Oreo Has Osteosarcoma

Discussion in 'Feline Health - (Welcome & Main Forum)' started by Justgin, Nov 22, 2017.

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  1. Justgin

    Justgin Member

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    It was supposed to take 10 days but the specialist (Dr. B) called today, so I knew what was coming. Early calls are never good news.

    He's still hungry for food, but he limps. He's still on buprenorphine twice a day. Today his left foot looks a little swollen and he keeps grooming his left hip area. Dr. B wants to amputate the leg and wants to charge $2000 for it. I think my vet might charge less. Anyway, Dr. B says that sarcomas in cats don't progess as quickly as they do in dogs. I hope that's true. He wants to see if amputating his leg will help him to have a longer more painfree life or not, so he's contacting vets at NC State for their opinon. He'll let me know probably next week.

    There may be some light at the end of the tunnel though. I do a lot of internet searches and sometimes searches lead to places I never originally intended to find. There are a number of people who've had documented tumor regression with diet change and pancreatinc enymes. There was at least one study that I know of involving lab animals (rats I assume) that showed positive results during trials. And there is a doctor - or doctors (possibly a number of them that I don't know about) who've also treated human patients with this type of therapy and monitored the progress via CT or plain films. Dr. B hasn't heard of such a thing.

    I need to know what to do next. The only hope I have is this, at this point. :(
     
  2. FurBabiesMama

    FurBabiesMama Well-Known Member

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    I'm so sorry. :bighug::bighug::bighug:
     
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  3. Justgin

    Justgin Member

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    Thank you!
     
  4. Squalliesmom

    Squalliesmom Well-Known Member

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    Wow, I'm so sorry to hear your news about Oreo. Sending prayers and tons of healing vines. :bighug::bighug::bighug:
     
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  5. Justgin

    Justgin Member

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    Thank you!
     
  6. Lillie

    Lillie Member

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    Aww- So sorry to hear about your Oreo.:bighug::bighug::bighug:
     
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  7. Tracey&Jones (GA)

    Tracey&Jones (GA) Well-Known Member

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    Sorry about diagnosis. At least you have some options. Wish you and Oreo the best on your journey.
     
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  8. Justgin

    Justgin Member

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    Thank you!
     
  9. Kris & Teasel

    Kris & Teasel Well-Known Member

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    I'm so sorry you and your kitty are facing this. I hope you can find a way to help him and keep him comfortable.
     
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  10. Justgin

    Justgin Member

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    Thank you!
     
  11. Carol & Murphy (GA)

    Carol & Murphy (GA) Well-Known Member

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    Sorry to hear this news. I hope everything works out for you and Oreo.
     
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  12. Justgin

    Justgin Member

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    Oreo will be having his left hind leg amputated in the morning. Just now he rubbed up against me with that leg and it felt very warm. The area had been shaved for the biopsy and he's been licking it. I thought it was just red because his skin is white and any licking turns it red. Now I'm worried he's got a massive infection going on maybe from the bone biopsy. Please someone advise me ASAP! I'm already nervous and tearful having to have this surgery in the morning. And at least he will be seeing the surgeon in the morning. I'm worried.
     
  13. Sharon14

    Sharon14 Well-Known Member

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    :bighug: Sorry you and Oreo have to go through this. Sending tons of prayers for a successful surgery and a swift and complete recovery.
     
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  14. Kris & Teasel

    Kris & Teasel Well-Known Member

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    Sending positive energy and healing vines to you and your precious kitty. :bighug::bighug:
     
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  15. FurBabiesMama

    FurBabiesMama Well-Known Member

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    I hope everything goes well.
     
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  16. Justgin

    Justgin Member

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    Thank you everyone, it makes such a difference knowing people care.

    Just got word that Oreo is waking up, and the surgery went well.
     
  17. Justgin

    Justgin Member

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    Oreo is back home now and loaded up on opioids, bless him. He has tried to walk but keeps falling over. I think the drugs are partially to blame but he doesn't know how to walk on 3 legs yet either. For now he's confined to my bathroom and has everything he needs in there. If I ever find out how to transfer pics from my phone to my cptr I will post them here.
     
