Good luck for Friday. I am sure he is doing fine.
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Theodore has taken a turn for the worst, advice please?
- Thread starter elise1030
- Start Date
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #122
Well, Friday has been and gone( joys of being in Australia, lol). We have just got home from 2 vet clinics in the city where he was treated. Good news... no more infection and his pH level is 6.5, he's put on almost a lb (400gms) in 3 weeks, no traces of blood and a very very small amount of crystals! However, Amy the feline specialist wanted us to go see the surgeon because the opening has closed up way too much considering the size it originally was. The opening was big enough to put your index finger in it. Now it appears to be a small dimple with a slice in it.
The surgeon was absolutely blown away with how much healing had happened in the space of three weeks and definitely didn't think it would even close up THAT much. He threaded a catheter in and wiggled it around. The good news about that is that while the actual opening has narrowed on the surface, the inside tube is still large enough for his liking. So, basically the skin is trying to grow two sides together, like when you sew a rip in a pair of pants.
If we find Theodore begins to have any issues with straining or otherwise, he will consider doing like a very short wide catheter in to basically the opening, stitch it in and leave it for 3-4 weeks and place him on antibiotics and hopefully the skin will heal around the tube and he should be left with a wider opening once the tube is removed. It's a last resort but its an option that is the least drastic of several further options we have!
So I'm happy and the next 2 weeks or so are a waiting game!
The surgeon was absolutely blown away with how much healing had happened in the space of three weeks and definitely didn't think it would even close up THAT much. He threaded a catheter in and wiggled it around. The good news about that is that while the actual opening has narrowed on the surface, the inside tube is still large enough for his liking. So, basically the skin is trying to grow two sides together, like when you sew a rip in a pair of pants.
If we find Theodore begins to have any issues with straining or otherwise, he will consider doing like a very short wide catheter in to basically the opening, stitch it in and leave it for 3-4 weeks and place him on antibiotics and hopefully the skin will heal around the tube and he should be left with a wider opening once the tube is removed. It's a last resort but its an option that is the least drastic of several further options we have!
So I'm happy and the next 2 weeks or so are a waiting game!
Last edited:
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #123
I forgot to add that they are doing another urine culture for drug sensitivity in case he needs more antibiotics.
Good news overall! I'm surprised the opening had closed up that much. He does seem to heal up really well even if it's not quite the way you want.
Continued vibes...
Continued vibes...
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #126
Yeah GoHolostic, he really does heal up too much. Today we noticed that the slice is splitting a little bit, so we can actually see more of an opening again. We are going to put his e-collar back on for a day or two to monitor it. All in all, he's doing awesome!?
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #127
Great news!! The culture that was done on Friday showed they were not able to grow any bugs, we are finally infection free!! The suture line has split open a little bit but it's kind of a good thing as this stage. It means the opening has opened up more. Hopefully it will heal open.
That is good news. He is doing so well.
Great news[emoji]128077[/emoji][emoji]128571[/emoji][emoji]128571[/emoji][emoji]128571[/emoji][emoji]128571[/emoji][emoji]128062[/emoji][emoji]128062[/emoji][emoji]128062[/emoji][emoji]128062[/emoji][emoji]10084[/emoji]️
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So happy for all of you!
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #131
Well, our happiness has sort of come to an end. Four weeks later and the urethrostomy has strictured right down to a pinhole again for the 3rd time. He has been struggling to pee the last couple days and we took him back to the surgeon tonight. He is absolutely gobsmacked that this has happened after the opening he originally made. He was able to thread a catheter in and drain his bladder off. Instantly, Theodore was happy again, he must have felt better afterward.
So, our last attempt and it is completely experimental. The surgeon is going to attach a very short (say, an inch long) catheter tube in, so that it doesn't go all the way into the bladder. WE are going to leave it in place for at least 4-6 weeks to allow the skin to fully heal around the catheter. Hopefully, when it is removed, the opening will remain open. Sort of like when you do a body piercing and it heals, that's what we are going to try. We are hoping that with a very short wide catheter it will keep the outer part of the urethra open and he will still have normal function of the bladder.
We get to pick him up tomorrow and fingers crossed it will work this time
So, our last attempt and it is completely experimental. The surgeon is going to attach a very short (say, an inch long) catheter tube in, so that it doesn't go all the way into the bladder. WE are going to leave it in place for at least 4-6 weeks to allow the skin to fully heal around the catheter. Hopefully, when it is removed, the opening will remain open. Sort of like when you do a body piercing and it heals, that's what we are going to try. We are hoping that with a very short wide catheter it will keep the outer part of the urethra open and he will still have normal function of the bladder.
We get to pick him up tomorrow and fingers crossed it will work this time
Oh dear, I do hope it works. Thinking of you - what a roller coaster you are on.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #133
It's really sad because in every other way, he is a very normal and healthy cat! He just seems to overgrow tissue and that's what is causing the urethrostomies to close down. My husband and I can't justfiy putting down a healthy cat just because he can't pee. He does tolerate having the e-collar on very well, and we give him plenty of love and cuddles and he does get time without it under close supervision.
WE have made the final decision that if we do this and it closes down again after the catheter is removed after hopefully 4-6 week. We will have to say goodbye out of kindness to him. It will hurt like crazy but we will do it. This last option is something we have to do otherwise we would spend forever wondering if it would have worked.
WE have made the final decision that if we do this and it closes down again after the catheter is removed after hopefully 4-6 week. We will have to say goodbye out of kindness to him. It will hurt like crazy but we will do it. This last option is something we have to do otherwise we would spend forever wondering if it would have worked.
So, it would be basically a urinary stent. Hoping this works for your little one.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #135
YES!! That's basically what it would be, a temporary stent to allow the skin to form around the stent and hopefully it won't close up after it's removed.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #136
He is home again and as usual, a happy cat. Now we have the waiting game to see how well the stenting works over the next 4-6 weeks
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #137
Quick update! We are back to the city again to see the surgeon! Theodore has somehow ripped out the catheter stitches and all! The stitches were still attached to the catheter. We are going to see if the surgeon can put it back in and we can try again....
This is all such a roller coaster journey. I am amazed you are keeping sane. Many vibes for THeodore
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #139
Yeah, it's been a rollercoaster and sometimes I think we ARE insane, but we love this kitty so much that we can't bear the thought of putting down an otherwise healthy cat. The upside to all the travelling is that he LOVES the car ride. He just chills out watching the traffic go by and it gives other people a big smile when they realize it's a cat, not a dog with us. He meows when he's in the carrier and stops as soon as we let him out.
So this time, we have an even bigger e-collar and more stitches and a slightly improved modified stent in place. We just need to try keep him as inactive as we can.
So this time, we have an even bigger e-collar and more stitches and a slightly improved modified stent in place. We just need to try keep him as inactive as we can.
Pfew, I have just read this entire topic in one sitting and honestly, it has been a rollercoaster, even as a reader you get all these different emotions with every single update you've posted. You are so strong and Theodore sounds like a hero, going through so many surgeries and car drives and pain and exhaustion. I really, truly hope that it will work this one last time, because god knows you deserve it. And so does Theodore.
When this is all over, please take some time off and get some rest. You most be absolutely exhausted.
You are both troopers and I wish you all the luck in the world.
When this is all over, please take some time off and get some rest. You most be absolutely exhausted.
You are both troopers and I wish you all the luck in the world.
