Please help my Charlie (Hind Leg Amputation)

lamiatron

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I've been away from the cat site for a very long time. almost a year or more i think??

I'm back because i really need your help, and advice.

From those of you who know me, know that Charlie is my first cat. I've had him since he was a kitten. He's my best friend, he's my world (as are my other 2 cats), however Charlie holds a very special place in my heart. 

On Friday, I came home to find the net on my bedroom window gashed and torn. My heart sank to the bottom of my stomach. I frantically searched the house for my 3 cats, but i couldn't find Charlie anywhere. i ran into the streets looking for him, in the hopes that maybe he was still nearby. but no luck. in the middle of my search from him, i received a call from ASPCA telling me that they have Charlie. When Charlie fell out of the window, which might have been around 3pm (i was still at work), a lady, no, and angel that lived in the building next to mind found him, cared for him, and eventually brought him to the ASPCA, where they scanned Charlie, and contacted me (around 5:45pm)

The vet says that, his leg is broken, which would have been fine, but, also his ligaments are torn. all of them. poor guys leg is all wobly, with no support at all. She says that this could heal, however it well be VERY painful for him. She is recommending an amputation. BUT, nothing can be done until Tuesday, as the surgeon for the ASPCA hospital where he is does not come back until then. We brought him home last night. And he is in just so much pain. :( 


Charlie at the ASPCA


At home last night with a towel wrapped around his cast, because he was defacating and urinating on himself


Trying to get Charlie to eat.

I've created a go Fund me page to help with some of the cost for all this

I would really appreciate it if you guys look at it, if you're able to help with even a dollar I would appreciate it, and even if not, if you could please share his page with others. And please keep my baby Charlie in your prayers. It is a miracle that he is alive. God was watching over my baby, and sent an angel to help him, and returned my baby back to me. 

Someone told me to get a second opinion and not to amputate. what are your thoughts on this?? His surgery is scheduled for Tuesday, and I'm thinking of maybe taking him elsewhere for a second opinion, but even with that, i don't have the money for a second opinion :(. I"ve just paid 1200 to get him home from the ASPCA and i'll have to pay another apx. 1500 for the amputation. I'm just super confused, and would love any feedback from others here..who have gone through something similar (hing leg or limp amputation for pet). The ASPCA is telling me if I can't pay for the amputation, he will most likely get a bacterial infection and get sick and could die. IF i do the amputation, and cannot pay for it...then they will keep Charlie and put him up for adoption :'( I don't want to lost my baby I can't.

Charlie is my best friend. I appreciate any and all help and support from you guys :)






I also want to stress..how IMPORTANT it is...to have your pets MICRO CHIPPED. had it not been for that, i would have NEVER found Charlie. 
 

mrsgreenjeens

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I see you ar getting donations on your GoFundMe page.  Good for you (and Charlie, of course)


I honestly have no idea what's the best course of action to take on this injury.  Do you have a normal Vet that you could just CALL and run this by them?  Did the AS PCA say it would ALWAYS be painful, or just the healing process?  And did they say how long the healing process might be?  I would say there are still lots of questions to be asked, unless the pain will always be there unless amputation is done. Otherwise, can't pain meds be used during the healing process?

 

margd

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Have you tried redrover.org? They help with small grants to people who can't afford vet care. Grants are $100 - $200 but every little bit helps.

Also you might apply to modest needs. Just google for their web site.
 

mservant

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I am so sorry to read your news about Charlie Lamiatron.   You must feel desperate and I wish you well in raising funds for his vet care needs.  Any possibility of a second opinion sounds good to me, but getting this without funds I am sure would be very difficult.   Are there any other veterinary hospitals in your area, or even a vet you have used before and felt confident in who might offer some advice?   It is such a huge decision to take.   Cats can do very well without a limb, but what the experiences of pain for Charlie would be with one option over the other I have no idea.   The information about infection risks without surgery sound real, but trying to think about relative risks at these times is always hard.

 

mservant

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To all members, a reminder that it is YOUR responsibility to check out these solicitors to the best of your ability. Ask for references, phone numbers, call around the area and find out if this is a legitimate cause or a scam. Thecatsite.com does not stand behind any solicitation of funds for any reason that appear in the forums unless explicitly authorized. Be very careful before you send any money: no matter how effective the plea is, check it out first before opening your wallet. For more information, see Pleas for Money.
 

denice

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I see you are progressing with the fund raising.  I hope this works out for you and your kitty..
 
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catwoman707

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You have raised enough money to get his leg amputated.

Just do it, gosh why allow him to suffer, he will be great shortly after his leg is gone and so is the pain!

You will be amazed, honestly you will.

I've seen several get through it amazingly fast in my rescue group and all went beautifully.

Just one thing, does he have nerve/spinal damage? 

They would likely have told you if so, the incontinence likely from his pain.
 

LotsOfFur

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Thinking of you and Charlie and sending healing vibes. I saw that Charlie went in this morning for surgery, how are things going? Hoping for a speedy recovery for Charlie's [emoji]128149[/emoji]
 

catwoman707

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@Lamiatron  NOOO!!! That's not what I meant at all!! 

My comment about the money was after I saw how well the go-fund-me acct has done, which is when I replied.

I meant the concern/indecision about his amputation only! Ugh, sometimes I type the way I would talk but I guess it isn't always taken the same, and I am sorry if you thought I meant that you would let him suffer due to lack of money!   


