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Cat Forum / Cat Anecdotes / July 2006Oscar: too flexible for her own good
Apparently she got comfy with the size 10 collar; I came upstairs to go to bed after watching some tv, and there she was, contentedly licking the paw from within the collar. Argh! Back to the emergency vet clinic (I asked if I could just get a designated parking spot) for a size 12 collar. I don't see how she can possibly eat or drink with it; maybe that means she also can't get at her paw. It better suffice, because on the smallest setting it's still pretty loose. I had such high hopes of riding my bike to work several times this week, but I've been too sleep deprived. I know I need some kind of workout, though. I'll clearly not get enough sleep tonight, either (drove to the vet's at 12:30 am), but maybe I'll ride anyway.  Signaturemonique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca >Apparently she got comfy with the size 10 collar; I came upstairs to >go to bed after watching some tv, and there she was, contentedly >licking the paw from within the collar. > >Argh! I pictured this being a very cute scene. Kitties washing is cute. Kitties washing while wearing a cone must be even more cute. It's too bad she isn't allowed until she's better. >>Apparently she got comfy with the size 10 collar; I came upstairs to >>go to bed after watching some tv, and there she was, contentedly [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > Kitties washing while wearing a cone must be even more cute. It's > too bad she isn't allowed until she's better. You know, it was so natural that it actually took me a moment to realize what was going on. I walked into the room, saw Oscar. "Hi, Oscar!" Continue walking toward bed, then stop dead. "Hey!!!" I haven't see her try this yet with the new collar, which is big enough that it sags and pushes her ears down. Which is also cute. Signaturemonique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca >> too bad she isn't allowed until she's better. Monique, I have to ask...why isn't she allowed to lick it? I know that might sound dumb. But I remember from Shadowkitten days, not after her spay but after the laparotomy (ie, The Big String) episode I asked the vet if we should put an ecollar on her as she did lick the incision a bit (and it was a VERY long incision ugly that one) and he said "I wouldn't put a dog in one of those and as long as she doesn't cross infect from something that is infected, it isn't necessary". Are your vets of the opinion that her licking will do damage? It sounds like you are having such a hideous time of comforting her with the collar. If you can keep her away from the booboo most of the time, does a few licks hurt? Please, peace, just asking and wondering here. Sue >>> too bad she isn't allowed until she's better. >> [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > Please, peace, just asking and wondering here. It's a good question. Both vets (my regular one and the emergency one) felt that the swelling and damage itself is actually from her licking, not the original irritant. Because it's believed to fiberglass or something similarly itchy, something that a person would almost certainly have trouble not scratching, there's no way that Oscar will keep off of it. In fact, the minute I take her collar off, she starts working on it. Especially if I've just put the steroid cream on it. I spoke to the vet, asking if she could just groom the paw, and they said even basic grooming would worsen the damage. Sue, she lacerated her own paw with her tongue by licking it so much! I really, really wish I could not have her in the collar, but it's better to do this for a short while and have it heal. She's currently trying to figure out if she can get at the paw with the new, bigger collar on. I don't know what I'm going to do if that works for her. They say to tape a baby sock on -- there is no way I can do that, keep it on, and monitor her constantly, and I am sure she would get it off quickly. Signaturemonique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca > She's currently trying to figure out if she can get at the paw with > the new, bigger collar on. I don't know what I'm going to do if that > works for her. They say to tape a baby sock on -- there is no way I > can do that, keep it on, and monitor her constantly, and I am sure she > would get it off quickly. I am sorry they can't offer you any other solutions. OK, how about tranqs? How goes it with the oils, aromas? I know it isn't easy with drugging kitties but I don't see how you can go on like this...I never had a kitty that caused such, but a puppy. I wound up traveling many miles (we lived rural) for a crate and that did the trick. You have the crate..if she is less intense on messing with the booboo in a crate perhaps better to stick her back in there? By the way, I saw on some website this ecollar that isn't an e. It was a site for handicapped pets and though it was say like a big collar, it didn't block there vision and there wasn't anyway to butt into things because it went up along their neck/head not Out. Wish I could remember it but perhaps someone here does. I can't think of anything else but to purr for your predicament. The nasty, ugly horrible fiberglass really couldn't have traveled too very far in, surely it must work itself out soon and she will leave her booboo alone. >> She's currently trying to figure out if she can get at the paw with >> the new, bigger collar on. I don't know what I'm going to do if [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > too very far in, surely it must work itself out soon and she will > leave her booboo alone. Thank you for the concern and the ideas. I asked about sedating her, but the vets just won't do it. I can't blame 'em. Actually, she's pretty sedate already; during this experience she's been awfully subdued, even when she's not wearing the collar. The weirdest part to me is that she hasn't ever tried to paw at the bedroom door to get out; if I've ever closed the door in the past, she has done so. I guess that's a sign of how poorly she's feeling. She doesn't even do it if I'm downstairs. The new collar appears to be successful. Since I don't have to work today, I indulged in some sleeping pills at 9:45 last night. I was already tired; these were just some added insurance so that I would sleep soundly through the night. I got about 12 hours. I'm feeling a lot better now; still groggy, but that's typical for me after the pills. Oscar spent most of the night sleeping next to me. I woke up in the middle of the night because I thought that I couldn't feel her breathing; I did something (still half asleep) and she hissed like crazy. Okay, got it, you're still alive! We have an appt on Monday with our regular vet; at that point I'll see what they say about the steroid cream, and the antibiotic series will be finished. DH will also get back Sunday evening, which will be nice. Signaturemonique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca > It's a good question. > [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > there is no way I can do that, keep it on, and monitor her > constantly, and I am sure she would get it off quickly. The ointment is why she's licking it. Like I've said, Rhett was licking a sore on his privates because it was itchy, but the vet gave him a Depo shot and antibiotics but didn't give me anything topical for him. He just finished the 10 day AB round, and the sore is dried up and I've seen him lick it once today, but not anything like he was licking it before the steroid shot. Before I took him in, his head was buried between his hind legs every time I looked at him. Vet said the spray I tried to use to kill the itch made him need to lick it off. SignatureCheryl > The ointment is why she's licking it. Like I've said, Rhett was > licking a sore on his privates because it was itchy, but the vet [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > him. Vet said the spray I tried to use to kill the itch made him > need to lick it off. Not necessarily. She licks at that paw even with no ointment on it. And the paw pads, while not as grotesque as they were Monday evening, are still enlarged compared to the other paws. I really can't take the cone off of her when she's unsupervised. I suspect even the supervised liberation is a bad call, since even when I'm watching her closely she gets in a few licks before I stop her. But I want her to be able to occasionally groom herself; her fur is a mess and she won't let me clean it up with a moist towel. Some good news (at least for my skin): I called my regular vet today as the diarrhea has continued (fortunately not too urgent to get to the litterbox first). We don't have to do any more antibiotics till we see the vet Monday afternoon. Yay! Signaturemonique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca > In fact, the minute I take her collar off, she starts working on it. > Especially if I've just put the steroid cream on it. That's funny, because I thought one of the big benefits of steroid cream was that it stops itching. I guess maybe she just wants to clean that weird, icky stuff off of her, though. Joyce > > In fact, the minute I take her collar off, she starts working on > > it. Especially if I've just put the steroid cream on it. > > That's funny, because I thought one of the big benefits of steroid > cream was that it stops itching. I guess maybe she just wants to > clean that weird, icky stuff off of her, though. That's what I think is going on. Hard to say, though. Signaturemonique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca > I pictured this being a very cute scene. Kitties washing is cute. > Kitties washing while wearing a cone must be even more cute. Kitties washing while wearing a cone, while they're not supposed to be washing, must be even more cute! Well, maybe not... Joyce > > I pictured this being a very cute scene. Kitties washing is cute. > > Kitties washing while wearing a cone must be even more cute. > > Kitties washing while wearing a cone, while they're not supposed to > be washing, must be even more cute! Well, maybe not... Yes, it's cute, in much the way that it was cute when Oscar was a bittie and enjoyed knocking items off my shelf. It would be hilarious if I didn't have to *do* something about it ... Signaturemonique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca > Apparently she got comfy with the size 10 collar; I came upstairs to > go to bed after watching some tv, and there she was, contentedly [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > workout, though. I'll clearly not get enough sleep tonight, either > (drove to the vet's at 12:30 am), but maybe I'll ride anyway. Purrs that you can works something out to keep Oscar away from her paw until it can heal properly. SignatureSam, closely supervised by Mistletoe > Purrs that you can works something out to keep Oscar away from her > paw until it can heal properly. Thank you. The "lampshade the size of a cantaloupe" seems to be working for now. It does bend her ears down in a way that is awfully