We lost our heart, our beautiful sweet chihuahua, Chiqui, on Jan. 30 of this year. We didn't give a care about losing our home to Katrina as long as we 2-legged people and our 5-4 legged friends were o.k. But then we lost Chiqui, and now it looks like we our about to lose another friend, Big Boy, our 17 year old solid white cat with beautiful green eyes. He's more like a dog than a cat, because whenever I'd walk the dogs, he'd trail in behind us. He's totally declawed, neutered and still scares all the dogs in the neighborhood: Rottwielers, German Shepherds, Labadors, you name it, he's run it off.

But I noticed that he'd been sleeping a lot lately, and for some reason there was this weird stench in the garage. I looked and looked because I thought he or Little Girl, our other cat had killed something and dragged it into the garage. When I couldn't find it, I started checking him out. Besides finding that he only has 5 teeth left, I found a REALLY BAD wound on his back paw that had sealed two of his toe together. My heart just sank; if it smelled that bad it could only be one thing -gangrene.

This cats been with us through 3 moves, 3 hurricanes-he's almost been with us as long as we've been married. I mean, COME ON, in less than a year, we've lost my grandmother who lived with us 5 years, my husband's mom, our house, and 2 of our pets? I don't think I can take another blow or I'll find some sackcloth and climb up in what's left of our fireplace (literally)!

I know we've taken the best of care of him or he would've have never lived to be 17. And maybe I'm taking this so hard because all the the other losses magnify it. But that's not going to stop how bad I miss him

I am so so sorry for your sweet baby ~ Can you get to a Vet?? They have payment plans for people who need emergency care ~ If you know in your heart this cannot change I want to say - LOVE him as much as you can and try to clean the wound as best you can ~ I don't know what to do for this kind of thing ~ hopefully an Emergency Clinic or Vet could help ~ If not you are in my prayers tonight ~ My heart goes out to you ~ God Speed and God Bless, Kathryn

I agree with Kathryn - can you take him to a vet to see if anything can be done for his paw? If it's just a debridement - removing the dead tissue - it may be curable if not painless, but I'm no vet so I'm not sure. And I've had pets in the past whose vets have allowed me to pay off treatments in installments, and I'd think that under your cir%%stances that may be possible. It may involve multiple treatments, but again, I don't know. I'll be thinking of and praying for you all - you've had a terrible time of it, and my heart goes out to you. Please come back and let us know what happens. Take care - Barbara

I add my prayers as well, for you and Big Boy. PLEASE let us know how things are.

God bless,

Kathy

Run him to the vet as fast as you can. He desperately needs antibiotics and that paw needs to be cleaned sterilized and wrapped. Do not wait, he doesn't have much time, he needs immediate vet attention if he is to be saved. Best of luck...I hope you don't lose him.

To All My 2-legged buddies who prayed for Big Boy and me,
IT WORKED!!!! God heard your prayers. The vet had to do some major debridement, which Big Boy made sure NEITHER of them enjoyed. In fact, with only 5 teeth in his mouth, the vet would not even put in some eye drops, BB intimidated him so. I am so estatic. I can see Big Boy having a spin-off of the Highlander series: Born in 1492 in the bayou, he is furry and immortal, and he is not alone. He is a warrior, a lover (he still hasn't discovered he's spayed) and a wanderer...He is Big Boy McLennep, and he's not here to play games!

This is WONDERFUL news!!! God Bless you both~ I have had you in my heart and prayers ~ (((Hugs))) Kathryn