Purrs In Our Hearts - Cat Forum UK
Cat Health & Behaviour => Health & Behaviour General => Topic started by: rollins on April 03, 2008, 15:00:21 PM
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Well, its been a hell of a few days guys.
Got home from work yesterday and the missus tells me that Smudge has had an accident. It seems that the Vet reckons that he was hit by a car, and has a pretty bad break on the upper front left leg :(
I've not seen him since I left for work yesterday, and I'm pretty gutted. Smokey his sister is missing him a lot and so is Karen.
Thankfully according to the Vet, he seems aware and bright, and the broken leg is the only issue. Its a hell of a way for a cat to learn the roads are not safe, especially since we live a fair distance from any main roads - and he is only 8 months old as well :censored:
Anyway, the vet thinks that the main nerve on the arm damaged, and our options were
1. Amputate the leg at a cost of £300
2. Pin/wire repir of the leg for around £600+
3. Leave it and see if the leg heals itself.
We have had a good talk, me, the missus and the vet, and its going to be option 2 - the hell with the money. I've just sold our Wii and my digital camera, and we will dip into the holiday savings. Its just the usual luck, that we were talking about who to go for regarding pet insurance, and then this happens.
My question is to anyone who has had this sort of thing happen - how long does healing take, and what kind of mobility did your cat have afterwards. any long term issues etc
Thanks for reading
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Hi Rollins, sorry to hear about poor Smudge and I hope he makes a full recovery :hug: Generally with a broken leg, they need to be cage rested for 6-8 weeks. One of my ferals decided to break his leg about 3 years ago on Christmas day of all days :shocked: He was fine and there doesn't seem to be any apparent limp with him but the vet did say he will probably get some arthritus when he's older. Most cats do heal well and don't have any obvious signs of an injury but some will develop a limp, I suppose it depends how bad the break is. Give Smudge a cuddle from me and I'm sending get well soon vibes :hug:
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No advice to offer but hope Smudge heals well
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Thanks folks - I'm really missing the wee sod, and his sister is having a sleep now, but you can tell that she is wondering what's happened to him.
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Smokey says hello too
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I hope hes home soon, are you going to visit?
Iv been trying to catch a stray who broke his front leg last summer, he disappeared over winter but has recently returned with nothing but a minor limp :shocked: :Crazy:
Cats are amazingly robust :hug:
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I'm sorry to hear Smudge has been involved in a car accident - main thing is ok. Broken legs heal.
Before we adopted our Jameson, he was too in a car accident which resulted in him having his kneecap broken. His previous owner had free vet care (thru PDSA) since she is on benefits, but he did have to go back and forth for a good few months while healing. On the day he was found (he had been missing for 2 days) he was in a pretty bad state and had to stay in surgery overnight. Because of this (and because we live near a road) I decided it would be worth having him insured as if something would happen I would struggle to pay the vet fees.
I hope that Smudge heals well and quickly and I think choosing the number 2 option was a good choice too. Sending lots of healing thoughts.
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As others have said, broken legs heal and other peripheral damage (like nerves etc) it is only time that will let you know the effects. If it is any consolation when Bob broke the tiny anchor bone that holds one of the main tendons of the leg in place, I was told he would never walk again. He was eleven at the time. He died aged 19 and still jumping in the window that was four feet off the ground until he left me forever...
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So sorry to hear about Smudge and in most cats the operation that you are going for will be great.
I have a three legged birman who lost a leg before he came to me and had that operation but for some reason it didnt work and he had to lose his leg.
There must have been some problem with the op I think because I was told that the amputation and rest of care was done for nothing by the vet , so have to suspect the op was not done right.
I am sure that Smudge will be fine but thought I would just warn you ,, that very occasionally things do not go to plan.
Yes insurance is so essential but I can see that you are devoted to Smudge and are making the best decisions for him by selling stuff to pay for the op. I hope Smudge will be up and around very soon :hug: :hug:
Now get them insured pleaseeeeeeeeee ;)
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Ah bless his little heart, I hope he is feeling better soon x
Well done for going for option 2 :hug:
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I'll let you all know how things go tomorrow when the wee fella goes under the knife. We managed to get a smudge fund sorted for costs and this afternoon I phoned Post office pet insurance.
Both cats are now fully covered with the PO via AXA, so while its been a nasty lesson, it has been learned.
I'm not sure how long the vet will keep him in - hopefully the situation will be that the operation goes well. I'm back to work tomorrow (Boo) but we are going to try and get up there on Saturday, as I can't see the wee man being up to much after the op.