  18. Justgin

    Justgin Member

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  19. Justgin

    Justgin Member

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    Ok, how do I post a pic on here please?
     
  20. FurBabiesMama

    FurBabiesMama Well-Known Member

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    You can click Upload a File to the bottom right of the box where you type your text then browse for the file.
     
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  21. Callie & Patches

    Callie & Patches Well-Known Member

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    Sending prayers for Oreo and family. He will be getting around on three legs just fine soon.
     
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  22. Justgin

    Justgin Member

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    Thank you for the info. I am a retard when it comes to computers so please type slower. :D I clicked on the picture icon but I don't see a way to browse. What did I do wrong?
     
  23. Kris & Teasel

    Kris & Teasel Well-Known Member

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    I'm not very techie. If you can drag and drop a photo that you have on your computer desktop, that should work too. What @FurBabiesMama is referring to is the "Upload a File" bar that you see under the lower right corner of your text box when you get set to type a comment on the forum. When you click on that bar a list of files that are in a location on your computer will appear. In my case, it's my desk top files that are listed but I can switch to other files to find a photo.
     
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  24. CassWTribby

    CassWTribby Member

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    So sorry for your kitty. I lost a cat to a fast moving osteicarcinoma earlier this year. My cat Pisew developed a lump in her back leg. She also had lumps in her groin area. My vet confirmed what I thought and gave some meds. He did not consider amputation an option for her and it was a very fast moving and aggressive tumour. She was older and tubby so mobility would be an issue.
    Sorry to say I lost her less then two weeks later. It spread very quickly so treatment other the palliative care, wasn't an option.
    If you have any questions or need to talk msg me. Hugs to both of you.
     
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  25. Tanya and Ducia

    Tanya and Ducia Well-Known Member

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    we're all hope so much to hear good updates - how's Oreo doing today?
     
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  26. Juliet

    Juliet Guest

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    We had a cat with three legs growing up. He got caught in an animal trap. He learned to walk in three legs very quickly. Hope your kitty recovers well.
     
  27. Justgin

    Justgin Member

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    Oh I see now. What I did before is click on the photo icon in the light blue bar above the text box. So that's what I did wrong. I still have trouble getting pics to upload from my phone to my computer (it used to do that automatically when connected). I'll try again.

    "The Upload file does not have an allowed extension".

    I give up. Thanks anyway.
     
  28. Justgin

    Justgin Member

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    The specialist at the referral clinic suggested amputation based on what the Oncologist at NCState advised him. He also advised chemo to make sure all the cancer was removed since this cancer was aggressive. I never did understand exactly what he meant when he said osteosarcomas are slower moving in cats than in dogs (so they never recommend amputation in dogs), but then he said this one was aggressive. Does that mean that this type is jus as aggressive in cats as in dogs? And if so, why was amputation recommended? He did not feel any lymph nodes and the cancer was localized to his left distal femur on film. None noted in his abdomen. The vet who did the surgery (Oreo's vet) took another film on day of surgery and said "to my eye, there's no change in the appearance of the left knee film done several weeks ago". I'll call the specialist and get him to pinpoint a prognosis for me. It's pretty discouraging thinking I've put him through this pain only to die anyway in just a few weeks. :(

    And this limp, barely perceptible, started only about a week or 2 before his diabetes diagnosis. That's a long time for an aggressive cancer to grow. Anyway, thank you for sharing and I'm so sorry for the loss of your dear kitty to this terrible disease. Hugs.
     
  29. Juliet

    Juliet Guest

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    If it’s a JPEG you should be ok. What format is your pic saved in?
     
  30. Tanya and Ducia

    Tanya and Ducia Well-Known Member

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    The computers and I have mutual spite for one another - always have..darn things..was so much better without them...

    if you start new post and click on "Upload File" below the space where you are supposed to type in your text you 'll get a window opened that asks Browse from... and then you click on the file from your PC or a cell -if it is connected by a cord to the PC - the file which you'd like to upload. Then wait, it asks if you want Full Image or a Thumbnail image - and choose accordingly.. I hope it helps.. But technology is so vile - no one can ever fully trust it...

