 |
 | Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us |
 | Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network |
| HomeDiscussion GroupsGeneral TopicsCat AnecdotesHealth and BehaviorRescue CatKB.com Contact UsLink To UsSearch & Site Map |
Cat Forum / Health and Behavior / March 2005*URGENT* Help Needed (LONG)
Oh gawd, I am *SO* freakin' *STUPID*. How could I have been so d*mn *BLIND*! I told you guys that my 15-year-old, Bandit, had her teeth cleaned on Feb. 25 - a week ago last Friday. Well, since then she has been even meaner and grumpier than usual, growling and hiss-spitting at everyone and everything. My reaction to that (**@$$HOLE**) was to leave her alone except to pet and brush her head and back to try and soothe her. I figured she had a touch of arthritis that all the fighting at the vet's had aggravated (**STUPID**). Sunday she was walking even more stiff than usual, then yesterday afternoon I noticed a horrible smell from her. I attributed that to her getting litter all over her hind quarters when she urinates. Every night when I give them their canned food I pick her up off my bed and take her over to the food dish to make sure she eats OK and none of the younger cats eat her share. Last night when I picked her up a felt something wet on her stomach. Again, I though litter box (she's long haired and sometimes when she squats down in the litter box her rear quarter will get wet and litter will stick - I brush her off every night. So last night at around 9:10PM I was brushing her and decided to turn her over to make sure I got any stuck litter off of her tummy. Ohmygawd, I was appalled at what I saw. Bandit had lost the hair on her belly and there was a *HUGE* area (about 2 1/2 inches in diameter) that looked like a big, weeping blister. The stench (*horrible* smell) was coming from that. I had just taken my Ambien, Alluna, Melatonin, and 2 muscle relaxers (Zanaflex), so I screamed for DH to come down and drive us to the emergency vet. We got there at 9:30PM, but I was so out of it from the meds I didn't even realize it wasn't until about 11:45PM before the doctor even saw us. They had to give Bandit 2 shots of sedative in order to calm her down enough to handle her. The would *NOT* let me handle her (hospital pollicy bullsh*t), no matter how much I begged. I was *SO* worried about them giving her so much sedative when she was in an obviously weakened state. Finally they let us back in to see her so I would hold her down on her back while the vet looked at the sore. The vet said it looked like a burn, possibly a chemical burn but more likely a heat burn (she kept asking us if there was something Bandit could have been burned on at home). There is *NOTHING* in my house, either chemical or heat, that could have burned Bandit. Our heating vents are on the ceiling and Bandit doesn't even come upstairs much less go into the kitchen by the stove. Then I thought about the report I posted hear from when she had her teeth cleaned and they had something on there about a heated recovery. I know Bandit is a *VERY* bad cat at the vets and it's possible that the techs didn't check on her as often as they might have another cat. But do you think that she could have been burned by the heating pad they used???!! I am *SICK* with worry, self-recriminations, and just plain outrage that my baby could have been in such horrible pain for *10 DAYS* without my even knowing it. Imagine having a burn over your entire stomach, from groin to sternum, and having it go untreated for that long - ohmygawd!!! The emergency vet gave us some Clavamix, some pain pills, and some Sulfadine (SP??) cream to put on the wound and I'm supposed to call my regular vet this morning. I just don't know if I can *TRUST* my regular vet - OK, it may have been a mistake, they happen, or neglect by a vet tech and the vet may have had no idea anything happened, but it makes me wonder. What should I do??? Any advice????? Please send lots of purrs that my baby gets better soon!! DH is staying home with her today and I'm going to try to get off the rest of the week. I'll keep you all posted on how she is. Thanks for listening, guys. Hugs, CatNipped > Oh gawd, I am *SO* freakin' *STUPID*. How could I have been so d*mn > *BLIND*! [quoted text clipped - 72 lines] > > CatNipped Actually, I just got off the phone with my vet and I feel *SO* much better about her. *SHE* brought up the probability that it was the heating element that caused the burn - no denial, no excuses - she said that no other injection nor the anesthesia would cause something like that. They immediately pulled the heating blanket out of use as soon as the emergency vet called them this morning and are going to have it thoroughly checked out before using it again. I know that mistakes happen and can forgive that, and the fact that she is willing to, up front, take responsibility makes me trust her even more. I really do like this vet, so Bandit is going to see her today at 12:30. I'll keep you posted. Hugs, CatNipped > > Oh gawd, I am *SO* freakin' *STUPID*. How could I have been so d*mn > > *BLIND*! > > > > I told you guys that my 15-year-old, Bandit, had her teeth cleaned on Feb. > > 25 - a week ago last Friday. Well, since then she has been even meaner > > and grumpier than usual, growling and hiss-spitting at everyone and > > everything. My reaction to that (**@$$HOLE**) was to leave her alone > > except to pet and brush her head and back to try and soothe her. I > > figured she had a touch of arthritis that all the fighting at the vet's > > had aggravated (**STUPID**). Sunday she was walking even more stiff than [quoted text clipped - 68 lines] > about her. *SHE* brought up the probability that it was the heating element > that caused the burn - no denial, no excuses - she said that no other > injection nor the anesthesia would cause something like that. They > immediately pulled the heating blanket out of use as soon as the emergency [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > CatNipped OH MY GOD! This is so awful! As the "mom" of an almost 19 yo kitty and one 11 yo kitty, I know how you must feel. I am sending healing vibes to Bandit and hope that your baby feels better soon. Keep us posted! Beth > Actually, I just got off the phone with my vet and I feel *SO* much better > about her. *SHE* brought up the probability that it was the heating element [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > really do like this vet, so Bandit is going to see her today at 12:30. I'll > keep you posted. It's great that she was honest about it, but I would still be very upset. The whole heating blanket thing sounds unecessary to me--and now that they have discovered that it can be harmful, maybe they will discontinue it. You and Bandit have probably saved other kitties the same hurt. Mary expressed precisely : >> Actually, I just got off the phone with my vet and I feel *SO* much better >> about her. *SHE* brought up the probability that it was the heating element [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > discontinue it. You and Bandit have probably saved other kitties > the same hurt. I've actually read where heating pads can be very helpful for cats recovering from surgery. However, I would think they'd use one that is definitely pet safe. Maybe instead of electric heating pads, they could use a hot water bottle or pad. Catnipped, I'm sorry to hear about Bandit and hope she feels better soon. I don't like to bring up the money aspect, but I do think your vet should pay your emergency vet fees as well as her own fees at the least.  SignaturePawsForThought > Mary expressed precisely : > >> [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > the money aspect, but I do think your vet should pay your emergency vet > fees as well as her own fees at the least. I had never heard of this, thanks for letting me know. They are probably doing what is easiest--and hopefully have learned from it. > I've actually read where heating pads can be very helpful for cats > recovering from surgery. However, I would think they'd use one that is [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > I do think your vet should pay your emergency vet fees as well as her own > fees at the least. Oscar has a pad like this: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=8982&N=2002+22732 According to the description, "A core layer of thermo-reflective material uses your cat's own body heat to warm the entire cushion." I'd imagine something like this couldn't malfunction the way a true heater can ... Signaturemonique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca Monique Y. Mudama <spam@bounceswoosh.org> wrote in rec.pets.cats.health+behav: >> I've actually read where heating pads can be very helpful for >> cats recovering from surgery. However, I would think they'd use [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > cushion." I'd imagine something like this couldn't malfunction > the way a true heater can ... That looks interesting, too. I can just replace the teepee pad with that one ((won't match, though.) SignatureBrandy??Alexandre? http://www.swydm.com/?refer=BrandyAlx Well, would you? On 2005-03-08, Brandy Alexandre penned: > Monique Y. Mudama <spam@bounceswoosh.org> wrote in > rec.pets.cats.health+behav: [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > That looks interesting, too. I can just replace the teepee pad with that > one ((won't match, though.) Yeah, Oscar's has a leopard pattern, and it wouldn't be my first choice, but *shrug* I actually bought it when we were travelling cross-country and she would be in her crate for a long time. She never liked it, probably because she associated it with torture (I was a dumb owner and didn't introduce her to the pad until we started the trip). Several years later, I retrieved it from storage, washed it, and put it in her favorite sunbeam spot, where she can watch the whole house from a balcony. It's now a big hit, and I find her lolling on it just about every morning. Actually, I just remembered (and you can see from the little insets) that there are two colors on the pads. The underside is a dark single-tone. I think it's a less "fuzzy" material, though, so I leave the print side up. Signaturemonique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca Monique Y. Mudama <spam@bounceswoosh.org> wrote in rec.pets.cats.health+behav: >> That looks interesting, too. I can just replace the teepee pad >> with that one ((won't