Panther has a broken femer!

angels mommy

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Hi guys. I wanted to post an update & let you know what's been going on. Panther usually always shows up for meal times. But... On occasion, if not one, definitely the other. This past Friday (17th) he didn't show all day. I was really worried. Over the wknd I went out looking for him, & calling a coupon times. .. nothing. Then, this morning, Sunday, he was here!! ( Answered prayers!) But, he was limping & could barely walk. Most likely hit by a car. (I didn't think he crossed the st. (We are at the opposite end of the complex). I scooped him up & brought him in, I got the carrier, & rushed him to the ER. His left femer is broken..shattered, so going to need a plate in it. They are doing surgery tomorrow or Tuesday.
It's going to be 4-6 wks of recovery. Hopefully he will transition ok being inside.
it's been an emotionally & physically exsausting wknd!! And now an expensive one! Just today was $671.! Surgery is going to be $2,500. Today took any reserve cash I had, & unfortunately, I'll have to use the care credit for surgery. Something I never wanted to use again, after it talking so long to pay off in the past. I'm just thankful he made it home to me, so I could help him.
please keep him in your prayers. Poor boy, it's only the 3rd time he's even been to a vet.
 

tarasgirl06

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Hi guys. I wanted to post an update & let you know what's been going on. Panther usually always shows up for meal times. But... On occasion, if not one, definitely the other. This past Friday (17th) he didn't show all day. I was really worried. Over the wknd I went out looking for him, & calling a coupon times. .. nothing. Then, this morning, Sunday, he was here!! ( Answered prayers!) But, he was limping & could barely walk. Most likely hit by a car. (I didn't think he crossed the st. (We are at the opposite end of the complex). I scooped him up & brought him in, I got the carrier, & rushed him to the ER. His left femer is broken..shattered, so going to need a plate in it. They are doing surgery tomorrow or Tuesday.
It's going to be 4-6 wks of recovery. Hopefully he will transition ok being inside.
it's been an emotionally & physically exsausting wknd!! And now an expensive one! Just today was $671.! Surgery is going to be $2,500. Today took any reserve cash I had, & unfortunately, I'll have to use the care credit for surgery. Something I never wanted to use again, after it talking so long to pay off in the past. I'm just thankful he made it home to me, so I could help him.
please keep him in your prayers. Poor boy, it's only the 3rd time he's even been to a vet.
Absolutely angels mommy angels mommy Panther is in my *Prayers*!!! and yes, I hope and pray he will not only transition to indoors for his recuperation, but also he will stay indoors from now on, safer, healthier, and happy. May his surgery be successful and his recuperation as comfortable and quick as possible! Keep us informed, please!
 

artiemom

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Oh No!! Poor Panther, Poor You... At least he was able to get home to you. He knows you will take good care of him.

Panther may turn around after this. He may want to stay inside.. Let's hope he does. It is going to be difficult for him to move around, after having surgery.

Vet care is so expensive. But it is needed.

(((Hugs)))) I wish i could help with something..
 

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You've gone above and beyond for Panther and he knows it. :hugs: I'm hopeful the surgery will go smoothly. :crossfingers: Maybe you should go out to buy a Powerball ticket for tonight's drawing since the jackpot is up to 472 million.:wow:
 
