? ate string

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you have all been awesome ...thank you for your support ...I will take it from here now...thank you...leave you with this....

we dance round in a ring and suppose,
but the secret lies in the middle and knows...Robert Frost
 
Noah & me (GA) said:
This might be too blunt but whatever. You have options Allison and one of them is a Gofundme campaign. All I ask is that when you have time you have a look for Beenie's sake, he deserves some more life. Most of us have spent mortgage payments on cats and dogs, none of us enjoyed it.
Prayers, thoughts and clever sayings only go so far. Janet is right.
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If you need to borrow and can't get a personal loan, there are several veterinary bill-type loans like Care Credit...

Hugs and prayers :bighug:
 
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thanks to all for your very helpful suggestions and support...I have spent all day and night researching and watching Beenie...spoke with a different vet who had a different opinion...she said it would be wise to watch for any signs of discomfort or vomiting or anything before jumping into a highly invasive procedure which has its risks aswell...

I also spoke to two vets online ( one who I have known for years and has always given concise information) and they both agreed that if Beenie is not showing ANY clinical signs that dont look normal...I should wait...there is some likelihood that afterall Beenie ate the string in pieces and not in one long piece....his chances of pooping it out are greatly increased of course if he ate it in small bits...if not ...I was informed that the ribbon (plastic ) could do one of two things...come out on its own...or he will need emergency surgery ...so that is where we are at today...vet said it would be highly unusual that Beenie would show NO clinical signs of anything wrong and suddenly or rapidly go downhill...this was a bit of comfort knowing I will get a warning...

welcoming any thoughts or experiences anyone has had here that may be in contrast to what I have learned in past 24 hrs...
 
Oh, I'm so glad you updated, I've been worried about you guys all day!

OK, Beenie, you heard that-- we can do this the easy way and just poop it out.... or the other way. So, you know what to do! And, after this-- ribbons will be permanently off the menu!

Will keep an eye on this thread for more news, crossing fingers, toes, and paws :nailbiting:.
 
Hi Allison. I am thrilled to hear Beenie is currently stable. Wishing for a good outcome for you both.

I don't have any suggestions but I can offer a bit of a funny story. I had a Pug named Fred; the absolutely most wonderful dog! One day he was barking out the door so I went to see what the issue was. He bounced when he barked. Pugs tails are upright so you could see his little bum. So put that visual in your head! Well, he was bouncing and a brown thing was hanging from his bum about 1 inch long and jiggling every time Fred bounced. I started yelling for my parents and screeching that worms were crawling out of Freds bum!!

My dad grabbed a tissue to pull out the worms. Not worms.....a 3 inch rubber band! I still laugh when I think about that.

I hope Beenie poops out his string and you can have a good laugh too! :rolleyes:
 
thx Noah...Harley..Nan ..Becky...hope I didnt lve anyone out!

this has been a ride thats for sure...i actually cant remember wen I last slept...going a bit off in the head...but got some solid advice which makes world of difference...hes not out of the woods yet but there is hope...my favorite emotion!

he ate all night long which vet said he needs to do...oily foods...no laxatives tho...he really gave me hard time with iv ringers...but managed to distract him enough with food so he got half of what he needed...I have found that when you dont force things on cats and really expla to them what you are doing (cheery tone of voice) ...it works wonders...and if they start to struggle to get away always let them so then they know for next time they can get out of it if they want to....many yrs of iv ringers taught me this! thank you all for caring...sweet people..love you guys...you are my support!!!
 
well so far so good folks...eating but no bm still since Monday 4 pm Pacific time....bit concerned ...waiting waiting waiting...he seems normal and playful but he is definitely not out of the woods...and there is a good chance he could still need this surgery...any thoughts about the lack of pooping?
 
allison and Bubbles said:
...I was informed that the ribbon (plastic ) could do one of two things...come out on its own...or he will need emergency surgery ...so that is where we are at today...vet said it would be highly unusual that Beenie would show NO clinical signs of anything wrong and suddenly or rapidly go downhill...this was a bit of comfort knowing I will get a warning...
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Allison, could you re-right this, I'm missing something.
Should it read "The vet said it would be highly unusual that Beenie would show absolutely NO clinical signs of anything wrong and then Beenie would suddenly and rapidly go downhill". It's when you say "this was a bit of comfort knowing I will get a warning" that has me concerned. That warning could come in the middle of the night and asking us what we think won't be an option. You'll be doing twice the speed limit to an emergency clinic.
Please relax everyone, I'm not a mean old ogre. This could be a very serious matter and Allison knows three things; I don't communicate well, I want her to be happy, she cares deeply for Beenie.
Personally I would not trust an online vet who cannot feel, poke and prod Beenie. They are good for consultations on less serious matters like medication but that is not the case here. Sometimes healing vines are not enough. We are here for each other and our cats, not for likes.
 
