Purrs In Our Hearts - Cat Forum UK
Cat Health & Behaviour => Health & Behaviour General => Topic started by: lizfraser on February 07, 2007, 14:53:11 PM
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My 9 yr old cat is under the knife having cruciate ligament surgery to repair an extremely bad rupture. Any members got experience of recovery for this op? Vet has said at least a month in a crate for him..... We don't know how it happened, but thank God he managed to drag himself home. Poor thing has only just started going out again having had air-gun pellet removed last Nov. Nine lives going too quickly, :-:
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Sorry to hear about poor Dillon........
Hope he gets well soon poor darling... hugs and kisses from me and head kisses from my crew
GET WELL SOON DILLON :catluv:
XXXXXXXXX
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Poor Dillon - I do hope that the surgery is completely successful and that he recovers very quickly. I have no experience of this myself, but I am sure others will have - lots of people come here in the evenings, so do check back. The little chap is certainly going through the wars at the moment, isn't he?
:welcome: to Purrs, by the way.
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http://www.mildmayvets.co.uk/pet_info_master.php?page=CruciateLigamentRupture
Found this on Google, hope it helps
all the best
x
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Hi Liz and welcome,
Sorry about Dillon - hope he makes a quick and complete recovery.
:welcome:
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Thanks for all your good wishes. Well Dillon has come through the operation ok, and we can hopefully bring him home tomorrow ;D - his brother is wandering around the house wondering where his playmate is - but hiding when he sees me 'cos he obviously spotted the cat carrier yesterday!
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Dillon has come through the operation ok, and we can hopefully bring him home tomorrow
Excellent news and I'm sure someone more useful than me will be able to advise you what to expect in terms of recovery times etc...
His brother (what's his name, by the way?) might be a bit perturbed by Dillon's scent when he first comes home - you probably know this already.
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:welcome: to Purrs ;D
So pleased the op has gone well and hope he recovers very quickly.
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Liz, i`m pleased to hear his operation went well. My cat had to have this done about 3 years ago and he is fine now. I would say the main things are the cage rest and making sure he doesn`t bother the wound in case an infection starts which could complicate things. The amount of time your vet has recommended Dillon stays in the crate is the same as i was told. It`s the action of jumping up that will cause problems with his recovery.
Have you got a crate already?
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Aww, fingers crossed the recovery time isn't too bad for you all.
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;D ;D ;D Hurray ! Dillon came home this afternoon & is safely in his crate. Vet has said the injury was so severe that he will never make a full recovery - basically the thigh and shin bone had more or less completely separated as he'd ruptured all the soft tissue, but I'm more than happy to have a house cat and will not miss the mouse and bird pressies I've always been given. He is obviously in a lot of pain, but desperately trying to give "head kisses" through the bars. He's got such a loving nature & won't take his eyes off my eldest daughter. His brother Digby has not been in to torment him yet, so I'll be keeping a close eye on that.
It's probably going to be a 3 - 4 month recovery, and I'll post a photo of my little "chicken leg" boy when I get a chance.
Anyway, thanks all for your kind thoughts & words, & I'll go and nurse my credit card back to health & check out the best pet insurance policies for future use.
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How is the little patient today, Liz?
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He seems more settled today and has realised that if he moves too much it hurts. He's being a really good boy and taking his pain killer (put on food) and his Synolux tablets quite happily. He did manage to displace one of the staples last night with over-enthusiastic licking, and leg bled a little, but looks fine this am. Back to vets for check-up tomorrow anyway and will get a Buster collar just in case.
I think it's only just sunk in with me quite how seriously hurt he was - at the time I had my 2 daughters crying their eyes out and the trauma of trying to get him in the cat carrier without hurting him any more. Don't actually remember the drive to the vets as I was in shock at seeing his twisted mangled body and how bravely he dragged himelf along using just his front legs.
Touch wood he can come off the pain killers soon as vet explained that prolonged use is not good for their kidneys, trouble is that he's so used to being active he will go stir crazy caged once he begins to recover.
