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Conference misery::feline

Title:Meower Power - Where Differing Opinions are Respected
Notice:purrrrr...
Moderator:JULIET::CORDES_JA
Created:Wed Nov 13 1991
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1079
Total number of notes:28858

519.0. "Bijou Had Surgery Today" by USCTR1::GHIGGINS (Oh Whoa Is Moe) Tue Mar 16 1993 15:23

    
     I've been read only in the conference for a while now but I wanted
     to enter this in hopes of some extra prayers. Our 2 1/2 year old
     Aby Bijou just went through surgery at Tuft's this morning.
    
     Last Monday night (3/8) Bijou started vomitting. We found it on the
     floor in the cellar on Tuesday morning. Tuesday afternoon we found
     more again and upon watching him the rest of the day/night, noticed
     he wasn't eating, drinking, or using the litter box. This was
     EXTREMELY unusual for him because he's a chow hound.
    
     On Wednesday it was still the same. No eating or drinking and his
     normal activity was strating to slow. I quickly got an appointment
     at the vet's for the morning. The doctor checked him out and couldn't
     find anything wrong. He hadn't rulled out a blockage or obstruction,
     but he couldn't find anything from feeling. He prescribed Albon and
     we went on our way. (If I'd known better I would have insisted on an
     X-ray).
    
     Wednesday night went by without vomitting but he still wouldn't eat or
     drink. I called back the vet (Abbott Animal Hosp. in Worcester,Ma.) on
     Thursday after he vomitted up the Albon but was asked to give it 
     another day. Friday came around and while Bijou wouldn't eat he was
     drinking. He still hadn't produced any stool since Monday and this
     was starting to worry me. Later in the day his activity level started
     to increase and I thought the Albon was having some effect.
    
     Saturday went back down hill a bit but he wasn't throwing up and he
     was drinking a little water.
    
     Sunday we could wait no longer. It was evident he wasn't responding
     and he was loosing weight, and looking dehydrated. Abbott was closed
     so we took him up to Tuft's. Initial x-rays did not show any
     obstruction or blockage. His weight was down from 7 1/2 to 6/12 lbs.
     He had not used the litter box much in any form since Monday of the
     previous week. The doctor admitted him and they ran some tests and
     started to hydrate him.
    
     Yesterday I talked with the attending doctor and he was scheduled to 
     have an ultasound. His temp. was up a little (104) but otherwise he
     was OK. The ultra sound didn't show much and the doctors were still
     dumbfounded as to what the problem was. I spent a few hours with
     him last night visiting and he was definately not a happy camper.
     After awhile he was settled down and we took him to a room so the two
     attending doctors could check him some more. I brought him in his 
     favorite blanket and put it in his cage before I left. He settled
     down and seemed a bit happier now that he had "a little piece of
     home".
    
     Today one of the doctors I had talked to and seen yesterday called
     and told me they had done some lateral radiographs and things looked
     different today. It looked like he had blockage in his intestines.
     The concensus with the doctors and the surgeon was to go in and get
     it out. (Of course I then got the phone call from accounting to inform
     me I had to give them another check to the cover 50% of the new 
     estimate...) They didn't give me a specific time that the surgery
     would take place but that it would be today.
    
     About 1:00 I got a call from the surgeon. They had performed the 
     surgery and found the problem. He had swallowed about an inch or
     so of a plastic ring that you take off of a milk container cap. Wound
     around this was a certain length of thread. What was happening was
     the thread was making it's way through the intestines but the plastic
     was not moving. As time went by the thread grew taunt and was pulling
     the intestines. Had anymore time gone by, the thread would have cut
     through some of the intestines. They had to make 6 holes in the
     intestines to get all the string out.
    
     His tempature went down quite a bit through the surgery and they now
     have him in heating blankets while he recovers. They hope to give
     him water tomorrow morning and some food in the afternoon. Best case
     is he can come home the earliest on Thursday night. Most likely will
     on Friday. This had been a nerve wracking experience. I feel so bad
     for the little guy. Next to him my wife is not much better being a
     nervous wreck and worrying up a storm.
    
