BEA

Hooray!  Next week we will be celebrating all things 'book" at BEA! Live streaming available above.  Note embedding the player on this blog in no way endorses its sponsor or e-reading, just books! Keep reading, America! Duncan does!

Hello friends! 

Hey, I voluntarily went & sat next to my mom, Beanie, the other day!

I have to admit, it is kinda nice, to have her around.

She is always there for me when I take on those squirrels.

She sticks up for me when a strange dog comes around.

And she never takes my toy from me.

She is a beautiful lady, a champion in the ring, and the best mom a pup could ask for.

Today, when my human mom was working, we both slept at her feet, me on the left side,

mom Beanie on the right.  Mom teared up a bit ;o).

Send in your mom stories, I'd love to hear them!  It's always a good day 

to celebrate moms!

Follow @DuncantheWestie

Missing Smokie

I never followed up to my post on 3/15. That day I was rubbing Smokie's neck (she loved that) -- and found 2 holes in her neck, each 1/2 inch wide. I touched her underneath them--and fluids came rushing out. Poor Smokie's tumor was ulcerating & eating away at her skin. I decided then & there it was time to say goodbye. Don't know why I hadn't seen the holes before. She was looking straight up in the air & I got a good look. She drank a lot of water but still seemed a little dehydrated--no wonder. It would literally leak out of her. So terrible! She's been gone a couple weeks now, the cats still seem different....she really was The Queen....

WARNING-GRAPHIC IMAGE & TEXT BELOW

If you can stomach what cancer actually looks like, scroll down to the next 3/15 post.

A picture of a mass and a graphic description of the condition known as squamous cell carcinoma is below. When I tried to learn about it, I never saw anything online that showed how ugly cancer is. Bleak, yes, but no one actually SHOWS how ugly it is.

Hope I don't offend anyone!

Love you, Smokie!

Time to Say Goodbye (for now) to my Feline Sister with Squamous Cell Carcinoma Smokie

Sorry, Duncan, I have to write this entry. WARNING-GRAPHIC DETAILS AHEAD!

Smokie has been through enough, no matter how much she eats, or how little, this SCC type of cancer has already won the war. As I wiped the drool off her face tonight, she raised her little tortie head to look at the ceiling light. And on her neck, right in front of where you can feel the tumor spreading, I saw two holes. Not scratches, round holes, that were allowing her fluids to leak out. Looking back through some pictures, I can see the blood on her neck, but never actually saw the holes. We thought all the drool & mucus came from her mouth & her nose. Her eye tears as well.

No one on the internet describes how this skin cancer eats away at the body, while the kitty is mentally alert, even purring, as she snuggles, as she eats; no one shows exactly how ugly this can be. They warn you to examine your cat's mouth---and please do! If it starts as a small mole it can be treated very successfully.

Smokie has been obviously sick since November; her diagnosis came back right before Christmas. She was given weeks to live. The best nutrition & herbal therapy seemed to stall it in the beginning, but the last few weeks, it took over. It took several months to win, but win it did. I have to call the vet tomorrow and say goodbye (for now); I can't sit and watch her simply dissolve away.

She is a very mellow, dignified, large kitty; we call her Queen Smokie sometimes. She walks past you with confidence, not a concern in the world. Being the largest cat, I guess she always knew she could take anyone on & win. Except for cancer.

I'm posting a very gross photo here, I hope I don't offend anyone, but maybe it will convince at least one cat owner to have their pet examined. If your kitty drools, has a loose tooth, or red gums, or stinky breath, GO TO THE VET and look for SCC. Look for it with every office visit. You do NOT want to watch your cat live with this.