I apologize for the double post.
For any late arrivals it was not string, it was synthetic ribbon.
Allison has already lost two cats since she joined. I have followed her story from the start and know Allison cares deeply for her cats but has been hit with an emotional sledgehammer, spent a fortune just like any of would have and she lives in the most expensive city in Canada.
I know you don't need defending Allison and the last thing I'm doing is trying to embarrass you. Being emotional is a prerequisite for loving a cat.
 
Always appreciate your input...ok ...let me rephrase...I am watching vigilantly for any signs of anything unusual ...namely vomiting or not eating...been up all night watching...Beenie has had a good Bm...so he is not blocked...he has also been eating ALOT....now yes I was worried about the same thing...I might be asleep at the time of onset of distress...but I was told by a vet here where I live that clinical signs may develop....yes...but that between the time of any bad signs I will have ample time to get Beenie in to surgically remove the ribbon...does that make sense?
 
It is still a very very serious concern...that is why I do not sleep...since Monday I have slept a few hrs ...but nothing more...i am tired but not so tired that I dont understand the severity of these circumstances and stay awake to watch Beenie...your comments are always welcome Dickson ...bc you are bright and you care...thank you!
 
Oh yak, I really am just the overly protective fatherly type. That's better than nagging or worse yet being condescending right?
You need to win the 649 and move to the Salt Spring Island Allison. We all deserve some luck and now it's your turn. :bighug:
 
I am surprised that I see no ribbon coming out...72 hrs later...but I was told that it could take some time...I still am considering surgery even with no clinical signs...as would you believe that a ribbon or string can remain in the gut for many months causing no apparent problems?? wow...but it can quite suddenly rear its ugly head ...I quite like your fatherly protective side...I could use it...as I am alone here in this!
 
My last time-waster. I have had unnecessary surgery on MYSELF and on cats. Some of it is a guilt trip. Our vet is a real Angel and told us regarding Kobiashi "No, I'm telling you guys it's a harmless cyst". Out came 2 mortgage payments and a teensy tiny benign piece of nothing.
Remember Allison, you're not alone. You're just way over there.
 
Well, I missed the part about Beenie's BM. Drove straight through a red light.
Opinions please. Modern medicine can scope anything now, even babies in the womb. Is there a reason Beenie wasn't scoped from "behind". I've had a Kodak in the wahzoo and it wasn't fun but it was not general anesthetic. It's not invasive surgery, the doctor is just having a look.
 
Yay for poop! Allison you said the first vet said he thought most of the string was in Beenies stomach. Did he see it on an X-ray or just a guess? Can you even see string on an X-ray?:confused:
 
Sharon14 said:
Did he see it on an X-ray or just a guess? Can you even see string on an X-ray?
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Two more good points.
Can you check this for accuracy please Allison? Could everyone have a look at whatever is in blue.
>It was gift wrapping ribbon only, absolutely no string was involved. I'm assuming that kind of ribbon is either some kind of synthetic material or plastic but it might be entirely possible that someone makes environmentally friendly cotton or plant based ribbon. This could make a huge difference as far as how it breaks down in the GI tract and if you have to worry about any future liver or kidney damage.
>Beenie ate the ribbon Monday night so we're coming up on 72 hours.
>By Tuesday at 828AM he still had not had a BM.
>On Tuesday the vet said after two hours of ingestion it would likely not be in his tummy anymore but meandering into his digestive tract.
>On Wednesday at 10:45PM you said he had been eating but no BM.
>Thursday/Today 10:17AM "Beenie has had a good BM so he is not blocked. He has also been eating a lot.
Has he only had the one poop? Was it a nice solid poop? Did Beenie just suddenly start eating again or had he been fussy until today?
>Today you said "Would you believe that a ribbon or string can remain in the gut for many months causing no apparent problems?" Who told you that?

