My poor Angelo is between 8 and 12 weeks old. I just rescued him after he was thrown from a car and left to die. He recovered from his injuries. This evening around 9 p.m, I slammed my bedroom door shut (it doesn't latch if you don't), and my sweet boy got slammed in it! He flopped on the ground and started kicking his back legs frantically. I rushed to the 24 hour emergency vet, and they did xrays. His 10th 11th and 12th ribs are fractured, and they said there's a possible traction issue. They are keeping him for a couple days to see how he does, but that if he doesn't urinate on his own he will have to put to sleep. I don't believe this. There has to be more that can be done. I feel like the worst person on the face of the planet. Does anyone have any experience with this? I can't lose this little guy. I'm ridiculously attached to him.
-
Too many ads? Join our community of cat lovers now to reduce ads by 90%! Click here to join for free!
Kitten In Emergency Vet
- Thread starter kittymama9
- Start Date
Oh goodness, what a terrible accident. I'm so sorry.
Gorram it all, but kittens can just be so sneaky!
I know you are probably just feeling so very anxious, but all you can do at this point is wait and see if he pulls out of it.
Crossing fingers, sending vibes...
Gorram it all, but kittens can just be so sneaky!
I know you are probably just feeling so very anxious, but all you can do at this point is wait and see if he pulls out of it.
Crossing fingers, sending vibes...
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #3
Thank you. I've just been to see him. He's alert and eating. But they said his blood work came back with high levels of NaCl in it, which she said is not concurrent with this accident. She believes its from a previous injury, which I guess could be from when he was thrown from the vehicle, but my vet ran his blood work and it came back clear. That was 3 weeks ago, and hes had no problems since then except for last night. They have him on an IV that is supposed to slowly and safely lower his levels, but he still has use of his back legs. They said he could be permanently paralyzed. They keep suggesting euthanizing him, but I can't help but feel there has to be more options for him?
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #4
Oops, I meant he has no use of his back legs. He can feel them but can't walk.
So sorry to hear about Angelo.
There are options; but, you have to weigh the pros and cons and consider Angelo's quality of life.
1.) If he is unable to urinate on his own, you can learn to manually express his bladder. Being unable to do it himself will put him at a higher risk of developing UTIs and bladder infections. I would work with a pet nutritionist and your vet to determine the best diet for Angelo (likely a canned only diet.)
2.) If he is paralyzed, a specialist can build him a custom apparatus (a modified wheel chair for cats) that would allow him to get around and would keep his rear legs from dragging (and help prevent pressure sores.) You will need to monitor his legs to make sure there is proper blood flow and get any pressure sores addressed in a timely manner to prevent infection.
Is there an animal rehabilitation clinic close to you? Your kitten might greatly benefit from laser therapy, hydrotherapy, etc...
Being a kitten is in his favor as there is a chance he could gain some function back over time.
There are options; but, you have to weigh the pros and cons and consider Angelo's quality of life.
1.) If he is unable to urinate on his own, you can learn to manually express his bladder. Being unable to do it himself will put him at a higher risk of developing UTIs and bladder infections. I would work with a pet nutritionist and your vet to determine the best diet for Angelo (likely a canned only diet.)
2.) If he is paralyzed, a specialist can build him a custom apparatus (a modified wheel chair for cats) that would allow him to get around and would keep his rear legs from dragging (and help prevent pressure sores.) You will need to monitor his legs to make sure there is proper blood flow and get any pressure sores addressed in a timely manner to prevent infection.
Is there an animal rehabilitation clinic close to you? Your kitten might greatly benefit from laser therapy, hydrotherapy, etc...
Being a kitten is in his favor as there is a chance he could gain some function back over time.
i'm sorry sorry your lil guy had this accident.
is he able to urinate and poop on his own? if not, i found this video about how to express a paralytic cats bladder (i think they talk about how to help kitty poop too) --
as long as your boy isn't going to be suffering/in constant pain or is unable to recover to some extent, and if you're willing and able to care for him with some special needs (like helping him express his bladder a few times each day and helping him eliminate his poop) i would say it may be possible for your boy to have a good life.
- Joined
- Apr 7, 2014
- Messages
- 432
- Purraise
- 99
Sorry hard to post on my phone. Dont give up yet. I would get him to an orthopedic specialist. Never keep a cat at a vet that wants to euth.. Nerve damage can take weeks to heal. I wouldn't be that concerned with the sodium. Did he have any head trauma?. MRI would be best but costly.if you put a kitten in a room with a broken one they will heal.
