Posted on: 09/30/2024 @ 10:12 PM
Two years after having to say goodbye to Cosmo, we had to say goodbye to Oscar just over a week ago (09/21/2024). Oscar would've been 12 in February and my wife adopted him when he was four months old, if my memory serves me well. So... he was a part of our lives for a long time. Just not enough time.
Oscar had started to show some bloating but I didn't think too much about it. We ran out of his favorite food for a few days and just got it back and he was eating it faster than I had ever seen. Maybe he swallowed too much air. Maybe he was constipated. He wasn't acting like much was wrong. After a few days, I became worried he swallowed something and it caused a blockage and took him to an emergency vet that Saturday morning.
After a battery of tests, that took a long time, they discovered Oscar was suffering from sepsis. Unknown why, we opted for exploratory surgery. Give our guy a chance. JUST GIVE HIM A CHANCE. It was a long few hours but we finally got a call. Oscar had pancreatic cancer that had spread to his gallbladder and stomach. Two options -
Get a biopsy sent to an oncologist (to be 100% certain). Have him stay at the vet to drain the fluid and treat the sepsis. Start aggressive chemo. Give him 1% chance.
Euthanize
JUST GIVE HIM A CHANCE! That's all I wanted to do. I wanted him home. Just come home... Everything in my body wanted to give him a chance. But we decided it was best for Oscar to not let him wake up. Oscar was diabetic, getting jabbed twice a day. Oscar needed some teeth removed, which he had already lost a few. Oscar was in pain. We set him free.
It was the right choice. It was the humane choice. But, again, I'm sad. This time I'm not struggling with being sad over my departed friend. I'm just struggling with being sad.
We miss you, Oscar. Hope Cosmo welcomed you and the two of you are enjoying some catnip and treats.