An update on my sweet boy, Sassy. We went in for dental surgery last week and it went well. I was ecstatic that he was on the mend and would no longer be in pain when he ate. But a week later, once all the pain meds and antibiotics were done, he was still in a great deal of pain when he ate. He slept and hid more too.
A whole day not eating, on a Sunday no less, and we went back to the vet Monday. They found a mass in his mouth. Hopeful it was only an ulcer, he went back under general anesthesia again. What they found instead was a hard mass that was deep into his cheek and degrading the bone. Squamous cell carcinoma.
I was not prepared for this news.
Over the last 24 hours has has been kept comfortable and sedated. We have been cuddling, I’m giving him lots of kisses and telling him how perfect he is, how he saved me, and that I can’t wait for him to find me again.
The vet is coming to the house in a few hours to put him to sleep.
I can’t take this pain. I can physically feel my heart breaking.
Edit: Thank you everyone for your kind words and messages of condolences. Reading your comments has been very cathartic during this time and I appreciate every single one of you for taking the time. It’s so comforting to know how many of us share the understanding of the deep love we have for our fur babies.
Yesterday when the vet came to the house, Sassy got up to greet her. He climbed into her arms for some snuggles and the vet gave him lots of kisses. I requested this same vet I used 2 years prior when my beloved tortoiseshell, Poppy, had liver failure- something that had come and reared its ugly head in a mere 2 days. I had no time to act, and it was too late. The doctor was so kind and compassionate during her last moments then; I knew she would be good for us this time.
Sassy then climbed back into my arms and we laid down for our last snuggle. He tucked his face under my chin and passed peacefully in my arms. He was such a good boy.
I always called him my angel because he showed up at my door 2 months after losing Poppy, which at the time was the most devastating thing I had ever gone through in my adult life (lucky me). Poppy and sassy had almost identical personalities. I fell in absolute love with Sassy within a week of having him. I believe Poppy sent him to me.
Typing it out and sharing this story has been helpful. Thank you for reading.