Kiri's latest vet check--update post #120.

[Medusa]

Kiri wanted to get closer to the mouse!

[Prairie Purrs]

Kiri wanted to get closer to the mouse!

LOL!

[Prairie Purrs]

Kiri had a mixed checkup at the vet's today. The very good news is that she's gained almost a pound since her last visit 10 days ago! The bad news is that there's a growth in her mouth that needs to come out, along with her bad tooth. The vet isn't sure whether the growth has been there all along. And, of course, she can't tell whether it's benign or cancerous without a biopsy.

I'm tentatively planning to move May 10th, although the date is flexible. My vet thinks that I could wait and take her to a vet in Illinois for the tooth extraction and removal of the growth without time being a big issue. Waiting would give Kiri time to get a little stronger (she's still seriously underweight). And, frankly, money is becoming a problem, and I'm sure that my sister's vet would charge me less for the same services.

I hate to wait, and certainly if my vet recommended immediate surgery I wouldn't hesitate. But I would like to see Kiri regain more of the weight she's lost before having her undergo anethesia.

Recommendations?

[Catty1]

Here's what you might ask your present vet:

1. If the growth in her mouth, the size it is right now, was cancer, would surgery right now increase her survival chances? Or would it be maybe too late and a race against time?

If she says another 3 weeks won't hurt even if it is cancer because it is treatable, that's one thing. If she says cancer would mean that it is pretty much too late for treatment, then you also might want to wait til you get to Illinois.

Tough call. What does Auntie Kym think?

SO glad Kiri has gained a pound! Keep chompin', girl!

[Prairie Purrs]

Here's what you might ask your present vet:

1. If the growth in her mouth, the size it is right now, was cancer, would surgery right now increase her survival chances? Or would it be maybe too late and a race against time?

If she says another 3 weeks won't hurt even if it is cancer because it is treatable, that's one thing. If she says cancer would mean that it is pretty much too late for treatment, then you also might want to wait til you get to Illinois.

Tough call. What does Auntie Kym think?

SO glad Kiri has gained a pound! Keep chompin', girl!

I'll see how the vet responds to that. I'm afraid that she's too frail to make it through aggressive cancer treatment, so our options will probably be limited if it is malignant.

[Catty1]

Not to panic. I was just thinking that the vet had three reasons for saying a couple of weeks won't hurt:

1. She is sure that it is benign, so it can wait.
2. She thinks it is cancer, but it can wait.
3. She thinks it is cancer, but already too late to do anything, so no difference if you wait.

If Kiri is gaining weight and health slowly back, then that is a good sign. I am not suggesting this to make you paranoid. Just ask her why she thinks waiting is ok, and continue: "is it because (1, 2, 3)?"

HUGS - keep the faith.