    How's Oreo even without picx?
     
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  31. Justgin

    Justgin Member

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    Thank you! He's eating well, although I'm having to serve him underneath my bed. He fears I will take him back for more surgery I think, poor baby! If I were him I'd be afraid of me too. He doesn't understand. He has refused my handy homemade liter box without a front edge and somehow has made it into the box. I have filled the boxes with more litter to help him in and out.

    He wore the e-collar only about a couple of minutes, but since then has not yet shown an interest, so far, in his back or his incisions. I'm keeping an eye on that too. Since Oreo IS the groomer kitty, I'm not really worried that the others might take over grooming him but I'm keeping an eye on them too. For safety's sake, and since the others don't show an interest in snuggling with him, nor he them, I will put him back in my bathroom to make it easier to medicate him with his pain meds. Personality wise he is more himself than he was the other day on drugs. But he's still quiet and hiding, yet when I serve him food, he does eat well.
     
  32. Justgin

    Justgin Member

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    It's JPG. So I wonder why it says the extension was not allowed?
     
  33. Juliet

    Juliet Guest

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    Perhaps the file is too big? When you click upload file it tells you pixel size too.
     
  34. Justgin

    Justgin Member

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    I know the feeling! Mutual spite, vile technology....lol. My computer thinks I'm dumb, and he's right! Ok let's try this again.

    Won't work. Same message. <sigh>
     
  35. Juliet

    Juliet Guest

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    Try a different pic?
     
  36. Justgin

    Justgin Member

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    One more time I'll try. If it doesn't work this time, I truly give up. I'll snail mail you all a Polaroid, how about that? LOL.

    Ok same message. It did say the file was 220 KB.

    I'll have to drive down to the corner drugstore to get a Polaroid camera I guess. Damn these new-fangled devices anyway.
     
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  37. Justgin

    Justgin Member

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    I'm sure a different pic will work but for some reason, any pic I take on my phone recently I can't get to work on this site.

    IMG_0225.JPG Oreo, in better days (this was a number of years ago) his buddy Nat and Nat's mom Gracie. Oreo was grooming Nat and turned around for a picture. You can't even see his left leg in this pic.
     
  38. Tanya and Ducia

    Tanya and Ducia Well-Known Member

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    A while back, someone on this Board shared that her holistic vet suggested to talk (silently, on a mental level) with her cat whilst the cats was asleep... Like to explain why she did what she was doing to him and what was she hoping to achieve...She reported it worked! The cat understood and cooperated. Maybe you can try to explain to Oreo that his surgery was "our technology" to have the healing done, it is not going to be repeated and that he has no reason to fear you whatsoever but if he feels it is the way to proceed at a moment (to be afraid of you or to be cautious) - you'll understand it, too? Tell him again how much you love him - they understand it well...
    (This Forum is the only place on Earth where I admit to having THAT kind of conversation with my cat.. Try it (keep it private if you wish) - it might work.):bighug:
     
  39. Tanya and Ducia

    Tanya and Ducia Well-Known Member

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    The picture is perfectly visible now - what a beautiful feline family you've got!
     
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  40. Justgin

    Justgin Member

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    Oh I do understand that only us cat lovers would do such a thing but it's sure worth a try! I wonder if there are ANY holistic vets who know about the pancreatic enzyme treatment to make tumors regress? It's rare to even find a human doctor familiar with that type treatment. But this was trialed on lab animals - either rats or bunnies one -with success. I just don't even know where to start looking although I've asked several vets already. I'll continue my search online.
     
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  41. Tanya and Ducia

    Tanya and Ducia Well-Known Member

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    Hmm..
    Translation: you have asked you vets where else to put your money...hmm...I wonder if they had any choice but to tell you "no such thing"!..? or "no where else but me"...
    :)
    The lady whom I mentioned above is from Pennsylvania. Where are you located? Someone on the Board from the same area might know a good holistic one...

