Pin V Amputation: Merlin and his not so magical leg

by **Emma** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 3:28 pm

I wish I had found this website like a few weeks ago. My name is Emma, I live in Manchester, England. 4 weeks ago my 7year old cat Merlin was attacked (in our house) by an evil cat who lives next door.

At first the vet though he was just badly bitten and sent him home with antibiotic/painkiller injection. 2 days later however he was still putting no weight on it at all. An xray and investigative surgery found that he had completely ruptured his tendon in his hind leg. The vet tried to stitch it back together and we kept him confined in the bedroom (the bed surrounded with duvets and cushions, also named the padded cell). However this operation has been unsuccessful.

2 options were open to us, amputation or having the leg pinned and wired. This very day we have made the heartbreaking decision and have decided to opt for amputation as the wire & pin process is lengthy, has no guarentee for success and he may require more surgery.

SO he is booked in on thurs (15th feb) which ironically is his 7th birthday for the operation. I am heartbroken, can barely stop crying for 5 mins and am in great anguish as to what to expect when he comes home on friday. What if he becomes depressed? What if he just won't try to walk? How am I going to cope keeping him confined in a padded cell again? What if he won't eat? What if he can't use the litter tray? Will he ever be my mischievous cheeky cat again? Will he hate me forever?

I still dont know if I'm doing the right thing?

Any advice will be of great help! I have read critters file and it gives me some hope, Im glad Rio is doing so well. Am having trouble reading through tears though!

Wish me & merlin luck.... xxx

by **amina** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 3:55 pm

hi emma well im going through the exact trauma you are, my blog is called will he ever be the same again! above yours i dont know how to advise you as my cat bodee is going in for hind leg amputation tomorrow weds 13 its such a shock as we still dont know what shes done it looks like its been caught in something and i really am so confused about do they ever go out again, what if they dont walk, is there quality of life the same, all i can do is wish you the best emma for you and merlin from all of us amina ,bodee , buster there the cats ,river whos my son and lola my dog, keep in touch my username is riverlola

by **Bobbie** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 4:05 pm

Odds are they will both be fine. First of all, animals don't know there is anything wrong with having only three legs (heck, that's already one more than we have!) It takes a bit of adjustment but they learn to manage just fine. They will probably be trying to run around before they are supposed to.

by **Emma** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 4:19 pm

Hi Riverlola, thanks for commenting, its nice to know someone else is going through the same thing (well not nice really, I wouldnt wish this on anyone, apart from maybe the cat next door...karma!)! I know exactly where you are coming from, I too have another cat, Louie and am worried about the same things! Merlin has been confined for 4 weeks now and gets very upset because he knows louie has been going outside! I suppose its slightly easier for me because Ive seen how much pain Merlin is now and so we knew something was going to have to be done. My thoughts will be with you tomorrow, we should both keep a diary and offer each other support/advice/tips on recovery. I am so glad I found this site, I really had a lot of trouble researching and trying to get advice. It feels like we're doing something positive in a desperate situation! I havent cried for at least half an hour!

Good luck with bodee tomorrow xxx

by **maynardsmom** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 4:44 pm

We adopted Maynard 6 months after his rear leg amputation, so I can't say what his recovery was like...other than probably slower than 'normal' since he was at the humane society shelter.

When he first came here, he ran just about everywhere he went. Now that the newness of having his own home has worn off, he has slowed down a little. He does hop a little in back, more so when he's tired. He is gradually jumping up on higher things now, too.

We have three other cats and a large dog -- they all have accepted Maynard and get along well (most of the time but there are the usual spats sometimes).

None of our cats go outside, and I know that's a personal decision that each makes on their own. We have lots of traffic and loose dogs, even a hawk once in awhile. Even if we did let them out, I would really think before letting a cat with three legs outside on their own. Even after they have adjusted, they still are at a certain disadvantage in some ways.

