Timmy update

His surgery went well! WWAAHOOOO!! :D It took a little over an hour to do. We ended up doing it at the shelter with the veterinary surgeon I know.. he did a great job! Being as he's never done a surgery like this before, he is not sure if he did it right. It's sort of wait and see now. He's going to be with us for the next few weeks though. I'm hoping in another 6-8 weeks we can do another barium study and see if anything has improved.

I did stay for the surgery. It was quite interesting! you couldn't see much as he was a small cat and when his chest was opened up I got to see all his little thinga-ma-jiggers doing their thing in there :yuck:

Medical aspects, incase anyone is interested-

Anesthesia- .2 cc telezol IM (he was being a cranky little guy so he got stuck in the butt)
.1 cc valium IV to help him go down even more
Inhalant anesthesia was Isoflurane via a tracheal tube..

Chest was shaved, chlorohexidine scrub was applied.

About a 5 inch incision was made between I think the 4th & 5th rib.. retractors were put in place. After a bit of fishing around, the arch was found, tied off and severed. A tube was placed down his esophagus and inflated to make sure the restriction was gone. Area around the esophagus was cleared of any constricting fibers. while his chest was open we had to manually breath for him threw the bag on the anesthesia machine.. then after surgery was complete a catheter was left in his chest to suck out the air between his lungs and his chest wall. Then eventually he started re-breathing on his own.

Surgery took apprx. 1 hours to complete. He was neutered after the heart surgery was complete.

Pain medications were I believe .05cc metacam... and .1cc bupenorphine. Another dose of bupenorphine will be given tonight.

Apprx 30mL SQ fluids- lactated ringers.

.25 cc Pen G SQ

.5 cc Clavamox twice a day PO


http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs179.snc1/6735_1091756577619_1337640098_204118_7443356_n.jpg

Pre- Surgery

http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs179.snc1/6735_1091756617620_1337640098_204119_5761901_n.jpg
Recovering post surgery, still on oxygen

http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs199.snc1/6735_1091756657621_1337640098_204120_7433013_n.jpg
Surgery site...


I don't have any good pics from during surgery.. too hard to see anything other then a gaping whole in my cats chest :eek: which will probably make everyone wanna vomit .


:highfive: for a successful recovery! There is still a really high risk of post surgery death... so hoping he can overcome all this and live a normal life!!

Oh Kathryn I am so happy to hear that. :grouphug: :grouphug:, now for some :goodvibes: that his healing goes just as well.

You are going to make a terrific Vet Tech :thumbs up

Oh Kathryn that is such good news! What a tough little guy you have there! I am sending lots of good vibes your way and many prayers for that special fella!

L4H is right on! you are going to be awesome at this occupation! :thumbs up

Cindy

Lots of :grouphug: for Timmy :cloud9:
And :goodvibes: for his recovery

kathryn glad the little mans surgery went well. He's such a little fighter eh speedy recovery to him, and you done good young lady.:thumbs up

Got some food in him! KMR, canned food and nutra-cal. He's doing GREAT! I gave him another pain shot and he's in his carrier for the night. I've talked to my other boss Judi twice already and she's really happy he's doing well.


I'll let you guys know how he is doing either tomorrow or after he gets re-evaluated thursday. :thumbs up

I am so glad the surgery went well. I hope it did the trick and he will heal quickly and be a normal kitty after that. He is not home already is he? Sneding up prayers for the litte guy.:grouphug:

Debbie

I'm so happy to hear the surgery went well :grouphug:

Many many :goodvibes: :goodvibes: for a smooth fast recovery :goodvibes: :goodvibes:

I've been following this since your initial post. YAY! I'm glad the surgery went well. Count me in on the Timmy cheering squad. :D

Not even 24 hours post open heart surgery, totally 100% back to normal. Eating, playing, sleeping. The hardest part is trying to keep him calm so he doesn't rip out his stitches!!! Pooping and peeing like normal.. well actually kinda better then before!! No vomiting at all..

http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v5204/114/67/1337640098/n1337640098_204777_4864776.jpg

playing in the tub.. one of his favorite things to do

http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v5204/114/67/1337640098/n1337640098_204775_314384.jpg

being his normal vocal self!!

http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v5204/114/67/1337640098/n1337640098_204780_8367628.jpg

attacking the pooper scooper!!

http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v5204/114/67/1337640098/n1337640098_204786_7366127.jpg

hopped up into the window to get some sun

http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v5204/114/67/1337640098/n1337640098_204793_7322648.jpg

side view of his incision..

http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v5204/114/67/1337640098/n1337640098_204795_5965226.jpg

excited to get out of his cage for a bit!!


