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devastated

13K views 13 replies 9 participants last post by  SpikeMoose 
#1 · (Edited)
Please help. I am so torn. I have a 7 y/o male. I have so much love for this critter. Ghiradelli. He has a large swollen side of his face upper jaw. The vet was not much help unless I had approx $700 to shell out. It was $320 to diagnose and if it happened to be an infected tooth the treatment was another $370. I paid $90 just to have them look at him and give me some antibiotics. I should have allowed them to put him down then but I couldn't do it. He is so active and he is still eating and still has cuddle time. I am at a loss. I can't bear the thought of the pain he may be in. At this point I know I am putting off the inevitable. How long can I wait? Who has been through this?
 
#3 ·
Are there any other vets around that you could check for lower prices? $700 sounds expensive for something like an infected tooth...though the $90 sounds pretty normal. It does look painful... :( If you can't afford to have his mouth checked more thoroughly under anesthesia & for treatment of whatever the cause is, it might be best to have him euthanized. Mouth issues can become a bigger issue quickly, if infection or tumors spread to the eyes and brain. I know it's hard, but keep in mind that you probably don't want to wait until he's clearly suffering, miserable, and refusing to eat or anything else before you give in. I'm sorry you guys are going through this.
 
#5 ·
The vet should have been able to make a fairly accurate assessment if this is a tooth issue or a tumour just by looking in his mouth. Looking at his face, I'd lean more towards a tumour just by how it's starting to displace his eye. Is the lumpy area firm or soft?

Would you be able to get a picture of his mouth with his gum pulled up, or inside his mouth? Watch for a yawn and be ready to take a quick picture.

Poor old guy. Oral tumours take way too many of our precious little ones.
 
#8 ·
The cost of animal health care is as crazy as people health care. It can get out of hand in a hurry. Either way, if you don't have the money, you are just stuck. It's about impossible to know what the 'right' choice is sometimes.

If it is a tooth, then treatment might make him good as new. He's an old man though; if it is a tooth, it might be way bigger than that and be several teeth; that is, a lot of work would be needed. You can't know whether it is one tooth, five teeth, or a tumor without the diagnosis. That step should give a you much clearer information. Whatever it is, pain-wise it is likely to get a lot worse in a hurry. My best guess is that you'll have to make some decision immediately.
 
#9 ·
since you've got antibiotics, I'd run the course of those and see what happens. if it is an abscess the antibiotics should show some effect within 3 or 4 days and you'll see swelling go down. give the full number of days of treatment to see if it works. if it's a tumor, you'll see no improvement. once the antibiotics have had a chance to work you can consider what you need to do next based on how your little guy does.
 
#11 ·
I feel so empty. I made his appt to be taken care of. The antibiotics are not making a difference. It is bigger and when I give him the antibiotics I can see in his mouth. It is not a tooth. It does not appear to be in his mouth. We go in on Friday. I had to leave work today as I could not keep it together. I had him out tonight. It made it worse because he wanted to anoint and couldn't reach his quills. =( I am sorry I do not have better news.
 
#12 ·
I'm so sorry you and your boy are going through this. :( *hugs* Just try and remember that hard as it is for you...you're doing the right thing by keeping him from more pain and suffering. It sounds like he had a very long and good life...and I know we never think it's long enough, but that's the hard part of having animals in our life. Treasure your last couple days with the little guy. I'll keep you both in my thoughts.
 
#13 ·
IMO oral tumours are the worst and most difficult for us to make the final decision. Even though the tumour is huge, hedgie usually continues to eat and behaves normally and seems happy. The tumour has to be massive or growing up into their head before hedgie shows any symptoms affecting their behaviour. These %&#*%& tumours grow so fast and often by the time we notice it outwardly it is already massive inside their mouth and past the point where surgery will help.

Helping them to cross is never an easy decision and we always second guess our decision and do the what if's afterward. The saying "better a day too soon, than a minute too late" is never more true than in the case of an oral tumour.

I'm sorry you have to make this decision but you are doing the best thing for him so he doesn't suffer.

Hugs
 
#14 ·
I am so sorry for what your and your baby are going through. I will be thinking of you both all day tomorrow. I wish you strength and comfort, you are truly being selfless in doing what is best for him. It is one of the most painful decisions, but you are taking away any pain he may have.
He will pass over in a calm, loving, and peaceful environment.
 
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