Today, the vet found a tumor in Dusti's left kidney. This mass (not present two weeks ago), in combination with my beloved Dusti's recent dramatic weight loss (over 2.5 pounds since March to the point of emaciation) and a decline in general health over this summer, are almost always indicative cancer.
She is the first pet that we've ever lost to cancer.
Rather than subject Dusti to torturous procedures and the inevitable metastasis that rapidly follows no matter what, Mr. AOW and I opted for euthanasia, which the home-care vet did here in our living room.
Dusti will be cremated today, and the ashes returned to us.
I will miss Dusti so much! I will miss her trademark chirps and trademark tuck-and-rolls. Also, she was the only cat I ever had to talk with her tail. And I do mean talk! That tail of hers was so expressive.
