That Day in May

And once again, I’ve been neglectful of the blog.  I’ve had lots to share, but absolutely no time to sit down and fill you in. Tonight, however, I’m taking the time. I’ve taken the night off. No work, no laundry, no housecleaning.  I need a few hours to myself.

Today we had to finally put Jenka down.   It’s been just over three weeks since her eye removal surgery, but the tumour kept growing on her face, and during the last week was so large she couldn’t properly open her mouth to eat. She weighed 390 grams on May 28, and today was only 240 grams.

Every night she would still gleefully take her favourite treat, but only pick through her dinner, nibbling a bit here and there.  Thursday night she didn’t take a treat, and didn’t eat any dinner at all. She had barely touched her water, either. I knew it was time. Even though she was still spirited, still so full of personality, her body was giving out and I know that it would have only been a day or two before she starved to death. Wasting is a very painful way to die.

The vet said something, though, that makes me ok with letting her go. He told me “It was time for her to go. You can be at peace with that.”

Jenka went back to the vet today. He called me yesterday and asked how she was doing. (Sidenote: he called ME, to CHECK ON HER, a RAT, who he’s NEVER MET BEFORE. I totally love this vet.) Anyway, so. I told him that the stitches looked good and her personality was great, that she seemed to be feisty and happy and not in any pain, but there was still swelling. In fact, not only was the first lump there, but it had grown and moved to kind of under her chin. He asked if I’d bring her in today for him to see (AT NO CHARGE!!).

Sure enough, he thinks tumour, too. The lump, if it was an abscess, would not feel hard as bone like this one does. Abscesses tend to be mushier.  We figure it will eventually cause her to stop eating, and ‘eventually’ is probably only a matter of weeks.

I’m still glad we did the surgery. She’s feeling great right now, and is happy and spunky, and I’ll keep a close eye on her food intake and when she stops eating, we’ll take her in. She won’t waste away or be uncomfortable. That is the absolute least I can do for her.

• all is mostly well, at least with the humans around here
• temporary cat is not socialized, hisses at air, and eats like pig. But really, she’s actually kinda cute.
• Jenka is so-so. Healing well from surgery, I think, but still has swelling and now has a lump under her chin.
• My mom has her knee replacement surgery booked, FINALLY. Middle of next month.
• OMG, I mean THIS MONTH. This is JUNE ALREADY.
• Celebrating my third wedding anniversary today. Yes, it’s only three years, but I am no picnic, people. Give the man a hand!!
• Bought a new tripod, have to take it back. It was broken.
• More to tell, probably, but I must run.

It’s been a bit crazy around here for the last week or so, what with Jenka’s surgery and the temporary cat, never mind the regular work/life stuff.

A quick Jenka update before I head out for the day. She’s doing well. She’s horsing around again, playing in her crate, she’s eating well. No hard stuff, yet, but lots of veggies and cereal. Her eye bled a bit yesterday, but she seems to have cleaned it up well. There are blood spatters in her crate. Little drops everywhere, but not enough to get me worried. The swelling has finally started to go down, but she still won’t let me touch that side of her face. Although, she DOES stick her head through the bars, but it seems it’s not the front of her face that’s sensitive, but the rear, almost towards her throat.

She gets a smidge of pain medication and a dose of antibiotics every day, and the incision should be fully healed in about a week.

I’m feeling a bit more positive about this whole thing now that she’s starting to be her old self again. I just want her to feel better, you know? Thanks to all of you for your comments and well-wishes.

Here she is this morning:

So, Jenka is home. The vet and I both think she’ll do ok. He’s still not sure whether it is cancer or an infection, and neither am I, but the longer she lives, the less chance it was that it was cancer, obviously.

The vet I took her to is new to me, but I LOVE LOVE LOVE him. I am super delighted when people teach me things, and this guy drew diagrams, took out a rodent skull, and explained everything to me about her surgery and what he saw and what (and how) he had to do things. I loved it.

She’s still segregated from her sister, Monkey, because we don’t Monkey to be playing with her stitches or rough-housing at all. Monkey is NOT happy being alone, which worries me, but I think it’s best, at least for a couple days. Meanwhile, Jenka is all snuggled up in a pile of blankets in a cat carrier, and I think she loves it. She burrows right down to the bottom, and I think is enjoying the peace and quite. (Her sister is a bit of a loud spaz.)

She’s eating well, she’s bathing, she comes when I call for her, and she takes her meds like a champ. I really wish rats didn’t have such a bad reputation, because honestly, they are SUCH excellent pets.

And here she is, having her first snack after coming home:

So. Apparently I can take a PICTURE of Jenka’s eye, and study that without too much of a problem, but I can’t look at her eye directly without wanting to lose my lunch.

If you’re interested, a picture is here. I guess, really, it’s not that gross, except when it’s on your poor little helpless baby. It seems to swell and then sink, and the very middle part has kind of fallen in.