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Please keep Sam in your thoughts…
Sam is Frodo's brother and uncle to the new boys. About a month ago I noticed a couple of hard lumps under his armpits, like a couple of small jelly beans in size and shape. I was advised that it was his lymph nodes that were swollen and that hopefully it was just a mild generalised infection that should clear up, but to keep an eye on him. About a week later he still wasn't any better so I booked him in to see the vet. She suggested a needle biopsy on his lymph nodes to see what was happening.
I received a call from the vet the following day to say that the results were in and that it looked like it was probably lymphoma (cancer of the lymphatic system), although it could also still be an infection and to just monitor him for the time being to see if it got any worse or began to clear up. If it didn't clear up or if Sam started to lose weight then she was willing to try him on a course of steroids. A few days ago Sam started to look in a bad way. All of the lymph nodes were severely swollen, particularly around the head. They were starting to make the poor boy's eyes bulge (he looked like he was permanently boggling) and he was having difficulty cleaning himself as he couldn't get his arms past them to clean his head. He also started to get a little weak in his back legs. I made an appointment with the vet so that he could start on the steroids to see if it would help. He started taking them on Thursday evening. Here is how Sam looked Thursday evening: http://homepage.mac.com/lwernham/.Pi...80209/0001.jpg http://homepage.mac.com/lwernham/.Pi...80209/0002.jpg http://homepage.mac.com/lwernham/.Pi...80209/0003.jpg http://homepage.mac.com/lwernham/.Pi...80209/0004.jpg Thankfully it looks like the steroids are helping to reduce the swollen lymph nodes already. :) Here is how Sam looks this morning: http://homepage.mac.com/lwernham/.Pi...80209/0005.jpg http://homepage.mac.com/lwernham/.Pi...80209/0006.jpg http://homepage.mac.com/lwernham/.Pi...80209/0007.jpg http://homepage.mac.com/lwernham/.Pi...80209/0008.jpg As the swellings either side of his jaw are going down Sam is able to wash himself again, although I'm helping him with that for now. Unfortunately it looks like Sam may be losing the use of his back legs. At the moment I'm helping Sam to keep himself clean "down below" and cleaning his ears out for him as he'd usually do that with his back leg. Fingers crossed, it looks like we may be able to at least control the symptoms for a while. My vet said that if the steroids worked then she was happy to put Sam on a repeat prescription. :) |
Re: Please keep Sam in your thoughts…
Aww, poor thing... sounds like he's in good hands anyway :)
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Re: Please keep Sam in your thoughts…
Awh, the poor little guy.. Glad that the steroids seem to be helping though! Will keep you both in my thoughts.
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Re: Please keep Sam in your thoughts…
I hope things work out ok in the end for you and Sam. :tu:
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Re: Please keep Sam in your thoughts…
You know only on CF would we wish a rat to get well soon.;)
I add my encouragement to Sam as well.:tu: |
Re: Please keep Sam in your thoughts…
Lew my hat is off to you for all the love and care you give to these little creatures, so dear to your heart. Truly hope that Sam does manage to make a full recovery!
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Re: Please keep Sam in your thoughts…
Hope he get's better soon.
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Re: Please keep Sam in your thoughts…
Awful, just awful :( Hope the steriods help him.
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Re: Please keep Sam in your thoughts…
Sam's lymph nodes are now almost back to normal size, although he still doesn't have much use of his back legs.
Last night when I was in bed I heard pitiful squeaks coming from his cage and shot over only to find that the squeaks were Frodo as Sam was grooming him. :) http://homepage.mac.com/lwernham/.Pi...80210/0012.jpg http://homepage.mac.com/lwernham/.Pi...80210/0013.jpg http://homepage.mac.com/lwernham/.Pi...80210/0014.jpg http://homepage.mac.com/lwernham/.Pi...80210/0015.jpg http://homepage.mac.com/lwernham/.Pi...80210/0016.jpg |
Re: Please keep Sam in your thoughts…
Bit of vicarious pleasure then :) Glad he's improving.
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Re: Please keep Sam in your thoughts…
Look at Sam today! He looks so much better, and seems to be getting some strength back in his hind legs. He's not clenching his back feet like he was before, too. :)
http://homepage.mac.com/lwernham/.Pi...80211/0026.jpg http://homepage.mac.com/lwernham/.Pi...80211/0027.jpg http://homepage.mac.com/lwernham/.Pi...80211/0028.jpg http://homepage.mac.com/lwernham/.Pi...80211/0029.jpg http://homepage.mac.com/lwernham/.Pi...80211/0030.jpg |
Re: Please keep Sam in your thoughts…
Definitely less puffy around the face. Glad his strength is returning - fingers crossed he continues to do well.
I do like the brown areas around his eyes - are they normal? Sort of like glasses :) |
Re: Please keep Sam in your thoughts…
It's actually where the fur has been stained by the porphyrin from his eyes. As he moults the new fur should be the correct colour.
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Re: Please keep Sam in your thoughts…
I really really don't like rodents of any kind (petrified of them!), but i hope all is well with Sam :)
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Re: Please keep Sam in your thoughts…
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Re: Please keep Sam in your thoughts…
It's because he's been unwell and was unable to clean himself. I haven't noticed any fresh porphyrin the last couple of days, which is a hopeful sign. :)
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Re: Please keep Sam in your thoughts…
Glad he is on the mend :tu:
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Re: Please keep Sam in your thoughts…
I hope he is ok and get back to normal health
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Re: Please keep Sam in your thoughts…
How's he doing?
