Conference misery::feline_v1

    Hi,
    Never had any experience with a wick,but my sisters cat has an 
    absyss which I dealt with like this for cleaning and dressing,
    her cats a bugger as well,all them teeth!!
    
    I wrapped the cat in a towel,and made a cut in it at the same
    spot that needed attention,and presto,instant protection and
    the cat did not get hurt.
    
    Phil.

    
    	Having worked for a vet, I've seen tons of `wicks' (we
    	just called them drains...)  and none of them were given
    	ointment to put on them. (what is it, by the way?). The
    	vet would always tell them to put a hot compress on it 
    	ten to fifteen minutes, three times a day, and make sure 
    	the holes didn't close up around the wick (the compresses
    	usually prevented that). 
    

    I didn't even notice what label the ointment had - isn't that awful???
    I just assumed it was good stuff and to make sure to use it.
    
    The vet did say that if the opennings got "crusty" to pour peroxide
    over them - I did that this morning and Zildjian didn't like that
    either.  I think it "tickled" her and needless to say she didn't like
    that.
    
    I get the picture now, just make sure the holes don't clog up so when
    it comes time to take the "wick" out, it will flow out freely. 
    
    re .2 - did you like being a "helper" to a vet?  I would love to do
    that someday.  Thanks for your reply.
    
    Anna & Zildjian
    
    

    
    	Well, actually, the holes are supposed to stay open so 
    	that it can drain any fluids out while the wick is in
    	there. Peroxide is a good idea. 
    
    	I really enjoyed working for a vet - at first. But 
    	after you see so many cases of abuse and serious injury,
    	you begin to harden yourself against your feelings out
    	of neccessity. I had to decide if I wanted to become
    	detatched and heartless, or leave the job and continue to
    	care for animals as much as I had in the first place. I
    	chose to leave. It was too much for me, I guess. We're 
    	all sensitive, but some of us can handle it better than
    	others....

    Pussycat was in this situation when he was still in the feral-to-
    house cat transition stage.  Rather than mess with the wick business,
    the vet incised the abscess so that it was open enough to drain.
    It left him with a tiny scar where there was no hair,but it
    wasn't really unsightly.  On the otherhand, if the abscess isn't
    reforming, I'm not suggesting you take him back to have this
    done.  As for his behaviour generally, you might want to ask
    about a one-time shot (pill?) of a female hormone who's name
    I've forgotten;  this really calmed Pussycat down on a
    permanent basis, after altering hadn't made much difference in
    his behavior.  I also found that having a vet who is incredibly
    patient and tolerant makes the cat behave better.  I got told by two or 
    three vets not to bring Pussycat back to them, but he calmed right
    down after a couple of minutes in the office of the current vet.
    I think if the vet freaks out, the cat freaks out more.
    

    Zildjian sounds like my Nippa......she loves everyone but the vet.....
    it took awhile, but I finally found someone who can handle her and
    her nastiness.  I think they can sense if someone is afraid of them
    and act accordingly....

    I'll guess that the ointment you mentioned is Elase.  Its a
    debreeding agent (sp?) and quite expensive.  Good luck with
    your furface and I agree with you about not putting her to
    sleep.  You always appreciate those things in life that challenge
    you.  
       Nancy DC
    

    I am in trouble now.
    
    Zildjian untied (don't ask me how) the string and now it is just
    hanging there.  It is really bothering her.  I called the vet and they
    told me that she will eventually pull it out - to either bring her in
    and they will tie it back up or to try to tie it ourselves.
    
    That is *impossible*.  I have a hard enough time putting the ointment
    on.  What am I gonna do now?  I hate to bring her back into the vet cuz
    she puts up such a fuss and they said if they fail to tie it that they
    will have to anestesize (sp?) her again.  I don't want her going thru
    that again if I can help it.  The nurse said it is imperative that the
    two holes be kept open at all times and if we see them scabbing over,
    that that could be a problem.  My opinion is that the absess was not
    that big to begin with and she is keeping the area *very* clean.  I
    feel that it has drained all that it is going to drain and that if I
    remove the string and let the healing begin, that it would work out
    alright.  
    
    What do you think???  I would not hesitate to bring her back to the vet
    under usual circumstances, but I know they will not treat her with
    gentle hands cuz she is *impossible* to get near her.  I don't know
    what to do.
    
    PLEASE HELP!!!????
    
    Anna and Zildjian
    

    
    	Anna, no matter how small the abcess was in the first place,
    	it is possible that it could reform if the drain holes close
    	up. That's why the vet wants the wick to stay in there longer.
    	Better to have it heal properly than to have to bring her back
    	in a month to get another wick put in. Why is it impossible
    	for you to re-tie it? Can you have someone hold her while you
    	retie the knot? It shouldn't take more than a few seconds. If
    	you handle the cat in a businesslike manner, as in `I won't
    	take any trouble from you so don't even think about it', she
    	is less likely to struggle, believe it or not! Try it, okay??
    
