Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Thank you. That is good to hear that Tuxedo was happy to get home. Hopefully we will be the same.
Lucy is home now. She was happy to see me. I had to say “hi Lucy twice before I was recognized. They had to sedate her earlier today since she was “getting spicy” during examination. Lucy really perked up in the car when we turned onto our road.
Was pretty alert and interested in surroundings, but after feeding her to tonight she is very tired. Has not been able to walk more than about a step. She got really weak during the illness, so it may be a long road to recover. I want to get one of those harnesses to help. She just has not figured out how to walk on 3 legs yet and is very tired and still weak.
for pain all we got was Meloxicam because “ that is all she needs”. I tried to get more but doc says If she gets in pain this weekend I am supposed to call or text the vets cellphone. So more work for me. I wish they would have loaded us up with pain meds so we wouldn’t have to go back. I still have pain meds from my surgery but probably not good for cats. Overall things went well today but not out of the woods.
Well she just lays in one spot staring straight ahead making purring chirping sounds. Can’t walk, can barely crawl. The vet said she was 1000% better (what a cruel lie) which just makes the actual reality much worse. I will probably have to have her euthanized tomorrow. I can’t stand to see this cat suffer any longer. I see no chance of improvements. Thanks for all your help.
Vet talks about how great she was doing. And she seems good until we get home. She was ok for a while. Now that she is around me basically a carcass. I am just bad juju for the cat I guess. Can’t even raise her head to look at me. Perky and spicy at the vets though. Maybe she should go back to the vet since she was so great there. What a kick in the stomach. My presence makes the cat ill now. Or the house makes her ill. I can’t take the heartache and maddening frustration. I don’t see this a quality life for the cat. Sorry for the rant but I am out of options.
Oh Alan!! Dear Alan!! Please hold off on euthanasia. UNLESS there is something unknown going on, what you are describing is NOT unusual....ESPECIALLY if she was sedated today on top of everything else.
When Vets talk about "light" sedation it still takes a solid 24 hirs....even 48 hrs to shake that off! My "guess" is when referencing g avout her being vetter it was before they sedated her, which has sort of zonked her out again.
She is also shaking off the effects of anesthesia and strong hospital pain meds too.
And yes, agree, she needs more than an antiinflmmatory (which is basically what Meloxicam is). Buprenorphine is what most cats come home with which fights pain. Alao some come ho e woth Gaba. So yes, call them tomorrow and demand one or the other, or both '
We know what yoj are seeing is unnerving to say the least. As hard as it is to see this right now, it is not unusual for her not to be able to walk yet or get her bearings. It may take several more days for her to go feom a crawl to a hop. And even then she may stumble or even walk backwards. Yes, oddly enough walking backwards is what cats do sometimes at first when adapting this early on.
Obviously I'm not there and Im not a Vet. What you are describing, while disturbing to see, is not unexpected under the circumstances.
I think if you can get some additional pain meds, give her a chance to shake off all the effects of sedation today, shake off hospital meds, etc, you will see a difference. It won't be a big difference at first, but it should be noticeable.
I see your on here now, so hopefully you'll see this and respond when uou can.
Oh, and I did get the li ks to yoir pictures. For whatever reason I can't get them to show up. No worries, I have Plan B.
Extra higs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
Thanks Sally and gang. I think you are correct. It is frustrating how she was pretty good for a couple hours then crashes. I am more mad at the vet for overselling how good she was and not just giving me the good meds up front. It is exhausting to have to go back and back again and beg for decent pain meds. The vet should know already what she needs. Thanks again for your response. I am going to take some quiet time and then go to bed and do battle tomorrow.
Also, I just realized Lucy (very independent) needs her alone time also to recover after being on high alert for 3 days surrounded by people and dogs.
thanks again.
Very astute observation about her need for alone time and a chance to decompress after all the ordeal at the Vet.
