I hope this is ok also to post this here as I am desperate to help get my cat Nikki so he can have his operation so he can walk again.
Nikki went into the vet last night and they did all the tests on him and gave him x-rays this time. Neuropathy has been ruled out as he has some leg damage from what appears from jumping off something too high. He will need reconstructive leg surgery to repair the damage or have his leg removed. The cost $1200 CND
It's absolutely heart breaking when he is such a happy healthy cat.
Unfortunately this is out of out of our financial abililty right now. I wouldn't normally do this but I have set up a donation site for anyone that can donate a dollar or two.
Please visit: Save Nikki
All the information regarding Nikki's episode will be placed there including vet bills, progress updates, etc.
If we can't raise the money by Monday March 28th, 2005 it will be refunded and we will have to let Nikki go.
Thank you for all your wonder help, support and amazing love towards cats.
If you are interested in the support thread for Nikki go here:
http://www.cathelp-online.com/forums/vi ... ight=nikki
Donations needed for my cat's operation -- Please read.
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jetblacktib
- Posts: 11
- Joined: Sun Mar 20, 2005 7:04 am
Re: Donations needed for my cat's operation -- Please read.
It looks as if you have about half of what you need...that is great to see already...
with this in mind...will your vet go ahead and do the surgery NOW and let you make payments on the other half?
Most vets down here in the states will be willing to do this for an animal in as much need as Nikki seems to be...
Please talk with your vet...show him the wonderful site you have created for Nikki and the funds that have come in so far...
I wish you and Nikki all the best...prayers that your vet will do the surgery this week...tomorrow?!
Tambrey
with this in mind...will your vet go ahead and do the surgery NOW and let you make payments on the other half?
Most vets down here in the states will be willing to do this for an animal in as much need as Nikki seems to be...
Please talk with your vet...show him the wonderful site you have created for Nikki and the funds that have come in so far...
I wish you and Nikki all the best...prayers that your vet will do the surgery this week...tomorrow?!
Tambrey
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jetblacktib
- Posts: 11
- Joined: Sun Mar 20, 2005 7:04 am
Re: Donations needed for my cat's operation -- Please read.
We have done it! Nikki has the appropriate amount of funds secured for his surgery next week!
Thanks to CatHelp-Online and all people who donated for Nikki. You have caused a miracle to happen and kept a big piece of happiness in our family.
Thanks from Brad Thompson & Family.
Thanks to CatHelp-Online and all people who donated for Nikki. You have caused a miracle to happen and kept a big piece of happiness in our family.
Thanks from Brad Thompson & Family.
Re: Donations needed for my cat's operation -- Please read.
I am so glad that you were able to raise the money for Nikki. Please inform us how his surgery went.
I would have loved to donated money, but I have 1500 of vet bills due for my kitty, Grayson. Good luck!
I would have loved to donated money, but I have 1500 of vet bills due for my kitty, Grayson. Good luck!
- Kasie
...meow...
...meow...
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jetblacktib
- Posts: 11
- Joined: Sun Mar 20, 2005 7:04 am
Re: Donations needed for my cat's operation -- Please read.
I sure will once everthing is all complete. I will be making a new video once he is home from surgery then an other one once he is recovered.
This whole episode has been like a dream. My whole outlook on people has changed now.
Brad
This whole episode has been like a dream. My whole outlook on people has changed now.
Brad
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jetblacktib
- Posts: 11
- Joined: Sun Mar 20, 2005 7:04 am
Re: Donations needed for my cat's operation -- Please read.
