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.
7 comments:
I don't come to this site often, but I looked it up when you mentioned Dusti's passing at my blog. I remember this beautiful photo of her.
I know from experience how hard it is to lose a beloved pet. We used a home-care vet when it came time to put down our German shepherd Dax because we couldn't bear the idea of her dying in some cold, clinical setting. Instead she passed with her human pack surrounding her and the last words she heard were, "Good girl." In life, she would do just about anything to hear those words of praise and she was more than good, she was the best girl.
What is it they say about pets leaving their footprints on our hearts... boy, do they ever and they're never totally gone as long as we remember them.
Cube,
Thank you.
I miss Dusti so much!
Grief is difficult.
Cube,
Ever since I switched to the home care vet, my cats have grown not to dread the vet.
Dusti wasn't frightened. That matters a lot.
Our Dax hated going to the vet and the last thing I was going to do was to have her die in such fear. As the home care vet gave her her injection, her human pack surrounded her and the last words she heard was, "Good girl". We all miss her. I guess we always will. You know.
Cube,
Your comment was in the awaiting-moderation folder. I have retrieved and published your comment.
Dusti was beautiful, AOW.
I know it's been a while for you, but I'm sorry about Dusti. It's so hard, isn't it? I lost my almost 19 year old gray & black tabby 2 months ago, to diabetes and kidney failure. I miss her terribly too.
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