Dude's surgery **UPDATE 1/17**

[catlover4ever]

From one Dude (my Gabriel) to another Dude....good luck and good positive thoughts coming your way for a successful surgery. Hope you feel better soon.

[Freedom]

I don't know who is more fortunate, YOU for having Dude in your life, or DUDE for having you looking out for him. Best wishes, for a fast resolution.

Sandra

[mruffruff]

You are certainly going above and beyond what many would do. I hope and pray all works out for both of you. He's certainly a gorgeous guy.

[Lizzie]

I gave him lots of hugs, and we did lots of nose bumps, before I handed him over at the vet clinic. He was very calm, even sitting quietly on the small scale at the front desk without protest, just turning his head to keep in eye-contact with me. The vet is going to call me while he is still anesthetized and she's checked the x-rays to see what we want to do. One of the items on the detailed estimate was morphine so he's going to be in cloud la-la land for a while after surgery.

I didn't put that part in about why adopted Dude so people would think I was being especially nice, but to say how far our relationship had come compared with what I thought it would be. I was prepared to take care of him for however much time he had left but within days I was cursing the fact that I hadn't had him much longer. The raw facts of how I saw him at the shelter were true, and his long-time "girlfriend" had been found dead only a few days before, another reason why I found it unendurable that he end his days in the same way. He's one of those cats that adores attention, leaning into your chest and gazing up into your eyes in rapture while you fuss and talk to him, but he's not at all demanding. He's a gem.

[Queen of Poop]

Dude, hope all goes will with your visit to the dental vet. That they can make you feel better again. Prayers for you and your meowmie. You are both amazing!!

[Randi]

What a lovely boy he is. I really hope all goes well at the vet, but whatever happens, he knows love and the comfort of a loving home. I hope he'll have some more years with you.

Kisses to handsome Dude, and hugs to you for taking so good care of him.

[jazzcat]

Good luck Dude, hope things are going well for you.

Lizzie, he is gorgeous and what a special story. You have a huge heart.

[Lizzie]

The vet called to say that there were tooth roots in all four sides of his mouth, some of them were even over the gum line and they must have been creating the most pain and irritation to the surrounding gum tissue. I told her to go ahead with the surgery of removing all the roots and any bone that was affected underneath. While she said that she couldn't promise that this would take away all Dude's gum problems, she also said that it should make them significantly better. When he has recovered, Dude should be pain free for the first time in years!!

My elation that the specialist found a problem that could be resolved, which neither his regular vet nor I expected since it was throughout his mouth, is tempered by rage against the shelter. I need to write their director a letter outlining Dude's care before I adopted him (just keeping him going with steroid shots and ignoring his bloody mouth) and the poor job of extraction done by the vet who occasionally works there. That she left so many roots, and some of them very obviously still in place, really shocks me.

So, there goes my tax rebate, my Christmas check from home, and my cookie and chips money for the next six months - sob! But it's going to be so very worth this to see Dude as he should be, to hold him close and know he should be around for shared nose bumps for years more.

Thank you everyone for the posts and positive thoughts, you are all amazing. I really didn't expect such a clear resolution.

[jazzcat]

Wow, that sounds like it must be very painful for him. I hope the extractions go well and he is back home soon feeling great. Thanks for the update.

[catmandu]

If Theres A Cat Who Needs A Break, Its Poor Dude.
You Can Tell By His Ears That This Poor Old Cat Has Been Through The Wars, And Only Your Kidness Has Given Dude Any Chance At All.

Please Let Us Know If Dude Can Be Helped, As Our Thoughts And Prayers Are With Him.

If An Awa Mouse Would Help Dude, Please Pm Me.

[kuhio98]

Lizzie ~ I'm so glad to hear that Dude's treatment went so well. That 'ole boy has earned a comfy retirement. He is a lucky, lucky boy to have you.