Update: (April 16th) EMERGENCY INFORMATION
Emergency! Nikki came home today sporting his clean shaved leg and eight stitches on his leg from the operation. He stayed in his kennel for about 1/2 hour then managed to get the strength to come out and make his way over to his food dish. He ate and went to sleep. He then woke up were we took him to his litter box and he went to the washroom. About 15 minutes later my father in the other room heard him banging on the food dish and thinking nothing of it. My brother came down to get a snack and found Nikki in an uncontrolled seizure. We instantly wrapped him up in a blanket and started driving. My mother co-ordinate the animal hospital and fed us directions to it. I held Nikki as my father zigged zagged out of traffic. Mean while Nikki was convulsing with his pupils dilated and tongue sticking out. He was completely out of control and had no idea where he was. It was a very tramatic event as I thought he might die in my arms.
Once we arrived the vet staff immediately took Nikki and put an I. V. and took blood to start testing for the cause. They started pumping with fluids gave him a shot of something and a steroid to bring him out of it.
The exact cause of this is unknown. Until tomorrow morning we won't have a definite answer to what it was. So far this is what we know.
Blood sugar levels look ok but might have gotten too much insulin.
Red blood cells are low. This is one of the unknown reasons they are looking into.
His temperature was in the normal range
At his regular vet all his vital signs checked out with his liver, kidneys, etc prior to the operation.
His urine at the emergency did not have any keynotes in it.
He will stay at the emergency with a small hope that he will come home tonight but most likely tomorrow to make sure his vital and blood signs are properly monitor and corrected.
We got to visit him shortly before leaving. He was out of the attack but very high on drugs. It's heart breaking to put him through another episode of being away from home. Hopefully this was just a freak incident of nothing too serious.
Personally I think Nikki was through so much stress the last few days that it just built up and that is something was a bit off with his insulin or time of feeding interrupted that put him over into a small diabetic attack.
This latest turn of events is now going to put us over the initial donations for the surgery. We thought we were out of the woods and headed for sunny grasslands but I guess there is one more spring cloud we have to endure.
When we heard the costs involved my father was shocked and was ready to put Nikki down, but I said there are too many people that gave to see him live that it was not an option. So now I call one last time to anyone that can show a small amount of compassion. If you can't please tell a friend that might be able too.
We have been told the costs could be between $600-700 and that does not included Monday's visit back to the vet for another checkup and more blood work to see why this happened.
More information please visit our site for Nikki again by clicking here.
Thanks,
Brad Thompson
brad_thompson@shaw.ca
Emergency! Nikki came home today sporting his clean shaved leg and eight stitches on his leg from the operation. He stayed in his kennel for about 1/2 hour then managed to get the strength to come out and make his way over to his food dish. He ate and went to sleep. He then woke up were we took him to his litter box and he went to the washroom. About 15 minutes later my father in the other room heard him banging on the food dish and thinking nothing of it. My brother came down to get a snack and found Nikki in an uncontrolled seizure. We instantly wrapped him up in a blanket and started driving. My mother co-ordinate the animal hospital and fed us directions to it. I held Nikki as my father zigged zagged out of traffic. Mean while Nikki was convulsing with his pupils dilated and tongue sticking out. He was completely out of control and had no idea where he was. It was a very tramatic event as I thought he might die in my arms.
Once we arrived the vet staff immediately took Nikki and put an I. V. and took blood to start testing for the cause. They started pumping with fluids gave him a shot of something and a steroid to bring him out of it.
The exact cause of this is unknown. Until tomorrow morning we won't have a definite answer to what it was. So far this is what we know.
Blood sugar levels look ok but might have gotten too much insulin.
Red blood cells are low. This is one of the unknown reasons they are looking into.
His temperature was in the normal range
At his regular vet all his vital signs checked out with his liver, kidneys, etc prior to the operation.
His urine at the emergency did not have any keynotes in it.
He will stay at the emergency with a small hope that he will come home tonight but most likely tomorrow to make sure his vital and blood signs are properly monitor and corrected.
We got to visit him shortly before leaving. He was out of the attack but very high on drugs. It's heart breaking to put him through another episode of being away from home. Hopefully this was just a freak incident of nothing too serious.
Personally I think Nikki was through so much stress the last few days that it just built up and that is something was a bit off with his insulin or time of feeding interrupted that put him over into a small diabetic attack.
