SunsetBeauty
11-07-2004, 12:31 AM
Well my wonderful hedgie boy, Sonic left me last night.
It wasn't unexpected, but hurts just the same. A few weeks ago, I noticed that he wasn't eating much food; I was concerned, so I took him to the vet. Sonic was a garbage disposal - he lived for food!!
The vet found a lump on his upper jaw, did a biopsy and discovered it was cancerous. We discussed chemo/radiation, but vet said because of the location/type, would most likely not help and may actually hurt him in the long run. I decided not to go ahead with it and instead, take him home and make him as comfortable as possible. She warned me, he would most likely go quickly because of the nature/placement of the tumor.
After a very long and hard internal struggle, I decided to let nature take its course. I couldn't bare for him So, I took him home with me and prepared for the end, making him as comfortable as possible, hand-feeding him a special moist diet, keeping him warm, etc.
I supose I am thankful the cancer took him quickly, he did not appear to be in pain until yesterday.
Yesterday morning, he was still in good sprirts and walking. But he wouldn't let me check his mouth. I figured it was just a bad day for him, so I let it go. Last night (around 10 pm), when I went in to check on him, he was on his side in his litter box. When I took him out, I discovered blood all down the side of his face. I knew the end was close.
He seemed to be trying so hard to stay with me, I told him "I'm going to be okay, it's okay to leave, you won't be in pain anymore" It was 2 am when he finally slipped into his peaceful eternal slumber.
Even in the end, there was no huffing, hissing, or poking of quills. He was just my wondeful little hedgie boy.
I miss him so much. I can't believe he's gone. Sometimes, I wonder if I did the right thing by not trying chemo/radiation, but even the vet, who called me today to find out how Sonic was doing, said that she would have made the same choice if it had been one of her 5 hedgies.
I only hope he is in a better, happier place.
Good-bye my little angel. Mommy misses you so very much.
It wasn't unexpected, but hurts just the same. A few weeks ago, I noticed that he wasn't eating much food; I was concerned, so I took him to the vet. Sonic was a garbage disposal - he lived for food!!
The vet found a lump on his upper jaw, did a biopsy and discovered it was cancerous. We discussed chemo/radiation, but vet said because of the location/type, would most likely not help and may actually hurt him in the long run. I decided not to go ahead with it and instead, take him home and make him as comfortable as possible. She warned me, he would most likely go quickly because of the nature/placement of the tumor.
After a very long and hard internal struggle, I decided to let nature take its course. I couldn't bare for him So, I took him home with me and prepared for the end, making him as comfortable as possible, hand-feeding him a special moist diet, keeping him warm, etc.
I supose I am thankful the cancer took him quickly, he did not appear to be in pain until yesterday.
Yesterday morning, he was still in good sprirts and walking. But he wouldn't let me check his mouth. I figured it was just a bad day for him, so I let it go. Last night (around 10 pm), when I went in to check on him, he was on his side in his litter box. When I took him out, I discovered blood all down the side of his face. I knew the end was close.
He seemed to be trying so hard to stay with me, I told him "I'm going to be okay, it's okay to leave, you won't be in pain anymore" It was 2 am when he finally slipped into his peaceful eternal slumber.
Even in the end, there was no huffing, hissing, or poking of quills. He was just my wondeful little hedgie boy.
I miss him so much. I can't believe he's gone. Sometimes, I wonder if I did the right thing by not trying chemo/radiation, but even the vet, who called me today to find out how Sonic was doing, said that she would have made the same choice if it had been one of her 5 hedgies.
I only hope he is in a better, happier place.
Good-bye my little angel. Mommy misses you so very much.