfriends.org/ - they do a very similar thing, except with more land, vets on duty at all time, and for all kinds of animals, not just cats. Plus they try to adopt them out. But if a pet isn't adoptable, they just live there at the sanctuary, and get all the love and care in the world for the rest of their lives.

[Ingrid]

*hugs* It sucks, I know. I just went through it last year with my beloved Jack. So all I can do is send internet hugs, and lots of them.

[Lisa]

Thank you, you guys. We love you too - Edison says "Oh, hai, tanks!" to all his interwebz aunts and uncles. He also said for you damn kids to get off of his lawn - even though we live in an apartment.

And you know, I will be able to keep taking him over a couple times a year for blood work. It pisses him off, but it's a good way to monitor if the meds are still working, if he's the same or getting worse, etc.

[Mike]

My oldest cat has kidney issues and that's pretty much the same advice our vet gave to us. Not easy to hear, she is 16 years old and has been a part of my life ever since I've lived in Winnipeg. My condolences to Lisa and Rerb...

[Abraham Smashington]

Thanks you guys.

[Lesley]

Hey Lisa I'm so sorry to hear about that! I'm also sending a *thinkinggoodcatthoughtsfist*