Lucy's going to the vet

xocats

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Poor little sweetie is going to have a rough few days with her e-collar & shunt.
I am send you both lots of calming vibes that Lucy's tortitude stays under control while she heals.

Lucy
 

trouts mom

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Vet stuff is the worst for our babies isn't it?? Poor little Lucy, I feel her and your pain..

I think I cry almost everytime I bring Trout to the vet....I feel like she thinks I'm taking her away forever.
 
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katachtig

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Well I'm off to the vet. So soon she will be home (but then we abandon her because I have to help my mom move).

If she stops hating us after all this, I will be very happy.
 
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katachtig

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Ok - we're not doing really well here. Lucy keeps getting out of the e-collar. I had to put a post under Health and Nutrition about alternatives. Somehow we have to get through the next few days.
 

starryeyedtiger

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If you look on her e-collar, there are grooves at the bottom of it (holes). put a collar on her. Then put a zip tie or string (make sure ends are cut off so she can't mess with them....put the strings through the holes in the e-collar and tie each hole to the collar- no way that baby will get out of it
works like a charm everytime!
...make sure the collars are the right size though
pm me if you have any questions
 

stormy

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Sending lots of get well vibes to Lucy.
 
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katachtig

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First of thanks for all of the support.
I'm going to vent a little so you don't have to keep reading. This morning has not gone well. Last night took me several times to get her pill into her so my husband said he would do it this morning. He got mad at her because she just wouldn't cooperate and yelled at her. I know that he would never harm any of them but yelling doesn't help either. So I ended up pilling her after several attempts. I wrapped her up in a blanket but it is still difficult to get that mouth open and get the pill in. Then I had to give her her pain meds and those have to go along the gum line. I really don't know how much she even got.

I'm just getting so darn frustrated with her. She won't leave the e-collar on. I tried tying it to a regular collar but she got out of that. I may try to tighten the regular collar but I can't make it too tight. So right now I'm sitting here watching her to make sure that she doesn't go after the shunt. I can barely medicate her. I just don't know how we are going to make it through the next few days.

And to top it off she has been the most loving purr box there ever was. I feel like I'm letting her down.
 

willie'slove

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Trust me, I can relate!

Willie had his E collar and he HATED it. It actually made him depressed, and it was sad to watch him. Some times, he got it caught on the corner of his litter box, and then, couldn't figure out how to get un-stuck!

His medicine was also a problem. Dont, worry, they get used to it after a while. You should try though to have one person who always does the medicine! If its pills, just stick it right in the back of his thought, so he can't spit it out (although you might get some chomps!), and if it's liquid, in a droper thing, hold his head up, put a finger inbetween his lips, stick it in there, and relee the liquid.

It's tough, I know, I've been there, and I was so glad when it was all over.

As for the infection, be very careful with that. I'm not sure where his is, but Willie's was RIGHT next to the abdoman, and not to scare you, this is what made him have such a high chance of not making it! But don't worry, he made it!

What you might want to do is apply some bedidine, then water, then bacitracine 1-3 times a day. Have one person hold his legs down (they get used to it more and more as the days go by), and you do it! Watch out, because it gonna sting them. Willie had an open wound, witha n infection It seems just like what Lucy (please don't mind if ive beencalling her a he the whole time!) has. Ask your vet if this seems suitable for her.

I hope I could help, and I am wishing all the best luck possible. Remember, Willie did it. That means Lucy can, too! Great luck!
 

kluchetta

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When we had to medicate 9 cats all at once, the vet showed the girls who were helping us how to do a 2-person hold. One holds the cat facing away from them with your hand scruffing their neck, I believe...Then the other person has both hands to open the mouth and pill. OR the person who is holding the cat can hold under the jaw and pop it open for the piller. I hope that works a little better. Have you tried treats after? I used to give deli turkey afterwards, and they would jump on my lap just to get it over with. The other thing cats can't resist is KFC - so you could bribe her with that...
 
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katachtig

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Ok - the evening is going better. I went and got a halter and now use velcro cable ties to tie it to the e-collar. That seems to stay on. We didn't Lucy have any food for about two hours before her pill so she ate it in a pill pocket. Jeff was able to slowly give her pain meds so I think we will be ok.

I just won't allow her any food tonight and maybe tomorrow she will eat her pill again. That is so much easier.

She is doing well with the halter so maybe we will try a leash when she gets better.
 

AbbysMom

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Poor Lucy
I'm glad to hear things are going slightly better.
 
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katachtig

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Ok - little Houdini was just waiting until we were out of site. This morning she was running around naked again. I think she just squirms on her back right out of anything.

The pilling went better as we didn't leave her any food overnight. She ate that pill right up.
And we've done the last pain meds stuff in her gum.

So I need to look into whether we can wrap her abdomen because the collar just aint working.
 

laureen227

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Originally Posted by katachtig

Ok - little Houdini was just waiting until we were out of site. This morning she was running around naked again. I think she just squirms on her back right out of anything.

The pilling went better as we didn't leave her any food overnight. She ate that pill right up.
And we've done the last pain meds stuff in her gum.

So I need to look into whether we can wrap her abdomen because the collar just aint working.
you might can make her a 'onesie' but you'll need something that has arms/legs or else she'll just push it off. she's a real houdini, isn't she?
maybe make her a little onesie out of a couple of tube socks?
 
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katachtig

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SUCCESS!!!



I tightened the halter and attached the e-collar to it last night. This morning she was STILL wearing it. If that hadn't happened, I was going to have to take her to the vet and have them watch her until her appointment tomorrow. Unfortunately I have to go into work today so she will spend most of the day in the e-collar. I was able to spend yesterday at home with her so she spent the day out of the collar. (there were a couple of times I put the collar on because she was wanting to bother her shunt - but they were short durations).

Didn't leave her any food again so she was hungry this morning so she ate her pill right up. I'm just loving Pill Pockets.
 
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katachtig

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Yesterday did not go as well. The e-collar popped open so she was strapped to it and dragging it around. Before going to bed, I readjusted it so she had it on last night. The shunt must be really bothering her because I took it off this morning to give her a breather and she just kept going after it. She is back in the e-collar. Not a happy camper here.

Good news is that she took her pill without a problem. I will be taking her into the vet today to have her shunt looked at. Hopefully we can remove that. More news tonight.
 
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