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Post by pinky on Dec 19, 2008 23:21:03 GMT -4
Necropsy. I knew that! (Really--just didn't think of it, and she didn't either.) I should call the vet Monday to ask if I should be giving the prednisone every day or every other day, so if I can I will ask these other questions. That's a taken-with-old-fashioned-film-camera photo. Here's the avatar one:
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Dec 19, 2008 23:31:46 GMT -4
Good. Saved into my archives. Tomorrow I am gone most of the day. See Members Only forum in a half hour or so.. .
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Post by pinky on Dec 20, 2008 0:15:01 GMT -4
You would not believe the transformation. It is like the clock has been turned back a few months. Mal is so full of life and energy, jumping and climbing and setting speed records on her wheel. Watching her, I just want to cry. It really is a Christmas miracle. I know it won't last, but it's wonderful to see her have another chance for a while. And maybe "a while" will be longer than I think. . .
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Dec 20, 2008 0:21:07 GMT -4
I just teared up. I guess the draining procedures can't be done too often? The tumors I assume can't be removed, but how fast are they growing? If you have a digital camera take movies of her. even my thing does that, and it takes excellent photos.
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Post by pinky on Dec 20, 2008 0:28:21 GMT -4
The vet didn't recommend doing the draining again. Not sure why. (Dang--I should have thought of all these questions, but I was so caught up in the moment of seeing her transformed self.)
I don't think the "how fast" could be easily answered unless the vet palpated regularly. She filled up with fluid over the course of about a month, though. But let's not think about that!
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Dec 20, 2008 0:32:18 GMT -4
I think you need to jot down some questions, and possible options to consider. I always do on those rare occasions when I see a doctor! Or dentist! I guess there is no medication that reduces THAT kind of fluid build up. See you tomorrow night. Regards to Mal.
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Post by Hamsters82 on Dec 20, 2008 21:32:09 GMT -4
That's great that Mallory is doing better now and I wonder why the vet said not to drain again. Maybe it takes a toll on them. I'm sorry to hear that Mallory has tumors and isn't feeling 100% all the time. I will continue to pray for her and send Chewie over to watch over her. Her pictures are soo adorable! Tell her I said, "Hi" and that "I hope she's feeling better." As for the tumors Tom, my vet told us, when we took in Harriet, that dwarfs are to small to perform an operation on them.
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Post by pinky on Dec 20, 2008 22:38:33 GMT -4
A problem that the vet mentioned was that we have no idea whether the tumors in the belly are the only ones. Could be that her lack of balance may be from some sort of brain tumor. And there may be tumors elsewhere as well.
Thanks, Katie and Chewie! Mal says, "I'm doing fine--Mommy let me run on the carpet a bit after I peed on the blanket, and I loved that!"
(If she pees on the blanket then I know she's safe on the carpet for a while. . .)
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Dec 21, 2008 0:08:16 GMT -4
Rainy had a slow neurological decline lasting many weeks, but then a sudden painful ending that lasted only two hours or so. I always assumed it was a brain tumor, but who can be sure. She seemed in no pain at all until those last moments.
Anyway, best to her, and you. Max is under my shirt right now resting after climbing all over me for awhile I got home only an hour ago - see my report of a memorable evening in the Members Only thread.
*yawns* Long night, and cold. But good.
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Post by pinky on Jan 2, 2009 1:35:38 GMT -4
Well, the procedure added two weeks to Mallory's life. . . . as of today she's as she was before the procedure, give or take.
I took the toilet paper tube out of her cage--I saw her struggling to pass through it. . . . she is still running on the wheel, though.
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Jan 2, 2009 21:53:05 GMT -4
These procedures can't be repeated, I gather.
Apparently, there has been no neurological deterioration, as would occur with a brain tumor.
If she is still wanting to run, that seems good.
Best wishes.
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Post by pinky on Jan 3, 2009 11:27:18 GMT -4
These procedures can't be repeated, I gather. Apparently, there has been no neurological deterioration, as would occur with a brain tumor. If she is still wanting to run, that seems good. Best wishes. She did have that clumsiness about her even before she swelled up, and it's not clear why that was. In any event, she's no clumsier than before, just understandably awkward because of her body shape. Having switched bedding from Carefresh (lumpy) to Soft-Sorbent (more flat) has helped her mobility a lot. Yes, she still runs, albeit pretty slowly. Thanks. We're hanging in there.
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Post by Hamsters82 on Jan 3, 2009 17:55:42 GMT -4
Aw, poor Mallory. I pray for her every night; I hope she feels somewhat better and at least she has a great owner in you. *hugs*
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Jan 3, 2009 19:34:54 GMT -4
Soft Sorbent, good stuff, a bit more pricey, I sometimes use it for the GP's. But I never use it for gerbils as it is bad for tunnel making being little roundish lumps.
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Post by pinky on Jan 8, 2009 1:07:55 GMT -4
Just had an interesting play date with Mal. Picked her up, scruffed her and gave her her prednisone, and then noticed that after the hysteria died down she was sitting in my hand very nicely. . . and so I took advantage of opportunity and nipped off two VERY long nails. I then let her run around. She pauses a lot, breathing a little hard. At one point I began to pet her, and she did something she used to do but hasn't done for a while: sit in one place, looking very relaxed, and let me just stroke her back, fondle her ears, etc. for a few minutes. I told her that she was allowed to "go" whenever she wanted, and naturally that made me choke up a bit. But then she got back to the business of running. Eventually I picked her up to take her back to the cage, and she did something that she'd NEVER done: sank her teeth multiple times into where my finger and palm meet. I can't figure out what I did, though I have noticed that she gets nippy when being held for any length of time, as if being held is not comfortable. Not holding a grudge, I gave her a Veggie Puff, which she always trots around the cage with like a dog with a bone before shoving it in a corner. Then I was really nice and dangled some spaghetti before her. She fought with the pasta, at one point losing her balance and rolling onto her back as she gnawed at the noodle. It was at once comical and so very sad, her swollen belly so exposed. The great irony is that her fur has almost completely grown back, everywhere. Now that she can't reach but a few locations on her body, she's furred the way she should have always been. . . I suppose some would argue that I should put her to sleep, given her prognosis. I guess I'm not ready for that yet. She doesn't seem to be suffering. Am I being selfish?
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