We'll worry about the orthopedic surgery later. That part of her intestines may need to be removed will not be the end of the world depending of course on how much is removed. If any other invasive surgery is involved on her tummy then once the vet has Beenie under sedation this should not be a hugely complicated procedure and I'm guessing it would be another hour or 90 minutes.

Your are paying money for this so you have a right to ask the vet specific questions.
Did he see the ribbon on an X-ray or was that just a guess or an assumption? We have all seen a vet or doctor hold up a x-ray and say "As you can see". No, I can't see that, show me.
Can you even see ribbon on an X-ray?
How long can something sit in a cat's stomach before it comes out one end or the other. This is gross but it is relevant and was confirmed by my family doctor. The last time I got really sick and vomited was 72 hours after eating a veggy stew with baby corn. That corn came up in the vomit 72 hours later.
If you in any way are being shamed by your vet or are feeling guilty you still have a right to ask questions and as many as you want. This is not the time for someone to tsk tsk you and be judgemental.
I find it odd that Beenie has been eating, had a poop and has not vomited.
Jill asked if you needed some help and posted a link. That help is there for people who deserve it for giving a cat a better life. Some people spend more money on a handbag than what you might have to pay for surgery.

That was one long post but I think it is all relevant and I hope it helps. Tomorrow is the last weekday before the long weekend and I do not want you spending it crying in an emergency clinic young lady.
 
Noah & me (GA) said:
>Today you said "Would you believe that a ribbon or string can remain in the gut for many months causing no apparent problems?" Who told you that?
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I wonder if that’s similar to something that can happen to horses. They ingest a foreign object that sits in their gut, causing no harm, but over time, bits of food collect on the object then one day they are completely blocked. It may seem sudden but has actually been coming on for a long time.
Allison, I know you said you were sure Beenie had eaten the string and you seem pretty sure it’s in small pieces rather than one long peice. Have you looked absolutely everywhere for the string either uneaten or puked up? I have found things I’d rather not talk about under my bed when I’ve rearranged the furniture...:oops:
 
Thank you all so much...Beenie barfed up pieces of yes indeed THE DREADED PLASTIC RIBBON...I took the pieces out of the vomit...it measured a FOOT LONG... Beenie is doing great...but this does not necessarily mean he is out of thhe woods...some of it could have made its way into his intestines...so I am still on high alert...sorry I havent answered here for a day or two...lots going on...thank you all for your caring and support
 
and in an important answer to your question Sharon and Dickson...no xrays show only hard things...for lack of a better way to put it...the vet only suspected it was the ribbon in Beenie's stomach bc Beenie had eaten only a tiny bit of food HOURS earlier and the vet said food empties out of the cats stomach in twenty minutes....so he could have done a barium xray which would have apparently defined a foreign body that is not made of metal or bone or something hard ...but he only did xrays...which does surprise me...in any case I got a blessing from above it appears so far...but I am still watching. .and yes foreign linear objects and I suspect other less ominous ones CAN remain in cats' bodies for many many months...static...I guess...odd but true...but they can very suddenly rear their ugly heads should something change and they can obstruct and destroy portions of your pets intestines...
 
Ok, I went back to the first post and Beenie ate the ribbon on Tuesday sometime in the morning, right? When did he vomit the pieces that amounted to a foot in length Allison? Were the ribbon pieces part of a craft project and would you have any idea how much Beenie might have ingested on Tuesday compared to the foot he has already vomited? I'm just inquiring as you are still concerned with the possibility of ribbon traveling down the entire alimentary canal, and possibly causing some type of obstruction.
 
Noah & me (GA) said:
Were the pieces that he yakked up still intact as if his digestive juices had no effect on them?
I know we're in the long weekend now so watch him constantly.
Ask your vet if an enema is an option or..
can he scope and grab the remainder? If they can put a coil and stent inside my brain they can pull ribbon from a cat's butt.
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Oh gawd, Dickson, what a picture in my mind now. o_O
 
allison and Bubbles said:
and in an important answer to your question Sharon and Dickson...no xrays show only hard things...for lack of a better way to put it...the vet only suspected it was the ribbon in Beenie's stomach
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To be clear for everyone.

An xray should show up string or ribbon inside a body, be it a person, a dog or cat & its actual position.

I am rather shocked that a vet would suggest risky invasive surgery when he only guessed this ribbon was in the stomach. To this end I am very pleased to read that the cat has finally vomited the ribbon out as per a hair ball. I think someone else here wrote that her pusscat did this quite often with regards to string.