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I think it's only just sunk in with me quite how seriously hurt he was - at the time I had my 2 daughters crying their eyes out and the trauma of trying to get him in the cat carrier without hurting him any more. Don't actually remember the drive to the vets as I was in shock at seeing his twisted mangled body and how bravely he dragged himelf along using just his front legs.
It's as well the human brain sort of switches to autopilot in these circumstances and the full magnitude of things hits us afterwards. And it brings tears to my eyes to think of little Dillon's courage and determination.
Keep us posted on his progress - I'm think you'll be able to use the painkillers to get him through the worst of it, won't you?
Give him a gentle ear-tug from me.
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What a brave boy, Tiggy sends a healing head kiss to him :Luv:
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Hope he get better quickly and gets lots of fuss & treats on the way! :ahh:
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What a brave boy and so pleased he managed to get home so he could be helped. He sounds so wonderful :ahh:
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BIG HEAD KISSES TO DILLON AGAN TODAY FOR A SPEEDY RECOVERY LOVE FROM ME AND ALL MY BABIES
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Here's a photo of Dillon feeling sorry for himself, and still not got the hang of keeping the litter in the tray yet
[attachment deleted by admin]
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What a brave and handsome boy ;D
Concerning the litter, I think it will be a while before he can do it cos he probably is having a problem with that leg when it comes to doing litter.
Ducha my 3 legged cat tries so hard to cover up but he just cant get the right place.
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What a brave and handsome boy ;D
He certainly is! How is Dillon today, Liz?
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;D ;D Dillon had his check-up with the vet this am. and when the vet put him on the floor to evaluate how he was moving he tried jumping up onto the counter! Vet had to catch him in mid air so he didn't damage leg when he landed. Don't know who was more shocked - me, the vet or Dillon :wow:, but needless to say all the signs are very positive - vet said any worse injury and it would have been an amputation job, so to be attempting a jump 3 days after surgery is wonderful, if a little foolish. (although he'd had the painkillers about 90 mins earlier so they would have been in full effect) Hopefully the staples can come out next weekend.
Next trial is to explain to him why his food has got to be decreased while he's in the cage & not exercising - already over 6.5Kg, (big cat, not fat!), otherwise I'd have a Garfield on my hands by the end of the month.
Only problem Dillon has is a bit of constipation, - vet prescribed lactulose, but said the dosage can be a bit hit and miss, so not looking forward to the litter tray tomorrow
Digby his brother is still skirting round the living room as far from crate as possible, but vet said Dillon is probably giving off cat signals that say "touch me, I'll rip your head off".
Anyway, early days yet - Dillon is definately on a Metacam induced roller-coaster, good for a few hours after taking it, but sorry for himself by evening. Will keep you all posted.
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Bless Dillon's heart :hug: He sounds to be making excellent progress and he was obviously at the front of the queue when they were handing out fighting spirit, wasn't he?
Sounding good, keep us posted...
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Oh bless him, I can see why you call him your 'chicken leg' boy now! Glad to hear he's coming along OK, please keep us posted with his progress ;D
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Aww, I am glad he seems to be doing well, and fingers crossed he proves the vet wrong - you will have to watch his weight for the rest of his life though, if that leg wont be as strong, to make sure it doesn't cause any issues later in life.
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Well yesterday was Dillon's first day without the Metacam painkiller, and he wasn't too happy (a dose every other day now). Let him out of his cage this am. just for a few minutes and he appears to be using the leg less now than a few days ago, although maybe the drugs hadn't kicked in. On the outside he's healing up very nicely, and even where he's removed a couple of staples himself the skin is holding together well, but I am anxious that he is reluctant to bare any weight on the poorly leg :( . He still managed to jump up onto the sofa though but looked very unstable kneeding my dressing gown with front paws whilst balancing on one back one ! I suppose it's early days yet.
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Well yesterday was Dillon's first day without the Metacam painkiller, and he wasn't too happy I suppose it's early days yet.
I think so and it must still be healing - and painful for the little chap. Why not ring your vet and discuss your observations? Meanwhile, hugs to brave Dillon.
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I too would have a quick chat with the vet, he can tell you if it is normal for this time in his recovery.
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Poor Dillon, I agree with Desley.
