We don't know how it happened. A woman found her about 3 weeks ago and could not keep her so we took her in. The way her pelvis has healed has blocked her colon. She had 3 enemas yesterday and is on wet food. She is no longer in pain, but still can not have a bowel movement on her own. The surgeon suggested that we amputate her leg and some of her pelvis. He's not to sure she will survive because she is only about 8 to 9 weeks old. If she does survive she might be in pain and not have any control of her bowels for the rest of her life. I was wondering if a liquid diet only would work for the first year of life and then take more x-rays to see if it is better or worse. Has anyone out there had an experience like this or had to put their kitten or cat on a liquid diet only? Any advise would be very helpful and greatly appreciated.
Daily Kitten Chat Forum » General Chat
Kitten with broken pelvis
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Bless you for taking this kitten into your heart! I haven't had any experience with such profound medical issues. Poor kitten! It is kind of you to want to meet this kitten's medical needs. It sounds like a very expensive proposition with an uncertain outcome. I hope she can survive pain free with a good quality of life. Please keep us posted and welcome to TDK. Others here will chime in so check back often. :)
Posted 2 years ago by Kitten Whisperer #
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That poor, poor baby. This is heartbreaking. Siera, I agree with KW, you are wonderful to want to help this poor baby. I think though, if I were you, I would be having a serious discussion with the vet about her quality of life. Losing a leg is not a serious handicap for a cat but to lose a leg and part of her pelvis and then to very possibly be in pain and incontinent for the rest of her life, that's a lot for a little cat to go through. Whatever you decide, I send you many hugs and positive thoughts.
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We do have a kitten on TDK with only one leg, and he doesn't seem to know the difference. But to take part of her pelvic bone as well may be a deal breaker. A cat who is incontinent isn't the end of the world, as long as you are okay with keeping her clean and her nappies changed when needed.
I guess it depends on how much you are willing to invest in her and how determined she seems to be about sending time on this earth. Know that if you release her to another life (the Rainbow Bridge) she will have loads of company and you will be reunited some day.
Posted 2 years ago by CheetahBoysmommy #
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Blessings to you for the wonderful care and love you are giving her. Indeed if you don't mind her nappies and any other cleaning, it seems she could still have a quality life. Ask the vet how old she'd have to be to make this prospective operation as safe as possible. I wish I could offer more. Please keep us informed!
Posted 2 years ago by katzenmother #
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Siera, I have an elderly cat who had a broken pelvis as a young cat some years before he ended up as my cat. His pelvis was never properly set and therefore healed somewhat crooked. He was fortunate in that it did not block his colon or otherwise compromise his health.
That said, I must tell you that my kitty has lived in chronic pain the rest of his life from this and I have to give him both strong doses of arthritis medicine several times a day and pain meds several times a week.
In the case of a small kitten as young as the one you describe, in that much pain, facing that level of disability, I honestly have to say you would be kind to lovingly let her go and release her from a life of chronic misery.
She will never be comfortable what with having to have constant enemas, being cleaned from being incontinent, etc. She will have no quality of life.
As someone with three special medical needs cats, one of whom gets insulin shots twice a day, I can tell you from experience how extremely taxing on time, energy, and finances it is to cope with a pet that needs the level of care this kitten will if you have the surgery done and she survives it.
You would be making a lifetime commitment to taking care of this poor kitty, most likely involving multiple hours each day and night, every single day and night from now on without holidays or vacations away from that need.
I don't give this advice lightly, but as Kitten Whisperer said, you need to consider the kitten's QUALITY of life and potential suffering in making your decision.
God bless you for caring and may God guide you in whatever decision you make.
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One of our members e-mailed a suggestion to pass along to you. Google "obstipation in cats after pelvic fracture." It will lead you to information about how this condition might be managed. Here is one of the articles I found by googling that phrase:
http://www.compendiumvet.com/Media/PublicationsArticle/PV_27_09_662.pdf (warning: there are a few (not too bad) photos of a surgical repair being performed)If you can afford it, you might want to consult a specialty vet or vet school in your area that can give you more information and handle any specialized treatment that may be needed.
Posted 2 years ago by Kitten Whisperer #
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We took Siera to the to the vet yesterday. She had to much in her colon to take another x-ray. She had another enema and the vet taught me how to do it so we can get her cleaned out and I don't have to bring her in everyday. She is also taking a stool softener and I am adding water to her wet food. She had a little bowel movement, but not enough. I can still feel little balls in her. I will do another enema today and see how it goes. A different surgeon said that the blockage might be from swollen scare tissue and it might go down in about two or three weeks. If it does not she will need surgery if the stool softener and adding water to her food does not work. She is still jumping around and attacking you as you walk into the room. She is full of life and loves to be held. Thank you all for your kind words of encouragement. Please keep Siera in your prayers.
