PRYR RQST Gracie's in the hospital
- Thread starter Raggedyman
- Start date
Displaced hillbilly
Veteran Member
Praying for Gracie, may the Father guide the vets and May they have success with the scope. Let us know how she does.
Raggedyman
Res ipsa loquitur
and that she does - I can assure you
Assuming that this all works out okay, my thoughts are: good. Maybe “momma” learned something. A little heartbreak is a great teacher. (Again, I’m hoping that it works out okay. You’ll ultimately be out about $3000 for the surgery.)
Sammy55
Veteran Member
Praying for Gracie and her Raggedy mom and dad!
When my Cookie cat was little (about 20 plus years ago), I was working on some sewing at my dining table and reached for my needle and thread. I couldn't find it anywhere on the floor or table. But my Cookie was there. Called the vet and told her that I thought my kitten swallowed my needle. She told me what bad signs to watch her for the next day or so. So I gave my Cookie some pumpkin and slept in the bathroom with her (door closed) for the night. When she finally pooped the next day, I had to dig through that poop looking for the needle. Sure enough, I found it. It looked like a piece of hay, but it was all together. The thread, of course, was disintegrated. Cookie was okay, the needle was out, no problems with her health, and no big vet bills. But her momma learned a BIG lesson! Cats will grab and chew ANYthing and EVERYthing!
I know from reading that one of the worst things that cats can swallow that can quite possibly kill them are pennies. Something in the pennies can kill them, so I'm very leery about pennies. I am very diligent about picking up any change that is loose whether on the floor, the table, or anyplace else.
When my Cookie cat was little (about 20 plus years ago), I was working on some sewing at my dining table and reached for my needle and thread. I couldn't find it anywhere on the floor or table. But my Cookie was there. Called the vet and told her that I thought my kitten swallowed my needle. She told me what bad signs to watch her for the next day or so. So I gave my Cookie some pumpkin and slept in the bathroom with her (door closed) for the night. When she finally pooped the next day, I had to dig through that poop looking for the needle. Sure enough, I found it. It looked like a piece of hay, but it was all together. The thread, of course, was disintegrated. Cookie was okay, the needle was out, no problems with her health, and no big vet bills. But her momma learned a BIG lesson! Cats will grab and chew ANYthing and EVERYthing!
I know from reading that one of the worst things that cats can swallow that can quite possibly kill them are pennies. Something in the pennies can kill them, so I'm very leery about pennies. I am very diligent about picking up any change that is loose whether on the floor, the table, or anyplace else.
It’s the fact that pennys are made from zinc today rather than copper, and zinc reacts violently with stomach acid. (You should research this stuff more.)
Raggedyman
Res ipsa loquitur
actually the "care estimate" was $35 - 6500. the deposit yesterday was $2800. also just found out blood labs done earlier showed a very high white count some minimal anemia and kidney functions skewd; lots of albumin and bacteria in the urine . . . suggests she has a raging UTI - I asked that they consider doing an US of her urinary tract to be sure we aren't dealing with anything more involved and potentially complicated by the anesthesia.
this will be a big bite. I don't mind. when you have an animal they're YOUR RESPONSIBILITY - JUST LIKE A CHILD IS . it costs what it costs. they DON'T get tossed aside because they're expensive or inconvenient.
as for momma - she feels bad enough. the flip side of this is that EVERYTHING happens for a reason. depending on the results of the US maybe this was necessary to head off some other future asteroid-out-of-left-field-impact in the future. won't be the first time I've personally experienced or been a participant in that very thing.
GOD has his ways. all we can do is TRUST and try to OBEY
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Raggedyman
Res ipsa loquitur
Sammy
first of all - many thanks for your prayers and encouragement.
our vet is also a good friend. she reassured us that she's seen much worse pass through and sewing needle was one of the things she mentioned. as Doz suggested above we tried the bread - didn't move it at all. we now have 3 sets of plain films showing its in exactly the same location. good news in that it hasn't moved into the duodenum where it could lacerate her gut more easily and be incredibly more difficult to repair.
waiting for a call back from her care team and Tami (our vet). as of 1520 she's not in surgery yet. we're waiting on results of the US
Seeker22
Has No Life - Lives on TB
If Momma hadn't done what she did, and the chain of events happened as they did, Gracie's UTI would have gone unnoticed until there was no good solution.
The Unseen Hand is in this one from the very beginning. I continue to pray, and give thanks ahead of the good outcome.
UTIs tend to make themselves known if their “puppy parents” are paying attention.
Mprepared
Veteran Member
I am not sure what kind of change, but some people I knew put their change on the table at night and wallet, stuff from their pockets and they had a new puppy and he had a seizure and they took him to the vet and found out he had swallowed coins. The puppy was sick and had more seizures and they had to put him down. I put sewing stuff because of grandchildren but once in awhile I find a pin on the floor drooped when sewing, so I am going to be a little more careful after reading your story. Glad your cat was okay. I have one that is always close when I am sewing.
