Conference misery::feline_v1

    So sorry to hear about Nippa - and YOU! 
    
    Sounds like you got it under control and made the right decision.
    Had it been Otis and/or Tiffany - I too would opt for choice #1.  It 
    is frightening to think of them going under anesthesia but it seems to
    be the only way they can really examine and repair Nippa's foot.
    
    My thoughts are with you and please keep us informed!
    
    Marilyn
    

    
    Hi Michelle, 
    
    We are all worrying along with you!  You made the right choice, just in
    case there was something still in the leg that caused the abcess, they
    will be able to find it with Nippa under anesthesia.  Good luck!! 
    Please keep us posted.
    
    Feline Worried,
    
    Sue & Panther & Spot
    

    Michele,
    
    Don't worry!!  Dr. Stuer is an excellent vet!  He has treated all
    five of my cats, and I have never been disappointed.  He is gentle,
    thorough, and very competent.  Nippa couldn't be in better hands.
    Dr. Stuer is the one who treated T.K. for his eczema and performed
    Nikki's dental work and Kirby and Murdock's neuters.  He is great.
    Too bad they've raised their prices through the ceiling though!
    
    Nippa will be fine.  You chose the right course of action for her.
    It is for the best.
    
    
    --Roberta
    

    
    
    	Michelle-
    
    	I had a male cat that I'm sorry to say got into fights and had
    	alot of abcess in his 16 yrs. old life (yes he was neutered, but
    	was an indoor/outdoor cat).  They all seemed horrible and a few
    	times he had to have surgery, but believe me - cats seem to have
    	a great healing power.  He came through them all OK, as I'm sure
    	you cat will too.
    
    	Good luck-
    
    	-Dee
    

    Hi Michelle,
    
         Here's pulling for Nippa!  I'm sure she'll do fine.
    
         Yes, Tufts does charge mega-$$, and sometimes they do go overboard
    a bit with their fees, but I feel Bigfoot owes his life to them
    (remember him ;-) ??).  For real major surgery like he had, I would go
    to Tufts again despite the $$$.  For something smaller (like what Nippa
    has, or a spay/neuter), I would probably continue going with my local
    vet (Shrewsbury Animal Hospital).
    
         Best of luck to Nippa!  Please let us know how she does!
    
    					- Andrea
    

    Thanks folks for your kind words....I really hated the thought of her
    going under, however she would have killed someone if they haden't.
    The vet said that `she really didn't like to be interfered
    with'.....well thats an understatement!
    
    I counted 10 stiches, she is on antibiotics, and has to wear an
    Elizabethian collar to keep her from pullin the stiches out.
    
    WEll this whole ordeal has left her very, very unhappy.  In fact
    I almost took a vacation day to stay home with her because she looks
    so pitiful.  She won't eat or drink or use her box.  I can
    give her supervised time w/ out the collar on (to eat or relax)
    but I can't get her worked up, and she just heads for the door instead
    of eating.  The vet said this would have to go on for 10
    days.....she'll go mental before 10 days is up.
    
    I am really concerned she'll dehydrate, she has been vomiting.  I was
    able to get her to eat a spoonful of baby food, but no water.
    
    What are the signs of dehydration, are there any tests (I pinch the
    skin on my horses neck as a dehydration test)?  Any suggestions
    to  get her to eat or drink *anything*.  I am worried she'll make
    herself sicker and end up in the hospital again.  she HATES to be
    confined.  I wish i wa sa little closer to home so I can check
    up on her.....

    Hi Michele,
    
         Is there any way that you could stay home for a day or half a day
    and watch Nippa to see if she tugs on the stitches.  The Elizabethan
    collar may be really upsetting her.  When Bigfoot had his operation
    they gave him and Elizabethan collar to wear, but said to put it on
    only if he started pulling the stitches.  He had 10 stitches and only
    tugged on them twice during the two-three weeks they were in.  I'm sure
    that helped with his recovery.
    
         I think to test for dehydration you pull up on the neck skin (the
    nape, where mom cat picks up baby cat) and let go; if it go back to
    shape quickly she is hydrated, if not she is dehydrated.  We had
    Bigfoot on baby food and then R/D (my cats are unusual - they *like*
    R/D) and he ate okay.  Maybe lamb or chicken baby food?
    