    The holistic vets are VERY, very hard to find, and usually seeing one requires quite a drive for an appointment..but most said it was worth it.

    Anyway, if you can start a new thread on the Main Health Forum titled something like "Looking for a holistic vet in such-or-so-area" someone might be able to help. If no responses coming in - just keep posting another details/ questions to your own post to "bump" it up on list - you see, once a new message/ post comes in the old ones are go lower and lower until they became invisible. Do not edit your post with additions - write a new post as a reply to your own 1st post - otherwise it will not get pushed up to the top.

    You do know how to post a new thread, I trust? You've posted here and , BTW, managed posting/ uploading a pic successfully, too..;) ... not everyone here can claim that much. :)

    Let me know if I may be of any help.
     
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  42. Justgin

    Justgin Member

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    Actually the first vet I asked was a holistic vet my holistic MD referred me to. (And you are right, this vet is a good distance away from me.) He'd never heard of enzyme therapy but he did say he respected the vet who did Oreo's bone biopsy and wanted me to keep him informed of Oreo's progress. And when I asked referral vet if he'd heard of it, I could tell he wasn't even interested in such things. Strange! I would leave no stone unturned. Here's a website I found in case anyone is interested in learning more about the scientific research done by Dr. John Beard, a Scottish embryologist in the early 1900's. He published his research on enzyme therapy in 1911. It's real science.

    https://www.scribd.com/doc/7840273/The-Enzyme-Treatment-of-Cancer-John-Beard-1911

    That's over 100 years ago! And yet medical science has yet to catch up, except for a few doctors willing to risk their careers. I have no idea how to extrapolate this info to vet science. But I do know that it was trialed on lab animals with success. His work was overshadowed by Marie Curie and her 2 Nobel prizes. What a shame.

    Thank you for the tips!
     
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  43. Barbara & Uncle (GA)

    Barbara & Uncle (GA) Well-Known Member

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    Just popping by to say hello and send tons of hugs to you and Oreo.
    My kitty Uncle also had a back leg amputated due to a sarcoma (it was subcutaneous). He was 8 at the time lived to be 17. Heart disease was what he eventually died from, not diabetes or cancer. He was a bit wobbly at first too, like you said some was from the pain meds originally and then he just had to practice being a tri-pod. He had some technical difficulties at first, didn't take very long for him to get back to his normal self -including catching mice!
    Glad Oreo is eating for you. Hope he feels better every day. Keep us posted on his progress :bighug::bighug::bighug:
     
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  44. Justgin

    Justgin Member

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    Oreo gave me a scare this morning at 8am. I got up and fed him separate from the others. He's been staying in my masterbath adjoining my bedroom. He had peed and pooed during the night so I scooped that. Then he ate pretty well. He was ready for his food. I went to the kitchen to rinse out the tins of cat food when I heard a single meow faintly. I saw a kitty at my garage door last night so I thought it was an outside cat. I heard it again several times, then realized it was coming from Oreo. When I got in my room he started meowing desparately like yelling. He kept moving around like he couldn't get comfortable. Earlier I noticed that he passed gas, but that didn't seem to bother him. I was worried that he had hurt his incision or maybe knocked his left hip out of joint or something. So I ran to get my phone off the charger. During that time he seemed to settle down some but I called the vet anyway. He wasn't in yet. Then he called about 20 minutes later. By then Oreo had settled down in my closet and was calm. He's been resting ever since but hasn't gotten up yet. I do not know what happened but it really scared me that something bad had happened. He never meows like that.
     
  45. Kris & Teasel

    Kris & Teasel Well-Known Member

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    It's possible he moved in such a way as to stress the amputation site. That would be awfully painful I think. Did the vet have anything to offer? Is Oreo still on opioids?
     
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  46. Justgin

    Justgin Member

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    The vet didn't even want to give him a Fentanyl patch because of the risks and because of his skin sensitivity/condition (he still has those scabs on his back.) he is on 3 days worth of robenicoxib (sp?) an NSAID and today's the last day. Luckily I still have some Buprenorphine left over from his biopsy. This is the first time I've heard him meow in pain. The vet said he would probably give another 3 day round of the NSAID and that it can be given with the Bupe. He's still resting right now.
     