Night Owl
Veteran Member
I’ve had a Dalmatian, Charlie, he ate anything on the floor, i.e., he ate sharp objects too. I worked Pediatrics G.I., always keep a can of the cheapest asparagus in your pantry if a child or animal eats a foreign object.cheapest is stringiest to trap and wrap around the object ingested.
Yep, needles with thread on them use to be a favorite of our Charlie, I’d give him a can if asparagus and woo lah, it came out in a day. BTW. The cat would get on my sewing table and play with anything she could to drop on the floor…so I understand your fear.
Yep, needles with thread on them use to be a favorite of our Charlie, I’d give him a can if asparagus and woo lah, it came out in a day. BTW. The cat would get on my sewing table and play with anything she could to drop on the floor…so I understand your fear.
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Raggedyman
Res ipsa loquitur
just off the phone with upstate - US shows some changes suggesting acute on chronic kidney disease - they're not overly concerned. we're proceeding to scope and surgery thereafter if necessary. best possible outcome is a successful scope and removal that way. if that seems too risky they'll open her. the UTI and kidney issues don't seem to be as problematic as I thought they might be.
I asked about the UTI issue - having a bit of guilt for not catching it earlier. she'd just finished her second heat about a month ago. she'd been eating a bit less than usual over the past 3-4 weeks - particularly in the morning. she showed no other symptoms of UTI. the fact that she also has a hooded vulva and retains a bit of moisture coupled with the heat and its necessarily attendant diaper PROBABLY led to a low grade UTI which progressed to this current situation.
praying for a successful scope and extraction
I asked about the UTI issue - having a bit of guilt for not catching it earlier. she'd just finished her second heat about a month ago. she'd been eating a bit less than usual over the past 3-4 weeks - particularly in the morning. she showed no other symptoms of UTI. the fact that she also has a hooded vulva and retains a bit of moisture coupled with the heat and its necessarily attendant diaper PROBABLY led to a low grade UTI which progressed to this current situation.
praying for a successful scope and extraction
Dennis, we live on some acreage. One of the joys of this is we can let our dog(s) run the property and they are safe. They will, however, eat various types of scat, some of which can carry disease; dead things, (more disease) and live things they catch or encounter (thus far small things - more disease, teeth and claws) and who knows what that tickles their fancy.
They will even find scat in the grass that we didn't see when walking them on a leash during fawn and baby bird season. It's a risk we take. They have lived happy lives and we take joy in watching our current dog hunt for voles, which we allow him to eat.
For months when he and his brother were pups, I would rake the scat and dead things from their mouths. They heard "Drop That!" as "Eat faster." I gave up. Raking scat from a dog's mouth in the middle of a walk got old real fast, and the damage was already potentially done.
Bottom line. We let our dogs have some freedom. They eat things. They are happy dogs and are probably more at risk from what comes in their (expensive) dogfood than what they gobble down on walks. Such is life. You can't stop dogs from being dogs.
They will even find scat in the grass that we didn't see when walking them on a leash during fawn and baby bird season. It's a risk we take. They have lived happy lives and we take joy in watching our current dog hunt for voles, which we allow him to eat.
For months when he and his brother were pups, I would rake the scat and dead things from their mouths. They heard "Drop That!" as "Eat faster." I gave up. Raking scat from a dog's mouth in the middle of a walk got old real fast, and the damage was already potentially done.
Bottom line. We let our dogs have some freedom. They eat things. They are happy dogs and are probably more at risk from what comes in their (expensive) dogfood than what they gobble down on walks. Such is life. You can't stop dogs from being dogs.
yellowlabz
Veteran Member
Praying that the scope will be successful and that Gracie will be restored to perfect health from her other problems.
Raggedyman
Res ipsa loquitur
some interesting data on caniine pyelo - for those with doggie children . . .
Pyelonephritis
note first symptom is - LOSS OF APPETITE - who knew? there were no other signs - given her heat which began ~ 6.22 and continued for 2 weeks, the fact that the loss of appetite began THEN and seemed to improve somewhat there after no reasonable person would have made a connection. EVEN IF THEY DID KNOW
in retrospect just thinking out loud here - she's probably had a low grade UTI that progressed to involve kidneys about 6 -7 weeks. she's been on turkey tail mushrooms and immune booster mushrooms which I fully believed helped contain the UTI
there were no other symptoms - she never had frequency went in the house or blood in the urine. makes me feel better about a lot if things going forward concerning kidneys. now if we can just get the razor out safely we'll go from there.