Its very hard for a cat with a badly injured leg and Desley has a lot of experience with a cat whose leg was very painful for ages. I think a close eye needs to be kept on Dillon by you cos you know him the best and can tell how he is reacting compared to normal.
As Desley knows there sometimes comes to a time when the vet has to be told that none stop pain is not acceptable to the quality of life.........I not talking pts here you understand.
I really hope that Dillon heals up well on the inside too and that he becomes pain free very soon. Cats do heal so much better than us slaves. :hug: :hug:
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:scared: :( As I suspected yesterday, Dillon has somehow managed to undo the internal repair to his leg so will be undergoing another anaesthetic and x-rays tomorrow morning to determin the next course of action. So my brave little boy is spending another night at the vets and I'll spend another day worrying myself stupid (and no doubt stuffing my face with chocolate...)
The vet has said this is "uncharted territory" for him, so my baby is now playing guinea pig. I have every faith in my vet, but wish he was in a position to state probable outcome.
Anyway, it's great knowing that best wishes are winging their way to Dillon. :thanks: Thank you for all your support
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Poor little Dillon. I'll have everything crossed for the brave little soul tomorrow. He's such a fighter, he'll be less upset than you are :hug:
It'll be OK, hun - keep us posted.
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Sending lots of positive vibes Dillons way, try not to worry too much.
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Dillon has been under the knife again today, as the original surgery had broken down because the skin that the internal stitches were in was so badly damaged that it has died away so everything had come adrift in his knee again. Anyway, a double repair has now been done, he's staying at vets overnight, and should be back home tomorrow. Apparently he's being very well behaved for the vet nurses, but he did hiss at the vet yesterday - first time I'd ever heard him hiss in 9 years - he's more of a growler. He is very very sore though and will be for many days.
Fingers crossed this time he'll be ok. Was feeling very positive until I phoned my sister to tell her Dillon was OK, and found out her Cockatiel Zorba had died overnight, at 14 yrs he was a good age for a parrakeet, but it's still very sad.
Only other animal lovers can really appreciate how we feel when something happens to the non human members of our families, so all your good wishes have really helped the last week or so, and I'm sure many of you can appreciate how my little sis is feeling today.
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Poor Dillon - I'm so sorry to hear that he's going to be sore for a while yet. I wish him the speediest possible recovery.
I'm sorry to hear of your sister's loss.
:hug: :hug:
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What an awful time for you and your sister. I'm so sorry. I hope Dillon is better tomorrow. Poor lamb sounds like he has quite a bit to hiss about. all the best to you all.
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So sorry that Dillon needed another op but hopefully this time he will start to heal..............lots of healing vibes to you Mr Dillon
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Poor Dillon, give him an extra special healing head kiss from Tiggy when he comes home tomorrow. :hug: to your sister too...
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Hi all, not much of an update today as Dillon has been remanded at the vets until Monday. :'( Apparently there is some "oozing" from his second surgery wound which they need to monitor. By all accounts he's pretty calm & comfortable as he's doped up on painkillers :tired:, so it's just fingers crossed now that this repair has been successful.
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Fingers crossed for Dillon.
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Poor little Dillon, he's in the best place though. He'll need to stock up on cuddles and kisses on Monday to make up for the ones he has missed, Tiggy is sending another healing head kiss for him.
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Poor Dillon, do hope this ettles over the weekend :hug: :hug:
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Fingers crossed for him.
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Hi Liz
Have been off line for a couple days and just caught up.........
Sorry to hear your fur babies back in the vet. Its such an emotional rollercoaster with our babies isnt it. Little Dillon is in the best place (apart from with Mummy of course) Im sending get well vibes to little Dillon and a cyber hug to you
Head kisses from my gang to you too
xxxxxxx
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Hoping that Dillon is well enough to come home today
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:cheer: Dillon came home from vet today - and boy did he tell me off in the car for leaving him there since Wednesday! He seems ok, and has settled down in his cage once the initial round of head hugs was over. Purring so loud he could be heard at the other end of the phone - and I was 3ft or so away from him. So it's just a case of take each day as it comes now. Vets again on Thursday (wish me luck getting him back in the cat carrier :Nooooo:). Back on that Metacam induced roller coaster for him, but at least I might get a decent nights sleep knowing he should be on the mend now.