    	Sherry
     

    Anna, I had a cat that had to have a wick put in about 10 years
    ago.  Though with my cat, the vet rapped gause bandage all
    the way up his leg and taped it with red tape in a sprial motion,
    it looked like a candy cane!  But it stayed on for the time it needed
    to be on.  The problem came with taking out the wick, it was awful!!
    My Mom and I locked ourselfs in the bathroom and tried and tried
    and he (a sweetheart normally) just screamed and howled and faught!
    Every time I began to tug on the string he would go wild!!
    We finally got it out, but the two of us were just so sick and upset
    for having to put him through that....!  I bet what might help is
    if you get those pills that the vet has to calm them down, "Kitty
    Downers"??  Sorry for the horrible story, but we had wished the Vet
    had explained to us what we were in for.
                                           
    Good Luck,
    
    Corine

    When my vet needs to draw blood from any of the cats he puts them
    in this little bag that leaves only their head and one leg free.
    Doesn't your vet have one of those?  Maybe you and your husband
    could get her into the bag and then the vet could work on her
    leg.
      Nancy DC
    

    
    
    RE:  .10
    
    The reason that the Kitty "Mom" in .10 had trouble getting the drain
    (wick) out of her cats wound was because the Vet did not give her
    proper instructions on care of a cat with a drain.
    
    The reason for the ointment and cleaning of the wound twice or more
    daily is to keep the drain loose and moving around in the wound.
     This not only allows for easy removal, but if the drain gets so
    so crusty that it is uncomfortable to remove it hasn't been doing
    it's job.  The wounds have to stay open and the drain should stay
    loose and movable in the wound for proper drainage to take place.
    Frequent cleanings and wiggling the drain will accomplish this nicely
    and it doesn't have to take a lot of time, 5-10 minutes depending
    on the size of the absess and the co-operation of the cat.
    
    So do your best, maybe the vet can give you a tranquilizer to give
    your cat before he/she has to go back.
    
    Good luck and please keep us posted.
    
    Feline concerned,
    
    Sue & Panther & Spot
    
    P. S.  I'm glad that you kept your cat, even if he/she has a difficult
    pursonality.  Imagine if human parents kicked their kids out just
    because they were difficult!!!  (THink of the problem with the homeless
    then!!!)
    

    I guess I was lucky.  My Benj had a habit of turning his head to
    one side in a fight, and the vet had to put a wick in his ear twice
    after fights!
    
    He didn't like the idea of me gooing it up twice a day, but he also
    seemed to understand that I was helping him get better.  
    
    Most of the time a soothing voice helped, plus a bite of tuna fish
    just out of reach, but visible so he knew he'd get rewarded when
    it was all over.
    
    Bedford Animal Hospital is my vet also.  They've always been great
    and seem to know their stuff.  They may have more suggestions for
    you - would a kitty harness help?  He'd be upset, but at least you
    could tie him (perhaps with rope on both his left and right sides).
     This would leave you with two hands free to do the job.

    Hi fellow feliners,
    
    This is a final update on my pain in the neck (but I love her dearly)
    Zildjian.
    
    Friday am we awoke to find the wick gone - nowhere to be found - and
    the wound looked *very* good. She had pulled it out all by herself and
    didn't even cause damage.  I know now that if the absess would just
    have been lanced that she would have taken care of it herself and the
    next time this happens, I will go that route first.  I have had cats
    all my life and when I was little my parents never had the money to
    take them to the vets - but they managed to take care of themselves.  I
    know, now adays it is different, but cats have this tremendous healing
    power in their saliva and I believe that they should be given first
    dibs in taking care of their wounds.
    
    As for (I forget which reply it was, I think .12) the vet did explain
    how to care for the wick - and I can not stress this enough - SHE WOULD
    NOT LET US NEAR HER PAW.  And the vet completely understood this after
    seeing Zildjian.  She is an impossible cat to deal with - but I am not
    a believer in giving tranquilizers unless absolutely necessary.
    
    From now on I will always get a 2nd alternative from the vet before
    rushing and doing the first thing that comes to their mind.  I realize
    they are trying to do the best job possible, and I appreciate that. 
    But I also feel that no one knows their animal better than the keepers
    themselves - vets do not always feel this way.  I suppose I am getting
    down a rathole.
    
    Thanks to everyone's input and may all your felines be healthy and
    happy.
    
    Anna/Zildjian/Spunky
    

    
    	Anna, the vet probably DID lance the abcess before putting
    	the wick in - that's the `normal procedure'. Are you saying
    	you just want to open it up and leave her with an open wound?
    
    	just a little confused,
    	Sherry