On Thursday,
September 13th, Ashley was hit by a car sometime during the night. She is our cat who is like a dog, goes out to pottie like a dog, comes home when you whistle for her like we do the dogs. Only Thurday night, she didn't come home. Once in awhile she pulls this, and comes home to meow under our bedroom window, or meets us at the door with disgust in the morning when we don't here her. After several trips outdoors to call her in, we went to bed. One check during the night produced nothing, so at 6AM Bill & I walked around the house and Bill checked the road on his way to work. At daylight, I walked up the road in the other direction and still no kitty.
When the kids woke up, I told them to keep an eye out for Ashley, as she hadn't come home, and that we were worried about her. Ryan decided to walk around the house himself, and walked in the yard instead of on the porch. It was then that he found her under the side deck. She would not come out, so we had to send Kristin in after her. Thankfully, she did not fight her on the way out, and once I had her out, I realized that she was not herself. Very listless, and had something that was really "dried and sticky" (according to Kristin) on her forepaw. I brought her in to clean her up and upon further examination, realized that her front arm was broken and not only broken, but bloody and a mess as well. A quick call to the vet, and we were on our way.
The vets office was full, and they told me that they were booked but would see us between appointments. So the kids & I sat while the checked her over, and worked on her between shots, nail clippings and check ups that had appointed times. Everyone was wonderful to the kids & I, some stating that they would come back another day, and some just saying kind words to the kids. One man got down on Kristin's level, put his hand on her shoulder, and told her he hoped it would all work out for the kitty. She cried harder, which in turn made me cry even more....but everyone seemed to be understanding, and genuinely concerned. Another lady got down with Kristin and asked if she could give her a hug.
After several hours, and several x-rays later, it was determined that Ashley did have a compound fracture...not only one bone in her forepaw(I assume that's what you call their lower arm!), but two breaks, and a nasty gash/cut all the way down the backside of her arm. She also had a separation of the spine at the base of the tail. Her whole rear end from midsection down was paralyzed. She had no feeling or movement in the two back legs, or the tail. It also means that she has no control of bowel or urine. Her bladder was very full, and the concern was not only of her movement, but the inablity to function.
After lots of prayful debate in the parking lot between the kids & I (Bill was unable to be reached at work), we decided to go with the vet's suggestion that we put her on high steroids, and give her he weekend. Praise God, we did, as she gained some movement on Saturday on one side, and a little movement on Sunday with the right side.....and she peed! Now, you never thought you'd get excited about pooping & peeing, especially with all the animals we have...but we were excited beyond words. There was now hope for her.
Monday morning, September 17th, we had her checked over, and the vet was pleased with her progress, and didn't seem concerned about her urine having blood in it. It is apparently normal after some trauma. She had her wrap & splint changed, and off we were home, to continue the nursing.
The week continued with us moving her from dog bed to towel in the sunshine(see picture...she's stretching in the sunshine), and keeping those puppy pads under her, so as she didn't make a mess, and it was easy to clean up. She finally pooped on Wednesday and everything seems to be progressing well. We left her for the day on Thursday, and she was really getting around, since she was across the room from where I left her, and she is now crawling in & out of the litter box. She is still leaking urine, but with more blood, but overall, is controlling things well.
This past weekend was our annual crabbing trip and we had to take her along, as she needed meds every 12 hours, and couldn't do much for herself. It was the best weekend ever, not only because of the weather, the company,the extra friends for the kids, the great crab, but the fact that Ashley was actually standing on her own for the first time in 10 days. Yahoo...Praise God!! We had to fashion a gated area between our bed and the wall in the trailer to keep her contained. She did very well and woke Bill up Sunday AM standing on her hind legs, asking him to pick her up to come into bed with us. (She loves to sleep on Bill's chest....tough competition for me!!!) She walked all over our room Sunday night after we arrived home from camping, and has no blood in her urine.
Monday, September 24th Ashley went into the vet again this morning. The took the back wrap off of her. She looks pretty good, and just has a major puncture wound that we need to keep neosporin on this next week. Muscle control was very good, and the vet said that she can tell that her bladder is about 80% controlled now, and that this muscle is the hardest to regain with this type of an injury. She still has no feeling in her tail, but who needs a tail anyway? We hope that she can have her cast off this next week. We will see! After bringing her home this afternoon, she promptly jumped out of her box, onto the couch, and then later, down the basement steps. She still has a long way to go, but is doing much better.