  47. Barbara & Uncle (GA)

    Barbara & Uncle (GA) Well-Known Member

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    Hi Gin, just replied to your PM and now reading this. Glad you can give Bupe, the NSAID just may not have enough pain control.
    I remember well just how intense that incision is and can imagine how raw, angry and swollen everything probably is right now, so it doesn't take much movement for things to really hurt I imagine.
    I know how hard it is to see/hear them in pain. Hope Oreo gets to feeling better real soon! :bighug:
     
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  48. Barbara & Uncle (GA)

    Barbara & Uncle (GA) Well-Known Member

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    Just checking in to see how Oreo is doing. I hope the Bupe is helping
     
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  49. Justgin

    Justgin Member

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    I wanted to wait a little bit to see how he did this morning. Caught the little booger licking his incision so the cone of shame went immediately back on. I noticed a small open area yesterday, but never did see him lick until this morning. I believe the Bupe is helping plus the Onsior. The vet has given another 3 days worth of Onsior and will prescribe more Bupe.

    So I gave him Bupe this morning before breakfast, then he ate, and I gave Onsior afterward and his Levemir. He used the litter box twice already - only #1 so far and no poo overnight. He did poo well yesterday. After breakfast, no meowies like yesterday! Pain control and cone are the key to healing. He's also getting along easier on 3 legs. He's beginning to get the hang of it. Bless him!

    I figured out how to post a pic from my phone! Be forewarned it's a pic of his incision and you can see a small open area in the center. This is from yesterday.
     

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    Last edited: Dec 6, 2017
  50. Justgin

    Justgin Member

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    Here's from just a few hours ago today: He's asleep with the cone on.
     

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  51. Barbara & Uncle (GA)

    Barbara & Uncle (GA) Well-Known Member

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    Sounds like things are on track. So glad to hear the Oreo's feeling better.
    :bighug::bighug::bighug:
     
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  52. Justgin

    Justgin Member

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    Thanks! I wouldn't say we are out of the woods just yet. I will continue to feel a bit unsettled until I can remove the cone and let him have free reign again. That should hopefully be by next Friday the 15th when the sutures/staples come out. Until then...
     
  53. Barbara & Uncle (GA)

    Barbara & Uncle (GA) Well-Known Member

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    Yeah, for sure. I know what you mean. It's early days for such a big operation. I kept Uncle confined to the hallway and slept on the floor next to him in my sleeping bag for 2 weeks, I was so worried :nailbiting:
     
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  54. Barbara & Uncle (GA)

    Barbara & Uncle (GA) Well-Known Member

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    IMG_3449.JPG IMG_3452.JPG IMG_3514.JPG
    Here are some timeline photo's of Uncle's healing progress for inspiration :cat:
     
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  55. Justgin

    Justgin Member

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    Wow, Uncle's incision looks so much neater than Oreo's! Yeah I won't rest easy until at least the staples are out and he's joining in with the others again eating and just being with each other. Right now it's hard on him, probably harder on me, in that they are separated. He is sleeping a lot but he's getting Bupe. Tonight I gave him a tad of Miralax because he didn't go poo today. It was just a tiny bit though. If he doesn't go overnight I may add a few drops olive oil tomorrow. I already put about 1/4 teaspoon enzymes to help with digestion (they all have issues) on their food. Enzymes help me go to the bathroom so I thought maybe it'd help him too.
     
  56. Justgin

    Justgin Member

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    Oreo's had a better day today. He had a big ole poopie waiting for me in his litter box this morning! Yay! I was afraid the opioids were causing him constipation.

    I got 3 more days worth of Bupe for him. The vet said to give it twice a day and just stop. This'll get him through Sunday night. I don't like the thought of just abruptly stopping this drug without titrating him slowly off it. This vet is irritating me. Any opinons?
     
