The Last Tommy Snuggle Pics

#1 here. Quite a few people have asked me how the kitties have reacted to Tommy's not being there anymore. My response to them is that I think they knew what was happening, and took great pains to say goodbye to him. This particularly applies to Tama-Chan and Da Beebs, as Genji never quite that kind of relationship with him.

As Tommy sat on his bed on the landing, gradually getting weaker, and waiting for us to go to the vet, never to return, both Tama and Da Beebs came over to share some mega-snuggles with him. It was their way of saying goodbye to their beloved woofie.

Tama:

Da Beebs:

Farewell, Sweet Tommy

#1 here. After that happy earlier post today, Tommy's state deteriorated very suddenly late morning today. I took him to the vet's along with Gabriel (Mr. G), and Gabriel's Mum, Nadine. As soon as she saw him, Christina (vet)  knew that things were bad. His abdomen was full of blood. He was suffering. He left surrounded by love, and hugged by all of us.

Here are the two last photos:

 

I had called my neighbours (Fernant's family) and, by the time we got back, they had already dug a grave. Tommy was buried in my garden, in the shade of my Japanese cherry tree .

I will do a commemorative post in a few days' time. Thank you, everyone, for your kindness and support.

Tommy's Thankful Thursday

Tommy:Woofs everyone! You must be wondering why on earth I have a "thankful" post, given the news that I shared with you last week. Well, you know what? There is always something to be thankful for or about.

Almost six days have passed since that fateful trip to the vet and the ghastly diagnosis of hemangiosarcoma of the spleen. Since that time, the only thing I have been taking is cortisone, which has been making me very thirsty and wanting to pee all the time. I was taking 30mg a day but yesterday, following consultation with Dr. C, the dosage was reduced to 20mg. During these six days, I have been cheerful, energetic, happy to go out and play with my ball when the weather has permitted it, and showing a hearty appetite for my meals and treats. #1 keeps asking herself how I could possibly be that sick. If I continue as I have been in the coming days, she is seriously considering taking me to a referral clinic (the same one that Tama went to when she had her cough issues) where they have more high-end imaging equipment, just to make sure.

In the meantime, I am thankful for every day, for the yummy meals that #1 is making me, and, most of all, for the huge outpouring of love from our friends all over the world. You are the BEST!

#1 really loves this photo. She says it is like a painting!

Chasing my ball:

For Christmas, I got a prosciutto bone!

#1 says the best thing about this photo is that it shows gums of a healthy colour!

Me on Christmas day, with my new snake toy from Miss Claire at The Swiss Cats! Thank you, Miss Claire, Zorro and Pixie!

There was a hard frost yesterday morning, but that did not stop me from wanting to play!

 

And do you remember Miss Sophie Kitten? She has been getting closer and closer to me each time I visit!

 

Who knows, Dear Friends? Maybe I will go out in a blaze of glory, or maybe I will stick around a little longer after all...

Sunday Snuggles With Tommy

Tama-Chan: Dear Friends, I don't know what to say. All of us here at Poupounette Central are stunned by what is happening to our beloved Tommy. There are no words. Tommy has always been our rock, our comfort, our knight in shining armour, to us kitties but also to #1. All of you have been so very kind with your comments, and we are deeply touched by each and every one of them.

We do not know how many days we have left with our precious Tommy, but we are all doing our best to make whatever days are left the best days ever, and this of course starts with lots and lots of snuggling.

Here I am, snuggled up to Tommy on the Christmas beddie:

Here is a triple snuggle with Tommy, #1 and Da Genj:

 

Me again with Tommy yesterday morning:

 

#1 did not manage to catch any snuggle pics with my Beebs. Instead, here is another one of her and Tommy:

Shattering News

#1 here. Last night, there was something  about Tommy that had me deeply worried. Not one single obvious thing but a collection of small things that made by blood run cold in my veins. This morning, we set out at 7:30 in the dark, rain and wind to get to the vet's  for opening time. I did not want to wait and call, and perhaps be told there were no slots until later.

The vet saw him, palpated him all over, and did a blood test. When the blood test results came in, all normal except for a slightly reduced red blood cell count, indicating anemia, she decided to do an utlra-sound. She already had her suspicons and they were confirmed. Tommy has a fast-growing angio-sarcoma, also known as hemangiosarcoma, in his spleen. The prognosis is appalling. Although surgery is an option, the survival rate beyond a few weeks is virtually non-existent and the surgery itself imposes a heavy burden on already weakened dogs.

According to Dr. C, whom I trust absolutely, Tommy probably only has a few days left. He got a hefty shot of cortisone, and I have more pills to give him from tomorrow. The idea is to make him as comfortable as possible for this short period. Even though it is Christmas, Dr. C has told me to call her tomorrow morning for a progress report, to see if the cortisone is helping, and she has given me her private cellphone number, if and when, things get to the point of no return.

Here is a shot of him this morning as we waited for the blood test results.

 

Our blogging will be intermittent and, for now, will only be about Tommy.

Tommy's Thankful Thursday

Tommy: There are so many things to be thankful for, including the fact that I always get very yummy food. #1 buys me really nice kibble and yummy pouches but, when she has the chance, she also cooks for me. This week, she found some great steak at a great price, so look at my dinner last night!

We've had quite a bit of rain again this week, but #1 tries to find a dry spell each day so we can go out and play.

That's a lot to be thankful for!

Wednesday Whinnies With Violette

Violette: Pretty neighs, everyone! On Monday, The Big V told you about being ridden by Ms. M. Well, he's not the only one who has been out and about! This week, there are two trainees at Ms. C's yard, and yesterday, they decided to take me on the long reins into the village, along with two other mares.

As it is getting close to Christmas, I decided I had to be festive!

On our way:

#1 kept telling me how cute I looked!

Here I am posing in front of the church with Ms.T:

And here are Ms.C, Ms.T and Mr.P, along with me, Ursula and Harlem:

And with #1:

#1 said that perhaps next year, I would be well trained enough to do a Santa carriage ride!