         I'm surprised Nippa is out of the hospital already; Bigfoot was in
    for a week or so, so they could watch him in case he vomited or didn't
    eat/drink.  He hates to be confined too, but it was for the best for
    him and we went and visited him every day.
    
         Hope Nippa gets better soon!
    
    					- Andrea
    

    Michele,
    
    You must be worried sick!  If it were me (but of course I tend to get
    paranoid about these things...) I would take some time off to be with
    your 'baby'.
    
    When Otis was sick a couple of months ago the vet literally called me
    and said 'come get him...he's not doing well here, he needs to be
    with you'.  If nothing else you will be able to monitor Nippa better
    and be of some comfort to her.  Just knowing you are there will
    probably make her feel more secure!
    
    Cats do have their own 'healing' power...but extra love and hugs can
    only speed up the process.
    
    Wishing her well soon and sending 'good thoughts'...
    
    Marilyn, Otis and Tiff
    

    michele,
    
    echo the "you did the right thing" thoughts.  i would much rather err
    on the side of caution (option 1), than err on the side of inaction
    (option 2).
    
    best wishes to *both* of you for a speedy recovery...
    
    stella, stanley, & diane
    
                                           

    I wish I could take the day off, but w/ the work load I have - I just
    can't swing it.  It is bad enough that I have been making bi-monthly 
    trips to the dentist.  My mom does go home for lunch, and did check in
    on her.  She is still moping, and wimpering.  But she kept the little
    baby food down that I gave her this morning.  THe vet said to put a
    compress on it, and spend some time w/ her....w/ out the collar on.
    Where she is so anxious to get out, I might try her harness (this is
    her vet harness....she'll bolt at any chance- so I need the extra
    insurance she won't get away) and bring her outside for awhile, since
    she is dying to get out.  Maybe she'll feel better and want to come in.
    
    If she doesn't eat or drink by tomorrow, the vet might want her back in
    for observation and to feed her IV.
    
    THis kitty was just starting to become and affectionate cat.  She has
    always been aloof, but lately she's been a love.....I hope this episode
    won't ruin her trust........only 2 � hours left till I can check in on
    her.....

    Having just lost a cat to illness I know how you feel.  Have you tried
    the obvious like warm water or milk?  My guess you have.  The late
    Peakey dehydrated several time over the past 18 months and had to be
    rehydrated via IV at the vets--he came through it very well.  Tigger
    has had several serious abscesses and had so many drains in him he
    looked as if he were wearing hair curlers.  Peakey was 19 when he died
    and Tigger must be at least 10 and very healthy.  Cats are very 
    resilent.  One point, your cat may be picking up your anxiety and
    reflecting it in her behaviour, and I agree the collar is probably
    contributing to her unhappyness--it would me.
    
    Best of luck
    
    Me plus 3, but less 1

    RE .08
    
    What is this about us being paranoid???  Of course we stay home to make
    sure our babies (4-legged as well as 2-legged) are OK.
    (only kidding)
    
    
    
    RE .00
    
    My thoughts are with you too.  Tufts is expensive but well worth it. 
    Bigfoot and Thunder are doing super.  Your own vet is mostly likely
    doing everything to make Nippa a happy and well kitty.  Sending her
    home is therapy and she will probably mend better there.
    
    Good luck
    
    Sandi and the Storm Troopers
    
    

    Panther recently suffered a bout of constipation and would up severly
    dehydrated. I couldn't get him to eat or drink anything. Basicly, I
    could "pinch" his skin and it would stay in a pinched position. I brought
    him to the vet and she gave him fluids intervenously as well as had him
    on stool softeners for 5 days. We spent an hour at the vet but Panther
    was able to go home with me. Unfortunatly, I had to keep him confined until
    he defecated. (He and his twin sister didn't like being seperated and I
    got to hear Siamease singing for 4 long, sleepless nights.) I found a
    nice piece of aluminum foil in the box.
    
    
    Deb

    I think Nippa is coming around.  She has had several small (1 heaping
    table spoon)meals of SD kitten food watered down w/ warm water.  She
    actually liked it.  I have added some bran to keep her insides working
    properly.  She has drank some water, but not as much as I'd like her
    to.  She has yet to use her box, and I know she has to becasue she 
    peed a few drops in my truck last nite.....what a stink!  
    