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Poor baby! One-legged cats get along fine. The pelvis removal sounds like another story altogether. To try to help a kitten is commendable, but to sentence an animal to a life of pain is selfish. We can't save them all, much as we'd like to. I think you need to let her go to a better place-Rainbow Bridge.
Posted 2 years ago by Sheba's Mom in Raleigh, NC #
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I appriciate all the advise, but she is not to the point of having to be put down. She is not in pain due to the enemas. We are trying different things to help her have a bowel movement. If they do not work then we will talk about her going to the Rainbow Bridge. Which two of my other kittens have gone to about a year ago due to FIP. Dakota has the dry virus and Caesar had the wet. I would never have a pet go through pain just because I couldn't let go. I want her to have the best life possible and if it means trying what ever I can to help her I will. We have to rule out everything before making that decision. Her colon is not fully blocked and she is able to have a bowel movement if it is not solid. The reason she could not before is when a pet can not go it gets really hard so you have to perform an enema to help it soften up (sorry to be so graphic). After the hard poo is gone then she might be able to poo on her own. Surgery is out of the question. I would not every put a small kitten through something that traumatic. She is part of our family and we will give her the love and any medical attention she needs. If it comes down to her not being able to go at all, then of course we will help her go to heaven.
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Just wanted to update everyone. I gave her 2 enemas and stool softener yesterday and this morning she had pooped!!! I gave her another dose of stool softener this morning to make sure the blockage was gone and by 5:30 this afternoon she was pooping on her own and it was not hard. She is feeling so much better and jumping around. Her stomach is not hard, which it has been for the past week and a half. I am keeping her on the wet food with some kitten milk in it and the stool softener. I am taking her to another vet on Tuesday to get a second opinion. I will pick up her x-ray from the first vet and take a new one on Tuesday to compare the two. I was reading all the other posts about kittens pooing and how excited people got when it happened. Well it really happens. I actually took it to my husband to show him. He was excited as well. I will keep you all informed. Thank you again to everyone for all the advise and support.
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Yay for poop!! That is wonderful news. :D
Please keep posting to let us know how Siera is getting along. She sounds like a wonderful kitten. She's had such a rough beginning in life. Good job in giving her safety, comfort and medical treatment for her serious health issues! :)Posted 2 years ago by Kitten Whisperer #
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We love poop on TDK!!! Hi Siera, welcome to TDK :o)
You may feel this is a little soon for you, and I don't know whereabouts in Texas you are (and I'm still realising just what a big place the USA as a whole is!), but have you seen a bunch of TDKers are getting together in Austin on Friday 11th? Check the MCW/Austin meet thread(s).
Posted 2 years ago by MadcatwomanintheUK #
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Siera, ask the question on the Austin Meet thread, that's where any updates are getting posted :o)
Posted 2 years ago by MadcatwomanintheUK #
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I see you put Siera on your avatar - oh she's so gorgeous!! So pleased to hear she's pooping! I'm sure the vet has advised you to keep her on wet food, even if she seems to be doing really well, as dry food will take moisture from her system, which may dry her poop out again. Lisaeylau's recommendation may well be worth following up in such a delicate case as Siera's. Good luck, and keep us informed!
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As of this afternoon she is still pooping on her own. I will contact the suggested vet after the vet visit on Tuesday. I am feeding her wet food with kitten milk in it 3 times a day to help digest better and twice a day she is getting a 2ml dose of stool softener. She still has a little coccidia (she finished her medication for coccidia about a week ago) and ring worm, but will not start the medication til vet says it's ok. This website and advise has been such a blessing. Again, THANK YOU ALL.
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Hi Siera (Renee)!! Welcome to our wonderful site! If you click on View your profile at the top of the page where it says Welcome Siera...then click on Edit in the right hand corner at the top...you can go to nickname and change it if you want to. Your baby Siera is such a cutie pie! So happy she's Pooping on her own!!!! Yayyyyy! =D
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A Big TDK welcome to you Renee. Your Siera is so beautiful. I am sending tons of TDK white light that she pulls through this and gives you many years of joy. ((Renee))((Siera))
Posted 2 years ago by SammyandOliversmama #
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