Pet Lovers: Stitches are out...Post 101

[minnie56]

Herbie is home! I feel like I know all these little guys that have been having troubles of late!

I am not sure exactly when...but it can only be 2 weeks and a bit that ChrissyK's little guy had his surgery? We were rooting for him only a very short time ago and he continues to get better...but ChrissyK will stop by and tell you that! I know he had such similar struggles as your baby tho....

Many good wishes headed your way!

Makes me wonder if I should be doing something different for my boy kitty?? He's 8 and never (knock on wood) had any 'issues' but how do I prevent them beginning??

Best of luck..look forward to hearing his progress!!!

 

[chrissyk]

ChrissyK....he hasn't used the litterbox yet. He has had a couple of dribbles though. Does this seem normal? You think he will go back to the litterbox soon? I am hoping overnight he uses it. ALthough he loves to PLAY with the shredded newspaper in the box!!! He difinetly is as playful as ever.
His regular vet does want me to bring him on Tuesday so she can look him over and find out how he is doing/healing. The incision just looks so painful!!! Poor baby!!!!
When exactly did your cat have his surgery?

Our cat had his surgery 3 weeks ago this coming Tuesday. He also hated his medicine (Clavamox), and it gave him diarrhea to boot! We did ask to take him off of that when the diarrhea started, and the vet gave us the OK. They put him on a different antibiotic (Amoxil) about a week after that, and he's just finishing that course up now. The collar ordeal was something else Believe me, we were ALL counting the days until that thing came off

Yep, I think that Herbie will start using the litterbox again soon. I'll tell you for sure that the shredded newspaper did NOT work for us, though! Our cat wouldn't potty in it. We ended up buying some litter called "Swheat" from Petsmart. It's made of wheat. Our cat went through a litter-eating phase about a week ago (BLECH!), which is why we did this. Anyways, the vet recommended "Yesterday's News" as the litter to buy, but I knew that our cat wouldn't go for that. Either way, he was not going to go in the shredded-up newspaper. He would have held it and dribbled instead too. Herbie IS continent, or else he wouldn't have gone in the litterbox at the vet. I think he's holding it and dribbling because he doesn't see the shredded up newspaper as litter. Can you call your vet and ask about using "Yesterday's News" as litter instead? They sell it at Petsmart/Petco.

BTW, when we still thought that our cat was going to have the perineal urethrostomy, our vet told DH that it would be normal for our cat to dribble for a "couple" of days after the surgery, so I wouldn't be too worried.

Lastly, I put a pad and pen on the fridge so we could track our cat's litterbox useage for 6 weeks (the risk timeframe for a urethral stricture). When he goes, the person who sees him go marks down the date and time and what business he did. This way, if he hasn't used the litterbox in 24 hours, we know to bring him in the laundry room and encourage him to use the box. So far, so good!

 

[chrissyk]

Makes me wonder if I should be doing something different for my boy kitty?? He's 8 and never (knock on wood) had any 'issues' but how do I prevent them beginning??

The only thing that I can think of is asking your vet for a urine culture to see if your cat has any struvite crystals present in the urine. If he does, you can slightly adjust the diet to be more liquid/acidic, and then have the urine recultured. A lot of vets recommend these perscription diets, but they can go in the other direction and over-acidify and cause bladder stones over time.

What we've been told to do is to feed our cat nothing but wet cat food now, and to add water to that. Cats that eat mostly or only dry food seem to have more issues with FUS than cats that eat a wet food diet. Our seems to like the soupier consistency of the water-added wet food better, oddly. This keeps his bladder flushed, which helps with getting rid of crystals and bacteria. We're also going to add back into his diet a suppliment that we used to use called "Cranberry Relief". I just found it again online. It is supposed to help prevent UTI's.

 

[eclectics]

Great news. There's no place like home! Continued prayers for Herbie's full recovery. aw:

 

[jacksonsmom]

I have to share my excitement and follow pet lovers would understand this...HERBIE PEED IN HIS LITTERBOX!!!!!! I never though I would be so happy to see cat pee!!!!

He went over night, quite a bit it looked like and then we left this morning to run some errands. We came back and check on him and he went again in the litterbox!

