Just Trapped a Calico - taking for Surgery Tomorrow

to the Animal Samaritans - I can choose a pain med, either Rimadyl or Metacam - 

1.  Should I = it's $18.00 - that's not an issue, I don't want her in pain

2.  If I should, which pain med should I choose?

Not Metacam. There is a ton of information out there on why not to use it and some very knowledgable posters here that can fill you in on all the details as well. 

My feline vet specialist refuses to use Metacam. 

Good luck with the spay!

You don't want to use Rimadyl either. Like Metacam, it's an NSAID, and cats don't handle NSAIDs very well. Better pain med choices are Buprenex, tramadol, butorphanol or fentanyl.

First off - YAY for a successful trapping, Gloria and bless you for caring so much :heart3: NO METACAM>>>> and I wouldn't use Rimadyl either. It is safe for dog's but cat's I don't think so. I would ask the vet for something else for her pain. OR you don't have to use anything. I just keep them quiet for a few days before releasing them back outside. Good luck and keep us posted

okay, neither of the two choices that's given on the form meets the TCS Merit of Approval  , then - I'll ask for another, and if there's not another choice, I guess it's best just not to give her a pain med (ugh), and be better safe than sorry.  

Thanks for your immediate attention.  I just (10:47 pm) removed the food - that it looks like she didn't touch ??, and the litter pan.  I put a small bowl of water inside the trap, with a box that contains layers of paper towels.  I have to have her there at 7:30 a.m., and it's first come first serve.

She's not a happy camper, but is quiet.  She showed me she was really upset and got a little scrappy, poor little girl!

I'm going to get her chipped.  The Animal Samaritans will tip her ear, but, I am going to try and find a home for her and if I do she'll be chipped.  Even if I release her, and someone gets her, they'll find the chip (maybe) and contact me.  Well, that's the way I'm thinking right now. And while they have her "out", they can also run Felv and Fiv tests so I'll know if it's okay to let the other cats around her during her stay here.

 f

I've named her "Callee" - she has a quiet and warm place to spend the night, and is covered with a privacy towel. 

Okay, gotta go feed the other 8 before I get to bed.  

Thank you!!

Pain killers after surgery may be treacherous. The cat may feel it is just to move as usual.

While with no pain killers she takes it easy a couple of days. Which is exactly what is needed just after surgery.

So unless she isnt in excessive pains, pain killers are not necessary.

What is necessary is a nice, warm, dark, spot to be in, where she feels comfortable and safe.

StefanZ said:

Pain killers after surgery may be treacherous. The cat may feel it is just to move as usual.

While with no pain killers she takes it easy a couple of days. Which is exactly what is needed just after surgery.

So unless she isnt in excessive pains, pain killers are not necessary.

What is necessary is a nice, warm, dark, spot to be in, where she feels comfortable and safe.

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Thanks StefanZ - it's 6:30 a.m., and I was just checking my email for any updates before I left - and will probably opt out of the pain meds.  She will be in a "comfortable" and safe spot, as best I can.  Gotta go, thanks everyone!

CALLEE - You are a beautiful girl :love: :love: !!! Oh Gloria - she really is cute and I hope in time you can find her a home. Good luck with her spay and her tests today - let us know the results too :nod:

I dropped her off at 7:30 a.m., and go back to pick her up at 2 pm.

BTW - not a sound from her since she was trapped, and not a sound on the way over to the Vet in the car, wow!

I asked if they provided any other pain meds other than what's on the list.  I wasn't going to ask for them, but was curious. They don't.

They wouldn't chip her - because the "Feral Program" wouldn't allow.  They will only tip her ear.  It just makes sense to chip, if I release her, and someone else gets her, then they could contact me for history.  

I did ask that she be tested for FIV and FeLV.

The receptionist sort of questioned this request - I'm guessing it's kind of like as long as they don't know the cat is infected then there's no decisions about life or death??  

So, without testing the Feral-born, they just get released without knowing their health status - they just know that their reproducing days are over. (?)

She said that once Callee is tested - if positive - then I can decide what to do.  I guess I'm a little "raw" on this subject and responded that this disease isn't automatically a death sentence.  I told her I have two cats - one with FIV, and the other with FeLV, now living inside and doing just fine.  (I think her eyes might have rolled just a little ... Not  )  Of course if she is positive, it causes extra effort on our parts as we share the house now divided into Zones.  - but, there's really no choice IMO. 

I sort of think that the Feral-born lifestyle actually keeps them healthy from these diseases laying claim to their health - but then - the question is -really- are they really that contagious out in the "Wild" ???.  There's so little known about these viruses.

