Kazko's Journal

Well it looks like Jennifer did the necropsy yesterday and came to some conclusions.

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I did go ahead and do the necropsy yesterday, and I found multiple nodules in his lungs, and a very enlarged, pale liver. It appears he had metastatic lung cancer, meaning cancer from somewhere else had invaded his lungs. I'm thinking maybe from the nodules in his skin or by his mouth? I didn't see any signs of problems in any of his other organs. Probably the liver failure was because he hadn't been eating (hepatic lipidosis or "fatty liver disease"). It does mean, though, that there was nothing you or I could have done to save him. I'm sorry for your loss, but know you did everything you could for him.

~Jenny

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Phil died today at around 9:30am in the vets hands. He had not been eating since surgery and I cant even be sure that he was swallowing his meds as he was such a stubborn creature. She took his exhausted panting body away to draw some blood from his neck. Apparently his heart stopped during that procedure and she couldnt revive him and he was brought back to me dead.

I am sure it's the same for everyone, but it seems so surreal seeing this once hyper hissing flighty nippy animal lying there, still, limp, eyes open. I am sad for him as I did not want him to end this way. I was happy to put up with his odd temperament in order to see him become a daddy. His offspring would have been the tame kept animals I was wanting.

I left him with Jennifer so she could do a necropsy to determine what may have went wrong, what we can learn from it and if it is any threat to Robin, my sugars or even me.

Phil and Robin both did well today in surgery. Jennifer removed two mammary tumors in Robin and Phil lost around 9 teeth. He had rotten roots and rather inflamed areas. He must have been in some severe pain.

Phil is up and drinking water. He will get liquids and soft foods tonight and for a few days. Robin should be able to eat normally on her own and I just need to keep an eye on her pouch.

Jennifer was able to get a sample from Phil and she did inject into Robin. Would we be so lucky to get something from it. But if not, I now have a method and supplies to try myself.

Phil has been acting different for a few days so I decided to take him to the vet. He has not been eating anything except for his yogurt. He has been still and weak and not his normal hyper self. I also felt what appeared to be a few tick like bumps on him.

I took Robin as well for a basic checkup since I knew my vet would want to see her anyway, but she has been doing great lately.

Turns out that the bumps on Phil were just dirt and stuff that I couldnt easily investigate while holding him still by myself. Inspecting his teeth, Phil appears to have a number of dental issues including his original broken jaw area but also not limited to that. I think Phil has attacked the side of the cage a few times and has probably broken more teeth or hurt his gums or such, so he has a few noticeable issues. I believe the mouth pain has kept him from eating anything and thusly he has been losing strength and appearing sickly. So he'll be in tomorrow for dental surgery and removal of a number of dead teeth and she'll do a more exhaustive inspection on him then as well to look for any other issues.

Robin get a big hello from Jennifer as she inspected the original chest surgery area. I decided to hold Robin upside down for inspection and suddenly out of her pouch popped a large thing I had never seen before. Turns out that she has been hiding a couple of mammary tumors in her pouch, one being rather huge. I had felt something solid in her pouch before but having little experience with these animals I paid no attention to it thinking it was a normal part of something down there. So it is my fault for not catching this issue sooner. Opossums should have nothing hard or bony anywhere in or near their belly or pouch area.

So, she is also going to surgery tomorrow with Phil. Since Jennifer will have both animals sedated, if possible at the time, she may try to collect a sample from Phil and use it to attempt an insemination of Robin for me. That is low priority of course but naturally I hope it happens and that it works.

Hopefully Robin will retain at least 3 of her 5 nipples intact after her surgery tomorrow.

UPDATE:

I wanted to get a photo of Robin's tumor this afternoon so I got her out and immediately found that she has been bleeding. I dont know if she has suddenly decided to groom her tumor or if it has suddenly burst, but this is just super odd timing as I wasnt even taking her to the vet this morning, it was Phil. I guess it will be taken care of in the morning, but I did not expect the thing to be all bloody all of a sudden.

The other day when I had Robin out I noticed that I could not see any remnant of her previous surgery and mean nasty chest infection. Her hair has covered any scar and shes as perky as a possum! It was touch and go there for awhile while she was being nursed back to health and I am simply amazed at the end result.

Below I am posting two photo moments. One is taken today which is all clean and wonderful looking and the second set is one I have never posted before. It is of her open puss filled stinky chest wound. It was really bad for awhile which is why I am amazed that it has healed so well now. We had to leave it open to allow the drugs to heal the infection before closing it up. It got really nasty and scary for a bit but I followed the vets directions, gave her baths, gave her meds and worked with her until we could sew it up.

Kudos to Robin for being a trooper! She's of a healthy disposition and weight now and eating well.

I know that I am crazy because of the things that make me ecstatic and giddy. Today it is realizing that both of my possums are choosing to poo and pee in their litter box instead of the cage floor or elsewhere. Can we say "potty trained!"

It is probably just the fact of having ground below them instead of the open grate as to why they choose the box, but it is still amazing. I can scoop it out easy and the cage is cleaner for it.

YAY!

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Kazko
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