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Re: Please keep Sam in your thoughts…
Even though I have a rat snake I love rats, I hope he recovers soon :)
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Re: Please keep Sam in your thoughts…
I'm sorry to have to let you all know that Sam passed away during the night. I wish I could say more but right now it hurts too much. :(
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Re: Please keep Sam in your thoughts…
Aaw Poor Lew, sorry to hear that :(
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Re: Please keep Sam in your thoughts…
I'm sorry for your loss, Lew..
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Re: Please keep Sam in your thoughts…
I'm really sorry to hear that Lew :(
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Re: Please keep Sam in your thoughts…
So sorry to hear that, Lew. Take comfort in that you did all you could for him, and he had a happy life with you.
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Re: Please keep Sam in your thoughts…
Is Frodo missing him?
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Re: Please keep Sam in your thoughts…
I don't think it's quite sunk in, although after I'd cleaned out the cage he did seem to notice that Sam wasn't there. Hopefully next weekend I'll get him living with his sons.
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Re: Please keep Sam in your thoughts…
Lew, Sorry to hear about Sam. :hugs: I have not had much time on the forums for a couple of weeks and managed to miss what had happened until tonight.
Can you give Frodo things to keep his mind occupied until he can have the company of his sons? |
Re: Please keep Sam in your thoughts…
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Best wishes. |
Re: Please keep Sam in your thoughts…
Sorry to hear about Sam :(
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Re: Please keep Sam in your thoughts…
Had a bit of a moment at work. Once of our guys is called Frodo, because of his surname. Anyway, someone said, "Frodo", in conversation, and instead of the guy coming to my mind, I saw Frodo (i.e. the rat) instead. Which led to my mind placing a headset on him :D I scare myself at times :p:
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Re: Please keep Sam in your thoughts…
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Cheers |
Re: Please keep Sam in your thoughts…
Well, Frodo's in with his sons now. He's accepted them, although they're still quite wary of him. Here's how Tron dealt with the problem:
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Re: Please keep Sam in your thoughts…
Frodo looks totally unimpressed. :)
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Re: Please keep Sam in your thoughts…
Ah - I take it Tron is burying Frodo? I do that with bills sometimes - doesn't work too well :erm: :D Or is Tron trying to hide and making a bad job of it?
Are they black olives? |
Re: Please keep Sam in your thoughts…
Tron was indeed trying to bury Frodo, and doing a pretty good job of it. Frodo put up with it all with the patience of a saint. :)
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Re: Please keep Sam in your thoughts…
Looks to me like they are playing hide and seek..:D
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Re: Please keep Sam in your thoughts…
You have to wonder. Is it agressive - "don't like you at all - smell different" - or passive "you smell different - maybe a good covering of my bedding might make you smell more familiar". Suppose it could even be welcoming - "let me give you a hand with the bedding - ooops"
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Re: Please keep Sam in your thoughts…
They all had a bath on Saturday before I put them in together so they all smell the same at the moment. I think it was definitely a "do not want" thing. :D
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Re: Please keep Sam in your thoughts…
Awww bless :D
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Re: Please keep Sam in your thoughts…
Some posts have been deleted from this thread due to poor taste. Please ensure that posts are on topic and do not lead to baiting/flaming.
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Re: Please keep Sam in your thoughts…
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or lead to flaming/baiting? |
Re: Please keep Sam in your thoughts…
No, scuzz - fear not :)
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Re: Please keep Sam in your thoughts…
Oh Lew. Fantastic photos of the guys. It's marvellous to see them all together and so obviously at ease with each other. What a great outcome. You must be very happy.
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Re: Please keep Sam in your thoughts…
Great to see. They look the same at first, but there are subtle differences in the face. The one with the brown patch - looks like he was trapped in a panini press :D Bless.
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Re: Please keep Sam in your thoughts…
LoL yeah, or a George Foreman :D, how come one of them looks like he's been grilled? :D
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Re: Please keep Sam in your thoughts…
I am still waiting to hear if they are black olives in with them, GC keeps asking but not getting an answer lol.
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Re: Please keep Sam in your thoughts…
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And they're black grapes, not olives. :) |
Re: Please keep Sam in your thoughts…
Wish some nice chap would come along and feed me grapes :mis:
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Re: Please keep Sam in your thoughts…
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No good tripping up passing trade..get out there and find 'em or use a dating agency like Frodo did.;) |
Re: Please keep Sam in your thoughts…
The reason for the grapes is that I had all four of them in that carrier for half a day and it had no way to affix a water bottle so I put plenty of fresh fruit in to keep up their water levels. At a rat show you'll usually see either a piece of apple or cucumber in each show tank for the same reason.
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Re: Please keep Sam in your thoughts…
Cucumber seemed to be popular at the show I was at - not many teeth marks in the chunks though :erm: Suppose they lick it.
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Re: Please keep Sam in your thoughts…
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Lew - What an absolute bundle of fun and fascination you have there. A great credit to You. |
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