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Post by tonib on Sept 27, 2019 20:40:22 GMT
Sadly it looks like Lexie's not finished with the vets yet Wednesday night I managed to feel her undercarriage & found some swelling. It felt as if I was running my fingers over a line of unshelled peanuts - think corrugated cardboard. Now I'm not a vet & don't know how easily it is to feel a full intestine but I can't remember ever feeling it this easily. So no supper for her that night (it was already gone 10:30 pm) & water withdrawn in the morning in case she needed another op. the next day. Thursday morning I rang the vets & got an 11:40 appointment. When I felt Lexie again it was no longer as big but more like the original small lump & she had used the litter tray overnight so that was probably what I was feeling the previous night. When we saw the vet he agreed it seems the hernia is back. This vet wanted me to see the head vet to decide what to do & when, in view of the fact she'd only just had an op. So home we went & Lexie was finally able to have her breakfast but we were back at the vets in the evening to see the head vet. Apparently originally it was an usual unusual site for the hernia - a very small hole starting on the right side of the midline but then going to midline where it was obvious she'd had an operation before - I found details of it in the original vet notes we got with her. He was inclined to give it time but as I'd felt a change in size he'd like to see her again in a week, so she's due back next Friday. If she needs another op then I'm going to have to get a smaller cage as I suspect her climbing the bars didn't help. I mentioned this to the vet & he He said it is difficult to keep a cat quiet, smiled & asked if she also did ribbons - think gymnastics! So for now its a waiting game but she doesn't seem bothered by it.
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Post by cazypops on Sept 27, 2019 22:45:01 GMT
Poor girl, hope she's ok, and you can get her sorted. {{Hugs}} and a gentle chin tickle for Lexie.
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Post by tonib on Sept 27, 2019 23:04:23 GMT
Chin tickle passed on & she says thank you cazypops
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Post by lotsofcats on Sept 28, 2019 6:12:06 GMT
What a worry for you tonib. I hope that all is well and no more ops.
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Post by scallywag on Sept 28, 2019 10:06:00 GMT
Sorry I missed this update , hiws things this morning ? Hope all goes well for next Friday tonib hugs x
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Post by tonib on Sept 28, 2019 10:12:01 GMT
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Post by chantel on Sept 28, 2019 22:07:20 GMT
Omg poor Lexie I really hope tonib she doesn’t have to have surgery again - like I said “ before it’s the after care that is the biggest problem ☹️ I can remember when phoebe had her op The hardest part was keeping her calm , trying to stop her jumping up and down was an absolute nightmare. She had quite a big swelling come up just a few days after the op - the vet wasn’t too pleased he said it was because we had not kept her calm enough - if only he knew how it was trying to keep a hyper active dog so calm . Keeping everything crossed for Lexie on Friday .
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Post by tonib on Sept 28, 2019 22:33:18 GMT
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Post by chantel on Sept 28, 2019 23:10:27 GMT
Don’t know if it would help tonib but our vets have started selling surgical vests for after surgery instead of the dreaded cone ☹️ They are quite tight fitting though mainly to keep every thing in place - I know lexi probably wouldn’t like wearing one but it’s just a thought especially at night time when you can’t be watching over her .
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Post by tonib on Sept 30, 2019 17:56:51 GMT
I've just re-read my last update & realise I put it is a usual site for a hernia, it should be unusual. the post has abeen corrected! Thanks chantel I'll have a look at surgical vests, although she didn't like the cone she didn't do too badly in it but what I rally need is a sizable cage in ground area but not particularly tall so she's not tempted to climb or stretch up! Anyone know of any of those?
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Post by lotsofcats on Oct 1, 2019 8:53:56 GMT
I didn't think mine was really tall tonib but looking back at Lexi in the cage I think it's the same one. I keep a cat bed on top and a low cardboard box that Bramble likes to be fed in. Unfortunately my cage door is a bit bent as Kobi jumps up on the armchair next to it and then walks across the top of it to see if Bramble has left any food. He's about 25kg. I've never put the cage away since I used it for the 2 youngest when they were kittens. They still like to have their food in it. If Toffee wants to stay in the house when I get the cats in I sometimes pop him in there or in the dog's crate. He's willing to mix with the other cat, but it's only the girls who like him. Kai Ruki really hates him. We also use it as a 'naughty step', don't we Willow?
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Post by tonib on Oct 1, 2019 22:16:17 GMT
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Post by chantel on Oct 12, 2019 19:19:25 GMT
Hope everything is ok with Lexi tonib
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Post by lotsofcats on Oct 18, 2019 9:56:28 GMT
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Post by tonib on Oct 19, 2019 16:21:04 GMT
Sorry for the delay in posting. Lexie saw the head vet who also did the op. He said, as they now know what the lump was (a hernia) & it was only a small hole, which was repaired but gone again, that it is best to leave it alone now. I queried what was coming through the hole as I was concerned about it being part of her intestines etc. but he said it is only fat not bowel or anything. He described that when she's eaten & it is passing through the intestines then it pushes some fat through the hole & when its passed through or she stretches then it goes back, hence the continuing change in size. As there is an obvious weakness at this point in her abdominal wall (from the surgery for her bowel biopsies as a youngster in May 2010) then more operations on it could weaken it further. So best to leave it alone as its not causing her any issues/pain. So no more ops for her. Interestingly I've rechecked her previous vets records the first entry is for October 2009 when she was a kitten for a URTI, then November/December she was tested & found to have Giardia, she weighed 1.82Kg then. She was retested in Feb 2010 & in April she was put on Hills Z/D & given Prednicare (steroid). That seemed to do the trick - no more diarrhoea so she flank spayed at the end of April but about 2 weeks later the diarrhoea recurred & they did a gut sequential biopsy which needed an midline opening. Result of biopsies showed chronic enterocolitis consistent with hypersensitivity s was to continue on Z/D. Good job she had insurance! She had her 1st vaccination at the end of April 2010 with the 2nd primary in mid May 4 days before her biopsy. Interesting that they did the 2nd vaccination when they noted that she was still having diarrhoea but I suppose it was to ensure that it was done in the appropriate window so she didn't have to have the 1st again. I suspect this year's early summer heat & sunshine aggrevated any abdominal wall weakness as it brought out the butterflies & she spent her days outside leaping at them on the conservatory wall & sometimes hitting the windowsill with her chest/stomach!
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