Time to Start Metacam?

by CinnamonPearl Thu 23 Jun 2016, 8:35 am

So Little Cow is still doing well despite her tumor now being massive, but I've been noticing changes. When I have her out sometimes, instead of running around, she'll just pick a spot and stare off into space. I'm wondering if it's a sign that she's in pain? Would it be time to start Metacam? She's otherwise doing well and is still active, so I'm not sure.

by MouseLover Thu 23 Jun 2016, 10:10 am

Mice are amazingly strong little creatures, they seem to cope amazingly well with those horrible tumours. Personally, I don't think those types of tumours cause them pain, as they usually allow you to touch them in that area without squeaking or flinching (try it on Little Cow to check). Other signs of mice being in pain are squinty eyes and hunched posture (proven in scientific studies). If she is just sitting still but her eyes aren't squinty, I would take it as a sign that carrying around that extra weight is beginning to tire her out Sad

tumours really sap you of energy and nutrients.

The only thing you can do for her is give her lots of high calorie foods to help combat the tiredness. How big is it now exactly? Keep an eye on it, because sometimes the tumours grow so big that they can rupture (bleed, either internally or externally) or they can outgrow their bloody supply and the tissue starts to die. Both of these are quite nasty, so keep a good eye on it, probably do daily checks. Sorry if these aren't the things you want to hear - I really feel for you right now Sad

I've been through this so many times, I kinda feel like a mouse-tumour expert, I hate it.

by CinnamonPearl Thu 23 Jun 2016, 10:34 am

I'll take a closer look at her when I take her out later. I'm hoping that she's just tired, she isn't acting like she's in pain or anything.

I posted a picture of it in my over thread Remove or Not Remove if you wanna see how big it is now. It's pretty massive. I compared it to how it looked two weeks ago, and it's more than doubled in size. I've heard that benign tumors grow very slowly, so I do think that it's malignant. I have no idea where we'll be in another two weeks, but I'm prepared. I think I'm going to call her doctor and ask about how she does euthanasia, because at this point it's what's going to have to happen. I'll keep her off the metacam for now, though. It's the reason I didn't bother with the herbs; I don't want her to spend her last days with a syringe down her throat.

by CallaLily Thu 23 Jun 2016, 6:49 pm

I saved this image on my phone from a study back when Twix first developed her tumor. Not sure how accurate it is but I thought it was worth saving, just in case.

Click for picture. Warning: pictures of mice in pain.

Spoiler:

by Brynne Thu 23 Jun 2016, 7:20 pm

Those mice are being tortured!

by CinnamonPearl Thu 23 Jun 2016, 7:30 pm

How can you tell, Brynne?

by Brynne Thu 23 Jun 2016, 7:37 pm

It's a photographic chart of laboratory mice undergoing increasing levels of pain.

by CinnamonPearl Thu 23 Jun 2016, 7:39 pm

Aw. I didn't think about it like that. Sad

Poor little things.

by Brynne Thu 23 Jun 2016, 7:41 pm

I've heard of the grimace scale for years, but never clicked on the links that people provided. I didn't want to know.

by CallaLily Thu 23 Jun 2016, 7:49 pm

Yes, it definitely was horrible from the little bit I read. But I wanted something to go by when trying to determine if Twix was in pain. So I stumbled across the study and saved the picture. I thought it may help in this case but I will remove it if you guys like.

by Brynne Thu 23 Jun 2016, 7:58 pm

It's okay- I won't look at it again, and it's not as horrific as I thought. I know that you posted it to help people, thank you.

by CallaLily Thu 23 Jun 2016, 8:00 pm

I'm so sorry I didn't think to put a warning. Any way to change it so it's hidden and would need to be clicked on to be viewed? Like I've seen in other sites with spoilers?

by CallaLily Thu 23 Jun 2016, 8:06 pm

Thank you, Abeona. Again, sorry I didn't think of the warning before.

by scaredymouse Thu 23 Jun 2016, 8:30 pm

Aw, poor mousies. We can all agree that mice were harmed to bring this information to us. I think the best way to honor them is to look at their pain, know what it looks like, and do whatever we can to alleviate pain in our mice, quickly.

by CinnamonPearl Thu 23 Jun 2016, 8:53 pm

Alright, so upon further evaluation, I don't think she's in pain, or at least nothing serious. Her left ear is starting to bother her, though. She's struggling to scratch it. She let me itch it for her, but I didn't help much.

Unfortunately, I was just taking a look at her, and I think it's close to breaking through the skin. I noticed that one part of it under her ear has no fur, and the skin looks very bluish reddish. It didn't like sickly, per say, but it didn't look good. It has a few scratches on it too, but I think that's just from her trying to scratch her ear.

She's still doing well, but at this point, I don't think she'll still be here when two more weeks pass. I'm expecting a call from her doctor tomorrow so I can ask about different options for euthanasia and when might be the best time and such.

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