To go back to the "light sedation" again. I don't know if it's because the Vet gives a "reverse I ejection " or not, but I often find tem "better " at first and then they start acting like a drunken sailor, wobbly, can't stand, whiny and confused.
I k ow it is such a shock to see her like this right now, especaily with a much different expectation based on what the Vet told you. I also understand your frustration (and rightfully so) at not getting proper pain meds. Some Vets are still "old school" and just haven't caught up with the need for good pain meds for dogs and cats. Sorry you to go in and advocate for them but it's necessary. And you'll want a SOLID two weeks supply
So yes, give her some quiet time. Is she in an area away where she can feel secure.....not in a open area.....but quiet and very low light. Many times we here of stories of cats crawling to get under a bed to hide during recovery.
Take some deep breaths and try and give you ao e time to decompress too. I fi d loading g up kn junk food helps tremendously--
We are here for you. I'm glad you have pulled yourself back from the abyss. And if you get close to the edge again, we'll pull you back, okay
Hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too
PS....Ignore my comme t avout the pictures. I was getting you confused with another memver I posting pics for!
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
Thanks, yes Lucy has a bedroom to herself an also has her favorite box to lay in. She will need to get her strength back over time. But she defiant needs sone time away from humans. I am the one who has put her in a pet carrier and gone to the vet several times in the last week.
“Yes. I can fill some meds this morning. Give me about an hour and will have them ready.” Dr X.
so some good news$
And then some bad news. Lucy passed away today at about 8:10. She died at home in her favorite box.
She wanted to go home. It was time for her, and this time nothing would change that. I have had this sing going thru my head the last several nights
Sloop John B by The Beach Boys “I want to go home”. I kind of know what it means now.
I still remember the look of excitement on her face yesterday as we took the turn to the dirt road I live on. She got to look around seemed fairly happy then took a turn for the worse. There was nothing more I could do. I think I made the right choice on her amputation. It gave her a shot but it wasn’t the path taken. Thank you very much those who have responded in this thread.
I am stunned, absolutely stunned and shocked and heartbroken. Was not expecting this at all.
With all my heart I believe exactly as you. Lucy waited until she got home and got to be with the human that she adored and adored her. I remember when you first posted how excited she was when she knew she was driving up the driveway and I am so glad you had that memory.
Whatever was going on had already taken its course and nothing could be done to change it. As advanced as we are medically there are still unknown and unseen things that are hidden from every test that can be done. And I'm sure that was the case with Lucy.
I really don't have any words right now and I need to come back when I can try to get my thoughts together. I know there really are no words anyway.
I know you will find comfort knowing that she was home and passed on her own terms in her own way surrounded by your love and by the home that has given her so much peace and love all these years. If it had to happen, I'm just so glad you brought her home and this didn't happen at the vet. She waited to go home and be with you and that's what made her happy and free.
Surrounding you with Lucy's eternal light and love
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
Yes we may never know. 15 years is pretty darn good for a diabetic cat. She has been getting weaker and weaker and not eating. When I tube fed her she often vomited. It was like her digestion and whole body was slowing down. I think it took too much energy to even process good. Last week I was prepared for her death and was at peace. The knife in the heart is that she actually seemed pretty good after the vet then, I started to hope then she got really tired after getting here and was basically in her final hours. This was just the culmination of the last few weeks and getting home from the vet relatively better was just her final crest. We won’t know medically exactly what happened, but diabetes is a killer and harder to control in cats. It is wonderful she made it 15 years without ever being sick until the end.
one thing I do know, I want to adopt another cat in the future. There are so many out there.
btw I just finished burying Lucy on my property near her brother and littermate who died 13 years ago. She is buried with her favorite towels, comb and brush and I have 2 small granite stones to mark the spot.
Hi Jerry, Lucy died this morning at home in her favorite box. Please see the posts on page 3. Thank you for your help in this. I always knew this could happen but the surgery gave her the best chance. It was just her time, older diabetic weak from not eating. I think she was kind of shutting down. Thanks again
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