She will get the rabies vaccine.

Now to find a place for her recovery.  I had her in the laundry room, which is ideal - but I need to do laundry and ...  .   I'm thinking I'll put her into the tub - it has sliding doors, and I'd be able to put the litter pan in the tub, etc..

Okay, gotta go and tend to the other little darlings. 

Yes, I am very reluctant to release her, and will try to find her a loving home. 

She's back - and she tested negative for FIV and FeLV.  

A Little Venting - kindly excuse please:

They rushed me out the door as they gave me instructions on paper.  I tried to ask about the instructions - like - but she's Feral born - how do I inspect the stitches?  "Oh, those instructions aren't for Callee, but for other cats," she said. ??? Shssssh. 

The instructions say she shouldn't have water until after 8 pm?  Callee has been in that trap since about 5 pm yesterday - and hasn't eaten, except for a little food when she was getting trapped (thank goodness for that).  I don't know about the water - most of it got spilled.

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The documents say she is 6 lbs.  They gave her Nobivac: 3-Rabies CA, Producer: Schering-Plough - anyone know what the "3-Rabies" means?  The Certificate says the vaccination expires 1/17/2013. Does it mean the age - i.e. 3 months?

All-in-all - I think we're doing okay -  I'm leaving her alone as she recovers, although I really like to offer her water.

Thanks for your input and suggestions. I'm sooo happy that she tested negative for the FIV, and FeLV!!!  What a major relief.

GloriaJH said:

They gave her Nobivac: 3-Rabies CA, Producer: Schering-Plough - anyone know what the "3-Rabies" means?  The Certificate says the vaccination expires 1/17/2013.

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That's a 3 year rabies vax. It does NOT "expire" in 2013, it's good for AT LEAST 3 years but most likely for the life of the cat. Individual state laws may vary and I'm not sure what it is in California, but if it were my cat I most certainly wouldn't be vaccinating annually with a 3 yr vaccine. Vets that do should be drawn and quartered. http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/rabies-vaccine-labeling/

Sugarcatmom said:

That's a 3 year rabies vax. It does NOT "expire" in 2013, it's good for AT LEAST 3 years but most likely for the life of the cat. Individual state laws may vary and I'm not sure what it is in California, but if it were my cat I most certainly wouldn't be vaccinating annually with a 3 yr vaccine. Vets that do should be drawn and quartered. http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/rabies-vaccine-labeling/

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I was afraid that's what was given.  It's hard to believe that the SPCA is so far behind on stuff.

I'm getting the rope.  Too graphic to think of the rest of that Sentence. 

I am one that leans towards the idea that the first dose of vaccine is the last vaccine given - if any is given.

I wish I could have afforded taking her to my regular vet, but couldn't.

So glad to hear Callee is back and recovering tonight. It just burns me up these vets And drug companies in bed together working to make as much money off of vaccines as they can. That is a three year rabies and she will be immune for life now. We won't get into a vaccine debate.... But really it is just awful how people trust the vets and keep vaccinating their pets unnecessarily and at the risk of their pets health too . There are more and more vets getting wise to the fact that most repeat vaccines are not needed but there are many who won't admit it. It brings them new clients and much business.

Anyway..... I hope dear Callee will recover easily and quickly as I am sure she will. AND for NEGATIVE test results :bigthumb:.. Keep us posted

Feralvr said:

So glad to hear Callee is back and recovering tonight. It just burns me up these vets And drug companies in bed together working to make as much money off of vaccines as they can. That is a three year rabies and she will be immune for life now. We won't get into a vaccine debate.... But really it is just awful how people trust the vets and keep vaccinating their pets unnecessarily and at the risk of their pets health too

. There are more and more vets getting wise to the fact that most repeat vaccines are not needed but there are many who won't admit it. It brings them new clients and much business.
Anyway..... I hope dear Callee will recover easily and quickly as I am sure she will. AND

for NEGATIVE test results

.. Keep us posted

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We're singing the same song about vaccines, I'm sure!  The Gray family - all four of them were altered by the same organization (SPCA-Animal Samaritans)
- so, from what I'm hearing - they, too, are immunized for Rabies for life.  Interesting.  I think my current vet, Dr. Jessica Young,  is one that is more current on the pros and cons of vaccines - at least she listens to my concerns and is willing to comply with my decisions.  The practice seems to be a head of the curve here, but this kind of good care also is a little pricier.    If Callee needs medical care - she'll be going to my regular vet.

