I asked my friend to take me and OB to the vets today and stay, I knew the outcome wouldn't be good. The bottom line is he hasn't long to live and although I knew, I've been crying on and off all day. He is full of fluid and his breathing is laboured but his heart sounds fine. It's not a good sign that he suddenly started drinking so much, although since I've been trying to catch a wee the drinkings gone down abit(equally bad). He has a lump in his throat possibly cancer but can't tell without investigation. And an infection in both eyes.
The vet explained the options were to put him to sleep, or keep him comfortable at home or go for exploratory procedures with risk of him dying on operating table higher than normal due to his poor condition. Also if I agreed to the op and blood tests and x-ray the vets might still not be able to cure him.
So I've decided to let him go peacefully I hope at home. He's got ointment for his eyes. I want him to be comfortable. It's not fair to try surgery on him because his gut is always so slow to recover from a general. At the moment he's still interested and eating in food but if that changes it will be kinder for him to be PTS.
I got the impression from the vet that OB wouldn't last out as long as the course of eye ointment but OB is a tough little fella. I'm dreading losing him 
.
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Small pets
Sad news about Old Boy
fortifiedwithtea · 16/01/2013 20:10
Oh fortified this is so sad. I know from your posts of late that you've been worried about OBs health (and his name gives it away, he's an old boy)
You are right not to put him through surgery and all the assorted tests.
From what you've posted it sounds like there's alot going on with him, and the surgery would be such a strain on him, physically but more importantly mentally. The stress of him being away from you for a period of time and the recovery. Bless him.
Hopefully, as you say, he'll wind down naturally and go in his sleep, in his cage, with his laydeez next door.
. All the best OB.
Thanks 70 and guineapiglet for your kind words. Had another good cry . OB was a good boy and didn't make a fuss having his eye cream. We had a nice cuddle time afterwards. He sat on his special blanket on my lap and had a saucer of tea 
. He looked surprised to be offered it. Normally he necks tea out of any mug left on the floor.
I've told the DC the way it is with Old Boy. DD1 is putting on a hard nosed front. DD2 is very sad but keeping it together well and gave him a lovely gentle cuddle while I cleaned out his hutch.
Thanks Sleepingbunnies Old Boy was 6 on December 15th, so he is 6years,1 month and 1 day . Someone on here said one of our years equals 14 of theirs. That would make OB about 85, which I would say is fairly accurate.
My dad always leaves a bit of tea in the bottom of his mug (a throwback from the days of loose leaf tea) and my very first GP -when I was 9yo- used to balance on the mug rim and stretch his neck in to drink it 
Not too much milk and a half spoon of sugar.
We don't drink tea in our house, so our boars won't get the chance (My dad has sweeteners now I don't think the hogs would like them).
How's the Old Boy doing today fortified ?
As its very late I won't talk long cousin rang took up the evening and then I dozed off on the sofa.
Old Boy has had a mixed day. At one point I thought he would die in my arms but he was just in dream sleep. Ears wraggling, eyes rolling. Then he woke up like nothing unusual had happened 
. Sometimes he's looked very miserable and hunched up.
He is still eating, just, but being picky and his poo is soft sticky clumps, so his gut flora is all out of tune.
However at the moment I can hear him munching on vair naice hay and I got a tickly whisker kiss when I looked in on him .
I gave him tea party with his Laydeez and took loads of photos. Which I will upload later today (friday). It was lovely to have all 3 together. Bless him OB is too frail to try an funny business. Well he had a kiss with Fatimus but that was it you'll see it in the picture its classic.
Oh so much for me not talking long 
...Whoops!
Oh Fortified I'm so sorry to hear about OB. I'm thinking of you and hope that he is comfortable and goes peacefully. Sending you a hug and OB a 
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