My heart is breaking for you and Angelo. I am just so sorry. It was an accident you know. My one year old is always underfoot and I frequently have shut doors on her. This is so very sad. Search your heart for the most compassionate answer for Angelo.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #9
Thank you so much for all the information and kind words. As of right now he is unable to urinate on his own. He did poop, but they said it could just be because his anus is relaxed. The veterinary hospital he is at right now does offer rehabilitation, although they haven't suggested it. They did want to do an MRi, but said he would have to be transferred into Cornell for that, and that it would cost $3000 and might not even tell us anything. I'm already in over $5000. I would be willing to care for a paralyzed cat, its just that I have 8 other cats running around as well as 2 dogs, and I would hate to have to keep him confined to one room for his safety. I feel as though he wouldn't be able to be happy because he would want to run and play as kittens do, and he would be miserable that way. I don't want to lose him though. They keep saying there is a chance he could recover over time, but how long do I wait before I say okay, he's not getting better, I have to make the decision? This is my fault, and I won't give up on him if he has any sort of chance at life. My heart is just shattered. I'm going to school to become a vet, and now I feel like I don't have the right to try and save animals after what happened. I keep wishing that this is a really bad dream. I can't sleep or eat, I'm just sick over this.
This link includes a video you should watch http://www.iwillhelpyourcat.com/blog/2014/8/28/zack-vs-illness-it-aint-over-til-its-over It's from a vet that is a member here. The circumstances are different, this kitty is 19 years old with several health issues and he was able to urinate on his own. A 19 year old cat isn't going to have the recovery abilities that a kitten has. There is hope for recovery.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #11
Just thought I'd update everyone on my little boy. His sodium and electrolyte levels are back to where they need to be. However he's still not peeing on his own. When I went to see him tonight, he was sitting up and tried crawling toward me when I opened his cage. He purred and rubbed his head on my hand, and he played hide and go seek with my fingers. I did try to carefully stimulate his back feet a bit, and he could definitely feel me. He looked at my fingers and his little legs twitched a little. Its like he wants so badly to get up and walk, he just can't figure out how. After my visit this evening, I have made the decision to try and care for him as best as I can, and do everything in my power to give him a chance to recover. I read in another post on here that an animal will tell you with its eyes when its time. All I see in Angelo's eyes are a will to live, and to fight. Who am I to take that from him when he has a chance? I'm going to have to do a lot of research, and I'll be talking with the vets some more, but I want to give my baby a shot at life.
Last edited:
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #12
ry
This made me sob like a baby. Not because its sad, but because it gave me hope. It also showed me that I'm not the only one willing to go to the ends of the earth for an animal. Thank you!
@KittyMama9 -- i'm so glad that your angelo has such a strong will to live and enjoy life as it is!
he's very young, so he would grow up having adjusted to his legs not functioning properly. but he may yet regain some use of his legs.
i really like @Quiet's thought of angelo having another kitten to help motivate him to try to use his legs more, maybe even eventually walk again -- for when he comes back home. at the very least, he'll have another kitten to enjoy playing with, and at the most the two will become best buddies. i don't think cats think the same way as humans about physical limitations. for example, (the cat) homer in gwenn cooper's book 'homer's odyssey' who is blind. homer never let the fact that he's a special needs cat stop him from learning, or playing, or just enjoying life.
he's very young, so he would grow up having adjusted to his legs not functioning properly. but he may yet regain some use of his legs.
i really like @Quiet's thought of angelo having another kitten to help motivate him to try to use his legs more, maybe even eventually walk again -- for when he comes back home. at the very least, he'll have another kitten to enjoy playing with, and at the most the two will become best buddies. i don't think cats think the same way as humans about physical limitations. for example, (the cat) homer in gwenn cooper's book 'homer's odyssey' who is blind. homer never let the fact that he's a special needs cat stop him from learning, or playing, or just enjoying life.
okay-so probably he was already in bad shape before the door incident.And begging your pardon,but people that have had
these kind of experiences make the very best veterienarians.Because when you love,and attempt to help someone that cant help themself,
hey I think thats what advanced species are supposed to do.You know we get caught up in always being right,always succeeding.
Maybe just helping this little creature is sufficient,as long as he is willing to give it a shot.
these kind of experiences make the very best veterienarians.Because when you love,and attempt to help someone that cant help themself,
hey I think thats what advanced species are supposed to do.You know we get caught up in always being right,always succeeding.
Maybe just helping this little creature is sufficient,as long as he is willing to give it a shot.