Timmy is doing AMAZING ... we still have a while to go.. there are no guarantees for a surgery like this .. but so far so good.

THANK YOU ALL :grouphug: FOR THE HAPPY THOUGHTS :D

Our thoughts and heart have been with you. We wish Timmy a speedy recovery. Good on you for being such a concerned and loving caregiver :)

OMG Kathryn, I am soooooo happy to read the surgery went well. I saw the title of the post and had prayed it was good news.

He looks so good! Are you just giving him the KMR or is he actually able to eat so early after surgery?

Hope his recovery continues so well. What a cutie.

Glad to hear that Timmy is doing so well after his surgery and hope he continues to do so. :fingerscr :goodvibes:

He looks so good! Are you just giving him the KMR or is he actually able to eat so early after surgery?

He is eating KMR mixed in with some canned food. I have to use A/D (:yuck:) only because that's the only thing he's really been able to keep down this whole time. I'm adding some nutri-cal in his food just since he can only keep small meals at a time to make sure he is getting plenty of calories.

But otherwise, I mean he is pooping and peeing and just totally normal. I finally got him to take a nap and he's been asleep for about 2 hours now. We have him in a carrier on the sofa so we can watch TV and still keep an eye on him.

I mean, he's recovering better then most cats recover after being fixed.. it's amazing!

I'm so happy Timmy is doing so well & eating without issues :highfive:

Continued :goodvibes: :goodvibes:

WOW..its like seeing a whole new cat....So thrilled the surgery went well. What a difference.....absolutely amazing. :thumbs up

I can't believe Timmy is up and walking and eating and pooping and everything!! That is so great!

I'll keep sending up prayers that he will get all better and grow up to be a normal cat!



Debbie

Go Timmy! What a little fighter. We're all pulling for you dude!

http://www.mysmiley.net/imgs/smile/fighting/fighting0030.gif (http://www.mysmiley.net/free-character-smileys.php)

Go Timmy, go. :highfive: :highfive: :goodvibes: :grouphug:

Still doing great today! Vet checked him out and was totally amazed. Now bragging about being a 'thoracic surgeon' :rolleyes:

As long as he is still doing well in a few weeks he should be fine. My shelter wants to put him in our newsletter as a little inspirational story.

So yup, Timmy is apparently a little miracle :angel2: He's eating, sleeping, pooping, peeing etc... keeps running around like a maniac though! That's been the worst thing is trying to keep him calm. He is finally napping now but earlier he made a run for it down the stairs AND climbed up the big cat tree... ahhh!! :eek:

yay for happy thoughts :fingerscr will update over the weekend

WOO HOO Timmy :highfive: ....what an amazing little guy. :thumbs up

Let's hope he doesn't get too rambunctious though. :fingerscr

Gawd bless you both!:angel::grouphug:

That's such amazing news! Wow, it looks like this surgery really is going to change his life. He wasn't doing any of that before! I think it's great your shelter wants to do a story on him. It would give others hope.

If it's okay with the admins, please post the newsletter if they do!

Way to go Timmy and his Gaurdian Angels :angel: :highfive: Very inspirational story . That Vid you posted of him in your last thread, (when no one knew what was wrong with him) was really disturbing, I can't believe the differences in these photos. Just amazing really.

More :goodvibes: and :fingerscr for a speedy recovery and a quick adoption.

Still doing great today! Vet checked him out and was totally amazed. Now bragging about being a 'thoracic surgeon' :rolleyes:

As long as he is still doing well in a few weeks he should be fine. My shelter wants to put him in our newsletter as a little inspirational story.

So yup, Timmy is apparently a little miracle :angel2: He's eating, sleeping, pooping, peeing etc... keeps running around like a maniac though! That's been the worst thing is trying to keep him calm. He is finally napping now but earlier he made a run for it down the stairs AND climbed up the big cat tree... ahhh!! :eek:

yay for happy thoughts :fingerscr will update over the weekend

Those little buggers :frustrated:, they just won't calm down, even if it is for their own good :laughing:.