  57. Justgin

    Justgin Member

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    So I called the referral clinic Dr office to get his opinion on what meds Oreo needs going forward. The vet who did Oreo's biopsy is out today - won't be in until Tuesday. The office rep was very rude and condescending. God I hate dealing with that place. They need to realize that their rudeness makes them lose customers and $$. Planning on writing a review against them, even though the vet is so nice. He's knowledgeable, thorough, and compassionate, a rare combination. But to get to him, you have to first get past several piranhas at the front desk.

    Oreo has been licking his incision at one spot. I put his collar on and he'll wear it for a while, but then he'll take it off. Most of the time he leaves it alone. He just goes to sleep.
     
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  58. Kris & Teasel

    Kris & Teasel Well-Known Member

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    Is he feeling a little better?
     
  59. Justgin

    Justgin Member

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    He's about the same. Still eating, drinking, peeing and pooing. Mostly sleeping.

    I spoke to another vet whom I'd contacted before because I didn't want to wait until Tuesday. My holistic MD recommended him. He's also a holistic vet but he's far away from me. He typically uses Onsior AND Buprenorphine after a big surgery for up to 5 days postop. He wouldn't recommend the Fentanyl patch and has never used it himself on his patients. So I feel better about his pain meds now.
     
  60. Barbara & Uncle (GA)

    Barbara & Uncle (GA) Well-Known Member

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    Glad you were able to get another opinion on Oreo's pain management and wonderful that it supports his treatment as is.
    Really good to hear that he's eating, drinking, peeing and pooing.
    Sorry to hear about the off putting front office crew. What a bummer, no one should have to wade through that especially at a time of stress.
    Sending healing vines to Oreo :bighug::bighug::bighug:
     
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  61. Tanya and Ducia

    Tanya and Ducia Well-Known Member

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  62. Justgin

    Justgin Member

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    Yes that was helpful, but where the holistic vet differed is he would have sent Oreo HOME on Buprenorphine and Onsior. Oreo's vet only sent him home with Onsior. I only happened to have Bupe on hand from his bone biopsy done at the referral clinic. They must've overfilled and there was about 3 ml left after I'd given Oreo 5 days worth! So I still hold this against Oreo's current vet. The one reason why I like him is because he at least knows about Dr. Lisa and her website. And he was willing to try Levimir on Oreo even though he never had before.

    Everybody in my area is aware of how the front desk at the referral clinic have some rude girls there. OTOH there are some really nice ones in the back, so it's not all bad. But funny how just one bad person can spoil a person's view of the whole clinic.
     
  63. Kris & Teasel

    Kris & Teasel Well-Known Member

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    How is Oreo doing?
     
  64. Justgin

    Justgin Member

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    He seems ok considering what a big surgery he had. He's actually getting bored in my bathroom, but I will have to keep him there until our appt this Friday to get his stitches/staples out. He played a little bit with the rolly ball scratcher toy I put in there. So I hope he's doing well and continues to do even better.
     
  65. Justgin

    Justgin Member

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    Oreo got his staples out at 2 weeks - on the 15th. He had two superficial open places, one looked a little worrisome. The vet gave me some hibiclenz and gauze to apply several times a day. So I thought he could come out of confinement last Friday but that didn't happen :( Anyway, since then he's healed up and the oozing has stopped and dried and scabbled so he came out of prison 2 days ago! He's been loving his freedom and getting back to his kitty duty of grooming the others, especially Nat who has one eye that weeps a little. Here's a pic!

    [​IMG]

    He thought I was going to take him back to the vet, bless him, so he got up and hid under the bed for a little bit. He loves this fleece jacket. He had a sibling that was solid black. They were best buds and went everywhere together. He grooms this jacket at times.
     

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    Last edited: Dec 21, 2017
  66. Tanya and Ducia

    Tanya and Ducia Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 25, 2017
    Thanks for this update! You Rock, Oreo!
    It might very well be my old PC but I cannot open the pic...:(
     
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  67. Sharon14

    Sharon14 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 16, 2015
    Neither can I
     
  68. Justgin

    Justgin Member

    Joined:
    May 8, 2017
    I'm so sorry about the pic. On my end the pic shows up without me having to click on anything. I mentioned before how much trouble I had getting pics off my phone to transfer to the computer and I still haven't gotten it compeletly figured out yet. I'll keep trying.
     