cute but probably displeasing to the feline sense of grandeur. Signaturemonique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca > Apparently she got comfy with the size 10 collar; I came upstairs to > go to bed after watching some tv, and there she was, contentedly [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > workout, though. I'll clearly not get enough sleep tonight, either > (drove to the vet's at 12:30 am), but maybe I'll ride anyway. Lots and lots of purrs and best wishes that the new collar works and that you can get some sleep, Monique, Polonca and Soncek > Lots and lots of purrs and best wishes that the new collar works and > that you can get some sleep, Monique, Polonca and Soncek Thank you, Polonca. I have a question -- how do you pronounce your name? With a hard c or a soft c? Anyway, DH and I will be taking Oscar to the vet in just a few minutes; it will be interesting to hear what she has to say. Signaturemonique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca > Anyway, DH and I will be taking Oscar to the vet in just a few > minutes; it will be interesting to hear what she has to say. Back from the vet's. Oscar's paw looks a lot better; it's about the right size for a paw now, but still too pink and is "flakey" in areas, like wax paper. So she stays in the collar for "at least" 3-4 days, and once the paw looks normal we can start trying her without the collar to see if she'll groom it and then move on, or if she still wants to go to town on it. Vet agreed that steroid cream will just encourage her to want to lick to clean the paw off, and as the whole point is to relieve the itching, it's pointless. And I'm to feed her some sort of fiber (she mentioned pumpkin as Winnie has brought up a few times, but I will probably just put some of my benefiber in tuna) in hopes that it will help the diarrhea. Signaturemonique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca > Back from the vet's. Oscar's paw looks a lot better; it's about the > right size for a paw now, but still too pink and is "flakey" in areas, [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > Winnie has brought up a few times, but I will probably just put some > of my benefiber in tuna) in hopes that it will help the diarrhea. Was Oscar checked for UTI as you mentioned in a previous post? Winnie > -- > monique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully > > pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca > Was Oscar checked for UTI as you mentioned in a previous post? No. I spaced, with everything else discussed. Also, she peed in the litterbox twice while I was at work today, so I'm thinking she's okay, just doesn't like to pee where she's had diarrhea. Signaturemonique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca >> Anyway, DH and I will be taking Oscar to the vet in just a few >> minutes; it will be interesting to hear what she has to say. [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > Winnie has brought up a few times, but I will probably just put some > of my benefiber in tuna) in hopes that it will help the diarrhea. Having been there (and it worked fine) good luck while you are standing there deciding just how much benefiber is enough as opposed to too much. Jo > Having been there (and it worked fine) good luck while you are > standing there deciding just how much benefiber is enough as opposed > to too much. Haha! Do you remember how many grams of fiber you ended up deciding on, or did you just eyeball an amount? Signaturemonique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca >> Having been there (and it worked fine) good luck while you are >> standing there deciding just how much benefiber is enough as opposed >> to too much. > > Haha! Do you remember how many grams of fiber you ended up deciding > on, or did you just eyeball an amount? About a quarter of a pinch a day of Metamucil. I was dosing four and five pound poodles. Jo >> Haha! Do you remember how many grams of fiber you ended up >> deciding on, or did you just eyeball an amount? > > About a quarter of a pinch a day of Metamucil. I was dosing four > and five pound poodles. I actually have been using acacia powder for myself, rather than the benefiber. The acacia has more fiber per amount, plus it claims to be probiotic or prebiotic or something. Not sure what a quarter of a pinch would be; I used a small amount at the bottom of a teaspoon for Oscar. It dissolved very easily into the tiny amount of liquid in Oscar's tuna. We shall see. She's about 9 pounds. Signaturemonique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca > And I'm to feed her some sort of fiber (she mentioned pumpkin as > Winnie has brought up a few times, but I will probably just put some > of my benefiber in tuna) in hopes that it will help the diarrhea. If the diarrhea persists, talk to your vet about Hill's presciption I/D. One time Rusty had diarrhea on and off for a long time. Nothing I did seem to help until the vet put him on I/D. The diarrhea stopped the first day of the switch of food. I was amazed. I/D comes in both dry and canned. Winnie >>Lots and lots of purrs and best wishes that the new collar works and >>that you can get some sleep, Monique, Polonca and Soncek [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > Anyway, DH and I will be taking Oscar to the vet in just a few > minutes; it will be interesting to hear what she has to say. C in my name is pronounced as "ts". Continued purrs and best wishes for Oscar, Polonca and Soncek |
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