Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Today is about the same as yesterday. She didn't want chicken. Ate the rest of the baby food ham...about a tablespoon, and half a Churu Nourish tube. I syringed 10 ml (minis whatever slopped) of A/D into her about an hour ago. Trying to alternate that with other stuff so she doesn't look negatively at all food situations - maybe.
Although she went in her box with no trouble up to now, I caught her peeing in the open area with sand and grating, where our in floor heat tubes go down. This is just next to their litter boxes in the utility room, but hasn't been an issue before. Is this common after the surgery,? Not going in the litter box, that is? Odd that would start now.
Anyone have a rough range of how long before things improve? It was week ago today, and I feel like we aren't getting really better. How long do they generally have to stay on pain meds?
She most certainly will have to stay at the vet while we are gone, and I won't be able to pick her up until Tuesday, as it will be after midnight when we get back Monday. We live in the country, about 20 miles from our vet, so so r really have anyone but friends to check on her. I don't want to do that with things so unstable.
What has been your cat's response to Gabapentin? Any get totally out of it? What positives were noticed?
Thank you, all!
Well, she is peeing and that is good....even if not in her litterbox. The fact that she is mobile is really good news too.
Some cats will pee outside of the box while they are on pain meds and still adjusting to three....still learning balance proper flow, pace,etc.
Charlotte does have a fever, thus maybe infection and just had an antibiotic injection. That can definitely interfere with her appetite.
It does sound like she is getting some food down and that's good.
Refresh my memory.....she's on Gabapentin now or Buprenorphine or Onisor??
As far as how long Coco will need pain meds, it really just depends. Some ten days...some two weeks...some three weeks...some small doses longer tha. that. There really is no set timeframe.
I know we keep saying this, but hang in there!
Hugs
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!
Charlotte finished her Onsior yesterday. I restarted the Buprenorphine at a half dose. I don't see the glazzy eyes on the half dose, but I am not sure it is helping, either. The vet will try the gabapentin while she is at the clinic. She isn't as interested in food today...licked down some - some willingly, some not so willingly. I will syringe A/D again shortly. I do know she can get away from me pretty efficiently. I had shut her in he bedroom to feed her, and closed the closet, and she went under the bed and was able to elude me for awhile.
First, apologies for calling Charlotte Coco. I magically corrected it in the post 🤮
Oh yes, cats can be quite inventive when it comes to wanting to hide from their hooman. They just don't seem to enjoy syringe feeding....cant imagine why🤮.
How about pooping? Has she had any bowel movements?
I know you hate to leave her at the Vet. She will be in good hands and looked afterwityant needed medical care. Maybe you can ask the Vet or Techs to send you daily emails with pics and video? That will help ease your mind.
TRY and enjoy yoir trip!!! YOU need this vacay to rest up and relax.
Hugs
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!
Hi, just hopped in to catch up. Honestly, she is in the best place she could be at the hospital while you are gone. Especially with everything going on. She really needs the monitoring. Cats are not like dogs. Dogs can go a few days without eating, cats not so much. Your vet is worried about her getting hepatic lipidosis. Cats have a higher metabolism, and if they don't have food their bodies will start to break down the fat in the liver. When that happens they become unable to eat. Every time they eat, they vomit and the only way to stop it is with a feeding tube. The feeding tube is generally there for a couple of weeks and you have to syringe liquidated food into it to feed them. Once they recover, the feeding tube is taken out and they go on with their lives but it is not an easy situation to deal with. With that said, I am glad she is at the hospital.
I know many cats including Huck that did just fine on the Gabapentin. I had Huck on both the Buprenorphine and the Gabapentin at first, I alternated them. Then just the Gabapentin for a while. How long for? Each cat is different. And to be honest, I would rather have glossy, pain free stoned kitty than kitty in pain. pain management is your golden key here until she starts to feel better. And in here I have seen that take lots of different time periods from days to weeks. She is in much better hands at the vet with people that can syringe feed food to stop her from getting sick and needing a feeding tube.
Please hang in there, this is not forever and you did the best you could to extend the quality of her life pain free. You watch, she will turn around.
Hugs,
Jackie and Huck 
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry 
We have left on our trip, and Charlotte is at the vet's. He did put in a feeding tube. She will have that until she starts eating reliably on her own. She is also getting fluids, antibiotics, and pain meds. Last night an abscess opened below her surgery suture line. Didn't see that coming. Didn't seem to relate to whatever else was going on the vet didn't think. So, that is being treated, too -hence the antibiotics. My poor sweet kitty!
Goodness gracious Charlotte! Now, in addition to getting a feeding tube today, you developed an abcess on top of everything else?? Okay,, time for you to get some good healing done while your Mom is in vacation!!👍
Marlene ,I know all this is so worrisome and not the kind of recovery you were expecting. Just more proof that every recovery is different and it is definitely a roller coaster ride!
While you leaving Charlotte at the Vet, this is probably where she needs to be right now with all her challenges, even if you weren't on vacation!" Sooooo....enjoy your vacation!!
Hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
PS. Just curious, was Charlotte a picky eater before the surgery.?
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!
Charlotte is not a picky eater, but she is a tiny cat...6.5 pounds before the surgery. She is so definitely a nibbler - a little bit here and there (Our other cat, Tig, is her son, and did not inherit that trait!) However, she loves Greenies treats, and would come from anywhere in the house when she heard the bag rattle. Her tinyness worries me...How much can that little body take?
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