  69. Justgin

    Justgin Member

    Joined:
    May 8, 2017
    Let me know if this works!
     

    Attached Files:

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  70. Kris & Teasel

    Kris & Teasel Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 17, 2016
    I'm so glad he's doing better! :smuggrin:
     
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  71. Justgin

    Justgin Member

    Joined:
    May 8, 2017
    Here's a few more pics that aren't blurry. Before he got off the cone and out of confinement and after!
     

    Attached Files:

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  72. FurBabiesMama

    FurBabiesMama Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 6, 2017
    Awwww, kitty jail. I'm glad he is free and doing well.
     
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  73. Kris & Teasel

    Kris & Teasel Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 17, 2016
    Isn't he cute! I love his nose splotch! :D
     
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  74. Justgin

    Justgin Member

    Joined:
    May 8, 2017

    I know! I love it too!

    Thanks everybody.
     
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  75. Critter Mom

    Critter Mom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2014
    Late arrival to this thread. Just wanted to send some prayers for Oreo's speedy recovery.

    :bighug:


    Mogs
    .
     
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  76. Justgin

    Justgin Member

    Joined:
    May 8, 2017
    Thank you!
     
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  77. Justgin

    Justgin Member

    Joined:
    May 8, 2017
    It's been a while so I thought I would update. The news is not good. Oreo is limping again. This time it's his front left leg. He's been overgrooming himself in several areas. One is on the front left leg, there's a small spot he licked until it bled. Then there's a worrisome one in the very middle of his incision scar which has scabbed over and one on his belly, all on the left. He licks on the right too. Been crying today thinking of what I will have to do soon. Maybe tomorrow. Will take him in in the morning to get some medicine. My poor baby. I wish I had asked for a full body xray to see if the bone was indeed the primary site. It may not have been but the vets seemed to think so. They also say that mets doesn't always show up on films. I'm hoping I'm wrong about all this. He had 2 shots of convenia in December. After the 2nd one, his scabs all went away and he quit licking.
     
  78. CassWTribby

    CassWTribby Member

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2017
    hi again,

    I lost my cat Pisew last summer to an osteicarcinoma of her back leg. She went down hill very quickly even with treatment. Two weeks after diagnosis she was self grooming her leg, her belly and her back leg to the point of infection and bleedinb. The cancer had spread very quickly through out her body and I could feel swollen lymph nodes and several tumours through out her abdomen. We increased her pain meds but no change. Fearing she was suffering I euthanized her as soon as I could She passed peacefully in my arms. My vet examined her after and the cancer had spread very quickly and aggressively through out her entire body after spreading quickly up her back leg despite treatment.
    We had made the right decision.

    I just wanted to say that it's ok to say good bye too. I know we get all caught up in the day to day care and management of our beloved sugar kitties. It gets really hard to interrupt that pattern of doing everything in our power to help our kitties. I went through this twice last year. First with Pisew then with my beloved sugar cat Tribby

    But it's okay to say good bye too.

    You are both in my heart.
     
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  79. Tracey&Jones (GA)

    Tracey&Jones (GA) Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 12, 2016
  80. Justgin

    Justgin Member

    Joined:
    May 8, 2017
    Thank you both! I called the vet. From my description of his sores he's overgrooming and his limp, he doesn't believe that the CA has metastasized. So I've got 6 days worth of Onsior to see if it helps him.
     
  81. Carol & Murphy (GA)

    Carol & Murphy (GA) Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 9, 2015
    I really hope it turns out well for Oreo, Gin
     
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  82. Kris & Teasel

    Kris & Teasel Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 17, 2016
    Crossing fingers the Onsior helps and that's all it is. :bighug:
     
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  83. Justgin

    Justgin Member

    Joined:
    May 8, 2017
    Me too. My gut is telling me the vet is wrong :( but I'm really hoping i'm wrong. Thanks for the support y'all.
     
