Not Steaming Mad.....FOAMING MAD

Yesterday, today and probably the next month will be very sad days for me. Actually, probably for the rest of my cat Shyla's existence I will feel twinges of sadness when I look at her. I will also feel guilt.

Yesterday, Shyla tried to jump up onto her Kitty Condo and then up to the window ledge. This is only about waste height. She missed, she misses often and when she does miss, I laugh. She usually falls, looks sheepish and tries again. This time, I laughed and then she started rolling on the ground screaming a loud high pitched scream in pain trying to get up. This is when Libby came flying around the corner to see what is going on. Shlya freaked and hissed and screamed and a cat fight progressed to under the couch. Not one of those, ha ha funny cat fights that they do on a regular basis. This was "I'm going to kill you and eat you slowly to enjoy it" cat fight. I broke that up and shoved Libby into a room and came to check on Shyla. She was hissing and howling and hobbled into the kitchen falling over and peeing as she went. Now, I'm in full out hysteria of sobs and panic for my poor cat following her and wiping up pee and she goes. She finally gave up and layed down on the floor panting in pain and meowing a horrible long drawn out meow. I called the vet who put me through to the Small Animal Clinic at the U of S. Then I called my parents and a long list of other people. They came in to pick me up. I don't know what I would have done if they didn't come. While walking in along the sidewalk there was blood droplets from some other poor animal all the way along and inside to the reception. This was not something I wanted to see at that moment. It doesn't sit well and it feels like you are going into a place where your pet won't come out. It was there all day. Lots of blood. ALL DAY.

The whole waiting process went on forever with my poor sweet Shyla wrapped in a blanket panting in pain. She couldn't get examined because it was too painful so they had to sedate her in order to get x-rays and a proper exam. They tried, she fought back and tried to bite, so they put a face muzzle on her and she still fought. I'm glad I didn't see it and her pain because I think it would have pushed me over the edge right into a straight jacket.

This is her report:

History: Shyla presented to the WCVM Veterinary Teaching Hospital after and incident of falling and confrontation with a housemate (you may recognize "housemate" as Satans Spawn or whatever choice words people have for Libby). She was then non weight bearing on her right hind leg.

Physical Exam Findings: Shyla was bright and her vital parameters were within normal limits. Her heart and lungs sounded normal. Drawer sign and cranial tibial thrust were elicited on the right hind limb.

Laboratory/Medical Imagine Findings: x-rays of right hind limb - No abnormal findings.

Summary of Case Management: Shyla objected to manipulation and palpation of her right hind leg, and so sedation was required in order to take X-rays and do a thorough examination. A small amount of blood was collected for a basic check before sedation. The results of the emergency panel were within normal limits. Shyla was then sedated. Cranial drawer sign and cranial tibial thrust was elicited on the right hind limb, indicating the the cranial cruciate ligament was ruptured.

Diagnosis: Right Cranial Cruciate Ligament Rupture

Recommended Treatment/Management: The recommended treatment for cranial cruciate ligament rupture is surgical repair. the procedure is called extracapsular lateral imbrication and involves placing a strong suture through the top of the tibia (lower leg bone) and around the back of the femur (upper leg bone). You have indicated that surgical repair is not feasible for you. (in other words I can't afford it but if anyone is feeling generous and has a spare 2000 kicking around that they would like to give away please let me know)

Conservative treatment involves rest so that Shyla's leg can heal. She should be kept in her crate: she can be let out to use the litter box a few times a day. Please keep the litter box close to her so that she doesn't have to go far to get to it. Food and water should also be kept close so that she uses her sore leg as little as possible to allow for healing. After 3 weeks of strict kennel rest, she can be confined to one room, with as little opportunity to jump up and down as possible. After a month of this confinement, she can then return to more freedom, but please remember that her knee will not be as strong, and that she should be prevented as much as possible from jumping up onto tables and beds, ect.

Medications: Tramadol - a pain medication. Please give 0.2ml by mouth three times a day for the next 10 days. If Shyla vomits, has diarrhea, goes off her food, or becomes lethargic, discontinue the medication and contact a veterinarian.

Thank-you for bringing Shyla to see us. She is a very sweet little cat and we have enjoyed working with her. We hope she feels better soon. If you have any further question or concerns, please don't hesitate to call us.

This will be Shyla's existence for the next three weeks:



There's enough room for a small litter box, some food and a matt for her to lay down on. She hates it. I fear I will injure her more trying to get her into the crate. Shyla on her best day will fight like her life is ending if you try and put her into one of these. She fights just as hard on her bad days too. I also have to wrestle her to get the pain killer down her throat. The vet was not lying when she said they don't like the taste. She literally started foaming at the mouth and spitting and coughing and twitching and flailing her head all over. This sent thick foam all over the place. I honestly thought I was killing her. I've never seen anything like it. Then I had to fight to get her into the crate. I stayed up all night long listening to Libby cry at my bedroom door and Shyla trying to dig out of her crate and crying in pain. So, I gave in and sat up on my bed for 2 hours last night with poor Shyla on my lap sleeping. She settled down enough that I could put her back in for a couple hours this morning. She still won't eat anything but Tuna juice this morning. She was so high last night that she didn't even notice it. I hope that when I come home she has ate more and drank some water and gone to the bathroom. If she hasn't I might have another vet bill on my hands in the near future.

This is Shyla Foaming mad at me:



That is foam. A small portion of foam that has been spewed across my bedroom. And she stinks. Not only did she pee, she puked at the vet and now the wet smelly foam is all down the front of her furry little chest turning into a big matt of fur. I also think that cats in fear start sweating or something because she smells really bad.

Libby aka Spawn of Satan has decided to hold a grudge about the death fight and will growl and hiss and leap at the crate if she can get to it. She will also bolt across the room at her to try and kill her.

I've been doing some reading on line and she will probably have a limp and will develop really bad arthritis. If she had surgery it would prevent her from hurting it again but she would develop arthritis as well just not as bad and not as soon. I wish there was something I can do. I wish there was some kind of brace to keep her leg in one spot so she can't use it and I wouldn't be terrified of hurting her when I try and give her medication. It makes me cry.

My poor little Shyla. She's the nicest cat. She's always been gentle and quiet and rarely gets into trouble. She is always nervous and scared of people and it has taken me a long time to get her to trust me and now I'm scared she will never be the same again. I've had her for about 8 years and she's always held a little soft spot in every one's hearts because she always seems so fragile and timid. I just wish I had the money to fix her. I'm over tired, over emotional, stressed out and broke. I am also broken hearted.