- Joined
- Apr 7, 2014
- Messages
- 432
- Purraise
- 99
Hi
Think I was misquoted. I don't think he should be anywhere but in a cage for now until at least a month. You don't want him dragging himself all over the place if there is swelling near his spinal cord. It can make things much worse. He needs to be very quiet for now with no running jumping or playing. His litter box should be at ground level and have regular litter or shredded paper in it. If you use clumping you will wind up with a clay cat. Food and water bowls should be velcroed to the floor of the cage and you might want to also try a rabbit water bottle as a back up as long as it is low enough for him to reach it. You can put the cage by a window so he has something to look out at during the day. Just make sure it isn't to hot during the day. Make sure that he gets pain medications and sedatives to go home so you can manage any kitten bursts. It is a big job to undertake but it can be done. Just remember that he is a kitten and he doesn't know what he can and cannot do and will injure himself more if he is left to his own devices. It is a month of hell but then it is over and you know you have tried your best. Don't worry about the kittens state of mind. He is a kitten, He won't get depressed. He will be fine and won't even remember the confinement later.
Think I was misquoted. I don't think he should be anywhere but in a cage for now until at least a month. You don't want him dragging himself all over the place if there is swelling near his spinal cord. It can make things much worse. He needs to be very quiet for now with no running jumping or playing. His litter box should be at ground level and have regular litter or shredded paper in it. If you use clumping you will wind up with a clay cat. Food and water bowls should be velcroed to the floor of the cage and you might want to also try a rabbit water bottle as a back up as long as it is low enough for him to reach it. You can put the cage by a window so he has something to look out at during the day. Just make sure it isn't to hot during the day. Make sure that he gets pain medications and sedatives to go home so you can manage any kitten bursts. It is a big job to undertake but it can be done. Just remember that he is a kitten and he doesn't know what he can and cannot do and will injure himself more if he is left to his own devices. It is a month of hell but then it is over and you know you have tried your best. Don't worry about the kittens state of mind. He is a kitten, He won't get depressed. He will be fine and won't even remember the confinement later.
oh, i hope i didn't misqoute you! maybe i wasn't clear in my reply -- i posted that i thought the idea of a second kitten to help angelo when he got home again would be a good idea, to give him another young one to play with/identify with and to possibly help angelo want to try to move around or walk. i meant when angelo is able to move around and play more, though i didn't write that. i'm sorry if i wasn't clear in my reply.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #17
Thank you again everyone. He's been moved from the emergency vet to my regular vet, just for the sake of cost. He was given his first laser therapy session today, which I've read can be greatly beneficial in cases like his. The only thing the vet seems really concerned with at this point is that he hasn't gained use of his bladder yet. She said if it doesn't come back by the end of the week then it probably never will. I made it clear to her that I had no problem expressing his bladder for him, she said that's fine, but that I can't do it for the rest of his life. I've read about all the risks involved; UTIs, stretched bladder walls, blockages, etc. While I've got a good grasp on the fact that he's at a higher risk, I was under the impression that if properly managed by the caregiver a cat having its bladder expressed every day could still live a full filling life? I refuse to think I'd have to put him to sleep just because he can't pee on his own? And is it true if his bladder's reflexes don't return by the end of the week they never will? I thought the recovery process could take much longer than that?
we actually had a dachsund who slipped discs,
Confinement,prednisone-yada yada.
she got better,family had to help her to go for awhile,eventually
she was able to pee and poop and walk! on her own.
Its been 7-8 years.Okay so you have to wait and see-maybe your baby wont be able to
survive,but you will know.
Confinement,prednisone-yada yada.
she got better,family had to help her to go for awhile,eventually
she was able to pee and poop and walk! on her own.
Its been 7-8 years.Okay so you have to wait and see-maybe your baby wont be able to
survive,but you will know.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #19
@smokem how long before she could go on her own?
- Joined
- Jul 6, 2014
- Messages
- 307
- Purraise
- 45
Don't put it down. I regret putting my boy down. I could have did more. Don't listen to these clown vets. It's putting, still got life in it, responding to, eating, it's still living and had more time. Keep going until YOU KNOW YOURSELF your baby had no quality time left . It's not your fault. Accidents happen. You're a good person for doing what you're doing. Helping the cat etc. Death is death. There is no coming back. So give the kitty whatever time it had left on this earth exactly that. Time. As long as it's comfortable and not in serious pain. Keep it alive.
I'm with you. Because a cat can't per on its on is that a reason to put it to sleep? Some vets have no idea what so ever. It's a living thing not a ******* toy that doesn't work properly.
I'm with you. Because a cat can't per on its on is that a reason to put it to sleep? Some vets have no idea what so ever. It's a living thing not a ******* toy that doesn't work properly.
