10/1 Loose Lips- Foster Kitty eye removal update

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carolynandlatte

carolynandlatte

Member Since 2009
Hi All-
Ive mostly posted updates on fb of my foster kitty who had an enucleation (eye removal), but know some of you are not on fb much if at all.

I thought I would let you know the surgery went well. Tippie had a great first day recovery. Today is a little different. She seems a bit depressed and possibly in a little more pain??? Part of it may have to do with trying to use the e collar. She is like houdini. She immediately shuts down, then goes a little ballistic, gets it off and hides. Dian/Wheezer gave a suggestion of using a towel wrapped around her neck as an alternative. We are trying that today. I hope it works!

Parts of this are easier than I thought. Other parts seem more difficult than some of the things I went through with Latte. Im learning that Tippie is a very emotionally sensitive kitty. If anyone says cats do not have emotions/feelings, I challenge them to come spend a few hours caring for her!

Its going to be a long 2 weeks until she gets the stitches out. Ive had a few 'meltdowns', but try to keep focusing on the outcome. She is already one good looking kitty. Once this heals...watch out! Meeeoooooooow! :mrgreen:

Here is a link with some photos after surgery. I think they start around photo #12. Do be warned, some of them may be hard to look at. Thankfully the photos only capture a small part of what it really looked like. Apparently they do not send kitties back to the foster home immediately following a surgery like this due to the shock factor and care involved. I can understand why! Im grateful they let me bring her home, tho. I would have been a mess and think she is better off here than in a cage at the vets.
http://tippie.shutterfly.com/pictures#n_5

Here are some easier recovery photos:
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Definitely better off with you than in a cage! She's doing great! Quite the challenge for you, Carolyn, caring for Tippie after her surgery. She is beautiful. Good luck with the next two weeks.
Liz
 
You are one great bean - always felt that. Good luck with Tippie - I think that under your care she will flourish. I hope the towel works - I know how they can be so uptight over those collars. Heal well Tippie!
 
She sounds like such a sweet kitty and will do much better under your loving care. Sending some healing vines to Tippy. She's lucky to have you.
 
Tippy is so lucky to have you, Carolyn. Thank you for the update because I am one of those that don't visit facebook much, at all.
I thought about you and Tippy all day on Thursday. I'm glad the surgery went well and she is home with you.
You can attend to her emotional needs too, where they couldn't do that at the vet with her sitting in a cage day in and day out.
Thanks for visiting our condo, today. I'm always happy to hear from you.
 
Hi Carolyn.
Thanks so much for the update. I don't do FaceBook, so I really appreciate your post. Tippie looks very good and I'm sure that she will recover from the surgery nicely. But it will be a challenging 2 weeks for you! Someone on the board recently had a soft collar that the kitty tolerated very well. I'll do some digging and see if I can find the posts.

We are sending a beautiful bouquet of healing vines to Tippie and a big hug to you. Tippie is a beautiful kiktty.

Ella & Rusty

p.s. Your visit to Stu's remembrance condo is much appreciated. I often think of him and Latte at the Bridge; he's cooking a new recipe and she is tasting to make sure it is good!
 
Awww, Tippi! I like that she seems to enjoy sniffing the fresh air from her perch at the window again. That is a good sign isn't it?
 
CD and BigMac said:
Awww, Tippi! I like that she seems to enjoy sniffing the fresh air from her perch at the window again. That is a good sign isn't it?
Click to expand...

Oooooh! I wish today was as good as yesterday. The only movement from her today was when the clip I was using for the "T" collar slipped, popped, and flew past her face. That was another hour under the bed. :roll: She did finally get up for dinner and is sitting in the window. She just seems tired, depressed, and possibly in some pain. Her facial expressions are pitiful and heartbreaking.

We have to get this e collar thing worked out. Im probably need to close her in a small hallway while at work so she cant wedge herself between anything and get it off. That will only depress her more. She somehow manages to get her paw between her neck and the collar, which then gets stuck. So even a closed area she is still a danger to herself. ohmygod_smile One more day and night to practice getting used to it.

