Tripod ~ Just an Update ~ Dec 16, 2008

[Traci]

I have to agree with E's, not only is there no real need for the egg crate foam, but gluing it could be a hassle and risk for him and any of your cats. In such a small confined space as a bathroom, you don't want any fumes escaping.

He doesn't need as much support as you think he does. If you have a fluffly blanket (that is not too firm), and a small pillow or even a towel rolled up, he will be fine and will be able to make himself comfortable.

Again, make sure the batting and/or any material you use does not have frayed edges, strings, etc.

[Tambrey]

This is true.....I did not think about that.....

We went to visit him this evening....I called today from work....he was not doing well.....physically he was good, the wound is healing nicely and he is urinating and had a nice BM....but he is depressed and just was not eating, so they did do a force feeding of some A/D and I forgot the other one she said....something that would give him some sustenance....

When we went in this evening, they were closed (we have a key to the back door) they had left a note on his kennel that he had eaten later in the day on his own and was doing fair)....
we took him some small bits of cooked plain chicken breast....just 4 small torn off pieces from our meal, and he sat right up to eat that....

When I rubbed his head, he did his sniffly, snuffly, snorty thing that he does.....my husband asked, "What's he DOING?!" I said, "He always makes that noise when I pet him!" He did hiss and growl once but that was when Tripod himself got too relaxed and tried to roll over for a belly rub, and I think it hurt his leg

When we left him he as very relaxed and content and drifting off into a peaceful sleep....

oh, and he has also left a very recent soft but well formed stool in the litterbox...

I did leave a note on his kennel telling them what time we were there (6:45), that we had given him the small bits of cooked chicken to entice him to et some, that he had moved for the belly rub and tried to even get up some, and that the stool was fairly fresh when we were there, so they would know approximately what time he had done it, since they would know what time they changed it out before they left for the night (5:00)

[momPaws]

Poor lil guy has been thru a lot. Am sure your visits mean a lot toward his recovery.

[Tambrey]

I sure hope so.....I keep thinking this poor guy.....in one week he has

*been captured and brought inside with a 40 minute ordeal
*taken to the vet, put to sleep and woke up neutered, shots, dewormed, defleaed and I am sure a bit of pain and discomfort!
*came back inside and spent his time behind a toilet
*reinjured his leg....again....
*back to the vet
*back to sleep and woke up without a leg and PAIN
*LEFT at the vet overnight and given strange meds to make him feel weird
*keeps being handled by people he is getting to know, but is not too happy with at the moment

I just hope that after all is said and done....he comes around okay and opens up to us....

[Tambrey]

Oh I went to visit before work and hardly recognized him!! He was laying on his left side, looking very relaxed.....when he saw me, he perked up and started his snuffly sounds....I opened the kennel and leaned in and started petting him...he was butting his head against my hand, talking to me....sniffing at me....he rolled over onto his side and wanted a belly rub, so he got that....his wound site looks GREAT....

Then he noticed the A/D food in the dish, along with some dry kibble, and he stood right up, walked over and proceeded to eat not only the canned food but most of the dry food!!!

I kept petting him and talking to him....once in a while he would stop eating and arch his back and stick his hind end in the air....

THEN.....the vet who has been taking care of him since the surgery came in...as soon as Tripod saw him, he slunk to the back of the kennel and laid down....I think he was afraid he was going to get more medicine or be force fed like yesterday....but the vet just laughed and reached in to pet him and said theirs has become a love-hate relationship....

I left him content and eating the rest of the kibble when I had to come to work

[momPaws]

omg- that is such good news...hope to see pics of him when you bring him home sooooooonnnn !!

[Traci]

The pain medications could be causing him to not want to eat. The vet should be monitoring that, I'm sure he is, but if you have concerns, don't be afraid to speak up and let him know.

Sometimes, it actually takes a familiar face/hand to encourage the pet to eat. Another good reason for owners to visit. The pets oftentimes view the vets and staff as evil since they are the ones who poke and prod etc, and the pet appreciates the owner not doing that!

[Tambrey]

yes, they are monitoring the meds...he said they had started him with the Metacam to see how well he fared with that after he was fully alert from surgery....when I spoke on the phone with the tech yesterday, she said he was acting more depressed than upset tummy, because I did ask her about the possibility of the meds causing him to not want to eat, and she said they thought that too, but she said just the way he was acting he "seemed" more depressed than physical upset...and he had gone too long without eating anything at all, so it is why they mixed the A/D and liquid nutrition and fed that to him the one time, because he was not strong at all...just laying there not even lifting his head...just very lethargic and getting weaker...so they made the decision to force feed him and get something into him....it worked, because he ate on his own after that!!

[Traci]

Well hopefully, he will continue to be interested in food.

BUT, if he gets depressed again, this is a clear sign that the pain medications are either 1) too sedative, or 2) not effective, as in, not producing enough pain control. Talk to the vet about that!

[E's]

Wonderful, positive news indeed. Thanks, Tambrey!