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So pleased Dillon is back home and that he still loves you ;D ;D
I do hope that he heals this time and then he will not be in so much pain. Big purrs from Sasa and Misa ;D
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Glad the little fella's home again :hug: and wishing him the speediest recovery now.
:Luv:
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Awww thats fantastic news. I bet he feels like a million dollars being home with Mummy again....big head kisses from my babies for a speedy recovery and I hope you have a lovely nights sleep knowing he is at home with you
Get well you handsome chap
xxxxxxx
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So pleased he is back home, Tiggy sends a healing head kiss his way :Luv:
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Poor old Dillon is back at the vets again.. :'( He just wasn't right yesterday, and did not eat much, so did not get his painkillers (mixed in with food). During the afternoon he seemed to lose bladder control and was "leaking" onto his bedding. He was very distressed trying to lick himself clean. Anyway, he's back in the vets now, they said his bladder was completely full, so they are not sure if it's a blockage, or if his leg is just too painful for him to use litter tray so he's just trying to "not go". Hopefully he'll be better this morning, otherwise it's another sedation so he can be cathiterised (sp?). Poor lad did look very sorry for himself. He even didn't make a fuss when I put him in the cat carrier - just let me pick him up on his blanket - absoluitely unheard of.
Fingers crossed this can be sorted without any more invasive procedures. :(
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Aww, poor Dillon, he certainly does seem to be having a rough time of things. Fingers crossed this latest incident is nothing too serious, and you can start to get him back on the road to recovery.
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Poor Dillon :'( my heart goes out to him. Please let us know what the vet says later...
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Just spoke to vets again - Dillon had to have yet another anaesthetic (4th since November, 3rd one in last 2 wks) and has been cathiterised, with a drip bag to collect the urine - apparently it's strapped to his tail and he's not too amused about it. I'll be going to visit him this evening once he's properly come round from the sedation, as the vets hope it will cheer him up enough to get him to eat. :waiting:
Bless him, I wish I could do more and wish there was a real life Dr Doolittle who could explain to him why Mummy had abandoned him to the mercy of the men and women in green coats so often recently. :(
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Poor Dillon, I feel so sorry for both of you. Has the vet said what the recovery time will be from the original op and whether he will have a painfree time after?
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Me again ! Been to visit Dillon this evening, and he has cheered up considerably since yesterday - does not look comfortable with the curly cathiter sellotaped to his tail though. Good news is that whilst I was there he did eat a little food. He will be staying at vets until at least Monday (48 hrs with the cathiter in place, then 48 hrs monitoring once it is removed). Apparently a bladder infection was just starting so he's had antibiotics for that, Still no wiser as to why the bladder had filled up so much - no crystals in urine, and no blockage - could just be too painful to squat, or he could just be objecting to using the litter tray - he has been known not to poo for a fortnight when I've left him in a cattery for annual holiday!
OH and my eldest daughter will be visiting him tomorrow so hopefully they will have some good news.
On a positive note he seems to be putting a little weight onto the poorly leg, although it's already looking very thin from muscle loss due to no exercise. At least by the time he comes home the leg should be more stable. The nurses have commented on what a well behaved & good natured cat he is, as if he knows they are trying to help him.
Keeping everything crossed (as is Dillon !) that this will be the last saga in this story and I can bring him home soon & start the long road to recovery on his rear leg.
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My heart goes out to both of you poor little man :( :( :( :( :( :( Hope they get to the bottom of it and can keep him sedated enough to keep him pain free. Its probably because of his leg hurting that he is reluctant to use the tray :hug: :hug: Tom was the same for 2 days
Please give him a kiss from me when you see him and head kisses from all of my fur babies
get well vibes to him from us all and
Thomas asked me to tell you Dillon knows he is only there with the green jacket people to help him get better and if it wasnt for you being such a lovely Mummy he would still have a full bladder.......and asked me to send you a head kiss from him
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Brave little Dillon. Sending healing thoughts to him tonight...
:Luv:
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Poor Dillon, hope they can sort him out at the vets this time and he comes home for good on Monday! Healing head kiss from Tiggy coming his way :Luv:
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How is Dillon today?