     I ask the fellow Feliners to please say a prayer for Bijou, that he
     makes a full recovery. He's our tough little monkey !
    
    Thanks,
        George
    
     
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519.1MAGEE::MERRITTKitty CityTue Mar 16 1993 15:3211
    George...Bijou is in the best place he could possibly be...and
    I'm sure he'll make it through this with flying colors!!!  Tufts
    (Dr Gallagher) operated on my kitty, Van Gogh who had to have
    80% of his large intestines removed.  Even though Van Gogh had
    about a 10 inch incision in his belly....it was truly amazing
    how fast he recovered!!!!    It was Mom and Dad who had a hard
    time recovering from all we went through!!
    
    Kitty Prayers for Bijou.  (love that name!!)  
    
    Sandy
519.2I know what you're going through.BICYCL::RYERThis note made from 100% recycled bits.Tue Mar 16 1993 15:398
Hang in there, George.  Intestinal blockages can be serious, but with the
right care, Bijou will make it.  My Chester swallowed a rubber band an part of
a ball and had to have surgery.  They made three incisions in him.  The worst
part of the procedure is the high chance of secondary infection.  Chester got
one, but I had a great bunch of doctors at my vets and the local emergency
room.  He pulled through just fine.

-Patrick
519.3Thank goodness Bijou is okayDAGWST::BROWNeverybody run Prom Queen's Gotta Gun!Tue Mar 16 1993 15:4716
    I almost had to go through this a few weeks ago.  Reste ate part of one
    of the chucks that I hang in his stud pen for him to spray against.  We
    were this close to running a barium x-ray series on him when he passed
    the piece of chuck.  
    
    Whenever I see a cat that is vomiting continually, not eating, and/or
    having major diarrhea, we usually suspect an obstruction.  In the two
    cases that I have had to deal with, the one with Reste and another a
    few years back with Jesse, there was both vomiting and diarrhea.  But,
    sounds like Bijou only had the vomiting for a short while, and his
    major symptoms were not eating, and not passing anything.  I have
    keyworded this topic to Intestinal_Obstruction, and I will also add
    Hazards.  Maybe your experience will help fellow noters recognize the
    symptoms in their own cats in the future.
    
    Jo
519.4That's reassuring..USCTR1::GHIGGINSOh Whoa Is MoeTue Mar 16 1993 15:486
    Thanks for the toughts. Bijou was operated on by Dr. Gallagher and
    he was extremely helpful over the phone answering my questions. When
    he does make it home, you know there will be some serious pampering
    going on........
    
    George
519.5USCTR1::GHIGGINSOh Whoa Is MoeTue Mar 16 1993 15:528
    
    What's strikes me as funny is how many simple little things we try
    to please our cat's with, can be deadly to them. The milk top ring
    was not even one of his toy's and he rarely touched them. It was 
    our other cat Bogie that loved to flip the things around. You can
    bet the house will get a serious purging tonight.
    
    George
519.6He was upset over his girlfriend being preggers!GAVEL::FALLONTue Mar 16 1993 16:107
    George,
    Glad to hear that Bijou is going to be all right!  I had a similar 
    experience a few years ago but it turned out that the cat was 
    just a little upset!  Valium did the trick after hundreds of dollars
    of tests and a complete GI series on New Years Eve!
    What a wacky cat!
    Karen
519.7destined to a life as a gigoloDAGWST::BROWNeverybody run Prom Queen's Gotta Gun!Tue Mar 16 1993 16:407
    Re: .6
    
    You would be upset too if your girlfriend was suddenly pregnant with
    what could turn up to be quintuplets and you had no visible means of
    supporting the family! :'D
    
    Jo
519.8JUPITR::KAGNOKitties with an AttitudeTue Mar 16 1993 16:4917
    George,
    
    Add my thoughts and prayers to the list for Bijou, coupled with lots of
    get well wishes.  I am sure he'll pull through being the trouper he
    is.  I remember his fiestiness at the cat shows and don't think he will
    want to be "bedridden" for long!  :^)
    
    Tufts is a wonderful place, and I have heard great things said about
    Dr. Gallagher.  Yes, the $$'s will break you but in the end, when Bijou
    is home safe and sound and happy, it will all have been worth it to
    save his life.
    
