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Jun. 24th, 2009 07:36 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ebonlockStill waiting to finish up the house stuff, but that's not what I wanted to tell you all about. Today, as most of you know, was Kage's amputation surgery. Aelf and I have been wrecks most of the day, but a call to the vet at lunchtime helped a bit. I talked to Dr. G- and when I asked how her tests were he paused just long enough to freak me out before saying in a rather surprised voice, "Her bloodwork came back normal."
"Normal?" says I.
"A little high but in the normal range, yes."
We both just pondered that for a moment. See the first thing you find out about Chronic Renal Failure in cats is that it isn't reversible. You can hold your ground if you're lucky, but that's the best that can possibly be hoped for. Kidneys just don't get better once they start to fail...and yet....
Mind you, this is after me pretty much feeding her whatever she would eat and only doing her fluid treatments every other day. Sure she's been taking Azodyl, but wow. I mean, just wow.
Her EKG was perfect and her lungs clear so it was all systems go for the surgery. He assured me she'd be drugged to the gills and not feeling any pain tonight. When Aelf and I got there we could definitely confirm that. Poor little thing probably didn't even realize we were there, but she sure was happy. I've only heard her purr like that a few times before, whatever those drugs are they're good.
Originally the vet had planned to take off everything up to her elbow, but he decided to take everything up to her shoulder. It would be the best thing for her ultimately, easier for her to get used to and less likely to get banged around inadvertently. I think I expected to be more surprised by her appearance than I was, but honestly she just looked shaved and stitched up. The wound looked very good, nice and clean, and so long as we can keep her from messing with it for a week or two we should be in good shape. We'll need to go with a cone, but a soft fabric one this time. Also some of the folks on the list I joined today suggested using a baby t-shirt to keep cats from messing with the stitches, which sounds like a pretty practical way to go.
When we got there to visit Kage the vet poked his head in and said, positively beaming, that we'd made the right call with her. In fact, he was downright giddy when he said that he fully expected her to live 20 years or more. We all just grinned at each other. 20 years? I mean here I was getting ready to bury her not two days ago and now the idea that I might have her for years rather than days is just overwhelming.
The next few days are going to be tough. She's going to be in a lot of pain and getting used to life on 3 legs, but I couldn't be happier or more relieved. I literally just couldn't.
When I got home I received the cedar oil solution I'd ordered. It's an all natural flea/insect repellent that comes highly recommended by several groups and the healthy cat magazine I picked up last weekend. The best thing is, not only is it safe and effective, but it smells delightful. Indeed, my apartment (and Pye) smells rather like a Renn Faire at the moment.
And now I think I'm just going to collapse and relax for the rest of the evening. And hey, Dr. Strangelove's on, I think my evening's plans are clear. Of course I'm saving a little time for meditation and prayer tonight, I have a lot to be thankful for.
"Normal?" says I.
"A little high but in the normal range, yes."
We both just pondered that for a moment. See the first thing you find out about Chronic Renal Failure in cats is that it isn't reversible. You can hold your ground if you're lucky, but that's the best that can possibly be hoped for. Kidneys just don't get better once they start to fail...and yet....
Mind you, this is after me pretty much feeding her whatever she would eat and only doing her fluid treatments every other day. Sure she's been taking Azodyl, but wow. I mean, just wow.
Her EKG was perfect and her lungs clear so it was all systems go for the surgery. He assured me she'd be drugged to the gills and not feeling any pain tonight. When Aelf and I got there we could definitely confirm that. Poor little thing probably didn't even realize we were there, but she sure was happy. I've only heard her purr like that a few times before, whatever those drugs are they're good.
Originally the vet had planned to take off everything up to her elbow, but he decided to take everything up to her shoulder. It would be the best thing for her ultimately, easier for her to get used to and less likely to get banged around inadvertently. I think I expected to be more surprised by her appearance than I was, but honestly she just looked shaved and stitched up. The wound looked very good, nice and clean, and so long as we can keep her from messing with it for a week or two we should be in good shape. We'll need to go with a cone, but a soft fabric one this time. Also some of the folks on the list I joined today suggested using a baby t-shirt to keep cats from messing with the stitches, which sounds like a pretty practical way to go.
When we got there to visit Kage the vet poked his head in and said, positively beaming, that we'd made the right call with her. In fact, he was downright giddy when he said that he fully expected her to live 20 years or more. We all just grinned at each other. 20 years? I mean here I was getting ready to bury her not two days ago and now the idea that I might have her for years rather than days is just overwhelming.
The next few days are going to be tough. She's going to be in a lot of pain and getting used to life on 3 legs, but I couldn't be happier or more relieved. I literally just couldn't.
When I got home I received the cedar oil solution I'd ordered. It's an all natural flea/insect repellent that comes highly recommended by several groups and the healthy cat magazine I picked up last weekend. The best thing is, not only is it safe and effective, but it smells delightful. Indeed, my apartment (and Pye) smells rather like a Renn Faire at the moment.
And now I think I'm just going to collapse and relax for the rest of the evening. And hey, Dr. Strangelove's on, I think my evening's plans are clear. Of course I'm saving a little time for meditation and prayer tonight, I have a lot to be thankful for.
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no subject
Date: 2009-06-25 03:14 am (UTC)*hug*
no subject
Date: 2009-06-25 03:16 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-06-25 03:20 am (UTC)You mean sawdust sweat and beer?
Best of wishes for your family. *hug*
no subject
Date: 2009-06-25 03:53 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-06-25 04:10 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-06-25 04:13 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-06-25 05:49 am (UTC)**extra hugs**
no subject
Date: 2009-06-25 02:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-06-25 06:10 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-06-25 06:22 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-06-25 08:13 am (UTC)I will definitely keep her in my thoughts so her recovery continues in this happy streak.
no subject
Date: 2009-06-25 11:16 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-06-25 01:37 pm (UTC)(now if you were an EVIL cat
ownerslave, you'd get pics of her learning to adjust to walking on three paws :D)what list?
no subject
Date: 2009-06-25 02:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-06-25 04:04 pm (UTC)*HUG* I'm sooooooooo happy everything went so well with Kage. And the vet's prognosis makes me giddy. :)
no subject
Date: 2009-06-25 04:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-06-25 06:40 pm (UTC)I'm glad to hear Kage's blood-work is good. He's a strong cat.
But I will say a prayer for him, and for you and Angie.
no subject
Date: 2009-06-26 05:03 am (UTC)May you hear many more purrs from her highness.