Author: just4paws

We are getting into a fairly decent routine with Lyla’s meds. On day 4 in the afternoon she was more docile than she has been so I took that as a cue that it was time to start the onsior pain med around 5pm as her patch had mostly run out. My biggest fear in all this is that the instructions are so vague regarding the Fentanyl patch lasting 4-5 days. Our instructions for Onsior is 1xday 3 days then every other day for 3 doses. Things were fairly calm this evening. A short time of play but just laying in place w her front paws. I’ve also downloaded some cat games onto my ipad for her, she kinda watches a bit. She seems to enjoy the youtube bird videos better.

Day 5 things are progressing about the same pace. We have been taking shifts hanging with her and she is truly content not wanting to leave the office space. I’m hoping in a couple days she’ll be more herself. The wound area looks excellent and she is moving around quite well and maneuvering the litter box like a champ. Sleep and heal.

Lyla was able to get some quality sleep I think last night. The Big question today is when to begin the Onsior NSAID…Her Fentanyl patch will wear off tomorrow or Sunday. I’m just going to keep a good eye for any signs of pain and am thinking I will start it tomorrow evening as that’s a halfway point. She will still be taking her Gabapentin every eight hours until Monday (day7) then every 12 hours until day 14. Which is also our follow up Dr. appointment if all continues smoothly. She is truly mastering how to hop/walk now. Today we also began warm washcloth for 5 min 3x day to get the blood flowing. I have also been doing a lil shopping on amazon for a bedside ramp as ours is quite high. Plus an easy elderly style climber as I sold a very high intricate one she use to use…and a self scratcher. To aid in her fluid intake I have mixed 1/2 low sodium broth with water and that does seem to help.

The pathologist report came in with the following: The distal tibia contains a high grade sarcoma arising within the medullary cavity. Differentials include primary bone sarcomas including chondrosarcoma and osteosarcoma. Additional decalcified sections of the tibia are pending to rule out osteosarcoma. There is no evidence of lymphatic invasion or lymph node metastasis. The lymph node is reactive and immunologically stimulated.

So we wait. Sleep & heal♥️

After a rough night of shenanigans today went so much better. Started off with putting her Gabapentin in with the squeeze up treats and she lapped it all up🤞🏼. Kitty was also able to do some light sleeping today, lots of lil cat naps. She went #1 in the morning and late at night. The litter box is still a bit hard to watch the struggle. She also took both her Yunnan Baiyo pills in a pill pocket. So we only have 1 more of those tomorrow morning 🙌🏼. Today was also one of great progress with how to get around. She is doing quite well. Waking up from a nap she has let out a tiny confused meow for a moment, like she had forgotten this is where we’re at. She has been eating and drinking very well.

Around 6pm she finally had her first #2 and it was quite the production. I had earlier brought in a second litter box with higher sides and that is the one she chose due to familiarity I’m sure and maybe being a rear amputee she can keep her balance better. I did retrieve her immediately after #2 so she didn’t fall in it or bother burying it. The Burt bee’s wipes came in quite handy for this.

Lyla has been wearing the cone most of the time as she wants to groom the incision area. She has adjusted quite well with it so it’s going to stay on 90% of the time. I do clean it off whenever it gets removed. Today was the last day of Instructions to ice for five minutes followed by Neosporin, which I changed to the AmicrocynAH anti-microbial wound and skin care spray. So much better, less mess and safer.

Tonight she received her last meds at 10pm and slept for maybe 60% of the night. There was some litter box time to go #1 and just overall trying to master moving around a bit. She even got onto the bed (mattress on floor) to sleep next to me for a bit♥️

I delivered Lyla to our Vet office around 8am. No food past midnight, water was okay. I’m going to attach a photo of my paperwork as I think it will be helpful for everyone’s pain management. I actually received a text when surgery began and ended making it approx 1-1/2 hours in length. They kept her for the night and I picked her up Wed at 10am. Remember we were lucky enough to have access to a board-certified surgeon and this facility has 24 hour around the clock care, I was able to phone at any time to see how she was doing.

She was more alert than I expected. I was told her Fentanyl patch was put on at 3pm and lasts 4-5 days in cats, hers is above the base of her tail. When we arrived home to the recovery room she was a bit confused and disoriented. I took her cone off as to pet and brush her for a bit. She seemed to enjoy this. Some purring being home and some extra purring. She ate about noon and a full portion, Which was good as it was time for her liquid Gabapentin. This went okay but she hated the gross cherry syrupy flavor they sent. I followed it up with a squeeze up treat and that did the trick. Also I phoned the office to call in a fish oil formula at a specialist pharmacy and had a friend pick it up for me. She finally used the litter box around 7pm. This was quite hard to watch as it was a struggle. I bought a low side entry box on amazon listed as puppygohere dog litter box, I use the swheat scoop litter. Luckily the next pill -Yunnan Baiyo was at 8pm and she took it in a pill pocket. Plus more Gabapentin. She finally drank some water at 11pm. She didn’t really sleep and neither did I, she was quite restless. I also iced her 3x for 5 minutes and then applied neosporin ointment…I have ordered the one recommended on here but it hasn’t arrived.

A copy of our bill just in case y’all interested: