HELP - post op info Happy Update Post #8, pics- HE IS HOME #15

**Catlady711** · 07-16-2007, 11:33 PM

I just saw this thread. I feel sooo bad for Pyka! He looks so tired, I think a good nap would help him feel better. I hope everything heals ok and he gets to eating soon.

Originally Posted by Catty1

His intense scratching (caused bytrying to reach the inflamed and horrid sinuses, we now know) had his one ear in a large hematoma. It was surgically removed June 4...and after the stitches and stents were out over a week later, it kept filling with fluid. The vet put a pressure bandage on, and said it wouldn't happen again.

The bandage was painful, and Mom removed it 2 days later. It was bloodsoaked...and the ear kept filling up.

So, while Pyka was getting the turbinectomy (Google it!), another surgeon 'quilted' his ear so that the tissues would start to heal together, and no fluid could get in.

Just a side note, this is the reason our head vet never just drains any hematoma, he always stitches them very similar to Pyka's ear.

**Catty1** · 07-16-2007, 11:40 PM

Catlady - the vet did stitch the ear, and there were stents in it...but according to mom, the hematoma had hardened, which is why they couldn't just drain and stitch it.

It's healing now.

I hope he eats!

**krazyaboutkatz** · 07-16-2007, 11:45 PM

I'm glad to hear that he's home now and he'll be able to get some rest.

I hope he'll start eating tomorrow. I'll continue to keep him in my thoughts and prayers.

**Medusa** · 07-17-2007, 06:05 AM

I think that sometimes they know better than we do. Creamsicle didn't want to eat either after her spay and Pyka has been through much more than that. Maybe the poor li'l guy just needs to rest a bit more.

**sasvermont** · 07-17-2007, 06:11 AM

Gosh, it is breaking my heart to see this guy like this, although he couldn't be getting better treatment and TLC anywhere else. I hope he has a speedy recovery. I just want to run there and snuggle with him.

(((((((((((((((((Pyka)))))))))))))))))))))

**Catlady711** · 07-17-2007, 08:42 PM

Originally Posted by Catty1

Catlady - the vet did stitch the ear, and there were stents in it...but according to mom, the hematoma had hardened, which is why they couldn't just drain and stitch it.

It's healing now.

I hope he eats!

I meant the part about the "quilting" stitching. That's the only way I've ever seen a hematoma surgery done where I work.

Either way I'm glad it's healing, those things hurt and are not any fun to deal with for the pet or people.

I hope Pyka starts eating soon! Thoughts are with you both.

**Catty1** · 07-17-2007, 10:37 PM

Tuesday July 17.

(sorry, just realized this got long)

Went over to mom's today with some Whiskas milk. She was worried he was bleeding and might need another transfusion - and she showed me his blanket from overnight.

There were spatters with blood in them; bloody but not pure blood. He is swallowing sometimes when he is quite awake - and his poop is black. I am not really worried about this, as the surgery was in an area LOADED with blood supply - I am surprised he needed only one transfusion!

Mom has had to wrap him in a towel to syringe-feed him. I helped with the first feeding tonight by filling the syringe a little ways. She would then put it into the corner of his mouth and squirt it in.

I said I wished there was a better way to feed him - as the stress would raise his blood pressure and wouldn't HELP what bleeding there was.

He was a bit dehydrated when I arrived - he also got a couple of doses of Whiskas milk with a bit of water.

A few minutes later, he was hydrated.

Second feeding time - Mom held him and I just held the syringe - this all happened naturally - when he went "MOW" I shot the contents into his mouth from the front. He licked and smacked and swallowed. Got at least 5 good shots in - he was SO much calmer, I think because food put near the back of his mouth triggered a gag reflex. From the front - and mouth open already - it was easier.

I have so much office work to do at home....Pyka is going for a checkup tomorrow at the vet. Mom will ask for a hydration and a B12 shot. Hopefully he will perk up and start to eat on his own soon. He's SO bony!

Interestingly - I opened a window to cool the place down. Pyka went and sat in the window and sniffed the outside air. He sneezed a bit, and I got a damp cloth to wipe up the spatter. He looked down at the newly wet surface I had cleaned and put nose down and SNIFFED. I hadn't seen him do that yet! Of course, when Mom went out for a 20 minute walk, I stayed with him while he napped, and put an open bottle of Vicks under his nose. His tad of a sniffle cleared up after a few minutes.

After Mom came back, I put the Vicks back - and he turned his head away from the strong smell! WOOHOO! That's what I was hoping for, just to dry things up a bit.

Mom will ask the vet about something like this tomorrow.

QUESTION: Does anyone here think using a good ionizing air filter during the next few days of recovery is a good idea?

**Catty1** · 07-18-2007, 12:33 PM

Vet visit this morning: He got another morphine patch, and DIDN'T need HYDRATING!

Mom got some more food, and we got a larger syringe. Also, we found out that we need to work up to 1 1/4 can per day - but NOT NOW. LOL Maybe by next week.

Prayers the little guy will start eating on his own soon - as the food builds him up - apparently the AD post-op food is just PACKED with everything - he may start to eat.

Meanwhile - I am going over twice a day to perfect my squirt-into-mouth-while-meowing technique!

**kb2yjx** · 07-18-2007, 01:48 PM

So sorry to read about your Mom's very handsome fella!! Have you tried baby food?? Will say prayers that Pyka starts to eat soon!!!! Hugs to you for helping your Mom, and hugs to your Mom, I bet she is worried about her boy!!!

**Catty1** · 07-18-2007, 03:58 PM

I am going over twice a day to help with feeding. kb2yjx, the vet told us how much food he had to have. He got nearly 1/3 of a can mixed with warm water for lunch. Then he was ready for a HUGE nap (and we give him lots of loving afterwards).

It is SO much less stressful on him when two people feed him.

Mom will be washing a LOT of shirts for the next few days.

I hope after a day or so of more food (the specialist didn't say how much to feed him) he will feel strong enough to eat on his own.

The regular vet said the sneezing (which is not too bad) and a bit of bleeding will carry on for a while, nothing to be worried about.

So we will just stuff his tummy and give him Clavamox drops and carry on!

The day he eats on his own, I will be SO HAPPY!