I wish I could let him out of the room but I am so afraid our other cat will try to clean his incisions or Herbie will sneak into the regular litter box. I can't take that chance. He is a fast little one. I know he won't just sit on my lap on the couch, he will try to run and play with our other cat.
I can't wait until these two weeks are over with.

BTW--I am going to get some pictures developed of Herbie and I am going to try to post them here. I figured since you all have been supported of Herbie you should see what the little guy looks like

Thank you again!

 

[disneynutt1225]

I have to share my excitement and follow pet lovers would understand this...HERBIE PEED IN HIS LITTERBOX!!!!!! I never though I would be so happy to see cat pee!!!!

LOL!!! Yaaaay! I'm sure you would have never expected excitement from other people regarding your cat peeing in his box either! It's amazing how having pets changes you, lol.

 

[minnie56]

Yay for cat peeeee!!!! I totally relate! It's a milestone....now if I could get one of mine to STOP peeing! Well, at least where she shouldn't be!!! LOL

I am so happy.....can't wait to see pics of Herbie.

What if, occasionally, you shut the other cat in another room for abit and close the door to the forbidden litter box...bring his out of the room while he is out 'visiting'? Maybe just for a break here and there? I am sure maybe when the other kitty is asleep in another place he/she wouldn't notice the door being closed for half an hour? Just a thought...at least let Herbie have a walk around. It's so hard...harder on us I think!!!

 

[chrissyk]

I have to share my excitement and follow pet lovers would understand this...HERBIE PEED IN HIS LITTERBOX!!!!!! I never though I would be so happy to see cat pee!!!!

He went over night, quite a bit it looked like and then we left this morning to run some errands. We came back and check on him and he went again in the litterbox!

I wish I could let him out of the room but I am so afraid our other cat will try to clean his incisions or Herbie will sneak into the regular litter box. I can't take that chance. He is a fast little one. I know he won't just sit on my lap on the couch, he will try to run and play with our other cat.
I can't wait until these two weeks are over with.

BTW--I am going to get some pictures developed of Herbie and I am going to try to post them here. I figured since you all have been supported of Herbie you should see what the little guy looks like

Thank you again!

Yay Herbie!! Believe me, we understand the joy associated with this milestone

I don't understand why your vet is so worried that your other cat will try to clean his incision site. Does she groom Herbie a lot normally? Our other cat didn't want anything to do with our big guy after his surgery. She was hissing in his face for like a week afterwards

 

[jacksonsmom]

:
I don't understand why your vet is so worried that your other cat will try to clean his incision site. Does she groom Herbie a lot normally? Our other cat didn't want anything to do with our big guy after his surgery. She was hissing in his face for like a week afterwards

Actually this wasn't my regular vet that said that it was the people at the emergency hospital. They said to keep them separated for two reasons, one so the other cat doesn't bother Herbie's incision and the other reason so we know exactly what is going in and what is coming out of Herbie.

My regular vet will be seeing Herbie early this week so I will ask her what she thinks. I don't think it would hurt to have him out for a little at a time. Of course when we are not home or at night I would separate them.

He is doing pretty good. I fed him a bit ago and then he went to lay down in his little pet bed. I am sure he is sleeping away now with a full belly

 

[jacksonsmom]

What if, occasionally, you shut the other cat in another room for abit and close the door to the forbidden litter box...bring his out of the room while he is out 'visiting'? Maybe just for a break here and there? I am sure maybe when the other kitty is asleep in another place he/she wouldn't notice the door being closed for half an hour? !!!

Actually my other cat was go crazy if he was shut in a room for a bit. He hates to be away from people. He is just a big ol' baby, serously he is strange, he loves being around people and hates to be alone!

That is why one reason we got a new kitty (Herbie) because when our other cat die, poor Rusty was so depressed and would cry by the door when ever we left. He was a mess!

So I think I would give him a heart attack or something if I closed him off in a room. He would cry and cry by the door until he made himself sick.

