Emergency Prayer Needed For Emma... UPDATE

[TenHouseCats]

i was so happy to see this post--i am sorry that you felt that i was attacking you before, but i was really expressing my frustration, more, i think, with vets who do not, or will not, take the time to admit that they don't have all the answers.

who expects them to? there is no way any one vet can be on top of everyone that is going on in every species--that's understandable. what is NOT acceptable is those vets who will not listen, or actively look for solutions--there are specialists out there, doc, call one of them!

i love my vets, but i expect them to treat me with the respect that i, as the caretaker of my cats, deserve. i can trust them to listen to me, to tell me when they don't have the answer or haven't heard of new research or new treatment protocols yet, and to go look things up or track down the experts when that is what's indicated.

there are too many vets in this country who still consider cats nuisance animals, tho i wouldn't have believed that ten years ago. there are WAY too many who haven't opened a book since they graduated, and in the cases of catastrophic injury, or viruses like FIV and FeLV, find it much simpler to chose the easy way out--immediate euthanasia--rather than taking the time to discover that that is no one's professional recommendation any longer. it's so hard to watch someone whose beloved companion has just been sent to the bridge unnecessarily, because someone used their "credentials" to excuse their own laziness--as the guardians, we have to say, "wait a minute--i KNOW that other people have done this, i want to try."

thank you SO much for hearing what we were really saying: give emma a chance, she's been terribly injured, but who knows--love alone can work miracles. if she sees, in your eyes, that she's just fine as she is, no matter what, that's gonna help her fight to stay. i'm sure you're scared about what it gonna mean, but you are NOT alone, and this little one needs you.

MC

[Emeraldgreen]

We both agreed that she needs to go to another vet for a second opinion (and HE said this, not me, though I agree also!!!), and there is absolutely no reason for her to be euthanized *IF* the only problem is her not being able to urinate or defecate.

Now, again, there may be other problems going on with her that I'm not aware about. Obviously her spine is broken; easy fix - amputate the tail. They are/were already planning on doing that anyway, but wanted to wait to see if she goes on her own first.

I hope and pray that Emma will make it through this difficult ordeal. It sounds like you and your whole family love her very much.
It makes sense that her inability to urinate and deficate on her own at this time could be due to a number of different issues. I just hope that your MIL and the vet will give her more time than Monday to figure this whole thing out. It might be something that could ultimately resolve itself or be resolved without major intervention but might require a week or 2 weeks rather than 2 more days.
But it sounds like Emma may be going for a second opinion which I think is a great idea. Hopefully this will give your MIL some peace, just having some more information available to her, either way.

Also, she has a very nasty infection on her rear end... her anus and vulva are green and purulent and very enflamed. They do have cream that they put on it daily but I'm not sure why that may be an issue or what the cause of that is.

Do they have Emma on an antibiotic drip? Seems like this girl could use all the infection power she can get at this point. She has sure been through alot but it sounds like she is a fighter! The mere fact that she made it home on her own after whatever happened to her is a miracle.

That is a good idea, to ask for a "vet report" so I can get everything straight from the vet, and maybe even take it to school and ask my instructors to "translate" it for me and maybe they can give me their advice and opinions

I think this a really good idea too. The more veterinary inclined people looking at this case the better. Emma sure has alot of people working hard on her behalf. Especially you!

[jennielynn1970]

Also, she has a very nasty infection on her rear end... her anus and vulva are green and purulent and very enflamed. They do have cream that they put on it daily but I'm not sure why that may be an issue or what the cause of that is.

Poor Emma... do you think someone abused her and that is what is causing the infection? It's horrendous to think about, but that's what the description is making me think.

[Catty1]

I hope she can get an antibiotic, a strong one...it may help with healing the nerve areas if they are compressed by infected and swollen areas.

She might be on one already - but maybe the vet didn't want to 'waste' meds on a cat that was going to be PTS.

Could Emma get a second opinion at your school? With vets that are teaching you guys all the NEW stuff - ask around! It can't hurt - especially to get a recommendation on someone to get a second opinion from!

Prayers for all of you. Give Emma a scritch for me.

[Emeraldgreen]

Poor Emma... do you think someone abused her and that is what is causing the infection? It's horrendous to think about, but that's what the description is making me think.

I was wondering the same thing.

[Catty1]

Whatever caused it...I think the main thing is to get it treated ASAP. I am not sure what ointment would do, so I hope Emma gets on an internal antibiotic soon.

{{{{hugs}}}} to that sweet girl.

[jennielynn1970]

Whatever caused it...I think the main thing is to get it treated ASAP.

I think what caused the trauma makes a difference as to how it is treated, and what is being treated. If there is internal trauma, if she was abused in such a way, it would be medicated and treated in a different way than if it were just "nerve damage" as you suggest.

Hope a 2nd opinion can get gotten, and that Emma will get better.

Gentle hugs to the sweet girl!

[krazyaboutkatz]

Lots of prayers and positive thoughts are still going out to Emma.

