pumpkinhead
Well-Known Member
Tabitha was spayed exactly one week ago. She seemed to recover well for the first few days and was eating, drinking and pooping totally normally by day 3. Her spay incision was placed on her right side rather than on her stomach - she must have chewed out her external stitches late on the second day, there were only two of them and by the time we noticed they were gone. On the morning of day 4 we moved her from a confined plastic box inside back to her freshly cleaned outside cage.
The day before yesterday (day 5) we noticed she seemed a little shaky and was quite still, and her poops were a bit smaller and darker or squarer and squishier than usual. Seemed unwilling to move very much but would scoot away quickly when you reached into the cage.
Yesterday, when she was moving she was holding her back right leg up. More resistant to move than before. We took her to the vet. Vet examined her, said she had a normal range of movement in both legs and no pain response when they were manipulated. Temperature was very slightly high but 'nothing to worry about'. Tabitha was surprisingly accepting of vet holding her on her back, taking her temperature etc - vet attributed it to fear but I now believe Tabitha is generally 'floppy'. Vet thought perhaps scar contracture was causing pain, or she had strained a muscle, or possibly damaged her hip. Gave her an injection for pain just in case, and some metacam to take home to begin administering tonight... told to make another appointment if there was no improvement. Yesterday night Tabitha was still sitting in one corner of her cage, would nibble some veg, didn't seem very interested in food or drink.
Today Tabitha is worse. Now she does not just have small dry poops and some larger squishy ones but also they are sticking to her butt and she is not getting them off. Her poo smells very bad. She's very sluggish and lethargic - normally resists being held but now is largely limp when carried. Has urinated since yesterday but not very much. Will not move from where she is placed. She is sucking her stomach in I believe because I can clearly feel her ribs which I normally cannot.
We have made another vet appointment in 2 hours time, but I am reeeally worried about her. I have put her in her carrier until the appointment with plain straw, 2 bok choy leaves and a bowl of water, with a hot water bottle under the first layer of the towel beneath her.
The day before yesterday (day 5) we noticed she seemed a little shaky and was quite still, and her poops were a bit smaller and darker or squarer and squishier than usual. Seemed unwilling to move very much but would scoot away quickly when you reached into the cage.
Yesterday, when she was moving she was holding her back right leg up. More resistant to move than before. We took her to the vet. Vet examined her, said she had a normal range of movement in both legs and no pain response when they were manipulated. Temperature was very slightly high but 'nothing to worry about'. Tabitha was surprisingly accepting of vet holding her on her back, taking her temperature etc - vet attributed it to fear but I now believe Tabitha is generally 'floppy'. Vet thought perhaps scar contracture was causing pain, or she had strained a muscle, or possibly damaged her hip. Gave her an injection for pain just in case, and some metacam to take home to begin administering tonight... told to make another appointment if there was no improvement. Yesterday night Tabitha was still sitting in one corner of her cage, would nibble some veg, didn't seem very interested in food or drink.
Today Tabitha is worse. Now she does not just have small dry poops and some larger squishy ones but also they are sticking to her butt and she is not getting them off. Her poo smells very bad. She's very sluggish and lethargic - normally resists being held but now is largely limp when carried. Has urinated since yesterday but not very much. Will not move from where she is placed. She is sucking her stomach in I believe because I can clearly feel her ribs which I normally cannot.
We have made another vet appointment in 2 hours time, but I am reeeally worried about her. I have put her in her carrier until the appointment with plain straw, 2 bok choy leaves and a bowl of water, with a hot water bottle under the first layer of the towel beneath her.
RIP Tabitha