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:hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: to Dillon
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Dillon seems to be on the mend so they are going to take cathiter out tomorrow am. and monitor for 24 hrs, so he may be coming home Saturday. Apparently they've been out and dug some soil up to entice him to use the litter tray, but obviously it will be harder to detect if his bladder is back to normal without constant watching - guess that may be a job for the kids on Saturday!
By all accounts he's fairly cheerful and is eating properly again. They're going to discharge him with some vallium (can I have some too....) so that he gets less stressed about using the tray. They seem very pleased with the progress he is making with his leg too and are planning on taking stitches out on Monday My brave little boy. My daughter has reminded me that with all this fuss I've missed Dillon and Digby's birthday (they were 9 on Valentines's day) so I'll have some extra grovelling to do when he comes home. Nothing a few treats and cuddles can't sort out though.
Most of my friends (although I have to question that title now) think I'm mad, as this round of vets bills has been over £1600, but my pets are members of my family and I'd do everything in my power to enable as full a life as possible. Grrrr...... some people just don't understand do they. Car repairs can cost people thousands, and I bet they never get questioned as to whether it's worth it, others spend much much more just to lie on a beach for a couple of weeks. I've had (so far) 9 years x 52 weeks of unquestioning love from my fur babies, how could I not repay that when they need me most?...I think I'm the one with the right priorities....
Now I'll get off my soap box and say Thanks again for all your best wishes, I'm sure the positive healing thoughts are keeping Dillon's spirits up, as they are mine.
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Yes I think you are right about the friends bit and the costs.
I am so pleased that Dillon is now doing so well and as the leg gets less painful I am sure he will strt using the tray agin.
Digging up soil LOL, they care and thats what matters :hug: :hug:
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I am glad he is doing well, and fingers crossed he will just continue to improve now.
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I'm really pleased to hear that Dillon's on the mend. What a trooper he is!
others spend much much more just to lie on a beach for a couple of weeks.
You are right, people have weird priorities :(...
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Liz thats fantastic positive news I'm so pleased for you. both you and Dillon deserve to have the courage of the month award.... what a brave little soldier. :hug: :hug: :hug:
I back you up 100% as far as some SO CALLED FRIENDS are concerned. I always have got the same response when my friends find out how much a year I spend in vets bills. They are all my babies and would spend my last penny on them just like you. I wouldn't buy some of my so called friends a prescription from the doctors
look forward to hearing about him coming home Monday and having the bet birthday party at home with Mummy and family
kisses Dillon and head kisses from my babies
xxxxxxx
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Thrilled to hear that Dillon is on the mend.
Liz I love that soap box of yours :)
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Woohoo.....Dillon came home late this afternoon, and he did a wee within 5 minutes of being back here. Phoned vets to let them know, and apparently the vet jumped for joy! Small things I know, but he had not "been" since cathiter was removed yesterday morning so it was looking like another anaesthetic and re-cathiterization tomorrow. Have bought him a mega-sized litter tray, so perhaps that helped as he can get his poorly leg comfy. He's obviously very doped up - metacam, valium and synolux, so is having a good sleep now. He's also been treated to re-carpetting of his cage with vet-bed so he's all snuggley.
I get to stay at home and look after him tomorrow (instead of Sunday lunch at the Outlaws....) so it's all good......
:heeee heeee:
Stitches out on Monday, so fingers crossed we can move forward now. It's been a very stressful couple of weeks, and I swear I've got a few more grey hairs appear. As long as my boy is ok, that's what matters though. ;D ;D ;D
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Brilliant news about Dillon, Liz, you must be so relieved.
And what an excellent side-effect, missing the old outlaws :evillaugh:
:hug: to Dillon and you
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Oh bless his heart. Im so pleased he managed to have a dignified pee himself woohoooooooooooooooo clever baby
What a lovely bonus though having to miss the outlaws :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
keep on the mend little man
xxxxxx
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I am so pleased for Dillon and hope that he continues to improve.........little things are so special ;D
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Aww, I do hope that things continue to improve now for him, bless him.
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Excellent news