Post-Op

Not the most flattering picture, Pumpernick tucked into the crook of my arm.

Yesterday I dropped Pumpernick off at Chaparral Pet Hospital for his surgery. He did very well, and when he was allowed to have food again, he wolfed it down, like his usual self.

I picked him up this morning. He's a bit scared, I think just being at the vet's office is a scary experience. He's hiding a bit, but he's also running all over the room! A few minutes ago, I caught him trying to play with our mastiff under the door!

I'm so happy to see him running around, playing like a normal kitten. He's still getting used to balancing with only one front leg, but I'm sure that after a few more days, he'll have gotten the hang of it, and nothing will be able to slow him down!

He goes back to the vet next Friday for suture removal.

The cost of the surgery ended up being less than I was quoted- $452.73, bringing his total vet bills to $703.20.

Our next big challenge is going to be litter training. In the week I'd had him before his surgery, he used the litter box one time. I think it was hard with the bandage. Now he's really going to have challenges burying his "treasures". I am hoping that somewhere on the web is a forum, message board, or something for caretakers of amputee cats where I might be able to find some good tips.

8/20 Update

It is now 5 PM on Friday, 8/20. We just got back from yet another vet.

This morning we went in to Adam's Animal Hospital to see Dr. Singh (the regular vet). The vet yesterday left me with the impression that Dr. Singh should perform the amputation first thing in the morning, because the leg was so bad. Dr. Singh just changed the bandage and told me to come back tomorrow for another check.

So far I'd heard different things from three different vets- first that the leg would need to be amputated but Pumpernick would need to put on some weight first. Then that it would likely heal fine with regular bandage changes, no need to amputate. Then that it was so severely infected that it needed to be amputated immediately before the infection spreads. So you can understand my frustration when Dr. Singh just changed the bandage this morning.

So we got home, and set up an appointment with Dr. Ann McDowell at Chaparral Pet Hospital in Claremont. Its more of a drive, but I feel much more confident with her, and I should have taken him there first.

I told them everything that I had been told. Dr McDowell opened the bandage and pointed out that the tissue was in fact healing. He bled a bit when she removed the first bandage, which is a good indication of healthy tissue. His leg did not look infected. Then she set Pumpernick on the floor to watch him walk, and discovered some serious nerve damage. The tissue will heal, but he would always be dragging his leg behind him.

We discussed things, and decided that he's young enough to adapt to having three legs, and he'd have a better quality of life that way, then having to deal with a long-term healing process for the tissue to grow back and bones to heal. I have no doubt that he'll be running around on three legs in no time.

So we've scheduled the surgery for monday morning.

So far, I've paid $250.47 for various vet visits, bandaging, antibiotics, etc.

The estimate for surgery is $517.53

Here is a breakdown of the estimate:

$47.06 for pain meds

$106.11 for anesthesia

$40 for antibiotic injection

$250 for the amputation

$40.20 for the operating room

$17.08 for 1 day of boarding, since he'll need to be kept overnight

Meet Pumpernick

Monday (8/16) afternoon, I recieved a text from a co-worker. A friend of his found a kitten in his backyard. Well, to be honest, the dogs found him first. I was told he was tiny, and had a broken leg. I arranged to take him in.

Once I got him, I could see he was about 8-10 weeks old, but really underweight. His leg looked pretty bad, it was partially degloved (meaning quite a bit of skin was missing- he has skin and fur on the end of his paw, and his upper arm, but the rest is exposed). Those dogs did a number on him.

I took him to Adam's Animal Hospital in West Covina right away. They took X-rays, and determined that the tarsal bones were broken. I was told that the leg might heal over time, just to bring him in every few days to have the bandage changed, but amputation might be an option if it doesn't heal well. He was given an injection for antibiotics, as well as clavamox to take home, and prescribed special food to help him put on some weight.

I brought him back in on tuesday (8/17) for a bandage change, and scheduled another appointment for friday.

This morning (thursday- 8/19) I noticed his paw was swollen. By the time we got to the vet, there was a bit of pus seeping out from the bandage. His leg was infected. I was told the infection had reached the bone, and the leg would need to be amputated as soon as possible. The regular vet wasn't in today, so I was told to bring him back tomorrow morning to see the regular vet. Hopefully he'll be able to do the surgery, but its possible we'll have to see a specialist.

So far, his vet bills have totaled $215.71, for the first office visit, x-rays, antibiotic injection, clavamox, prescription food, and bandage changes.