Thank you so much for your prayers during all these trials and hurdles she's had to jump. It means a lot to us.
When the kids woke up, I told them to keep an eye out for Ashley, as she hadn't come home, and that we were worried about her. Ryan decided to walk around the house himself, and walked in the yard instead of on the porch. It was then that he found her under the side deck. She would not come out, so we had to send Kristin in after her. Thankfully, she did not fight her on the way out, and once I had her out, I realized that she was not herself. Very listless, and had something that was really "dried and sticky" (according to Kristin) on her forepaw. I brought her in to clean her up and upon further examination, realized that her front arm was broken and not only broken, but bloody and a mess as well. A quick call to the vet, and we were on our way.
The vets office was full, and they told me that they were booked but would see us between appointments. So the kids & I sat while the checked her over, and worked on her between shots, nail clippings and check ups that had appointed times. Everyone was wonderful to the kids & I, some stating that they would come back another day, and some just saying kind words to the kids. One man got down on Kristin's level, put his hand on her shoulder, and told her he hoped it would all work out for the kitty. She cried harder, which in turn made me cry even more....but everyone seemed to be understanding, and genuinely concerned. Another lady got down with Kristin and asked if she could give her a hug.
After several hours, and several x-rays later, it was determined that Ashley did have a compound fracture...not only one bone in her forepaw(I assume that's what you call their lower arm!), but two breaks, and a nasty gash/cut all the way down the backside of her arm. She also had a separation of the spine at the base of the tail. Her whole rear end from midsection down was paralyzed. She had no feeling or movement in the two back legs, or the tail. It also means that she has no control of bowel or urine. Her bladder was very full, and the concern was not only of her movement, but the inablity to function.
After lots of prayful debate in the parking lot between the kids & I (Bill was unable to be reached at work), we decided to go with the vet's suggestion that we put her on high steroids, and give her he weekend. Praise God, we did, as she gained some movement on Saturday on one side, and a little movement on Sunday with the right side.....and she peed! Now, you never thought you'd get excited about pooping & peeing, especially with all the animals we have...but we were excited beyond words. There was now hope for her.
Monday morning, September 17th, we had her checked over, and the vet was pleased with her progress, and didn't seem concerned about her urine having blood in it. It is apparently normal after some trauma. She had her wrap & splint changed, and off we were home, to continue the nursing.
The week continued with us moving her from dog bed to towel in the sunshine(see picture...she's stretching in the sunshine), and keeping those puppy pads under her, so as she didn't make a mess, and it was easy to clean up. She finally pooped on Wednesday and everything seems to be progressing well. We left her for the day on Thursday, and she was really getting around, since she was across the room from where I left her, and she is now crawling in & out of the litter box. She is still leaking urine, but with more blood, but overall, is controlling things well.
This past weekend was our annual crabbing trip and we had to take her along, as she needed meds every 12 hours, and couldn't do much for herself. It was the best weekend ever, not only because of the weather, the company,the extra friends for the kids, the great crab, but the fact that Ashley was actually standing on her own for the first time in 10 days. Yahoo...Praise God!! We had to fashion a gated area between our bed and the wall in the trailer to keep her contained. She did very well and woke Bill up Sunday AM standing on her hind legs, asking him to pick her up to come into bed with us. (She loves to sleep on Bill's chest....tough competition for me!!!) She walked all over our room Sunday night after we arrived home from camping, and has no blood in her urine.
Monday, September 24th Ashley went into the vet again this morning. The took the back wrap off of her. She looks pretty good, and just has a major puncture wound that we need to keep neosporin on this next week. Muscle control was very good, and the vet said that she can tell that her bladder is about 80% controlled now, and that this muscle is the hardest to regain with this type of an injury. She still has no feeling in her tail, but who needs a tail anyway? We hope that she can have her cast off this next week. We will see! After bringing her home this afternoon, she promptly jumped out of her box, onto the couch, and then later, down the basement steps. She still has a long way to go, but is doing much better.
Thank you so much for your prayers during all these trials and hurdles she's had to jump. It means a lot to us.
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