Hemi's Vet Appointment.

[hemi_mygirl]

Today Hemi had her vet appointment. The news was not good.

The bone isn't broken or sprained. Instead, there's a bit of an infection that may clear up with a round of antibiotics. If not, the vet believes it's a form of bone cancer.

Now, she gave me two alternatives. One is chemotherapy, which will cost me around $5000. As a college student, I don't have that money, and I refuse to put Hemi through that.

The other alternative is to amputate her leg. I haven't read too much on leg amputation, but how many of you have hedgehogs that are missing a limb? Was their quality of life decreased with the loss of a front leg, or will Hemi still be able to get around and wheel?

Or, I wasn't given this option, but I could just wait it out if it's cancer, and put her down when the time comes that she's in pain. I'd almost sooner do that, instead of amputating her leg.

If the swelling goes down, however, I'll be doing a dance of joy, because it's not cancer. But please, don't yell at me for waiting. I feel bad enough as it is.

[wyvernrider18]

I'm so sorry about your hedgie! I understand how it is. I'm a college student as well and I know how hard it is to not be able to to everything you think you should for your pets. I have a hard time sometimes keeping up with the care of my cats, but I know that i do the best they can, and they still have a good life. My youngest, Shelby, wouldn't even be alive today if it weren't for me. I'll keep you and your little Hemi in my prayers and hope that she will get better. Good luck!

[HedgieMate]

Oh, hemi_mygirl, I'm so sorry to hear the bad news... My heart goes out to you & Hemi.

As everyone knows, I'm no expert on hedgehogs, so I refrain from giving medical advice to the situation. However, as a hedgie lover, I'd say you should follow your heart. You know your Hemi better than anyone else. We all know how much you care about Hemi, and I'm 100% positive that Hemi knows you love her with all your heart too.

Amputating her front leg for the "possibility" of a cancer sounds too hasty and drastic to me. I hope that your vet can postpone the operation until it becomes inevitable.

Hope it will turn out to just just an infection in the end. Stay strong for Hemi! My thoughts and prayers are with you & Hemi all the way...

[hemi_mygirl]

Yes, we're not discussing further options until her followup appointment in one month. The vet just wanted to give me some alternatives if it did come down to it being cancer. Right now, I'm trying to remain fairly optimistic that it's just an infection. Hemi is healthy and happy, and her eating/activity/poop hasn't changed since discovering this swelling, and she hasn't favored the leg in the whole time it's been swollen.

They did a "dental xray" on her, because the machine is smaller and less powerful. They told me I could be back there if they had problems with my sweet girl, but they had no problems. She gave them her paw willingly, and they xrayed it quickly. She "played dead" while they were performing the xray, which shocked the vet techs. Usually, the hedgehogs they see won't unball and spend the entire time hissing. Hemi didn't even raise her quills.

So, we'll see. She knew I was upset, so she climbed up under my chin and snuggled. I sure hope it's just an infection...

But thank you for your well wishes; it means quite a bit. :)

[razzle]

Oh no!! I'm so sorry you are going through this. I know what a special bond you and Hemi have. She is such an amazing hedgie. I agree with you about waiting before doing anything. I hope & pray this is just an infection that will clear up quickly. I know that whatever happens, you will do the right thing for Hemi.

Keeping quills crossed for you two!!!

[Melody]

Oh my goodness - I am so shocked by the news! No one loves their hedgie more than you do, so I can't even imagine how horrible this is for you. Did the vet put her on antibiotics for the possible infection? I would think so. Before I considered amputation I would certainly get a second opinion. She's only a year, bone cancer seems pretty extreme to me. What made the vet think that? I had dozens of vets for various species over the years. Some vets are more optimistic by nature and some are "doomsday prophets" who immediately tell you the worse that you could hear. I've had more than one vet give my pet a death sentence - then a second vet cured everything without much to-do at all. You might feel better with a second opinion even now. Wow, let us know!!!!! I'll keep you both in my prayers!

[hemi_mygirl]

Yes, Hemi is on antibiotics for a month. The vet prescribed 0.05mL of Baytril, mixed with an equal part of apple juice, for one month. After that month, we'll head back for a follow-up exam. If the swelling goes down (or disappears), cancer will be ruled out, but I'll still ask for a full-body xray, just in case.

The vet showed me the xrays. Every part of her leg, with the exception of her ankle joint is clean and healthy bone. In the joint, it's quite blurry, but the vet pointed out an overgrowth and a darkened spot that could either be an infection or cancer. If the vet tells me it's cancer at the end of Hemi's month-long treatment, I'll take her to the other hedgehog specialist, right across the city. A full-body xray will tell me if the cancer has spread, and amputation is useless. I don't want to put her through that if it won't help.

Keep in mind though, that Hemi is a petstore baby, and I don't know what kind of genetics she has. Anything is possible. But right now, I'm just taking it day by day, and giving her the medicine that was prescribed. She takes it well, which will make it easier on my mother when I go out of town for Easter.

[Nancy]

Oh no Courtney. I'm so sorry. I hope it turns out to be just infection. One of Laura's boys had infection in his leg.

I sure wouldn't jump to amputate on the possibility of cancer and if it does turn out to be cancer, $5,000. is out of reach for most people.

Hugs to you both.

[hemi_mygirl]

Thank you, Nancy. I'm hoping it's an infection too. I can handle the cost of medicine for as long as she needs it.

And about the amputation, I'm just researching options in case it comes to that. I want to choose the alternative with the least amount of conflict for Hemi. I don't want her to lose the option to wheel and run around, because that would really upset her. I'm still leaning toward waiting it out if it is cancer, and making her comfortable until she decides to go. That's the best thing I could do for her.

[Melody]

Don't apologize for her being a pet store baby --- every animal deserves all the love it can get and no one has been a better mommy than you. I like pet store and humane society animals -- it seems they really appreciate a good home when they get it, you know? Look at how sweet your one-of-a-kind Hemi is - would you trade her for anything else with a pedigree a mile long? Of course not! Even if she were "pedigree" and this had since turned up in her background, you wouldn't love her any less - you know that. I know that even with my pedigree animals, when I was notified about something genetic, I still chose to keep and care for that animal for as long as it lived. I couldn't send it back or trade it in! I love an animal for life, whether it's perfect or not and I like knowing that as long as it was in my power, than critter had all the love, attention, and care it deserved. God only "lends" us His little creatures. They belong to Him and He alone is in control. So do everything you can, but know that in the end there is only so much you can do. I will pray for her recovery and know that you and she have been such an inspiration to all of us on CnQ.