So far I don't think she's touched her food or water - haven't put a litter pan inside the trap yet, she has a diaper-like paper in the bottom of the trap - from the hospital, and an old towel she's laying on which will be okay for the night, I guess.  Tomorrow I'll figure out what else I can do for her to help her be more comfortable.   Poor little sweetie.  

I'd love to be cuddling her right now, but that's the last thing she'd agree to.     

Bless you Gloria! Callie is a beautiful cat. I hope you decide to find her a home. She sounds so sweet too. I wish I were closer, I would love to adopt her myself.

lorindaleigh said:

 She sounds so sweet too. I wish I were closer, I would love to adopt her myself.

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Perhaps you can?  For buyers of pure breds kittens it is no big deal to get kittens across the country. So it shouldnt be impossible for other cats too.  I mean, the transport companies are fairly used to this, even if you cant fetch her yourself.

Sending to / from foreing countries is somewhat tricky, much paperwork and so. But inside one country?

Of course you do have surely nice moggies needing good adoption home much nearer your home. At maximum 2 hours driwing or less.

Well, I'm definitely not keen on releasing her - although, she may have a family here in the neighborhood that just let her out at night?  So, these decisions are always difficult - but then - if they were easy then we wouldn't be getting stressed over them, huh!? 

I live in Southern CA where a lot of people from a different culture live around me, and whoever had her (if someone did) either didn't know she was about to get pregnant, or didn't care about such things?? Many folks are just plain naive about animals, so I try not to be too harsh about their lack of actions when it comes to getting their pets altered.

This morning, around 6:15 a.m., I was awakened with the sound of a new voice in the house.  I went to check on Callee, and sure enough she was speaking out for the very first time since I've had her.  

I am not a morning person, but - this little girl needed my attention, so I went about trying to figure out how I could help her.  

Her trap/cage hadn't had the towels or liners changed since I brought her home - I didn't want to stress her out by fiddling with stuff last night.

So, for the time being, basically all I did was put her litter pan inside the cage.  She also seemed to be quieted by the visit of our older, and very loving, cat - KiKi.  He was purr talking to Callee - really sweet.



The KiKi Family:  KiKi is the Black one, with his younger family members, Phoebe (Calico), and Simon

After I was more awake this morning I took out all the older liners, etc., and made her new boxes to lay in, lined with soft shop towels.  Fortunately the trap is a larger one, has both ends that open, and I have a fork-like divider that I can contain her in one end while working on the other.  She had been in the litter pan, but didn't notice any deposits. I put in fresh water, and some dry Taste of the Wild food.  

She climbed into the new box with higher sides - more private now - and is in there right now.

I'll have to be moving the cage later - I really need to do laundry!!,   but will wait until later after she's been able to sleep a while and do some more healing.  She looks really really good - the surgeon team must have done a great job - that's one good thing I can say about this organization.  

I'm so glad I had her tested for FIV and FeLV because of the relief of not having to separate her from the rest of the cats!!  This is BIG for me. 

GloriaJH said:

The documents say she is 6 lbs.  They gave her Nobivac: 3-Rabies CA, Producer: Schering-Plough - anyone know what the "3-Rabies" means?  The Certificate says the vaccination expires 1/17/2013. Does it mean the age - i.e. 3 months?

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The expiration date is most likely the date the vaccine expires (becomes less effective). The 3 means this vaccine is supposed to provide immunity for 3 years, as long as it's given before the expiration date.

This is a chart I found - thing is - the drug company is not the one on the prescription?

http://www.cdph.ca.gov/HealthInfo/discond/Documents/Rabies/2012-Approved-Rabies-Vaccines.pdf

I tried to put a copy of the chart here, but ... ANYway, the chart shows what vaccines are approved by California, along with ages to be administered, etc.

GloriaJH said:

This is a chart I found - thing is - the drug company is not the one on the prescription?
http://www.cdph.ca.gov/HealthInfo/discond/Documents/Rabies/2012-Approved-Rabies-Vaccines.pdf

I tried to put a copy of the chart here, but ... ANYway, the chart shows what vaccines are approved by California, along with ages to be administered, etc.

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I guess Pfizer bought Shering-Plough: http://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/25/04...th-acquires-Schering-Plough-animal-health.htm

To be legally recognized, rabies vaccines need to be given once, then again a year later (actually it must be given before the one-year anniversary), and only then can be given every 3 years (on the chart: "1 year later & triennially"). It really has nothing to do with how long the vaccine is effective for; it's all legalities. So that's what clinics need to put on the charts, or they could have legal trouble.