.
 
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Apparently it must be a barium xray...several vets told me this ribbon will not show on regular xray...?I am watching him very very carefully....thx Idjit...Noah...and Pusscat...for your concern...he threw it up in pieces which I am pretty sure means he ate it in pieces since it is entirely undigested...there were five pieces...I am seriously hoping that was all of it...does anyone think I should see another vet to ask for a barium xray? does anyone feel like this is still a major cause for concern? I am thinking that seeing as he chewed it any other amt of ribbon will likely be coming out in small pieces which is safer than longer pieces...I was also told it can stay in his intestines for several months...and yes I thought that procedure was highly invasive and it still scares me should he need it...I was told that if he was obstructed...I would get a warning ...like vomiting or not eating or feeling noticeably unwell...?
 
allison and Bubbles said:
Apparently it must be a barium xray...several vets told me this ribbon will not show on regular xray...?
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I would contest this from what I know, however anyone & everyone else is free to disagree. The ribbon and string is 'hard' . As you have stated pusscat ate two feet in five pieces and that it was wide at 75mls an xray would likely show this foreign body.

A barium meal test is to look for abnormal soft tissue which the ribbon is not. Veins, ulcers, tumours, polyps etc. It is true however that a barium will enhance xray results which is why it is used for soft tissue.

If parts have passed into his intestines then yes it could stay there for a while and maybe cause problems with the bowel bunching. That in itself does not cause septic shock. It will cause huge pain, spasms and discomfort. I gather nothing was found wrapped around the base of the tongue which is the usual large concern.

It is a bit confusing which doesn't help any of us to support you.
Did the vet see anything at all in the xrays he took or not.
How do you know exactly what the lovely Beenie ate?

Your cat has now vomited. Your vet said if that happened to bring him in for invasive surgery to his stomach even though from what is written , he does not know the ribbon is in there from the xrays he took - Vomiting foreign material is normal to cats.

Is the pusscat still eating, drinking, moving, playing, pussing, sleeping in normal repose?
 
thx Idgit...Dickson and Pusscat...omgosh it takes me so long to type on this phone and I wrote a very long message answering each of your questions and somehow managed to erase the whole dang thing...basics are...he is doing everything normal...two vets said a ribbon like that could absolutely NOT be seen on an xray (present ribbon...plasticy material)....and he is the "top" vet in my city...I saw the xray and I saw material in his stomach...but nothing in intestine...wish he had done a barium xray...he even told me THAT would have shown he ribbon...and before I could say a thing he wisked Beanie off to an xray room...I think I should get a barium xray...that makes the most sense...it came out in six pieces...NONE of it was even partially digested but vet did say it could go into his intestines within hrs of swallowing it...he swallowed the ribbon Monday at four pm ...he threw it up on Wednesday...I have heard pieces like this can get into his intestines and wreak havoc..but I will get a warning before he will require emergency surgery. .vomiting...lethargy...no pooping...have to keep close eye on him...does anyone know if corn oil in his food is similar to the effects of the suggested mineral oil?...
 
Pusscat ...just noticed your previous note about the difference in xrays...hmmm...its a bit confusing but you explianed it so well I understood...will find out about this and I want to have a barium xray done asap...just so I know if there is still cause for concern...
 
allison and Bubbles said:
Pusscat ...just noticed your previous note about the difference in xrays...hmmm...its a bit confusing but you explianed it so well I understood...will find out about this and I want to have a barium xray done asap...just so I know if there is still cause for concern...
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If this were my pusscat, I wouldn't put him/her through that procedure unless absolutely necessary, more especially if pusscat is showing no signs for concern . It isn't pleasant at all & there can be side effects.
If the vet had felt it necessary he would have wanted it done at the time of the visit.

It is tough when one cares and loves very much but try to relax and observe . If Beenie shows signs of feeling unwell , then rethink it. At the moment he isn't showing any signs of this and has healthily barfed up said ribbon as a good cat should.

Anyway, let us have a pic of the day.
 
ok...thx Pusscat...I am trying to figure out how to post a photo...i have done it before...but cant remember ...I thank you for the advice...!
 

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This is Beanie ....thx Janet...I would not have figured that out anytime soon...he needs extensive hip surgery ...both of his hips looks like have been broken or malformed...he cant walk much...I was wondering why...xrays showed...his pelvis is out of order too...
 
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