Ella- any info you have on a soft collar would be great. I have a soft one, but its crinkly and BIG. Ive checked all the stores in my area. There is one for dogs (kind of like the towel wrapped around neck), but there were none in stock which were small enough. I will try to get out a bit tomorrow when she is heavily drugged and see what the shelter has. I am so open to hearing any and every idea to make this work for her. It would be incredibly painful if she pulled out any of these stitches.
 
Are you talking about the soft collar that Violet put on Garland while she had the etube? If so, search violet and garland. She may have posted a specific topic about it but don't remember.
 
Hi again, Carolyn,
I found the Kitty Kollar, but I think it's only for kitties who are using e tubes. Anyway, here's the URL to the web page. Violet says it really helped Garland, who had a e tube, but it looks to me as if Tippie could scratch her sutures with it on. Good luck! I hope you find something that works.

Ella

http://www.kittykollar.com/Product.php
 
There is also something called a Pro Collar. Apparently you can buy them at many pet stores. Check it out on this website. Scroll down to the link to "see the pro collar on a cat"

http://vetmedicine.about.com/od/veterinaryqa/a/E-collar-alternative.htm

It looks pretty comfortable and as if it might work for you.

Lisa (Do Lou), who told Violet about the KittyKollar, said that you can buy them at PetCo. Perhaps PetCo carries the Pro Collar too.

Ella
 
The proCollar! Thats what I saw at the store, but only had size large.

Tomorrow Im running to the shelter to get a few more doses of pain meds and look at their collars. I think I will call around in the a.m. beforehand and see if ANYONE has them in a small. It's totally worth a try. Looks similar to the towel concept (roll up towel, wrap around neck, pin/clip together). She was still getting out of it and the clip was real top heavy.

Fingers crossed!

She did make it about 1.5hrs with the soft cone on this evening. It was an hour to celebrate! :mrgreen:

THANK YOU!!!

ETA: Caught petsmart before they closed and they have xs and s. Will give it a try. At least I can return if it does not work.
 
Sienne and Gabby said:
Carolyn --

I wonder if Tippie gets upset with the e-collar because it's blocking her peripheral vision in the other eye.
Click to expand...

I didnt see this earlier. Yes, I agree 100%. That is why I thought the towel and then the procollar would be better.

The procollar didnt work. We laid on the bed together after I put it on. Her other eye (the one with feline herpes) started dripping like she was crying. Just broke my heart. After about 15 minutes, with on swoop, she undid the release collar and off it went. No struggle whatsoever!

I taped the soft collar back so it doesnt restrict her peripheral vision so much. She is 'tolerating' it, though fairly depressed when its on. She also has a trick of rubbing the edge against ANYTHING (particularly doorways) over and over to loosen it. Its the best I can do. Ive tinkered and fussed, and tried everything I can to keep her safe and comfortable. Now we just hope and pray none of the stitches come out.

Here is a photo of her today, with much less swelling of the eye! She is going to be such a hottie once the stitches are out and her fur grows back :lol: (and no offense, but this is coming from the mouth of someone who has had to acquire an appreciation for black cats)
ry%3D400
 
That Tippie is a clever girl! She is looking good. You have the patience of a saint, Carolyn, and the persistence of a ? (can't think of anything right now). I've always thought black cats were especially beautiful.
Liz
 
I've been following Tippie's e-collar stories...she is a smart one, isn't she?! She's looking good...what a pretty girl! I hope her recovery continues along smoothly, despite the collar issues....

Amy
 
Tippie is beautiful, Carolyn, even with some fur shaved. I love black cats! I hope that every day will be a bit easier for you and Tippie. Sorry that the procollar didn't work out. Maybe after a few days you can try it again.

We are keeping those healing vines coming your way!

Hugs,

Ella & Rusty
 
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