 

[chrissyk]

Actually this wasn't my regular vet that said that it was the people at the emergency hospital. They said to keep them separated for two reasons, one so the other cat doesn't bother Herbie's incision and the other reason so we know exactly what is going in and what is coming out of Herbie.

My regular vet will be seeing Herbie early this week so I will ask her what she thinks. I don't think it would hurt to have him out for a little at a time. Of course when we are not home or at night I would separate them.

He is doing pretty good. I fed him a bit ago and then he went to lay down in his little pet bed. I am sure he is sleeping away now with a full belly

That makes sense, actually. Herbie sounds MUCH more active than my cat, so it might be tough to keep track of when he is in and out of the box, when he eats, etc. Mine is a bump on a log...I had to bring his food to him, and we had to bring him to the litterbox for the first week or so There wasn't any doubt as to what he was eating or when he was going. Of course, now he is totally used to the star treatment, and he expects to be carried everywhere

I meant to warn you about the collar, too...ours figured out how to take it off a few times! He left it under the bed every time, so we had to search for it This only happened with the smaller snap-on collar. Once we got him the bigger tie-on collar, he accepted defeat and kept it on

 

[Virgo10]

Just want to add my for Herbie's wonderful recovery!

 

[chrissyk]

Bumping up to see how Herbie is doing this morning

 

[jacksonsmom]

Herbie had a "post-op" check up today. He is doing WONDERFUL!!!!!!!

Our regular vet was so pleased to see how he is doing. She gave him a little lecture and told him never to scare her or his momma like that again

I am starting to think he doesn't like going on newspaper though. He is using the puppy pads most of the time instead of the paper in his box. I forgot the ask the vet about that stuff from Petsmart, ChrissyK.
But at least he is going on the puppy pads and good amounts too!

He still hates his collar. I set up an appt for his stitches to come out for Nov. 23rd. His collar can come off then. YEAH!!!!!

I am going to try to figure out how to post pictures so you can see the little guy.

 

[chrissyk]

Herbie had a "post-op" check up today. He is doing WONDERFUL!!!!!!!

Our regular vet was so pleased to see how he is doing. She gave him a little lecture and told him never to scare her or his momma like that again

I am starting to think he doesn't like going on newspaper though. He is using the puppy pads most of the time instead of the paper in his box. I forgot the ask the vet about that stuff from Petsmart, ChrissyK.
But at least he is going on the puppy pads and good amounts too!

He still hates his collar. I set up an appt for his stitches to come out for Nov. 23rd. His collar can come off then. YEAH!!!!!

I am going to try to figure out how to post pictures so you can see the little guy.

Well, it sounds like Herbie is doing great!! He wouldn't be a normal cat if he didn't hate that collar Maybe you can just call your vet's office and ask about an alternate litter? Our cat wouldn't use the shredded newspaper either. The surgeon told us to use "Yesterday's News," but it looked like "Feline Pine" was the same sort of thing. I wonder if they'd be OK with either one.

 

[sammi]

Just ran across this thread and I'm soooo glad that Herbie is doing better! We've been through blockages with three of our male cats and yes we had one of our fur kids go through the surgery. I've been to many an emergency vets with our guys and I know how stressful it can be. He's a lucky little boy to have you for his mom!

Chrissy............I'm so glad your fur baby is healing well too! It's nice to read good news!

 

[katedrew94]

I'm glad to hear that Herbie is doing well. I had a little chat with my own cat Cal today, telling him that this Thanksgiving he better not need to go to the emergency vet. Last year he got blocked and my vet did a P.U. surgery the day after his wedding. I had to take the poor baby to the emergency clinic in the middle of Thanksgiving dinner.

I hope that Herbie continues on this healthy path!

 

[jacksonsmom]

HEEEEEERRRRREEEEE'S HERBIE!!!!!!!!!

This is a slightly younger picture of Herbie. He was probably around 3 months in this picture.

Here is a more recent one.

Gotta love THAT LOOK!!!!!

Thank you all again for the pixie dust last week. Herbie sure gave us a scare.

 

[minnie56]

Herbie you are sooooooooooooo cute!!!!

Lots of snuggles from me to you!

 

[CheshireVal]

Awwww what a cutie. He's smiling in that second picture!