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  84. Justgin

    Justgin Member

    Joined:
    May 8, 2017
    The Onsior has helped! He has been much more active even after the first dose. And he's such a sweetheart, he even licks the syringe as I give it to him. He's so easy in that way! Didn't resist at all.
     
  85. Kris & Teasel

    Kris & Teasel Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 17, 2016
    Great news! :D
     
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  86. Carol & Murphy (GA)

    Carol & Murphy (GA) Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 9, 2015
    So happy to hear this
     
  87. Steph & Quintus & L & O

    Steph & Quintus & L & O Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 9, 2017
    Just so you know, though the medicine's instructions say "no more than 6 days", it is possible to give Onsior long-term (search for metacam in the think tank forum to find a thread discussing nsaids in cats). Specially when you're in a "this or..." situation. Quintus has been on Onsior for YEARS for his arthritis.

    Also, convenia. People in the US tend to be super negative about convenia, and I get it, if the cat has a bad reaction then it's stuck in the system for weeks, but for Quintus it has probably saved his life twice. And twice he was on it for a good two months. So it's also something that it's possible to "stick with". Of course, probably not ideal, but sometimes treating a cat is compromise.

    :bighug::bighug::bighug:
     
  88. Steph & Quintus & L & O

    Steph & Quintus & L & O Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 9, 2017
  89. Larry and Kitties

    Larry and Kitties Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 28, 2009
  90. Justgin

    Justgin Member

    Joined:
    May 8, 2017
    Actually it's the pill form which I crush and put in a syringe and draw up water. I've never been good at pilling my kitties and there's that doubt that the pill didn't just stay in their throat even if followed by water. So I just crush it and give it that way. It's helped! Last night for the first time in a long time, he wanted to go out in the garage to explore. He just hasn't felt like getting up and moving much since his surgery, until now.
     
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  91. Steph & Quintus & L & O

    Steph & Quintus & L & O Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 9, 2017
    Oh? I was told the pills couldn't (and shouldn't) be cut. Going to have another look at that, then, because if it means I can give halves, I'm interested.
     
  92. Larry and Kitties

    Larry and Kitties Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 28, 2009
    The manufacturer says:
    Can Onsior tablets be split?
    Onsior tablets are not scored and should not be broken.
    From:
    https://www.onsior.com/faq

    The pills may be cated and thus should not be split or crushed and mixed with water.
     
  93. Steph & Quintus & L & O

    Steph & Quintus & L & O Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 9, 2017
    That’s what is understood. What is cated?
     
  94. Kris & Teasel

    Kris & Teasel Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 17, 2016
    I think the words should be “coated”.
     
  95. Steph & Quintus & L & O

    Steph & Quintus & L & O Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 9, 2017
    oh! and I wanted to write "what I understood".
    I'd be interested in digging into the consequences of crushing or cutting a pill that's not supposed to be.
     
  96. Justgin

    Justgin Member

    Joined:
    May 8, 2017
    I will call my vet and ask them what to do.
     
  97. Kris & Teasel

    Kris & Teasel Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 17, 2016
    I think the coatings can be to protect the stomach in some cases (maybe NSAIDs?) or to delay absorption - eg. time release meds.
     
  98. Steph & Quintus & L & O

    Steph & Quintus & L & O Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 9, 2017
    Things I can think of:
    - taste
    - indeed, stomach protection
    - something about how or where in the GI tract the med is best metabolized => efficiency?
     
  99. Justgin

    Justgin Member

    Joined:
    May 8, 2017
    I didn't see anything on the package that indicated it was a time-release med. Usually you will see the lettersTR or ER in the name. My guess is it's an enteric coating since it's an NSAID. I have given each dose WITH a meal though. I'll check with the vet when they open back up from lunch in a little bit.
     
  100. Steph & Quintus & L & O

    Steph & Quintus & L & O Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 9, 2017
    @Justgin do let us know. If it's a minor inconvenience to do away with the coating (ie, you just have to take care to give with a meal), I might have a go to give Quintus 1.5
     
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