Civvie w/pica, scratched and raw neck

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BJM

BJM

Member Since 2010
Smokey Joe, aka "Jojo" has asthma, so hearing wheezy coughs and seeing him hang over the edges of counters and boxes while doing that always raises my suspicion that his asthma could be flaring ... and asthma can kill. Not that I'm a helicopter mom or anything like that!

He also has pica - a condition where non-food items are consumed. His inert ingredient of choice? Plastic bags. I've found shreds of them in both vomit and feces. Ick!

It seemed as though his meds weren't lasting the 48 hours between doses, with more episodes of coughing. Took him in to the vet and got an x-ray. His lungs are typical for asthma, with some evidence of dilation, but not obviously in trouble and he was breathing normally. His stomach on the other had, was enormous.

He stayed at the vet overnight, fasting and a repeat x-ray was done. Still enormous, and no defecation had happened. He's going to stay at the vet this weekend in case he becomes acute, and if nothing moves through, he's having surgery on Monday.

I'll go visit later today.

*sigh* My budget really did not need this!
 
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Poor Jojo - I'm sure that feels awful! Hopefully things will improve instead of going downhill.

HUGS BJ and extra thoughts and prayers for Jojo too.
 
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Sending healing vines for Jojo, hope things go well this weekend and surgery will not be necessary.
 
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BJ, I have the exact same issues with one of my civvies, and I'm always terrified when I don't see her in the LB several times a day. I can really understand your worry and concern. I hope it turns out to be nothing and Jojo won't need surgery! Sending hugs and healing vines. Please keep us posted!

Lucy :bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
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Visited Jojo for about an hour. Nothing is moving through yet. Seems to be doing OK, not in any pain. Fingers crossed that defecation, preferably with the plastic bags in it, happens over the weekend and that he doesn't develop an acute abdomen while waiting.
 
No visiting hours today. I'm sure the kennel staff would have contacted the vet if they observed anything. I fully anticipate his going to have surgery tomorrow.

I miss having the little monster around, even if he goes after civvie Precious.
 
Oh, so sorry you didn't get to visit with him today. Still keeping positive thoughts for him, and sending healing vines. I know you must miss him terribly, hope he comes home soon, good as new! :):bighug:
 
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Vet called me back: his stomach is still very distended and he has not eaten for them, either, so he's having surgery tomorrow.

Its going on 3 days without eating which is probably stress, in addition to whatever is in his stomach. This puts him at risk of hepatic lipidosis (even in a non-diabetic, not eating for 2-3 days can start that process). She'll be putting in an esophageal tube in case the inappetance continues after surgery.
 
Hoping surgery goes well for Smokey Joe today and the feeding tube will not be needed, at least not for long.
 
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It's today. It must be nerve wracking for you.
Sending many positive thoughts and golden lights to Jojo.
To Jojo, just focus on how well you will feel after this.
:bighug:
 
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Jojo is in recovery and has eaten some already.
His bloodwork was all good.
There were no small intestine blockages. He got an enema to help move stuff in colon. There were wads of plastic in his stomach. Some pieces were small enough he could have aspirated them in vomiting and died from airway obstruction.

I've got to pick up _ALL_ the plastic bags in the condo... and I wrapped boxes with bags to keep them safe from vomit & pee.
*sigh*
 
I'm so glad Jojo's surgery is done and he's on the road to recovery. You're going to have your hands full keeping your plastic addict away from the stuff.
 
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So glad to hear surgery went well and Jojo's eating on his own. Menace likes to snuggle into any plastic bag with contents so I always tie them shut if they are going to be sitting anywhere for more than a few minutes because I am afraid of her getting tangled and suffocating. Now I know how lucky I am that's all she does! Sending healing vines and scritches for Jojo!
 