Thanks again to all for your thoughts and advice, its helped the both of us immensely.
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Through PO with Axa , sounds interesting ;D
I hope that all goes well for Smudge tomorrow and its wonderful you care so much to do this for him ;D
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What cover does the PO give?
Fingers crossed for him - do keep an eye on that leg when he gets older, I had a rescue cat who had been hit by a car in her younger years, and at the age of 11 had to have it amputated - she also had arthritis because of it, so something else to look out for.
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Good luck with the op.
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Good luck for Smudge's op :hug:
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Wishing Smudge " All the Best " and hoping you get good news soon :hug:
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Ahhh poor little lad ... so sorry he had to learn the hard way to avoid cars. Can't offer any advice but just wanted to send best wishes and hpe he gets well soon.
Love
Sam, Foxy, Zephyr and Rossi xxxx
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Do hope Smudge's op goes well. :hug: :hug:
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Oh my.....the poor wee lad.
I hope he will be well. Broken bones do heal. The nerve - well, unlike what we were all taught, now they know that nerves too can regenerate. A bit.
Even if the worst comes, though, the one thing is that he is a cat, and a baby one yet to. Cats never, ever quit - so he will fight. And cats heal - and like us, the younger they are the faster they do it. And cats cope. Far, far better than we do.
He will come through this. Hopefully, no worse for the wear. But even if worse comes to worse (i.e. he either loses sensation in the leg or loses it altogether - which I DO NOT believe will happen!) - he'll still be fine. We under-estimate them. We ten to think of their abilities to cope and adjust in terms of our own. And that does them a huge dis-service.
In this, as in all else, they are superior.
We will be thinking of Smudge today, with infinite love and supportive thoughts.
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Thanks to all guys - first of all, for those interested - the details of the Post Office insurance is at http://www.postoffice.co.uk/portal/po/content1?catId=67800708&mediaId=67800710 - I get 10% off as I work for Royal Mail, but when I get home I'll put the code up here so you guys can also get 10% off.
Now, Karen has phoned me after contacting the vet, and smudge has had his operation. They used a plate and 2 wires to reset the bone, and the the Vet is very happy with how things went. Last phone call, he was getting up from the sedative, so he is aware and awake. They will keep him in overnight and depedning on how he is tomorrow, we may get him back home for the weekend.
Phew.
A huge thanks agian to all who replied and read, and I'll keep you all up to date on how things go - we should get an update at around half 5, so I'll let you all know.
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EXCELLENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He will take time to heal, though he won't think so!
But I am soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo infinitely glad for you all.
When he is able, give him a special kiss on his head from me and all my gang.
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Great news that the op went well :hug:
Please do keep us posted, and I'll keep fingers crossed Smudge can come home for the weekend.
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Just caught up with this thread - so sorry to hear of Smudge's troubles but it sounds like he has a family made in heaven looking after him. :Luv2: :Luv2:
Hope he feels better soon, I am sure he will think he feels better before he actually does, so keep him as quiet as possible (impossible with cats I know) and give him lots of headbutts and kisses from all his purrs pals.
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I've just seen this thread too. I hope you have good news about Smudge this evening and he recovers really well. At least you have the weekend to give him lots of TLC. never knew a cat that didn't enjoy that!
Purrs and headbutts to your wee man. If he's a bit sore, you could try a heatpad under a blanket or fleecy vetbed type rug to keep him warm and cozy - may make him sleep quite a bit ie keep still. The warmth's also good when they're still coming round a bit from the anaesthetic or sedative. Maybe your vet could lend you one if you don't have one?
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still thinking good thoughts for Smudge.
And for you and Karen.
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Well folks, just got off the phone with the missus
The nurse just had a wee look in and Smudge is looking puzzled as he can't quite figure out how to eat his dinner wearing a safety collar :)
Looks like not even surgery can stop ma wee boy from getting his munch on! We have to phone the vets tomorrow at 10am to see how he is, and hopefully he will get home tomorrow - if the vet says so of course.
Vet bill so far is £550, but to hell with it, it's only money :)
:thanks: to all
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Glad it went well - Sending Smudge a kiss X
As you said its only money and i know we all feel the same as you, Nothing would come inbetween any of my vets getting the treatment they needed - i would beg, borrow or steal (or sell my body....but then what good is £2 :rofl:)
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So pleased that Smudge has come round and is hungry, always a good sign ;D
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Glad Smudge has come round and op went well. I'm sure he will soon work out the best way to eat with his lampshade on :rofl:
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So pleased the op went well bet you can't wait to get him home now
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Aww, glad everything went well, and good luck with him - when Pebbles had her leg amputated, she managed to eat with the collar on - I turned my back to do something before taking it off for her, and she was happily scoffing - she did eat off plates rather than out of bowls though.