match, though.) [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > dark single-tone. I think it's a less "fuzzy" material, though, > so I leave the print side up. FYI, I just looked at the PetsMart site, and they have it for $18.99 and free shipping. I ordered one. :) SignatureBrandy??Alexandre? http://www.swydm.com/?refer=BrandyAlx Well, would you? On 2005-03-08, Brandy Alexandre penned: > FYI, I just looked at the PetsMart site, and they have it for $18.99 and > free shipping. I ordered one. :) I hope Kami likes it! Signaturemonique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca Monique Y. Mudama <spam@bounceswoosh.org> wrote in rec.pets.cats.health+behav: >> FYI, I just looked at the PetsMart site, and they have it for >> $18.99 and free shipping. I ordered one. :) > > I hope Kami likes it! Well, it's never too much of a risk to try new things for Kami. If they're rejected, the cat rescues benefit. SignatureBrandy??Alexandre? http://www.swydm.com/?refer=BrandyAlx Well, would you? On 2005-03-08, Brandy Alexandre penned: > Monique Y. Mudama <spam@bounceswoosh.org> wrote in > rec.pets.cats.health+behav: [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > Well, it's never too much of a risk to try new things for Kami. If they're > rejected, the cat rescues benefit. *nod* that's what I do, too. It's still annoying when she's more likely to ignore something than to use it. Signaturemonique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca >>> Actually, I just got off the phone with my vet and I feel *SO* much >>> better [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] > aspect, but I do think your vet should pay your emergency vet fees as well > as her own fees at the least. Our vet uses a hot water bottle and it works very well. Both our girls had them for their spay.... plus their own blankets from home. CatNipped <lcrews@houston.rr.com> wrote in rec.pets.cats.health+behav: > Actually, I just got off the phone with my vet and I feel *SO* > much better about her. *SHE* brought up the probability that it [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > CatNipped That's good to hear. It's nice when people own up to their own mistakes, and it was a malfunction and they are obviously sorry. Hopefully, they are sorry enough to cover the cost of the emergency vet you went to as well as her care until she's better. SignatureBrandy??Alexandre? http://www.swydm.com/?refer=BrandyAlx Well, would you? > > Oh gawd, I am *SO* freakin' *STUPID*. How could I have been so d*mn > > *BLIND*! [quoted text clipped - 85 lines] > really do like this vet, so Bandit is going to see her today at 12:30. I'll > keep you posted. Taking responsibility includes covering the cost of the emergency clinic and any additional treatments and medications resulting from the accident (actually, negligence). Just remember, if this happened to a human, the Dr. would have a huge malpractice suit. Phil > Taking responsibility includes covering the cost of the emergency clinic and > any additional treatments and medications resulting from the accident > (actually, negligence). And that's what her vet is doing. Signaturemonique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca > > Taking responsibility includes covering the cost of the emergency clinic and > > any additional treatments and medications resulting from the accident > > (actually, negligence). > > And that's what her vet is doing. That's good - not that the vet had much of a choice. "CatNipped" <lcrews@houston.rr.com> wrote : > I am *SICK* with worry, self-recriminations, and just plain outrage that my > baby could have been in such horrible pain for *10 DAYS* without my even > knowing it. Imagine having a burn over your entire stomach, from groin to > sternum, and having it go untreated for that long - ohmygawd!!! Oh God, Lori, I am just in tears for you. Please try not to beat yourself up any more about it--we all make mistakes. > The emergency vet gave us some Clavamix, some pain pills, and some Sulfadine > (SP??) cream to put on the wound and I'm supposed to call my regular vet > this morning. I just don't know if I can *TRUST* my regular vet - OK, it > may have been a mistake, they happen, or neglect by a vet tech and the vet > may have had no idea anything happened, but it makes me wonder. I certainly would ask about this "heated recovery." I know all the evidence is not in but it sure sounds at this point like they may have burned her. > What should I do??? Any advice????? Please send lots of purrs that my baby > gets better soon!! If I were in your place I think I would go to another vet, just for my own peace of mind. > DH is staying home with her today and I'm going to try to get off the rest > of the week. I'll keep you all posted on how she is. Thanks for listening, > guys. I really hope she will heal quickly, and that you figure out how it happened. Hugs! Mary <marys@catlovernospam.com> wrote in rec.pets.cats.health+behav: > I really hope she will heal quickly, and that you figure out how it > happened. > Hugs! It makes me worry about Kami's heating pad, but it's under her teepee with about an inch of foam between. She loves it so much. SignatureBrandy??Alexandre? http://www.swydm.com/?refer=BrandyAlx