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Civvie brother Hustler has a pica for plastic bags as well. Plastic of any sort. He will chew milk rings to bits and eat them. (a favorite toy for every cat i've known) I will have to be more careful with him!
I give him the rings from gatorade bottles now, he can't chew through them. He plays fetch with them:)

Loads of speedy recovery vines for Jojo. I'm glad he is eating. Hugs for bean:bighug:
 
I have a rather large collection of storage boxes; replacing them all with plastic will be expensive.
I'm thinking of getting some 2nd hand sheets from the VOA and wrapping those over the plastic. It'll be faster and I need this done before he can start gnawing again.
 
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I am so glad the surgery went well and he's recovering.
Covering the boxes with sheets sounds like a good quick fix idea, but I have this funny image of an exciting, curious and sneaky kitty pushing his head into a space between a slit of open space between the sheets .
"Ohhhh what's under there?? Let's investigate!". :D
Must wrap tightly and secure the seams closed!!!
Sending more healing vines to Jojo. :bighug:
 
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Sorry to hear of JoJo's troubles but happy to hear he is on the mend. My kitty is also a plastic water. In fact, that's how I snapped the picture in my avatar - Dusty was chewing on the plastic straw.
 
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I picked up Jojo around 5 pm.
Before we left, they gave him an injection for pain, plus some Cerenia to encourage him to eat. He does have an esophageal tube so I can give him feedings that way as needed.
He had a few pieces of Evo dry, and ignored the 50/50 mix of A/D and Friskies Turkey and Giblet.
He is happily ensconced on my lap, resting.
 
So glad you have your furball back home and in your lap! Sounds like he's not going to need the tube for long! He's in good hands and will no doubt have a speedy recovery from his ordeal! :bighug:
 
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Hi BJ,

Just seen this thread now. I'm sorry to hear that Jojo has been in the wars but I'm delighted to hear he's through the surgery and back home convalescing with his wonderful bean. Wishing you both wonderful snuggles. Great news that Jojo's eating a little under his own steam.

:bighug::bighug::bighug:


Mogs
.
 
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Gail & Houdini (GA) said:
So glad he is doing better and on the road to recovery. I can't imagine life without plastic bags ...... you are going to have your hands full for sure. How about lots of plastic bins instead?
Click to expand...

Re usable bags are good. Maybe he won't eat them. One day I came home from work and Tux came running to the door he had a plastic bag tangled around him. Anytime he moved it made noise. For 5.5 hours he was like that. All I could think of was he could have suffocated or strangled himself. He was so scared he was trembling. I just picked him up and cuddled him and wouldn't let me put him down for hours. He loves to sleep in the 're usable. So I cut the handles off one for him.

No more plastic bags allowed up in house. They stay in the garage.
 
So happy that Jojo is on the road to recovery.

We rescued a brother & sister pair 16 years ago that LIVED for plastic grocery bags. We weren't new cat parents, we already had 4 cats, and had never seen an obsession like this.

I did some research and found that most plastic grocery bags use rendered animal fat as a "slip agent" so they don't stick together. (I don't know that this is true of things like garbage bags). However, my kids were connoisseurs and preferred grocery bags. And we did notice that they licked them first. So I do believe that the fat is what attracted them.

So grocery bags, and now all plastic bags for safety, have been strictly banned in our house for 16 years now.
 
BJ- just saw this - so sorry you and sweet kitty had to go through this - I have never heard of the plastic grocery bag obsession - Chicago has outlawed them - probably at some point they will be banned everywhere (so bad for the environment and now kitties as well)
 
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He didn't eat much, if any, of what I left him overnight.

He had a few kibble and some freeze dried chicken this morning, plus a 10 mL syringe of the Clinicare and some water to flush the tube.

As the pain meds wear off, I'm hoping his appetite perks up. If not, when I'm home this evening, I'll do more syringe feeding, every couple hours.

I also ordered some Forti Flora, as he's on Clavamox, which could result in lack of appetite over time.

I'm trying to adjust my schedule so I can syringe feed without being pressed for time.
 
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