[Jessika]

Small update to let you all know that I do not believe my inlaws feel euthanizing her is ethical if her only problem is incontinence since she can be manually expressed and still live a happy life. I believe they are on my side on this; I know my FIL agrees with us and my MIL does as well, and obviously hubby and I feel very strongly against it. I did give my MIL the information I printed out and she's been looking through it. I suggested they go to another vet for a second opinion; however, we haven't "officially" sat down together to talk it over yet.

But I feel fairly confident that she will not be euthanized IF her only problem is incontinence.

She still is not going on her own, however, and her infection is still pretty bad. I do not know when her next appointment is.

[Jessika]

** SMALL UPDATE **

Emma's scheduled for a vet visit tomorrow. Tonight I talked with my MIL about diaper possibilities for her. She said she tried some diapers on her today but she didn't take to them very well. Considering she still has a spinal injury and tail has not been amputated yet, that makes sense. Even then, it will take some time getting used to wearing a diaper, I'm sure! So we're looking at possibilities there -- my SIL had a baby in December, and so my in laws have a huge bag of diapers from earlier this year that are way too small for my nephew now, I think we're going to try those out.

I have not visited her today, but my MIL said that her infection is looking a lot better and she is starting to groom that area again - I hope this is good news, it appears as though she's either trying to stimulate herself to go or is trying to nurse her wounds. Hopefully it means she has the sensation of needing to use the restroom!

I also asked my MIL if it were possible to ask the vet for a copy of Emma's vet report after her visit so I can read over it and/or bring it to school with me on Wednesday. Best case scenario with copies of the xrays, but I'm sure I won't get those, lol.

Your thoughts and prayers are working, guys!! This girl is a fighter!! I think she's starting to pull through!

[kittykatharine]

Jessika,

I have been following this thread for a few days and you have been doing such a wonderful job. You have been proactive in researching what you can do to help and you have been wonderful in working with your in-laws and the vet. Whatever you do, keep up the hope. Also being a mommy of a sick pet, I know sometimes it can get pretty hopeless and decisions on what to do can get really difficult. By keeping your heart and head high, and doing what you can (which is what you have been doing), this baby knows that she is being taking well care off. I want you to know that you have my thoughts and prayers - please keep us updated!

[critters]

** SMALL UPDATE **

Emma's scheduled for a vet visit tomorrow. Tonight I talked with my MIL about diaper possibilities for her. She said she tried some diapers on her today but she didn't take to them very well. Considering she still has a spinal injury and tail has not been amputated yet, that makes sense. Even then, it will take some time getting used to wearing a diaper, I'm sure! So we're looking at possibilities there -- my SIL had a baby in December, and so my in laws have a huge bag of diapers from earlier this year that are way too small for my nephew now, I think we're going to try those out.

I have not visited her today, but my MIL said that her infection is looking a lot better and she is starting to groom that area again - I hope this is good news, it appears as though she's either trying to stimulate herself to go or is trying to nurse her wounds. Hopefully it means she has the sensation of needing to use the restroom!

I also asked my MIL if it were possible to ask the vet for a copy of Emma's vet report after her visit so I can read over it and/or bring it to school with me on Wednesday. Best case scenario with copies of the xrays, but I'm sure I won't get those, lol.

Your thoughts and prayers are working, guys!! This girl is a fighter!! I think she's starting to pull through!

This all sounds good! You never know; maybe they'll loan you the xrays, but, actually, I wouldn't expect the xrays to be all that helpful anyway. Congrats on the built-in diaper supply. LOL. 8 pound Buddy wore size 3, and I had to Freecycle several packs before I figured that out!! Buddy had a tail, but it's MUCH easier to diaper without one.

The infection still concerns me some, but at least it's getting better, even with no antibiotics.

[Jessika]

I will reiterate and say she HAS been on antibiotics for the infection -- Clavamox I think? And she has been on it since they brought her to the vet for the first time last Monday. I just didn't see it in there on the counter but was looking through their papers yesterday from the first visit and saw it listed on there as being prescribed.

Still has blood in her urine, but that's understandable. Her tail is "dead", but we knew that anyway (hence the amputation). And she has been keeping herself pretty clean, and that's a good sign!!

I believe we're on the road to recovery, even if she never regains control over her bowels, she definitely won't be euthanized

[Catty1]

I hope the infection clears up quickly - and Emma feels better and recovers...heck, go for FULL recovery for Emma!

Are they waiting til the infection is gone before they amputate her tail? Is she seeing another vet - or are you going to just take her records to school? (I am sure one of your instructors would have the 'clout' to get them released to you).

Emma is cleaning herself, and that tells me she has no other intention except to live!

[Jessika]

The vet will amputate as soon as my in-laws schedule the surgery, however he's still against manual elimination according to my MIL and she says he thinks it isn't a good idea. Personally maybe he's just so used to people not caring, but bottom line, they are clearly telling him what they want to do and he's still advising against it... that just doesn't make sense to me whatsoever... her quality of life will still be the same, just a little different!

I'm assuming my inlaws are just waiting for the infection to clear up, so the surgery will probably be scheduled very soon now.

But they told him, bottom line, they do not feel comfortable euthanizing her if the only problem is incontinence, so it won't happen, period.