I had a very hard time reading today's FML because of all of the losses. I am afraid that soon I will be posting about a loss.... I thought I should update everyone on Zorro. He was scheduled to go in for exploratory surgery July 2 (believed it was an enlarged spleen). The evening of July 1 he was breathing really hard and couldn't not stay awake and could not go to sleep. We called the ER Vet and explained what was happening. He told us something's to look out for and to keep a close eye on him. We made up a waterbed for him and he slept for about 2 hours. July 2 I took him in for the exploratory surgery. His breathing was still really bad so they did an e-ray first. The x-ray showed a mass in his lungs. They almost filled his lungs up or was pushing them up to where he couldn't breathe. The vet diagnosed him with lymphoma. The vet told me my choices were to either put him down or put him on steroids to make him comfortable. I started looking and asking others and I have ordered a herb (Essiac www.newrainbowbridge.com/default.htm) that has had good results with Lymphoma. It should be here Friday. The vet is also looking into Chemo, the cost starts at $350. However with the state that he is in, I don't believe that it would be an option. He is currently on prednisone and lasiks and will be starting the essiacs on Friday when it comes in. Last night was a very hard night. Everything hurt him. Laying, walking, pooping, peeing, sleeping...everything. He cries when he pees! And yet, with all of that pain he manages to find the litterbox. At 11 pm he ate a little bit of solid food. At 2 am I gave him fresh home made soup. He had that again at 4 am and 7 am. This morning my friend June (THANKS!) told me about a pain medication that I could give him if the vet said it was ok. It is called Torbutrol. My vet said it would be ok. June went over to the house (Shawn is home - I am at work) and gave him the medication. Then while her husband Glen held him, she fed him baby food. Zorro is now sleeping. I cannot stand to see him suffer. We are going to try the medication route and see if that helps him. If it doesn't then we will find the strength to help him cross over to the bridge. I want to thank everyone for their kind words and for their advice. I have tried to respond to everyone that has emailed...if I have missed you I am sorry. We haven't lost him yet and we cry as if we had. He is our first rescue that we have had to deal with this decision. We am still new...and this hurts. He is such a doll baby. He loves paper bags, toilet paper and paper towels. He would rather sleep in a nice soft sleeper than hanging from a hammock. He doesn't like to curl up either, he would rather be all stretched out. He has beautiful green eyes and you can tell he still wants to live. Joanne and Shawn Ferret Corner Shelter Spice, Pepper, Bugz, Dodge, Kuri, Chocolate, Tonka, Buster and ZORRO www.geocities.com/ferretcorneraz [Posted in FML issue 3833]