Good luck to you and good wishes to Merlin for a very speedy recovery! Please let us know how you're both doing.

by **amina** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 3:31 pm

hi emma well today it hit me bang!!! i have never ever cried this much in my whole life i feel like everything im doing is wrong should i let him sleep so much? should i feed him a load or just enough? everything you could worry about im doing it right now i still havent let bodee and buster in the same room together myheart cant take that just yet prepare youself for the jumping bodee's still trying to get out the window crafty get he is which sets me off again doubting myself thinking have i done the right thing i know as time goes by i'll think different just todays been very hard as i said i had no warning he wont use the cat litter tray and im worried in case he holds it in till he bursts or something i dont know if he'll every get used to it on a positive note emma bodee walked straight away as soon as we got her out of the carrier so well done bodee! hopefully merlin will do just as well well heres a saying i pinched off my mom 'what doesnt kill you makes you stonger' and it will bodee and merlin have got the fight so we must too for the sake of the furry rocky balboas lol anyway emma my names amina by the way keep in touch and let us know how little ones doing p.s are you planning to let merlin out again? because im stuck and so many people are saying different things, well will let you go now with a big hug from all of us including bodee whos doesnt care less and dont quite know what all the fuss it about amina

by **amina** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 11:50 am

hi emma how are you doing? i hope you are both fine, bodee had her vet check today and the vet is so pleased with him thats cheared me up no end still waiting for him to poo though thats the next hurdle that we need to come across sure it will be fine though anyway when you've got 5 mins drop us a line to let us know how your doing amina and bodee

by **CarolC** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 3:00 pm

amina wrote:a big hug from all of us including bodee whos doesnt care less and dont quite know what all the fuss it about amina

That made me smile.

You might like to read the story of Susiecat, who is another kitty who had an amputation.

http://www.handicappedpets.com/cgi-bin/ ... read=20857

by **Emma** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 7:38 pm

Hi Amina!
Sorry for the late reply! Im so glad bodee is doing so well! We got merlin back this mornin, he has been sleeping and eating a lot, I'm just glad he's eating so am not worried if hes eating too much! I think we should just let them eat as much as they want at they moment! Merlin hasnt used the litter tray yet either, but he has got in it with no results so to speak. Im sure that will come soon. Merlin also was hopping around as soon as he was out of the cat carrier! The vet said this morning that hours after the surgery, they put him down to change the bedding and he hopped off! They couldnt believe it!

I let Louie in straight away today, it was heartbreaking, he sniffed merlin, sniffed all the way along the wound and then he looked at me and literally dropped his jaw, and then disappeared under the bed for most of the day. I'm not sure whether I can leave them alone yet, Louie has always been a bit of a clean freak and I worry he might try to 'clean' the wound... If you havent done so already I think you should let buster see him, under supervision obviously, its probably important to try and carry on as normal as possible.

I'm sorry you've been crying, I think I had done all my crying in the last month. I also have possibly depleted a few vineyards in the western cape! I was very brave today, although its only just hit Ian, my other half! Well he has a check up on monday so we'll see!

I look forward to the litter report! I'll do the same, its probably all the drugs and shock affecting that!

As for letting him out when he's recovered...the killer cat next door is still at large, so I think at first, only when we're in the house (or following him round the garden, glued to his side as the case maybe!). I think its a decision you make for yourself, being the only one who truly knows your cat. For me, I want Merlin to be out and about as soon as possible because thats what he loves doing best and is the reason we decided against the long process of pinning the leg instead...

Anyway, hugs from our end too, I hope Bodee has done a poo by now, lol!

keep in touch, em and merlin (and you're right, I think they are both coping a lot better than us!) xxxxxx

by **Emma** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 7:45 pm

Hi Amina!
Sorry for the late reply! Im so glad bodee is doing so well! We got merlin back this mornin, he has been sleeping and eating a lot, I'm just glad he's eating so am not worried if hes eating too much! I think we should just let them eat as much as they want at they moment! Merlin hasnt used the litter tray yet either, but he has got in it with no results so to speak. Im sure that will come soon. Merlin also was hopping around as soon as he was out of the cat carrier! The vet said this morning that hours after the surgery, they put him down to change the bedding and he hopped off! They couldnt believe it!

I let Louie in straight away today, it was heartbreaking, he sniffed merlin, sniffed all the way along the wound and then he looked at me and literally dropped his jaw, and then disappeared under the bed for most of the day. I'm not sure whether I can leave them alone yet, Louie has always been a bit of a clean freak and I worry he might try to 'clean' the wound... If you havent done so already I think you should let buster see him, under supervision obviously, its probably important to try and carry on as normal as possible.

