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Conference misery::feline_v1

Title:Meower Power is Valuing Differences
Notice:FELINE_V1 is moving 1/11/94 5pm PST to MISERY
Moderator:MISERY::VANZUYLEN_RO
Created:Sun Feb 09 1986
Last Modified:Tue Jan 11 1994
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:5089
Total number of notes:60366

4772.0. "He Went Boom and Got Cut! Does He Need Stitches?" by PINION::HACHE (I'll be Quiet) Mon Jul 08 1991 13:02

    
    Last night my roommate called me at my family's home to
    tell me that Benjamin had jumped off the couch onto a 
    glass that had been sitting on floor.  It broke and sliced
    into him.  She cleaned out the piece of glass (one piece,
    thank heavens) and compressed the wound until it didn't 
    bleed (she said it didn't bleed much anyway).  
    
    I couldn't get there until several hours later.  He was
    curled up (wound side down, if you can believe that) on
    his favorite chair.  He'd been quiet all evening, walked
    around a bit and drank some water.  No crying or anything
    according to roommate.  
    
    I was appalled to find that the 'cut' was a clean slice
    about an inch and a half long that went straight through
    the skin, so that I could see the underlying muscle.  I
    called Angell Memorial right away and they said to clean
    it with peroxide and put some bacitracyn on it.  Because
    he wasn't moving around at all, I couldn't tell if walking
    would cause the wound to gape, so they said not to bother
    bringing him in for stitches, but to use hot moist compresses
    and watch for signs of infection.
    
    He was real good (better than I am) while we cleaned him
    up but promptly proceeded to lick off the bacitracyn.  I
    called Brighton Animal Hospital (closest to me) today and
    they're going to see him this afternoon.  I feel terrible
    that I am not able to be with him today, but he wasn't 
    around at all this morning.  He got out of bed just as I
    was (finally) falling to sleep.  I think he was under the
    couch.  I called my roommate and she said he came out to
    sit in the window when she opened the shade.
    
    I need moral support until I can get home to him, and any
    advice would be very appreciated (even though I'm sure I'll
    get some at the hospital).
    
    adTHANKSvance,
    
    dm & Benjamin
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4772.1JUPITR::KAGNOTo cats, all things belong to catsMon Jul 08 1991 13:078
    Poor Benjamin!  You're doing the right thing by getting him to the vet;
    wounds can become infected so easily and there very well could be some
    leftover shards of glass not visible to the eye.
    
    It sounds as though the vet will take good care of him.  Please keep us
    posted on the outcome.
    
    --Roberta
4772.2XCUSME::KENDRICKMon Jul 08 1991 14:2614
    I'm sorry about Benjamin.  I'm sure he'll be fine.  I also want to
    thank you for posting this note to warn others.  When I watch tv I
    always put my glass of juice or whatever I'm drinking on the floor next
    to me.  The cats are always jumping off me onto the floor.  I never
    stopped to think that one of them could land on the glass and it break
    and cut them.
    
    I hope it comforts you to know that you and Benjamin have kept this
    from happening to 4 other kitties.
    
    Thanks,
    
    T + 4
    
4772.3Update on BenjaminPINION::HACHEI'll be QuietWed Jul 10 1991 11:3018
    
    Poor Benjamin,
    
    I took him to the vet on Monday afternoon and it seems that the
    damage is much worse than it appears to have been.  He does have
    cut muscle tissue and a severed tendon (this was all below the 
    line of the cut, and I could't see it, but the doctor pulled his
    skin back and the cut was much deeper than it appeared).
    
    I left him at the hospital overnight, and he was operated on 
    yesterday.  The tendon has been repaired, and the muscle should
    heal on its own.  He was pretty doped for the rest of the day 
    yesterday, but this morning he seemed to be back to his usual self.
    I have to take him for a follow up next Tuesday, and then on Friday
    he'll have his stitches removed.  
    
    dm
    
4772.4OUCH!AIMHI::WATSONWed Jul 10 1991 14:055
    Aw, poor thing!  But it sounds as though the prognosis is good.  it's
    not easy when your kitty is in the hospital (take it from one who
    knows) but hopefully he'll get better quickly now.
    
    Deb and HER Benjamin
4772.5TENAYA::KOLLINGKaren/Sweetie/Holly/Little Bit Ca.Wed Jul 10 1991 16:124
    Poor Benny.  it sounds like he will be okay, though.  Deserves a
    special treat to make up for all this....  tuna for Benny, Champagne
    for Mum.....
    
4772.6On The MendTIMBER::HACHEI'll be QuietTue Jul 16 1991 14:3613
    
    Ben goes to get his stitches out today (he's already pulled out
    two of them on his own!).  He's not been as playful or active as
    he was before the accident, but I suppose that's to be expected.
    
    Also the anti-biotics he's taking make him really thirsty he drinks
    alot more, and his litter box is alot messier than it usualy is because
    his stools are so much softer than usual.  
    
    I'll be glad when he (and his litter box) is back to his old self!
    
    dm
    
4772.7WR2FOR::CORDESBRO_JOset home/cat_max=infinityWed Jul 17 1991 14:568
    You might consider offering him a bit of yogurt to help with the
    diarrhea.  Antibiotics can sometimes cause loose stools in cats because
    they can kill off the good bacteria in the intestinal tract.  Yogurt
    helps to replace that good bacteria.
    
    Glad he's doing better.
    
    Jo
4772.8CRUISE::NDCPutiput Scottish Folds DTN:297-2313Mon Jul 22 1991 08:545
    How is Benjamin doing today??
    
    RE: Yogurt - be sure what you use says it has "active yogurt cultures"
    since that's what you need to put into his gut.
    
4772.9Thanks for Your Prayers & EncouragementTIMBER::HACHEI'll be QuietThu Jul 25 1991 08:476
    
    Well, Ben is back to his old self, in fact now that the weather 
    isn't so hot, he's sleeping with me again (not all night, of
    course).  It's good to have my kitty back!
    
    dm