We need another update and possibly some pics :pray:

I agree ....time for a Timmy update and some pics. :thumbs up

Kathryn you logged on but didn't give us an update :eek:, we need to know how Timmy is doing :yell: :D Please. :pray:

Can I tell you in pictures?

http://hphotos-snc1.fbcdn.net/hs179.snc1/6735_1093956472615_1337640098_209431_3643423_n.jpg

http://hphotos-snc1.fbcdn.net/hs179.snc1/6735_1093956152607_1337640098_209430_4907574_n.jpg

http://hphotos-snc1.fbcdn.net/hs199.snc1/6735_1093956072605_1337640098_209429_6086796_n.jpg

http://hphotos-snc1.fbcdn.net/hs179.snc1/6735_1093955472590_1337640098_209425_4960743_n.jpg

http://hphotos-snc1.fbcdn.net/hs179.snc1/6735_1093954992578_1337640098_209424_2300497_n.jpg

http://hphotos-snc1.fbcdn.net/hs199.snc1/6735_1093954432564_1337640098_209422_7959952_n.jpg

OH WOW!! He is so adorable!! I want to want to give him kisses!! What a sweetheart!

Debbie

OMG Kathryn,you have me in tears,what a wonderful tough little kitty he is:lovestruck:and :grouphug:to you and your vet,for not giving up on him.

OMG, Kathryn, he is doing wonderfully :thumbs up :highfive: :grouphug: You are this sweet boy's :angel:

He is so sweet :flirt: you just want to smooch him :cloud9:

Holy catz, Kathryn! What an ordeal that little tyke has been through! But look at him! :flirt: Doing so well! :highfive:

He's gonna have one heck of a scar to impress his friends with! :D

:goodvibes: for Timmy's continued smooth recovery!!

He looks like he is doing marvelously well. :highfive: Great job!!

the boo-boo on his nose has healed up since i took the pictures. The first night he was home he was kinda loopy and smacked his nose on the carrier door and gave himself a nice scab. It fell off and looks great now can't even tell.

His fur is growing back!! And his stitches are dissolving.

He has only thrown up once since the surgery. It was nothing compared to before. I walked in to check on him, he got excited and jumped off the bed. He knocked the wind out of himself and spit up a few minute later. Mostly just spit up like a baby would do, a bit of food mush and that's about it. He was okay right afterwards too.

Not sure if we are keeping him or not. 6 more weeks until we can even re-do the X-rays.. then still have to keep him after then for a bit longer. I'll probably just keep telling my mom that the dr. said timmy needs to stay with us a bit longer and see how long she falls for it. :rolleyes:

Otherwise he's fine. Doing great! Still doesn't know he's any different then any other cat.

I could never do what you did and then give him up for adoption, i am a big mush and fall to easily for cuteness :cloud9:
I would keep trying that line about having to stay a little longer. :thumbs up
Look at him, he is so cute. :flirt:
:D:laughing:

Timmy's looking great :highfive: :lovestruck:

He's cute, but he is feisty! He's a BIG bitter/slapper/scratcher. :evil: My friend went to pet him and he jumped up and scratched her nose! I didn't realize till later that it was actually quite a big gash.

It's not vicious in any way and is kinda cute watching people get beat up by the little kitten.. but is probably going to scare away any potential adopters :p I'm trying to work with him to knock it off, but he's not having any of it!

He's cute, but he is feisty! He's a BIG bitter/slapper/scratcher. :evil: My friend went to pet him and he jumped up and scratched her nose! I didn't realize till later that it was actually quite a big gash.

It's not vicious in any way and is kinda cute watching people get beat up by the little kitten.. but is probably going to scare away any potential adopters :p I'm trying to work with him to knock it off, but he's not having any of it!

Yeah i am still working with a cat i have now that is 3, Squirt, he insists on scratching, he dont bite though thank goodness. :rolleyes: I raised him from a kitten, and i just dont know why he insists on scratching.
Maybe you could put mittens on him. :laughing:

What an amazing transformation. I'm so happy you and your doctor were able to help him. He's such a little doll.