    You and Deb take care now.  Thanks for sharing this with us; we can all
    learn from each other and our cats.
    
    -Roberta
    
519.9MAGEE::MERRITTKitty CityWed Mar 17 1993 08:0720
    I went home last night and threw away all my plastic bottle
    thingies that were laying around the house for the cats to
    play with!!!!!     They were mad...but they'll get over it!!
    
    Van Gogh also had a slight fever after his operation.  He had
    been operated on Tuesday and they originally said I could take
    him home on Friday.  But by thursday all was well and we picked
    VG up a day early!!  Dr. Gallagher is a great surgeon....he just
    recently came back to Tufts after being loned to Angel Memorial
    in Boston for little less then a year.  I'm so glad he is back!!  
    
    Don't be surprised how bijou might look when you go visit.  VG's
    body was shaved in all different places...he looked like a poodle
    with a fancy haircut!!!  
    
    Keep us posted on Bijou....
    
    Sandy
                             
    
519.103/17 AM UpdateUSCTR1::GHIGGINSOh Whoa Is MoeWed Mar 17 1993 09:1326
    
    When I talked with Dr. Gallagher yesterday, he said to not come
    visit because Bijou would still be recovering and most likely
    out of it. I still had to go down after work to assess the $$$
    damage and I wanted to talk to Dr. Mahoney who was caring for him
    up to the time of the surgery.
    
    I was able to talk to her and she surprisingly offered to take me
    back to the ward to see Bijou. He was awake but a little groggy. He
    looked the same as I had seen him the day before and wasn't sporting
    the Sinead O'Conner look. 8^) He was very quiet and wobbly and trying 
    to make his way toward me at the front of his cage. From what the
    doctor told me and what I saw he looks to be recovering well. Before
    I left him I gave him a few scratches under the chin and he returned
    a "smile".
    
    My wife beat me this morning and called Tuft's about 8:30 and got an
    update. All is well with the recovery. He's still on IV and they will
    be trying to give him some water in a bit. Dr. Gallagher will be giving
    me a call later with a complete update.
    
    He's on his way !!!!!!
    
    Thanks again for all the thoughts,
    
    George
519.11Our best wishes for speedy recoveryNETWKS::GASKELLWed Mar 17 1993 16:437
    All my best to Bijou. 
    
    The worst obstruction my lot have had is a giant hair ball that had to be
    removed with surgery.  Bijou is in good hands and we (me and
    family--furry and otherwise) will send a few words to the great Kitty 
    God for speedy recovery.
    
519.12SANDY::FRASERUppity blues woman...Wed Mar 17 1993 21:0912
    
    Good news about Bijou - it sounds like he's made it past the most
    critical point after surgery.  He'll be back to his old self before you
    know it!
    
    We've removed all the small plastic stuff, too - mostly because we now
    have a dog, and he'll definitely eat them! :^}
    
    Best wishes to all of you,
    
    Sandy & crew
    
519.133/18 Bijou updateUSCTR1::GHIGGINSOh Whoa Is MoeThu Mar 18 1993 10:1825
    
    Well..... Ther little guy appears well on his way to recovery. My wife
    and I visited him at Tuft's last night. His temp. is normal and he is
    much more alert and spunky than he was on Tuesday night.
    