    
    Her attitude has improved greatly.  I schleped to my girlfriends last
    nite, and I held her and talked to her for hours.  We were out in the
    barn, which is very peaceful at dusk, and she relaxed and purred just a
    little.  She sniffed noses with the horses - one of them is being
    treated for a serious leg injury, and they kissed her...it was sooo
    cute.  I kept her harness on the whole time (and took off her E.collar)
    because I was afraid she'd try to bolt.  (in fact if she does not have 
    the E.collar on in the huose, she has to have the harness and leash on
    because she kept trying to escape.
    
    She slept w/ me last nite, and was real affectionate, and purred all
    nite.  I woke up a few times when she was cleaning herself, and she
    wouldn't pull at her stiches, she'd just lick the area (I think she
    pulled out one or two, and made the entire area sore, because she
    screams when it gets touched).  
    
    This morning when I put her down stairs and put on her collar, she
    played patty paws and was purring.  I was able to leave for work
    knowing that she has accepted the whole ordeal.  I'll check on her
    at lunch, and if she's okay - great, if not I'm tempted to smuggle
    her back here, because she's happy just being near me.
    
    Thanks again guyes for your stories and words of encouragement, it has
    made this less tramautic for me to deal with (I have been a basket
    case).
    
    Michele & Nippa

    I'm sure she will use her litter box eventually.  It just like when
    an human has an operation, it takes a while to get your system back
    to normal.  Keep feeding her the bran, it will probably help.
    
    So glad she's coming around.  Still, keep us posted.
    
    Robyn, Rocky & Smokey

    Michele,
    
    Oooh, sounds as though Nippa is back on the road to recovery.
    Hurrah!!
    
    I am sure she will come around to using the litter box - like it has
    been said before - it takes awhile for the intestines to start working
    after anesthesia.
    
    It appears that like she is adjusting to the collar too!
    
    She sounds adorable...glad to hear she is on the mend.
    
    Marilyn
    

    Boy Michele,
    
    You and I both have had a hard week.  I hope Nippa will heal
    quickly.  I also hope that this happening doesn't change the
    lovable kitty that you said she was starting to be.  I know
    that with your love, you can bring Nippa around.  She sounds
    like a cutie.
    
    Best wishes,
    
    Shelly, Selina, & Mijo
    

    Friday I had to bring her to the vets again because she figured out how
    to get her foot around the Eliz. Collar - such a brat!  So she had
    removed all but 3 or 4 of the stiches and opened the entire thing up.
    What a mess!!  The vet re-bandaged her foot using the neatest technique
    .....and I asked questions, and he seemed to enjoy discussing bandaging
    why one technique would work and another wouldn't.  he was amazed that
    she could get at her foot the way she did (she's one smart pookie!).
    
    He gave me a tip as well, put Vanilla or Lemon extract on the bandage -
    just dab it on, not soaking, and the cat wont touch it becaus eit will
    taste bitter.  It worked!  I have removed the collar, and she is almost
    happy.....w/ the exception of being kept in....;^), but I think she
    knows it's for the best......but I have a feeling when she does get
    out, I wont see her for Days......

    What a wonderful idea.  I will remember that.  I'm glad that Nippa
    and Mom are doing better.  They are brats sometimes, aren't they,
    but I couldn't live without them.  Good Luck to both of you.
    
    Robyn, Rocky & Smokey

    Michele...
    
    How is Nippa doing?  Has the infection cleared up and is the collar
    and big bandage off yet?
    
    Hope all is well...
    
    
    Marilyn O&T
    

    Nippa is much better, thanks for asking.
    
    I was able to take her collar last tuesday after the vet bandaged it.
    It really helped her additude.  I let her out this weekend, and she was 
    always there to greet me when I'd come home (I expected her to stay
    out for 3 days anyway).
    
    The abcess cleared up and she's got 1-2 more doses of amoxidrops.
    
    
    
    Michele & Nippa

    Michele,
    
    Glad to hear that Nippa, and Mom, are doing fine.
    
    What a relief, huh?
    
    I am sure that she is grateful that you were there to help her and will
    forever be in your debt!
    
    Marilyn O&T
    

    What a nice ending.  We are glad for you and Nippa. Keep up the
    good work!
    
    Robyn, Rocky & Smokey

    HIi Michele,
    
         That's *great*!  Keep up the good work, and please give Nippa a
    hug for me!
    
    					- Andrea