Pyelonephritis
note first symptom is - LOSS OF APPETITE - who knew? there were no other signs - given her heat which began ~ 6.22 and continued for 2 weeks, the fact that the loss of appetite began THEN and seemed to improve somewhat there after no reasonable person would have made a connection. EVEN IF THEY DID KNOW
in retrospect just thinking out loud here - she's probably had a low grade UTI that progressed to involve kidneys about 6 -7 weeks. she's been on turkey tail mushrooms and immune booster mushrooms which I fully believed helped contain the UTI
there were no other symptoms - she never had frequency went in the house or blood in the urine. makes me feel better about a lot if things going forward concerning kidneys. now if we can just get the razor out safely we'll go from there.
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patriotgal
Veteran Member
Praying.
Raggedyman
Res ipsa loquitur
same issues here . . . Raggedyann heard the "crunching" at her feet and immediately attempted to retrieve the unknowable. it was met with the same determination to finish what had been started. the blade was removed with the exception of that one small piece.
we've all learned a lot from this event: change on the floor is a HUGE no no. a can of asparagus kept in the cupboard is another. signs and symptoms of UTI and pyelo in dogs . . . and the list will grow I'm sure.
Wow. So sorry to learn of this. Our animals are part of the beautiful creative genius of God Himself. When they hurt, we hurt. And, no we cannot prevent things sometimes. It is not helpful for some posts to intimate otherwise. I can't understand why some feel it's necessary to spout off. OK; I'm doing it, too, for in a different direction. Forgive me. And, I do pray that the outcome will be positive. Hang in there.
Raggedyman
Res ipsa loquitur
just off with Upstate - she's in recovery. they were unable to locate the object with the scope yet it remains visible and unmoved on plain film. supposition is that its so small its down in the mucosal folds of her stomach. collaboration between the two surgeons and two internists there and the decision was to "wait and see". to go in surgically and try to find it is out of the question and risks doing more damage. I asked about dangers of perforation - they do exist but they think it may just be walled off by her body and not become an issue. they're more concerned with the kidneys at this point. assuming a good night we'll apparently go and get her tomorrow.
I did ask if this should be looked at under a flouro unit, localized and removed that way. "perhaps that's an option when she's spayed" was the answer. we'd planned to spay after her third heat. I'll have a chance to speak with them again when we pick her up tomorrow. also interested to hear what our own vet has to say about "leaving it alone".
for now I guess we're as good as we can get. we appreciate all of the prayers to this point. if you don't mind - can you keep her in them a bit longer?
I'll update tomorrow when I know more. thanks again friends
RM
I did ask if this should be looked at under a flouro unit, localized and removed that way. "perhaps that's an option when she's spayed" was the answer. we'd planned to spay after her third heat. I'll have a chance to speak with them again when we pick her up tomorrow. also interested to hear what our own vet has to say about "leaving it alone".
for now I guess we're as good as we can get. we appreciate all of the prayers to this point. if you don't mind - can you keep her in them a bit longer?
I'll update tomorrow when I know more. thanks again friends
RM
ohiohippie
Veteran Member
Prayers
wintery_storm
Veteran Member
Raggedyman,
Many many Prayers come Gracie's way and to you and your family. Your baby is special and I know how the worrying feels. So hope all goes well for her. I am thinking of her. Thank you for the picture. It means a great deal to see her face.
I will tell Hailey tonight about Gracie and we will pray together.
Many many Prayers come Gracie's way and to you and your family. Your baby is special and I know how the worrying feels. So hope all goes well for her. I am thinking of her. Thank you for the picture. It means a great deal to see her face.
I will tell Hailey tonight about Gracie and we will pray together.
Raggedyman
Res ipsa loquitur
spoke with Tami our vet. she's not opposed to taking a wait and see approach with the razor fragment. once again the big concerns are around the kidney issues. Tami went on to relate a story about a cat she'd had as a patient - the cat had apparently swallowed a small toy it had as a kitten - a little whale. at about seven years of age the cat began to vomit daily.
she scoped the cat and saw something that said "made in China" thru the scope . . . when retrieved it was found to be a small plastic whale tale. the patient said that the toy had simply disappeared when the cat was a kitten . . .
she scoped the cat and saw something that said "made in China" thru the scope . . . when retrieved it was found to be a small plastic whale tale. the patient said that the toy had simply disappeared when the cat was a kitten . . .
Raggedyman
Res ipsa loquitur
thank you for the kindness Celeste and please thank Hailey too.
Seeker22
Has No Life - Lives on TB
spoke with Tami our vet. she's not opposed to taking a wait and see approach with the razor fragment. once again the big concerns are around the kidney issues. Tami went on to relate a story about a cat she'd had as a patient - the cat had apparently swallowed a small toy it had as a kitten - a little whale. at about seven years of age the cat began to vomit daily.
she scoped the cat and saw something that said "made in China" thru the scope . . . when retrieved it was found to be a small plastic whale tale. the patient said that the toy had simply disappeared when the cat was a kitten . . .
I followed around behind Lali like Sherlock Holmes and rebuilt that ink pen. It's funny now, but for a long time to me, it wasn't funny at all. And yes, the damned pen said Made in China.
They're just like little kids?!