    We spent about an hour and a half with him in one of the exam rooms
    and he loved it. His belly and chest are shaven and he has about an
    8 inch incision with about 14 stitches. I tdoesn't seem to bother him
    in the least. He hates the IV boot that they have fitted him with as
    it restricts his mobility. We let him walk around the room to get a 
    little exercise and within minutes he was jumping up on the counters.
    We stopped this real quick as we were afraid he might just slip and
    fall, and I didn't want to see him rap his stomach on the floor.
    
    He's still on IV and just water and is urinating normally. This morning
    they hope to remove the IV and his catheter and start him on some baby
    food. It was tough leaving him last night because when we shut the cage
    door he started crying for us. Dr. Gallaher believes we can take him
    home tomorrow night providing everything goes well today.
    
    We've gotten rid of all little plastic things and double checked the
    sewing room for loose thread. We're so glad we caught this when we
    did. I can't wait to get the little guy home.
    
    George
519.14Are you excited??!!GAVEL::FALLONThu Mar 18 1993 12:555
    It's so pitiful when you know they want you and at the same time it
    reaffirms their love for you.  You are sooo lucky to have been able 
    to catch this in time.  It sounds like all will be well!
    Hugs and kisses for Bijou.
    Karen
519.15Almost home...USCTR1::GHIGGINSOh Whoa Is MoeFri Mar 19 1993 10:3816
    
     Went to Tuft's to see the little guy last night and he's doing well.
     He had both the IV and catheter removed yesterday. From what I was
     told about information on his chart he produced "major stool"
     yesterday morning !! The process is working !! 8^)
    
     They started him on baby food yesterday and he's chowing big time.
     Last night I finger_fed (I told you he would get pampered) him 
     about a full jar of baby food and he was loving it to the hilt. He
     will be coming home tonight and I can't wait for the day to pass
     to pick up our little demon, as Dr. Mahoney calls him.
    
     Thanks for all the encouraging notes from all. Deb, Bijou, and I
     really appreciate it.
    
     George
519.16PROXY::HUTCHESONthe revolution will not be televisedFri Mar 19 1993 13:0410
Does Col. Sebastion know about this Major Stool Guy???

nyuk,nyuk,nyuk....


Seriously, so glad you found the real problem and Bijou
is on the road to recovery.


                               Susan
519.17Lookout! I see the beginning of ....GAVEL::FALLONFri Mar 19 1993 13:166
    We, as proper cat owners, should realize the possibility of improper
    name calling.  This "Major Stool Guy" could be open for legal issues!
    
    Perhaps, the firm should be contacted!
    8^)
    Karen
519.18I like good news! ;-)STUDIO::COLAIANNII think, therefore I think I amFri Mar 19 1993 13:1915
    I can't believe someone beat Cheryl to that one! ;-) I love it!
    
    George,
    
     So glad that Bijou is doing well, and coming home tonight. You must be
    really excited, and the day must be dragging for you! You have been in
    my thoughts and prayers since your first note. Give the little furface
    paw pats from Yonee and the gang!
    
     I just "LOVE" happy endings to stories on Fridays! ;-)
    
    Love,
    
     Yonee
    
519.19Bijou say's, "It's good to be home !"USCTR1::GHIGGINSOh Whoa Is MoeMon Mar 22 1993 13:0819
    
    
    
    Well, Bijou came home Friday and each day he is getting further and
    further back to normal (for him anyway). The other cat in the household
    staged a hiss-a-thon until yesterday afternoon but now she remembers
    her her good buddy was.
    
    He's eating OK but seems at times to be indifferent with baby food.
    Sometimes he'll eat it, sometimes he won't. I gave him a little Fancy
    Feast and he seemed to like that. Because we can't leave any dry out
    just yet, our other cat (who's overweight) is lost without her food.
    One thing Bijou try's to get us to do is feed him the baby food off
    our fingers. Then he's a chow hound. While this is cute and all, I
    doubt I'll continue to be his personal servant for long. Once he's
    recovered fully it's back to self serve for him.  8^)
    
    George