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angels mommy

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Hi guys! I'm so sorry, I haven't gotten any notifications, so didn't know anyone responded. I'll have to chk my settings, but haven't changed any... Weird! SO much has gone on & changed!!! Thank you all for responding. Here's the update. ....
Ok, with many friends advice, I called my vets office to explain the break, & asked if my vet, or anyone there could do the surgery, ( because ER was saying he needed ortho..if course). The main vet, the owner said that she could do it, & to have the records sent over & get disc of x-rays. So with that I was relieved he would be there instead, with people I know, love & trust for about 12+ yrs now. (& It's a cat only hospital).
So, I picked up Panther from the ER yesterday, & took him to my vets. We had a 12:00 appt. Dr. Williams said that it was a spiral break, & not as much shattered as she thought it'd be. So, because it was a spiral break, it wasn't a car, but he must've gotten trapped in something, & broke it twisting to get free! She said that she could fix it with some wire & a pin, & the pin would come out later. That it'd be 4-6 wks of being in a crate.
So I gave him LOTS of kisses & love'ns to say goodbye, telling him they were going to fix him & then mommy will be back to see him.
Surgery was this morning. They called me while in surgery, because when she lifted up the muscle, the siatic nerve was completely severed (from sharp bone char!!!!)
It was amputation, or euthanasia, so of course, it was amputation. 😥. I was praying that wouldn't be the case! There had also been blood in his urine, & still was, so she ultrasounded his bladder, & didn't find anything, so thinks it's just from the trama & should clear soon. 🤞🤞🙏🙏
Got the call from the Dr. After surgery, & said he's doing well. She said, " bless his heart, he's already trying to stand up..then sits down, & bk & forth." They were going to offer him some food. She said there's a large hematoma from the injury that I'll see, ( they iced it earlier & were going to do it again) but if everything continues to go well, that he'll come home Thursday! They are loaning me a lrg dog crate to keep him in. She said 2 wks. So that's where we are! Thank goodness I took him to my vets. It's going to be a lot cheaper. Still a lot of money...but better!! Instead of $2,500 at the ER w/ ortho, my vets quote was $1,314. It took me YEARS to Finally get care credit paid off, & I never wanted to use it again unless I had no choice, so I used any bit of reserve cash I had to pay the ER, & go ahead & put some down at the vets, so it'd at least be a little less on the cc when it's all done. It's still going to be a big chunk though.
Well, looks like he finally transitioned himself to inside only! I hope that goes well, because he doesn't have a choice!
I really hate this for him, he's such a big athletic boy, but glad he's going to be ok!! 🙏❤ I just hate that Honey will be out there by herself now. A yr & 4 months in, & she still won't let me pet her. .... maybe she'll hang out here more than she already does, seeing he's only inside now, & come around.

So a little more of an update on everything else....let's just say September has been awful, & I'm so ready for it to be over!!!
SO here's the " always comes in threes" thing.. First, the Wedns before labor day, my mom was walking in the park w/ a friend, & she fell & broke her femer!! ( We first thought hip) ,so now she has a rod that will stay in it. She gets Staples out tomorrow.
That whole WK I had felt wiped out. Thought it was just the stress of the wk, going to the hospital ev day, etc... Then the following WK, I was feeling dizzy & really tired. I missed a WK of work! Finally by Thursday, got a tela appt w/ a Dr. ( My NP was out ). She had me cut my bata blockers in 1/2 ( was taking covidlol 2xs/ day.). & Added a bp med I used to be on. ( Not a bata blocker) to take in the morning. It made a good different. Bata blockers make you so tired!
So Panther & grandma both broke their femer's in the same month. His was left, hers, right. ......so there are the 3 things.
Of course I haven't been sleeping well with everything going on with Panther, so on top of everything, I am exsausted in every way!!!!! 😑
 

artiemom

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Oh, so much has happened to yo. I am so sorry. ((((hugs)))

Poor Panther; he knew him mommy would take good care of him. That is why he came back to you. It is love.. He knows it.... It is a shame he had the amputation, but it was for the best. Three legged cats do very well.

I know you are so anxious about him.. and your mom.. (((Hugs)))

Here's hoping the transition to being inside will be a fast one.

It seems as if your Vet is a kind, gently, truly caring person. So glad you have her. To loan you a dog kennel is awesome! It really is!

Sending lots of love to You, your mom, and Panther....
 
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angels mommy

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Thank you Cindy!! I definitely need those hugs!! Just trying to figure out how to get everything done before he gets hm, between working & all the rain. Definitely going to see him today. It's been pouring for 2 days, & won't stop until Fri!
 