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Hey folks
Karen just spoke to the vet, and smudge is getting home today!!
We have to go up for an appointment with the nurse for after care treatment advice, but he is doing really well, and h is cming hoe.
;D :wow: :Luv:
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Wo Hoo .... excellent news
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Great news. When Dillon had leg surgery last year the only thing he found difficult was using the litter tray - had to buy an enormous triangular shaped covered one, and OH made it into an ensuite to the crate by cutting a hole in one side the exact size for the door rim of the tray to fit in.
Wishing Smudge a very quick recovery. :hug:
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Excellent news
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Hey folks
Well, the big fella is home, and he is driving me and the missus sick with worry. He is trying to jump about the place, so Karen has just headed into town to get a cage, so we can keep him settled and give his leg time to heal. He's had a good feed, and is due to get the first dose of painkillers this afternoon, and then antibiotics start tomorrow morning. He has started to calm down, and is going for a sleep on the couch, and Smokey is giving him a good clean, but I'm not risking any kind of post op injury, so the cage has to come. One of the first things he did when we got him home was to dive at his sister, so he hasn't a clue that he should take it easy.
Total cost so far is around £700 inc cage, so to anyone who has read this and hasn't got insurance - GET IT NOW. We have sold the Wii, my camera hopefully will go today, and Karen has hopefully sold a pile of her music CD's, but at least he is home and healthy.
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They are a worry aren't they? At least he is home and hopefully the cage will give him some enforced rest!
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Great he is home and the cage a necessity I think :hug:
Very good advice about insurance ;D
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Quick question for the folks online
We have got him a cage, and just wanted to ask what we can do to keep smudge as calm and settled as possible. A picture is enclosed, what can we do to help?
Is it a good idea to keep the cage covered to calm him? Any advice would be muchly appreciated.
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Sorry I dont know but I not sure that covering it will help as he may get upset that he cant see out.
Maybe , grrrrrr cant think of name but one of those diffusers of the spray stuff.......sorry someone will tell you what I am thinking of and its ment to help calm cats.
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I always partly cover my cages, with some cats it helps, some cats it doesn't.
Gill, your thinking of Feliway, I have never used it to be honest.
When Pebbles had cage rest after her amputation, I used to let her have a bit of time out, I had a quilt in front of the cage (as I had slept in front of it the first night), and that was what she was allowed on - she was an older, more sedate solitary cat though, so might have been a lot easier due to that. She was fine iwth the litter tray and her collar, she just had a normal open tray. I also gave her some time out from teh collar to eat and in the evening, strictly supervised of course.
Good luck, and dont be too bothered if he doesn't go to the tray that soon, it took Pebbles 2 days to poo, as the anaesthetic does interfere with things.
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Thank you Desley, it was Feliway and Sasa doesnt like the smell.
She probably thought I was trying to poison her cos she is so suspicious :rofl: :rofl:
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Just wanted to update everyone on how SMudge is doing.
He was at the Vets today, and get the 4 external stiches out - bless the wee sod, he was as calm as ever, and gave myself and the vet no trouble at all. Just stood calmy and once everything was over, went back into his cat carrier and had a wee sit.
He is putting weight on his broken leg, and is using it more every day. He is also able to retract his claws a lot better in that paw, and is developing more control as time goes on. He is still cage bound at nights, but is allowed out through the day supervised, and gets carried outside for some fresh air when he is calm.
He is on reduced painkillers as well, and doesn't seem to have any lasting pain, only a limp, which will be apparent for a good 3 weeks or so yet.
The vet is VERY happy with his progress, and in about 6 weeks he will get another X-Ray, so they can decide if the pin will stay in the leg, or if they have to remove it.
Karen phoned me at work today, and it seems that when I left for work, he miaowed for ages - he misses his daddy :)
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Well done Smudge you big brave boy.
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:Luv2: :Luv2: :Luv2: :Luv2: What great news ... so pleased he is healing well and the vet is happy with him.
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What fantastic news, so pleased to heat that Smudge is making such good progress. xxx
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So pleased he is doing so well ;D
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So glad to hear Smudge is doing well - brave boy. Teegro is not the best patient but is doing well also. Took him off the painkillers today as he has an upset stomach - not that thats stopping him trying to play with his brother and wanting out to chase the birds :rofl: He got a check up with the vet on sat so hopefully he will be happy with his progress xx