arynzmuse said
Oh, you guys continue to be amazing.  This last week has been stupid busy, but I wanted to make sure you knew I was still around and that I'm super appreciative of all the good advice and well wishes.

So a quick update - doggo did go home with his new family last Friday.  We're all (well, Pandora excepting) pretty sad about it, even though it's the right thing.

Pandora's being her cat-like self, sleeping, bumming around despite her gimpy leg (which doesn't seem to be getting better), and squawking at me for food.  ;D  She's honestly a ridiculously amazing little cat.  It was her birthday yesterday and she's officially 14 years old.  We gave her a couple silly toys and lots of ear scratches (which she loves).

She's getting checked out by the neurologist and the surgeon on Thursday for a likely surgery on Friday.  I'll keep you guys posted.  

Stupid busy is a great term;) Yep we understand! Glad you could make it back and let us know the plan. I know that had to be hard let Doggo go but hold on it was the best for all of you.

Happy Birthday, Pandora! Silly toys and ear scratches are great! Pandora will appreciate the one ear scratched even more after the amp. Purrkins will now just come to me and bend his head towards me asking for his ear scratched. You'll see what I mean after the amp.

Think about where she will recover at if there is a bed if you can take the mattress off the frame and directly on the floor great or stuff anything and everything under it to block access off. We used a spare room for recovery some people use dog cages. Provide a safe area for her to recover in Purrkins chose the closet for his recovery. Stock up on canned foods in case she is fussy, be ready to try different things with her if need be. We used a baby onesie instead of the cone we got approval from the surgeon I did a post on how I made Purrkins DIY Baby Onesie/T-shirts Cone of Shame Alternative 

Let us know how Thursday goes remember to take pen and paper to ask your questions or have them on your phone whatever works. Meds are on the top of that list! Oh, yay you started a blog! Good for you!! Will hop over there too!

Hugs
Holly & Purrkns❤️

Purrkins was on Buprenorphine for 12 days and Gabapentin for 14 days. Then we took Purrkins for acupuncture to help him get off his pain meds! We would not have been sent home with Gabapentin had we not insisted on it. We were only sent home with three days worth of the Buprenorphine, and I stretched that six days and had to call and get another Buprenorphine when Purrkins was in pain meowing growling and hissing at me. Which was no issue the surgeon agreed we needed more pain meds.

What I have learned since I would have started the Gaba beforehand! I would have insisted on more than three days worth of the Buprenorphine! We are in a society that abuses drugs and sadly that effects our animals! The Buprenorphine was guarded when it was walked to me. The vet student was not allowed to stop from the pharmacy to me it was unreal! I was so naive and had no idea this was an issue then!

Most cats are not sent home with that much pain meds it is common to be sent home with three days worth or a long-lasting injection or even less that is what we see too often, and I will never understand how we can take a limb and be ok with 3 days. If the animal is not showing signs, that doesn't mean they are not in pain, that is a typical animal response NOT to show weakness! I can only imagine how much pain Purrkins was in when he was growling and hissing at me (NEVER PURRKINS) that should never happen to any of our animals!

Interestingly I just had a conversation with our regular Vet on teeth cleaning etc. and he was sending Buprenorphine home if they do any cleaning underneath the gums after such a procedure as it should be. Also, we had an experience with a cat bite on a cat, and they were sent home with 3 days worth of pain meds. So you get my point here, taking a limb and three days of pain meds? Makes zero sense. 

It is our job to go in armed and educated and advocate for our animals the best we can. We all learn the hard way going thru this, but that is why this site is so helpful you hear all of our experience, and what we learned, so you don't have to learn that is our hope! 

I documented all of Purrkins recovery on Purrkins blog if you want to look at it when you have time.

Hugs,

Holly & Purrkins

Did they tell you the grade of the heart murmur?
I guess to me it would depend on grade and what they are suggesting since your putting her under. I assume they are willing to do the surgery since she is there?

Heart murmurs are graded Purrkins was just diagnosed with one at his last oncology checkup and it just appeared Purrkins was a grade II they go to VI we are to follow up with echo in the future.

Would it change the outcome? I would opt to do what you can while under if that is at all possible. Money is a factor for most of us. I would want numbers and possibilities and know my risk of either choice and make the best gut instinct decision I could live with and make happen.

Please do not forget you are doing this for Pandora, not to her.
She will recover and hop on better without the bum leg in tow.
She will not look back but look forward so do the same for Pandora and yourself!

Hugs,
Holly & Purrkins❤️