Emergency Prayer Needed For Emma... UPDATE

[Moesha]

If she can't relieve herself, is it possible for you to continue to express her manually? I'm not really familiar with the procedure, but have heard of other animals that need assistance with things like this. Perhaps it has been in one of Critters' handicapped threads. I only asked because you said you were learning to do this yourself. Is it something that can be done long term or not? I'm really hoping she improves. I'm glad that she seems to be in good spirits though.

[Emeraldgreen]

I'm so sorry to hear about Emma! She is so lovely and it's awful to hear about what she may have gone through (hit by car or injured by a person). It sounds like she is in alot of discomfort and I will certainly pray for her that she will begin to use the litterbox on her own.
Is there anyway to put her by herself in a bedroom with a tv so she has some background noise going so it isn't so lonely for her? Or in a bedroom where other people can keep her company? It sounds like she is so affectionate and maybe 'being' with her family or in an environment that is more normal might inspire her to relax and 'go' if she is able to. Just a thought. Prayers and hugs going out for Emma.

[jennielynn1970]

Poor Emma! That sweet face of her's just tugs at the heart strings.

I hope that she'll be ok, and that you won't have to euthanize her.

It's just so horrible that some one would hit her with a car and leave her, or purposely hurt her. I am just so losing faith in our society these days!

Big healing and tender hugs and scritchies to Emma. Get better sweetie!!

[mamaducky]

Oh, no!

I am so, so sorry to hear about what's going on with poor little Emma! You all must just be going crazy with worry, and the waiting without being able to do anything is SO upsetting.

Sending BIG prayers and lots of positive thoughts from our whole family to yours.

Love & hugs,
Diana

[Jessika]

Yes, many cats live long happy lives having to have their bladder manually expressed, however I'm unsure about how to manually make her defecate, or if that is even possible... as of now, she is so impacted that even if she wanted to go it will probably be so painful for her... the vet did empty her bladder today, when I checked her a few hours ago there were claw marks in the litter box where it appeared she TRIED to go but didn't...

If its a matter of having to manually express her bladder for the remainder of her life or not, I'm not sure if that's something my inlaws are able to take on to be honest... they aren't heartless people, their lives are just so busy right now running their own business. I live here now but I'm at school nine hours out of the day, but I won't always live with them to do it, you know?

I guess we will just have to see how she progresses and see what the vet has to say on Wednesday.

Thank you all so much for your thoughts and prayers, they mean SO much to us right now!!!

[Catty1]

I pray Emma makes some progress, and that the vet can un-impact her on Wednesday to give her more comfort.

There are people that will take on a special needs pet - but let's wait and see what the vet says.

Come on, Emma - surprise everyone!

[krazyaboutkatz]

I'm so sorry to hear this. Emma will be in my thoughts and prayers.

[Miss Z]

Emma reminds me so much of my RB Brando. I really hope she manages to pull through - cats are resiliant animals and can surprise us all! It sounds as if she is really trying hard to live. I'll keep her in my thoughts.

[Ginger's Mom]

Although I haven't had a chance to respond here, Emma has been very close in my thoughts all day, and prayers have been sent out for her recovery.

[TenHouseCats]

i'm extrememly confused here--i know people who regularly express bowels and bladders for their pets, and have done so for years.

it's terrible that she has suffered this trauma--yet another story to remind us all that it is NOT safe to let our cat children outdoors unless they are in an enclosed area, because it really is NOT safe out there--but to compound it by killing her?

if the vet involved can't teach you how to express her, you might want to find one who can! and if you're learning how to do the urinary bladder in school, read ahead a few chapters and you might find the next set of instructions.

or go to HP and ask the people who do this every day. HELP HER, for heaven's sake, don't abandon her again!


MC

[Catty1]

If nothing else, Jessika, maybe HP can find her a home. Maybe someone in your vet school can take her. I know your relatives work a lot...maybe it's time for them to slow down.

Remember the one cat who took a year to recover...euthanasia is not the answer here.

I know you are in the middle and Emma is not your cat. But please check up with your schoomates, even the vet that is treating Emma, and Handicapped Pets.

HUGS!

[Jessika]

i'm extrememly confused here--i know people who regularly express bowels and bladders for their pets, and have done so for years.

it's terrible that she has suffered this trauma--yet another story to remind us all that it is NOT safe to let our cat children outdoors unless they are in an enclosed area, because it really is NOT safe out there--but to compound it by killing her?

if the vet involved can't teach you how to express her, you might want to find one who can! and if you're learning how to do the urinary bladder in school, read ahead a few chapters and you might find the next set of instructions.

or go to HP and ask the people who do this every day. HELP HER, for heaven's sake, don't abandon her again!