I'm sorry you've been crying, I think I had done all my crying in the last month. I also have possibly depleted a few vineyards in the western cape! I was very brave today, although its only just hit Ian, my other half! Well he has a check up on monday so we'll see!

I look forward to the litter report! I'll do the same, its probably all the drugs and shock affecting that!

As for letting him out when he's recovered...the killer cat next door is still at large, so I think at first, only when we're in the house (or following him round the garden, glued to his side as the case maybe!). I think its a decision you make for yourself, being the only one who truly knows your cat. For me, I want Merlin to be out and about as soon as possible because thats what he loves doing best and is the reason we decided against the long process of pinning the leg instead...

Anyway, hugs from our end too, I hope Bodee has done a poo by now, lol!

keep in touch, em and merlin (and you're right, I think they are both coping a lot better than us!) xxxxxx

by **amina** » Sat Feb 17, 2007 3:17 pm

aah im so pleased for merlin he seems to be taking it all in his stride bless him hehe!! poo news NONE YET we know its there but bodee must be thinking if i just hold on then maybe she'll let me out ha not a chance lol how was merlin when he done a poo? was he steady? emma bodee seems to be sleeping an awful lot not like him at all but i think its the plastic collar thats depressing him at the moment because i took it off last night for about 15 mins and boy did he change it was typical bodee alert and on guard hehe making his presence felt to buster and lola as if to say its only for a little while im gonna be this quite lol but then he charged off into the living room to check out his leg that was it straight back on with the collar oh his head went straight down as if to say no not again, a few questions emma do you keep merlin in the carrier to sleep overnight? have you let merlin jump at all? as the vet said i should let bodee with moderation obviously have you let merlin tackle the stairs yet? because bodee wants to but im not letting him i know its a lot of questions im sorry as for letting buster in i did and he looked at him then went for him straight away but im not sure if its the cat collar well we will soon see by friday when he can have it off.
well emma im glad your doing so good well done!! and im really sorry for ian being so sad but thats to be expected its good though because it shows genuine people who really do care about animals. so anyway emma drop me a line when you get time because i know at the moment all i seem to be doing is cleaning up cat wee checking bodee etc oh yes bodee used the cat litter box this morning but has'nt since!
big kisses from all of us your doing a fantastic job xxxxxxxxxxxxx

by **amina** » Sat Feb 17, 2007 5:16 pm

when i said cat litter box i meant wee wees not duppies yet arrrrrrrrrrrrrr soon i know it will be soon lol aminaxxxxxx

by **amina** » Sat Feb 17, 2007 6:35 pm

thanks em its so nice to know someone else is going through the same at the moment its late so i will write def 2moro sleep tight you and merlin lol had to laugh that you've kicked ian out of bed though, but as i have lola who sleeps on my bed i couldnt have bodee on there aswell as shes already hyper when bodee wakes up in the night and maybe that would'nt be very good if she knocked him over maybe im too protective i dont know but its good to hear your doing fine and have the confidence already to let merlin out hopefully some of that will rub off on me much love aminaxxx

by **CarolC** » Sat Feb 17, 2007 8:18 pm

amina wrote: poo news NONE YET we know its there but bodee must be thinking if i just hold on then maybe she'll let me out ha not a chance lol *snip* bodee seems to be sleeping an awful lot not like him at all but i think its the plastic collar thats depressing him at the moment because i took it off last night for about 15 mins and boy did he change it was typical bodee

Something to consider is that he can't drink with the collar on and so he may not be getting enough water in his system, which may be contributing to the constipation. I think you might want to ask the vet how many days he should go without a bowel movement. If they become too constipated, that is actually a problem in itself. The vet can provide you with a safe laxative if needed (many human laxatives are NOT safe for cats). The exercise of running around the house should also get his system moving. I know you want to be sure he doesn't bother his stitches, but I'd try to give him a lot of opportunities to have a drink of water and move around a bit. Good thing you are home to watch him.

by **amina** » Sun Feb 18, 2007 10:49 am

hi emma just to let you know i've given bodee some liquid paraffin i know sounds yuck but the vet said it will soften up his stools so heres hoping i hope all is well your end and will write soon amina and bodeex
p.s is merlin still sleepy because thats all bodee seems to do eat and sleep aah what a life lol