Well, would you? in article 1110306247.44609e400f84c56877c75bcc78560e88@teranews, Brandy Alexandre at brandyalx@kittylittercomcast.net wrote on 3/8/05 12:24 PM: > Mary <marys@catlovernospam.com> wrote in rec.pets.cats.health+behav: > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > It makes me worry about Kami's heating pad, but it's under her teepee > with about an inch of foam between. She loves it so much. you might consider this instead: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?siteid=1&pCatId=3487 We have one and it puts out good heat, long and safely. Karen <kchuplis@alltel.net> wrote in rec.pets.cats.health+behav: > in article 1110306247.44609e400f84c56877c75bcc78560e88@teranews, > Brandy?Alexandre at brandyalx@kittylittercomcast.net wrote on [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > > We have one and it puts out good heat, long and safely. Wow, that looks cool... erm... hot. We'll have to look into it. 9 inches seems a bit too small. SignatureBrandy??Alexandre? http://www.swydm.com/?refer=BrandyAlx Well, would you? > Oh gawd, I am *SO* freakin' *STUPID*. How could I have been so d*mn > *BLIND*! You made a mistake. It happens. Bandit is being treated, and now you know to pay more attention if one of your kitties is being grumpy. Don't beat up my friend Lori! She's a good meowmie and does everything she can for her babies. > What should I do??? Any advice????? Please send lots of purrs that my baby > gets better soon!! I think you're doing everything you can do. You have gotten her treatment and you're following up with the vet. Now just take a few deep breaths. Bandit is hurting, but she's going to be okay. It sounds to me like you may be caught in the same cycle I do when things go horribly wrong: you keep trying to go back in time and say, "If I'd just done this," "If I'd only done that." Past is past. You can't change it. You're doing everything you need to do right now to take care of Bandit, and getting too freaked out isn't going to help any of your kitties. Relax. Bandit is going to be okay. She's getting the medical treatment she needs. You've already done what you need to do to get her help. And of course, purrs for Bandit. Signaturemonique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca Bandit will need surgery to remove all the necrotic (dead) tissue from the wound - she really was getting gangrenous (I will never quit beating myself up for not catching it sooner!). The vet is going to make sure she removes all the dead tissue and close up the wound with stainless steel sutures. She's going to give her intravenous antibiotics and fluid. The vet said she has a really good chance of a complete recovery. She has to stay at the vet's tonight and will have her surgery first thing in the morning and then should be able to come home tomorrow around 4:00PM. Oh, and the vet is going to reimburse me for the emergency vet charges and there will be no charge for the surgery or medications she needs - she just kept saying how sorry she was that Bandit and I had to go through this. This vet is definitely a keeper! I know it was her mistake (or a vet tech's or whatever), but people make mistakes and she owned up to it right away and took steps to help, so I have to forgive her and everything else she has ever done has been excellent and has built my confidence in her. Please continue sending purrs for her surgery and recovery. Thanks! Hugs, CatNipped -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- >Oh, and the vet is going to reimburse me for the emergency vet charges and From: "CatNipped" <lcrewsREMOVE@THIShouston.rr.com> >Oh, and the vet is going to reimburse me for the emergency vet charges and >there will be no charge for the surgery or medications she needs - she just [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >took steps to help, so I have to forgive her and everything else she has >ever done has been excellent and has built my confidence in her. That certainly sounds like the attitude that I would want to see in a good vet. I don't think, though, she even deserves the blame for what happened. The problem seems to be with the heating pad and the responsibility for that lies with the manufacturer. There should have been one, if not several, thermal cutoffs built into the device to shut it down if it overheated. I sure hope the vet contacts the manufacturer and sends the pad back for evaluation. It sounds like a recall may be in order. And the manufacturer should reimburse the vet. I'm glad Bandit is going to be OK. > Please continue sending purrs for her surgery and recovery. > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > CatNipped You got it! Purrs and hugs, Lauren SignaturePawsForThought OK, I'm feeling a *little* bit better at having had to leave Bandit at the vet. I just talked to them and they said Bandit is resting comfortably, she ate a good amount of food, and she's getting her pain meds. She's actually probably better off not having to walk to the litter box and not having three younger cats bothering her and eating her food (it's a "just cats" vet, so there isn't any d*g smells or barking to upset her). She's also getting antibiotics intravenously - which is better than me trying to shove them