MC

Abandon her again? When have any of us ever abandoned her???

It's not a matter of being able to manually express them or not, she has other medical problems that go along with the trauma of being hit by a car. Maybe she isn't going because she lost the nerve function, maybe she isn't going because it hurts, maybe she isn't going because it's blocked... they don't know...

I've talked to my MIL about manually expressing her and that many cats live long, healthy lives by having to do that. But the vet doesn't feel this would be a viable option for her longterm health and longevity.

Sadly, he is giving her until Monday and if she doesn't improve by then, I actually don't know what's going to happen.

But I really don't think you think I or anyone else involved on this side of Emma's care thinks that we aren't doing all we can, but unfortunately money IS a factor in this; they aren't exactly made of money, they've struggled their whole lives, but they never hesitate to give emergency medical care to ANY of their animals if they need it... and in my opinion, in any case with any person, if the animal is going to suffer because a family can't afford necessary treatment to make the animal better, I would rather it be euthanized than subjected to a life of pain.

Please all of you understand, I'm not the one calling the shots here, and my in-laws are trusting their vet's opinions and advice when it comes to this situation. I really hope this vet will do all he can with what he has, but unfortunately the sky ISN'T the limit here. I keep bringing up manual expression, but I am obviously not a vet, and not that my MIL doesn't trust me or value my opinion, the vet DID go to school a bit longer and he may know something that I don't about her condition.

You've all been to the vet before when your pet is sick or injured and the vet is yammering on about what's going on, what happened, etc etc, but you don't hear every single word - your focus is on your pet and getting it better. So when you go home and people ask you what's wrong, you give them the synopsis and may leave out some information. I'm sure that's what's happening in this case. Unfortunately I do not have the opportunity to go with them to the vet since I leave for school at 7am and oftentimes do not get home until after 4pm; the vet office closes either by then or close to 5. I am not sure if it is open on weekends, I will have to ask her and maybe I will go with them next time and get more detailed information and ask questions that she may not have thought to ask. But with my school schedule it's really, really hard...

For now, all that I ask is that you still keep her in your thoughts, and please know that I'm trying to get all the information I can and give all the help I can for her...

[Jessika]

I just wanted to let everyone know that Emma is doing awesome. She had her tail amputated today and did amazing. Her attitude even since day one was always great, I just knew this girl would pull through!!!!!

She still can't relieve herself on her own, but maybe she will continue to improve now that her tail has been amputated.

Thank you all SO MUCH for your thoughts and prayers these past few weeks. It's been so rough for this little girl, but she made it!!!!!!!

[krazyaboutkatz]

I'm glad that her surgery went well and that she's now feeling better. Hopefully she'll be able to relieve herself on her own soon. She'll continue to be in my thoughts and prayers.

[critters]

If she can't relieve herself, is it possible for you to continue to express her manually? I'm not really familiar with the procedure, but have heard of other animals that need assistance with things like this. Perhaps it has been in one of Critters' handicapped threads. I only asked because you said you were learning to do this yourself. Is it something that can be done long term or not? I'm really hoping she improves. I'm glad that she seems to be in good spirits though.

I haven't finished the rest of the thread yet, but you're exactly right!! I know people who've done it for YEARS, although I didn't have to do it very long with Buddy because he eventually recovered enough to do it himself!!

edit: OK, I'm caught up now. You need to get over to the handicapped pets bb ASAP and see the sticky post on the incontinence bb. Poop on Demand can be done tons of different ways, and you can pick one that suits you. I would also keep expressing until you're SURE she can empty herself completely when she pees; otherwise, she can get UTIs. In my experience, the bladder isn't all that prone to rupturing; when Buddy had that funky urethral spasm it took TONS of pressure to blow past it, and his didn't rupture. It takes a fair amount of pressure anyway, to blow past the sphincter.

I wouldn't set a time limit on her recovery; Buddy's injury was a lot higher and a lot more complete (he was 100% paralyzed and 100% expressed for months), but he got it all back. As CarolC says, a slow recovery is still a recovery!!!

As kb2yjx says, lactulose can be a BIG help; it's yummy, cheap, and effective, although you usually have to get it from a human pharmacy.