hugapitbull said
While frustrating, vets sometimes don't have all the time they think they have, and maybe will still answer you before 11/3.

Making the decision is a huge step.  Freaking out is a common response.  Fortunately, I had little time to think about it.  After our second opinion consult at 5PM on a Tuesday afternoon, the vet told me we didn't have to decide that minute, but he would clear his schedule the following morning and if we made the decision, just bring her in on my way to work.

For us, as much as I dreaded that morning coming, we were committed to removing the source of pain. Never, even after the arthritis became a problem, did I doubt that the amputation was the best choice we could have made.

Hopefully, when this is all over, you will feel the same.

Thanks - I read somewhere that a study was done of cat amputee owners and 95% said they would do it again if given the choice ("only" 90% said that their cat still had a good quality of life), so I think that the likelihood is pretty good that I will feel like you at some point (hopefully soon) - that I made the right choice. Whew, I can't wait for that day, let me tell you!

Also, I read that a morphine drip during and after surgery helps greatly to prevent pain. My vet uses a fentanyl patch which is a a pain patch put on his foot that releases fentanyl for about 4-5 days. Will this work as well as the drip?

Thanks guys.

jerry said
Hey there,

If you can remember where you found that survey about cat owners and amputation can you post it here? 

OK, regarding amputation, here is what Tripawds Vet Expert Tazziedog says about administering it before surgery in this blog post, in regards to how she used it on her Tripawd Tazzie.

Thanks Jerry! As always, this is very helpful

Here are the results of that study: http://www.fabc.....putee.html. It says that "when asked if they thought their cat had a normal quality of life, over 90% of owners believed that they did." and "when asked whether they would make the same decision if they knew then what they knew now, 95% of owners said they would." Very heartening.

And, if you want to pay for the actual published journal of which that link is a summary (which I did not), it is here: http://veterina.....167/19/734

Hope that's useful! I will probably post it in my blogs too. I really hope someone finds them useful one day - or maybe finds some solace if they're in the same position (and if this indeed ends up a happy story).

Oh my that is really, really wonderful for your guys to put up info about cat amputations. I was so lost before I found this forum - there really isn't a good place (that I found) to get a lot of information about cat amputation in one place - you sort of have to float around and read people's stories and ask them, but when you're in that pre-op panic you need answers right away, and I feel like this will give people that. So thank you! I think that's so great.

Surgery is over - he's one less leg. He got through without complications and he's resting at the hospital now. Apparently he got his claws into some of the nurses so they had to put an e collar on him. But otherwise, it's good news... He may be down a leg, but he's down a tumor too.

mbudrow said
Wishing Fang a speedy recovery and hugs to you Do you get to bring him home tomorrow? This discussion about Fang has had me thinking about BK all week (which is bittersweet in some ways, I miss her) the funny thing is that I can't remember her with four legs.  Fang and your household will adjust to his new normal it might just take a bit of time.

"Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit. ~Henry David Thoreau"

 

Best Regards,

Marjorie

Thank you for the well wishes. Yes, I bring him home tomorrow at 10AM. I really appreciate your support and that you shared your experiences with me during this whole mess. I hope that Fang can do as well. Thanks