down her throat and her spitting them back up and foaming at the mouth from the taste. I just can't wait until this is all over and my baby is back home again and healed and not in pain any more. Hugs, CatNipped CatNipped <lcrewsREMOVE@THIShouston.rr.com> wrote in rec.pets.cats.health+behav: > OK, I'm feeling a *little* bit better at having had to leave > Bandit at the vet. I just talked to them and they said Bandit is [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > CatNipped Glad to hear it. My vet is all pets, but she has separate entrances and quarters on opposite sides of the building and reception area. The cat boarding area has a big window with a couple of cat tress near it, so when each is let out to play or stretch on their turn, they tend to play with people at the window. It's entertaining for all. SignatureBrandy??Alexandre? http://www.swydm.com/?refer=BrandyAlx Well, would you? > I just can't wait until this is all over and my baby is back home again and > healed and not in pain any more. Me too, for you. It will be okay. But tonight will be a tough one for you. Mary <marys@catlovernospam.com> wrote in rec.pets.cats.health+behav: >> I just can't wait until this is all over and my baby is back home >> again [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > Me too, for you. It will be okay. But tonight will be a tough > one for you. Luckily I brush Kami's underbelly with a slicker all the time because that's the only place she gets mats when she gets them. I'd probably find something like that awfully quick. But I know few cats who would actually allow that brushing. SignatureBrandy??Alexandre? http://www.swydm.com/?refer=BrandyAlx Well, would you? On 2005-03-08, Brandy Alexandre penned: > Luckily I brush Kami's underbelly with a slicker all the time because that's > the only place she gets mats when she gets them. I'd probably find > something like that awfully quick. But I know few cats who would actually > allow that brushing. If it had been Oscar rather than Bandit, I wonder how long it would take me to realize she was in trouble. Oscar is long-haired and she does not tolerate belly exposure. Well, that is, she's fine about showing off her belly when she wants to, but woe betide anyone who tries to expose it without her consent! I would imagine she wouldn't be flopped on the ground with her belly exposed if she were in pain. It's scary =/ Signaturemonique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca She's probably feeling so much better by now, on the pain medication. Sounds like she's relaxing and will have a nice, comfy night tonight. Rhonda > OK, I'm feeling a *little* bit better at having had to leave Bandit at the > vet. I just talked to them and they said Bandit is resting comfortably, she > ate a good amount of food, and she's getting her pain meds. > Bandit will need surgery to remove all the necrotic (dead) tissue from the > wound - she really was getting gangrenous (I will never quit beating [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] > > CatNipped Wow... that's great she is willing to do that. I take back my evil thoughts I had of her. Purrs and hugs for you all for your kitty's recovery. > Oh gawd, I am *SO* freakin' *STUPID*. How could I have been so d*mn > *BLIND*! [quoted text clipped - 68 lines] > > CatNipped Oh, ouch! Poor Bandit. Purrs to her and to all of you. SignatureJean B. Love & prayers for Bandit ... > Oh gawd, I am *SO* freakin' *STUPID*. How could I have been so d*mn > *BLIND*! [quoted text clipped - 72 lines] > > CatNipped This is horrible. The poor baby and poor you guys. Listen, you KNOW you are a good kitty mom and there is nothing at your home to cause such a burn. You would have heard her cry out in pain when it happened. I would be interested to see what the vet said and nail his balls to the wall. Keep us updated on the poor baby. I hope she feels better. Signature.oO rach Oo. > Oh gawd, I am *SO* freakin' *STUPID*. How could I have been so d*mn > *BLIND*! [quoted text clipped - 72 lines] > > CatNipped Oh no, your poor baby. I can understand how you wouldn't see that -- not many cats show their bellies that often, and she was long-haired to boot. I'm glad you were brushing her and were able to find it. That sounds like quite a burn. She must have been too out of it after her tooth-cleaning to move when it got too warm. Geesh, I just can't believe something like that could happen. You don't expect to find different injuries on your cat when they come home from the vet, but I know life is never perfect. I hope the surgery goes well for her tomorrow. I'm sending lots of healthy tummy vibes... Rhonda > Bandit had lost the hair on her belly and there was a *HUGE* area (about 2 > 1/2 inches in diameter) that looked like a big, weeping blister. The stench > (*horrible* smell) was coming from that. I had just taken my Ambien, > Alluna, Melatonin, and 2 muscle relaxers (Zanaflex), so I screamed for DH to > come down and drive us to the emergency vet. |
Reply to this Message |
 Sign In
 Join
 My Latest Posts My Monitored Threads My Blog My Photo Gallery My Profile My Homepage Start New Thread Enable EMail Alerts Rate this Thread
|
©2008 Advenet LLC Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.