This latest turn of events is now going to put us over the initial donations for the surgery. We thought we were out of the woods and headed for sunny grasslands but I guess there is one more spring cloud we have to endure.
When we heard the costs involved my father was shocked and was ready to put Nikki down, but I said there are too many people that gave to see him live that it was not an option. So now I call one last time to anyone that can show a small amount of compassion. If you can't please tell a friend that might be able too.
We have been told the costs could be between $600-700 and that does not included Monday's visit back to the vet for another checkup and more blood work to see why this happened.
More information please visit our site for Nikki again by clicking here.
Thanks,
Brad Thompson
brad_thompson@shaw.ca
Re: Donations needed for my cat's operation -- Please read.
Do you have more than one veterinary emergency facility available in your area? While the costs are comparative, this clinic in particular is charging a hefty fee (according to your invoices)
As for the seizure, it's hard to say, but find out from the vet who performed the surgery what type anesthesia was used, what injections were given pre and post-op (including pain medications), to rule out medical drug causes. They should have a recorded patient chart for Nikki noting everything that was done pre and post-op, whether he was slow to recover from anesthesia, etc etc. Also, if he was hospitalized for a day or so (or?) before the actual surgery, did the vet or any other staff member give insulin, and find out if the appropriate amount/schedule was met.
As for the seizure, it's hard to say, but find out from the vet who performed the surgery what type anesthesia was used, what injections were given pre and post-op (including pain medications), to rule out medical drug causes. They should have a recorded patient chart for Nikki noting everything that was done pre and post-op, whether he was slow to recover from anesthesia, etc etc. Also, if he was hospitalized for a day or so (or?) before the actual surgery, did the vet or any other staff member give insulin, and find out if the appropriate amount/schedule was met.
..........Traci
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jetblacktib
- Posts: 11
- Joined: Sun Mar 20, 2005 7:04 am
Re: Donations needed for my cat's operation -- Please read.
We got him back today and he is doing perfect now. I think it was the disruption of feeding and insulin that triggered everything. I have posted all the invoices w/ doctor comments on the site for anyone interested. I played with Nikki for about 1hr tonight and he seems back to his regular self.Traci wrote:Do you have more than one veterinary emergency facility available in your area? While the costs are comparative, this clinic in particular is charging a hefty fee (according to your invoices)
As for the seizure, it's hard to say, but find out from the vet who performed the surgery what type anesthesia was used, what injections were given pre and post-op (including pain medications), to rule out medical drug causes. They should have a recorded patient chart for Nikki noting everything that was done pre and post-op, whether he was slow to recover from anesthesia, etc etc. Also, if he was hospitalized for a day or so (or?) before the actual surgery, did the vet or any other staff member give insulin, and find out if the appropriate amount/schedule was met.
Tonight he actually got up on his repair leg and took one step and fell down. That is great progress and he will need a few months to full regain the use of his leg.
I felt really bad yesterday with the situation, I thought it was all in vain if he died. So after said and done we weren't that short. But at the time of the seizure things where kinda hair and it was the closest place.
Anyone that is following this thread and Nikki, I just want to say a big thanks to everyone. It was that support that Nikki was able to continue on. He's also changed, more affectionate than ever. I think he knows what was done for him. He's one in a million.
Thanks,
Brad
Re: Donations needed for my cat's operation -- Please read.
I followed this thread and I'm so glad to hear that Nikki is doing better! I admire your commitment! God bless and all the best!
Re: Donations needed for my cat's operation -- Please read.
Brad, you need to keep Nikki's restriction limited, probably for about 6 weeks or so, your vet should have given you specific post-op instructions. Luxated patellar surgeries always require strict restriction of activity, and I would suggest you ask your vet about veterinary pain medication for the first few days after surgery (they can be given orally, but do NOT ever use anything on your own, they need to be prescribed specifically by your vet)
..........Traci