Money wasn't part of my comment, it was simply trying to convince you that I have had several cats over the years since having my rescue group have a limb amputated, and they just do so darn well adapting, rather than the other side of possibly not having the amputation done and the chance of it healing well but will have long term pain, thinking you were afraid of doing it, amputation is SO the way to go.

You haven't come across to me in any way, like an occasional person who comes asking for advice that money is the decision maker at all, you have been on top of this and a very caring cat owner!

Glad to hear it's been done, he will be back to his old self very soon too!!
 
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LotsOfFur

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What a sweet boy! Charlie looks very alert and I'm so happy that things are going well :) ((hugs)) kiss Charlie for me ;)
 

margd

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Best wishes for Charlie's rapid recovery. I'm so glad he's had his surgery and will be coming home soon! [emoji]128149[/emoji]
 

mservant

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Sweet Charlie, he looks well there, alert and comfortable ready to see people he knew to give him strokes.   
  

Bucket loads of good wishes for you all and fingers crossed for Charlie getting home when you are expecting.    
 

catwoman707

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Aww! Yes, Charlie is looking bright eyed and pretty darn good!! 

He's very handsome you know :)

They did a nice clean job as well, looking great all around!
 
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lamiatron

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Thank you all for your well wishes and for thinking of me and Charlie today :)

Spoke to the vet this morning, and she said that Charlie is good to come home today..so can't wait to pick him up and bring him home.

I've set up a safe place for him with his toys, water, litter box, a crate with a bed in it in the bedroom. 

he's going to be isolated from the other two resident kitties for a while, at least until his stitches are removed and he's able to walk around and get around on his own.

When he was home over the weekend before surgery, i left him in the crate with the doors closed and the bedroom door open so the other cats can visit with him. Which they did. He cooed every time Jet or Gunther came by sniffing around, but Gunther got scared and ran off and Jet did the same but not without hissing at him first -___-

Poor baby, he's going to feel very lonely for a while with out the other cats. But he'll be fine.

Yesterday when the fiance visited him, Charlie apparently got up and tried to walk off with him...he tried. LOL he thought he was going home. 

My fiance said he's apparently quite the popular little kittie at the animal hospital. All the techs and vets love Charlie there, because he just wants pets and wants to be around people. He's never the type to be grumpy, hissy, angry, or withdrawn from others, even after surgery, and even after being in a lot of pain. And that's just the type of kitty he is. Super friendly, super out going..super curious. 

I can't wait till he comes home. 

Any advice on the care for Tripod Kitties post op? or is there a better forum to post this in?? I've also posted in the cat health sections regarding this..so I guess I'll post again there and see what others say.

Again I can't thank you guys enough for your care, encouragement, support and the love you've shown for Charlie. God bless you all, and if any here are not into God, then...good vibes onto you from the universe :)

Of course I will continue to update all regarding Charlie's recovery with pictures and i'll try to upload some videos too!
 

catwoman707

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One thing you are sure to encounter.

Your resident cats are going to smell funny things on him that are going to cause them to react as if he were an intruder.

It might be wise to start him off crated again so they can go and see him and sort of get them reacquainted.
 
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lamiatron

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One thing you are sure to encounter.

Your resident cats are going to smell funny things on him that are going to cause them to react as if he were an intruder.

It might be wise to start him off crated again so they can go and see him and sort of get them reacquainted.
Hmm  okay. Yes that sounds like a good idea. That was the initial plan, to have them separated and then slowly reintroduce them to each other once his stitches come off.

I'm really worried about his litter box habits. and some of the stuff i read online...were really depressing and i'm now starting to worry. what can i expect here? he's a hing leg amputee.

**sighs**

he's a hing leg amputee.

Every now and then it really hits me...the gravity of the whole situation, and the permanent life change for everyone involved, and especially Charlie...and it makes me a little sad. I'm not gonna lie..

but it makes me sad for him, not sad that omg now i have an amputee cat, but sad for Charlie because he's forever changed, and i don't know how it will really affect him once he's home.

Me and the fiance are looking into a lower bed frame. the one we have now is very high (i'm 5'0'' and i have trouble easily getting into bed). so that it would be easier for him to come into bed with us...if he should feel like it.

Man waking up without Charlie was truly the most depressing thing ever (this was Saturday morning, after we had found him and he was being kept over night at the ASPCA). whenever i open my eyes in the morning all i see is charlie's fur, because he sleeps on my face and has been since he was a kitten, and i actually got used to it..i got used to opening my eyes and not seeing light lol. when i woke up Saturday...and i saw my white ceiling and the light from the windows filling the room, i started to cry like i've never cried before. It was intense.

wow all this stuff is coming out of me now haha. but that's how it is now. Saturday morning the entirety of what happened the day before hit me. and now, its still hitting me that he's an amputee kitty...

I just want him to be okay...
 

catwoman707

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What you are going through emotionally is SO normal, it's okay to have these worries and thoughts!

Charlie is going to change all that very soon, he will balance just fine for litterbox use, jumping, everything, he is going to learn how to compensate is all. He has 3 great legs and will be showing off how great he is feeling again!

It all happened so fast, it didn't allow you a chance to really soak it all in, but you still have your boy, and he will be good as always, minus a pound or two!  Right back to waking up with Charlie fur in your face :)

 
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