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Thank you Cindy!! I definitely need those hugs!! Just trying to figure out how to get everything done before he gets hm, between working & all the rain. Definitely going to see him today. It's been pouring for 2 days, & won't stop until Fri!
I am so sorry to read that he had to have that operation, but a lot of cats get around very, very well as tripods! Some say they act as if they don't even know they have 3 rather than 4. Very good that you'll be transitioning him to indoor-only, which is best for all cats' safety and health. Maybe Honey will end up joining him in time -- you never know!
Awww, that's awful about your mom, too! They say it never rains but it pours:alright: Wishing her a speedy recuperation in as much comfort as is possible under the circumstances.
And wishing and praying for you to feel better soon, too. *I'm with you on September. After August, I had hoped it would be better. Not to be. So we have to look to October, I guess.*
SNORGLES to Panther -- and Honey, when she'll accept them.
 

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This is a website and support group for three legged dogs and cats. My GSD lost a leg about 4 years ago to melanoma and he is still here, and has beat the disease which almost never happens. Amputation is a much better solution in so many way when you are faced with this. You have spared Panther repeated surgeries and procedures, the pain of a limb that might not have healed correctly, and the inconvenience of trying to navigate with a seriously damaged leg, even if surgery was done to try to save it.
 
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angels mommy

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tripawds.com
This is a website and support group for three legged dogs and cats. My GSD lost a leg about 4 years ago to melanoma and he is still here, and has beat the disease which almost never happens. Amputation is a much better solution in so many way when you are faced with this. You have spared Panther repeated surgeries and procedures, the pain of a limb that might not have healed correctly, and the inconvenience of trying to navigate with a seriously damaged leg, even if surgery was done to try to save it.
Thank you so much! I will check that out when things settle down, & I have time.
That's true. All good points I wouldn't have thought of. I'm glad your boy is doing well. ❤
 
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angels mommy

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I saw my baby today. I spent about 20 minutes with him. He's pretty out of it. The Dr. Had me trying to get him to eat. He only took about 5 licks, but doc said "I'll take it! It's better than nothing, maybe he'll get hungry tonight.". So I hope he does. The way he looked today, I'm not sure if he'll be coming home tomorrow or not. He definitely needs to eat more, & be peeing. I don't want to worry about him not eating once we get home. Tomorrow I'm going to take some of his nutritional yeast that I put on his food, & see if that will help. He LOOOVES that stuff!!
I call it his " sprinkles." 😊

My Panther 😕
IMG_20210922_150319940_HDR.jpg
 

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Thank you so much! I will check that out when things settle down, & I have time.
That's true. All good points I wouldn't have thought of. I'm glad your boy is doing well. ❤
A site you might want to visit where there are many animals with special needs is BestFriends.org, the website of Best Friends Animal Society, headquartered in Kanab, Utah. Since 1984, they have taken in many special-needs animals, given them TLC and either adopted them out to good homes or given them life homes at the Sanctuary, which is situated in the red-rock country of SW Utah near several national parks including Bryce and Zion. I went there to get a little man with a skin ailment my ex and I could not heal admitted. It is an amazing place, and their vets and teams have a lot of insight into the lives and needs of tripods.
 

tarasgirl06

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I saw my baby today. I spent about 20 minutes with him. He's pretty out of it. The Dr. Had me trying to get him to eat. He only took about 5 licks, but doc said "I'll take it! It's better than nothing, maybe he'll get hungry tonight.". So I hope he does. The way he looked today, I'm not sure if he'll be coming home tomorrow or not. He definitely needs to eat more, & be peeing. I don't want to worry about him not eating once we get home. Tomorrow I'm going to take some of his nutritional yeast that I put on his food, & see if that will help. He LOOOVES that stuff!!
I call it his " sprinkles." 😊

My Panther 😕
View attachment 396060
Awww, sweet little man! Pureeing his food with water and blending it to feed in a syringe, feeding Gerber Second Stages baby food (except for the pork varieties, as pork is not good for cats) and/or giving him a liquid calorie-dense diet such as CliniCare (ask Panther's vet) may help. Also, our furmily has always loved bonito (tuna) flakes, which you can get at Petco, petco.com and just about any venue that sells cat supplies. Sprinkle some of these on his food and if he doesn't have dietary restrictions barring him from having them, he should be very interested.
 
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