18.5 Year Old Cat Not Doing Well After Enucleation

[stacyann98]

mirtazapine. I gave him to stimulate appetite at 4am. And then he licked some nutri vit high calorie paste off my fingers willingly. I have royal canin recovery wet food. I gave him a little at 8am. Then he got up and ate a decent amount. Sleeping again now.

 

[stacyann98]

I think I I’m going to have a mobile vet come to our flat today anyways. I was up sick all night with worry that he was letting himself die from the shock to his system at this age for the surgery. This was my biggest fear from having surgery at this geriatric age.

 

[fionasmom]

Absolutely have the vet come to your house it’s the safest thing that you can do for him and it will put your mind at ease that you have not let him go through the weekend without some kind of support.

 

[stacyann98]

Update: so mobile vet came and gave me a bag of fluids to use. And bvit12 injection and a steroid for inflammation injection. Blood pressure was high. Gave me medication. And he said the appetite stimulant was a good call. He should feel a little better but this is a big surgery at this age. Just after he left my Rigby got up and ate recovery wet food his own choice. Now sleeping again.

 

[fionasmom]

I am glad to hear that you got some help, along with fluids and the appetite stimulant. You might see a big improvement with it which might get him over the worst of this.

His eye did not need to be removed or the original vet messed up the procedure?

 

[stacyann98]

I am glad to hear that you got some help, along with fluids and the appetite stimulant. You might see a big improvement with it which might get him over the worst of this.

His eye did not need to be removed or the original vet messed up the procedure?

The original vet didn’t monitor the ulcer properly and let it go on too long before referring to specialist.

 

[silent meowlook]

Hi. Sorry I didn’t see this thread sooner. So glad you got a vet out. These old guys require careful monitoring and fluids after such a procedure. I am glad you are being so attentive. With the fluids, I am sure the vet cautioned you against giving too much. So glad you got meds for the high blood pressure.
One thing I would keep a close eye on ( no pun intended) is his kidneys after this. Sometimes the high blood pressure can mask kidney disease. Just be aware. Best thing is keeping him hydrated, but always being sure all the previous fluids are absorbed before giving more.

 

[stacyann98]

Hi. Sorry I didn’t see this thread sooner. So glad you got a vet out. These old guys require careful monitoring and fluids after such a procedure. I am glad you are being so attentive. With the fluids, I am sure the vet cautioned you against giving too much. So glad you got meds for the high blood pressure.
One thing I would keep a close eye on ( no pun intended) is his kidneys after this. Sometimes the high blood pressure can mask kidney disease. Just be aware. Best thing is keeping him hydrated, but always being sure all the previous fluids are absorbed before giving more.

Seems crazy to need a prescription for fluids. The vet just showed me how to give the fluids slowly and 2-3 syringes of fluid every 12 hours. How do I know if not absorbing? A lump? He does have some level of kidney dysfunction but that’s expected with this age. The blood pressure is a new thing that has not come up previously. I have fluids this morning. I assume properly - no leaking no lumps and did it very slowly. He got up and ate 1/2 the can of recovery food. Resting now. I go to the vet tomorrow morning

 

[silent meowlook]

Oh good. The fluids feel like a water ballln under the skin. Just feel the area after you give them. Also, you want to warm the fluids up to slightly warmer than room temperature.

 

[stacyann98]

Oh good. The fluids feel like a water ballln under the skin. Just feel the area after you give them. Also, you want to warm the fluids up to slightly warmer than room temperature.

Thanks fab idea. Just warmed it and gave it. Must feel nicer. No lump or ball after doing it on skin. He’s just gone back to sleep and is purring first time since op

 

[stacyann98]

Update: saw my vet this morning. Stopping the pain meds as he’s responding too slowly - very lethargic to going to litter box. Fell asleep inside it after going. We are on day 5 post op. The incision is healing very well. But he has developed congestion mucus sounding cough. Been given a powder to help with that. His blood pressure was 180 on Saturday when the vet came to house. Today in office was 160. Take in consideration that it was the office and could be stressful that’s a much more reasonable level. Will be monitoring 24-48hr for better improvement. He is eating a decent amount 2x a day.

 

[silent meowlook]

I am glad you saw the vet.

 

[stacyann98]

Final update : this entire ordeal took place over 26 days and the first problem is the Vet did not schedule a follow up four days post first appointment then they were busy so it was 10 days till I saw them. At that point the infection was quite bad and 95% should’ve been referred to a specialist ophthalmologist. At that point, she chose to continue treating it another nine days seeing my cat she said in five days, but I made appointments every third day at which point there were several and at each and every one of those she should have definitely referred us to a specialist, but I trusted her. She said it was improving and she said it was not melting, I have now come to find this to be false as I have several friends who are human ophthalmologist and one look at the Pictures day by day. They agreed she didn’t act quickly enough. Also her protocol of medication and antibiotic was not strong enough. She said eyedrops at three times a day and I specifically asked her if it should be every hour which she said no, and my surgeon friends all occurred it should’ve been hourly if we were to save the eye. I asked the Feline specialist surgeon who agreed with my human specialist I just wanted to document this in case anybody else finds them self in this predicament and I don’t want them to have to learn the hard way the way we did This Vet was quite young arrogant negligent and breached her care of duty. She cost us an eye and loads of money very unnecessarily.

 

[fionasmom]

Thank you so much for updating up, but please don't feel that you can't continue as your cat hopefully heals as we would like to know how he does.

I don't know if you have or want any recourse, but this could be reported to a licensing board. Not to mention that by word of mouth you can alert people who might use the same vet.

 

[stacyann98]

Thank you so much for updating up, but please don't feel that you can't continue as your cat hopefully heals as we would like to know how he does.

I don't know if you have or want any recourse, but this could be reported to a licensing board. Not to mention that by word of mouth you can alert people who might use the same vet.

Oh thank you. He’s coming around but it’s slow at his age. But I’m happy at the progress now. I definitely reported that vet to her company and the board in the uk for review. I think it’s all biased as it’s paid for by vets. But I can only hope the “stress” of being reported makes her rethink her actions next time a cat has a serious eye infection. What is even worse , her bio says she’s studying optomology in school as her speciality. Clearly she’s not taking enough notes. But yes illl pop in every so often as we progress

 

[fionasmom]

Glad that you reported her, for whatever happens or not. I don't know about the UK, but in most licensing boards in the states a negative report is listed as a point of notice for anyone else looking up the license. It might be in the process of being resolved, but others can see that there was at least a complaint.

Other vets in the company might not be thrilled to work with someone who made such a serious mistake. "Studying ophthalmology" implies some arrogance to me, as if she figures that she knows what she is doing regardless.