Donut Anyone?
Well it’s been 8 days since Jill’s rear leg amputation and so far (knock wood) all is right with the world….I haven’t really updated much, because it’s been pretty uneventful!…oh and I’ve also been stuck in this position basically since she’s been home:
Day 4 at home, Day 7 post surgery was her first day without any painkillers of any kind. I was a little nervous. How will I know if she needs any? Well. It was like a whole new kitty. The first 3 days at home she was so tired, she didn’t eat much and really just wanted to sleep. On Day 4, it was almost like she was saying to me, “Ma, I’ve had enough, let’s play”. So it was a little hard to keep her still, but after a few hours of her squirming around, I think she wore herself out a little and back to sleep she went. Her hop is getting so great. She’s still not able to get on the bed or couch without the pillow steps I created, but she’s trying to. I don’t want her to try, because I’m scared she’s going to rip her stitches. But hey, she’s a cat. It’s astonishing to me how the first day when I brought her home, she would fall every couple of steps and now she’s basically running. I will try to get some video at some point, but she’s pretty speedy!
I left the apartment today for a little bit and boy did I get a guilty puppy dog look when saying goodbye:
anyway when I got home, the little weasel wormed her way out of the onesie I put on her when I’m not supervising her so she doesn’t bite at her stitches. She hasn’t been attempting to bite them yet, but she has been going to lick them, and she’s particularly interested in licking the seroma. Well, I know I’m being a bad mom, but I refuse to put the E-Collar on her. It makes her so depressed. So I went to the pet store to see if they had any suggestions and they suggested this cute little Kong Cloud Collar. At first, she was giving me a little bit of a ‘tude about wearing it:
However, it only took about ten minutes for her to get used to it and I honestly don’t even think she knows it’s on anymore. It is specifically made for dogs, so I think it should work well for dogs, but I can only tell you about my experience with it with Jill.
What Donut?
Well I think that’s it for now! Hoping it stays just as quiet as it has been….next up is getting her stitches out next Wednesday and then off to the oncologist to discuss chemo options….
Happy Holidays to everyone (don’t worry, these pics were taken PRIOR to amputation, I wouldn’t torture her in her current state!)…Love,
Erica & Jill (and Jack!)
Ho Ho Ho
Don’t forget about me!
December 20, 2012 @ 8:15 pm
My little Dixie (who looks similar to Jill) is scheduled to have her rear leg amuptated tomorrow….The timing of your post is helpful – I am petrified and hope i am doing the right thing – she has cancer in her leg….THX Erica! oh and jack and jill are adorable! virginia
December 20, 2012 @ 8:18 pm
Please let me know WHATEVER questions you have. There aren’t many kitty tripawd owners on here, so we have to stick together! Make sure to read Fang’s blog too. It helped me a lot. What kind of cancer does your little Dixie have? If you go back to my first post you can read Jill’s whole story about her diagnosis, etc., I was petrified too, this website has been so so helpful to me.
December 21, 2012 @ 6:38 am
Hi Virginia and Dixie
My Freya had her rear left leg removed yesterday (ie 20 Dec) and I found this website, in particular Fang’s Story and now Jill’s Journey so helpful when the decision was looming. I hope my blog can also help – Freya’s tale.
Best of luck
Michelle and Freya
December 21, 2012 @ 6:34 am
Hi Erica and Jill
Well, am up and running with a blog – Freya’s tale. No pictures yet but tomorrow I think.
Your Jill looks so cute. Freya dislikes her cone of shame but I’ll persevere for a while. It’s day one after the amputation for her and so far so good – she is asleep between my legs now and I don’t myself moving for a while.
Also, Freya was only in overnight and she just has regular pain meds maybe that’s a US versus Aussie approach? Interesting to discuss I imagine.
All the best
Michelle and Freya
December 21, 2012 @ 9:42 am
Well uneventful is the best kind of recoup! Hahah. I’m so glad you’re able to be home with Jill, and that clearly she’s soaking up as much as you as she can get!! Haha, poor Jack.
I totally understand your decision not to use the E-Collar – as you know, I went the same route with Fang. I let him lick his incision site the few times he cared to (he wasn’t over-zealous about it though, and no biting was allowed) and didn’t use anything else for him. I imagine that since Jill is a back-legger and can REACH her stitches way more easily, I can see how she might be messing with them more. Claps for you for finding that Kong Cloud Collar – it’s adorable and looks suuuuuppppeeerrrr less in-the-way than a regular e-collar. She just looks so pleased! You know… after the initial annoyance. 😀
I am so glad that Jill’s personality is back to normal since stopping the pain meds. Man, they are just so different when they’re not in a med daze but you can’t put your finger on it until they’re off of it!
Don’t worry about her difficulty jumping up onto things yet (which I know you don’t want her to do much anyway at the moment). The stitches/staples and wound seem to make their flexible kitty-skin less flexy, and they’re not as interested in doing their regular kitty-yoga. After Fang’s staples were out and most of the scabbing was gone, he was much more likely to worm around and make those weird kitty bends.
Thanks so much for the update! I’m so glad to see that she’s doing so well! And here you are already with two other rear-amputation kitties happy to soak up the experience you guys have acquired! It’s wonderful!
Best wishes to you both, and I hope things continue to be lazy and uneventful!!!
December 21, 2012 @ 11:50 am
Oh my gosh that pic of her sticking her tongue out is adorable! Thanks for the smiles, I’m glad she’s doing so well.