Sakura - Medical Thread

slavetofuzzy · Post » Tue Oct 18, 2011 8:55 am

She looks great! And maybe a little put off in that last pic (veggies, ma, veggies!!) Incision looks fabulous.

Regiane · Post » Tue Oct 18, 2011 10:50 am

It was a big cyst! So glad all went well in her sugery and she is doing fine. Sakura is a doll. :)

Post » Tue Oct 18, 2011 3:47 pm

Had a little surprise this morning.

I noticed this morning at 6am that Sakura's face was looking cleaner, as if she had been grooming herself (which is good).

Then I saw a dark spot on her stitches. It's about the size of the tip of a pinky finger.

It's dried blood. She did not bleed very much; there wasn't any blood on her bedding.

The stitch is still intact. The area is not swollen, or red, or hot to the touch. Sakura's appetite is better today than it was yesterday.

I think she has been trying to groom herself, and may have pulled on the incision site while trying to stretch that leg. I watched her scratch her head earlier with that foot.

I've got a phone call into the vet's office, just in case.

slavetofuzzy · Post » Tue Oct 18, 2011 6:36 pm

I think your assessment is probably right. It doesn't look like anything worrisome but certainly something to watch to make sure nothing else develops. Keep us posted.

Post » Wed Oct 19, 2011 12:49 am

The vet wants to see her tomorrow (Wednesday) at 3, just to be sure that everything is still intact.

She gained a little weight today!

Talishan · Post » Wed Oct 19, 2011 12:50 am

Ditto StF. The "blackberry"-looking thing(ies) are normal for an incision that size.

"The area is not swollen, or red, or hot to the touch"

This is what's important (as well as the stitch staying intact). Is there any odor?

That incision looks just spot on perfect to me. They do get a little redder and a little more gruesome-looking before they begin to visually heal (well, visually to us anyway).

Edit: just as well. Let us know what he says. You have a drop dead *awesome* vet.

Post » Wed Oct 19, 2011 12:55 am

No odd smells, thank goodness.

She has definitely been more alert today than yesterday, even to the point of wheeking for food and snatching it out of my hand.

Talishan · Post » Wed Oct 19, 2011 12:55 am

All good signs. It also sounds as if you have tapered down the buprenorphine effectively, while without putting her in discomfort.

Post » Wed Oct 19, 2011 1:09 am

Yes, I started decreasing the Buprenorphine last night. There is a tiny bit left which should be enough for a dose tomorrow morning (if she needs it).

Sakura has a few more days of Metacam, and another week of Enrofloxacin.

sef1268 · Post » Wed Oct 19, 2011 12:28 pm

It sounds like Sakura is doing really well. Hooray for weight gain and food snatching!

Good luck at the vet.

Post » Wed Oct 19, 2011 8:03 pm

Just got home from the vet. Sakura is still doing well (though annoyed), and her stitches look great, according to Dr. Wright.

I asked what type of cyst it was, and here it is:

Trichoepithelioma

(The name looks almost as big as the cyst.)

Bugs Mom · Post » Wed Oct 19, 2011 10:12 pm

I'm glad she's doing so well.

camende · Post » Wed Oct 19, 2011 10:18 pm

WOW! That cyst was huge! I am so glad she is doing well.

Post » Wed Oct 19, 2011 11:38 pm

I went looking for info on that type of tumor and found it commonly occurring "often forming at the base of the tail." ;-)
http://www.petmd.com/exotic/conditions/skin/c_ex_gp_cancers_tumors

Perhaps it is related to a trichofolliculoma.

Post » Thu Oct 20, 2011 11:47 pm

Sakura stopped eating. I suspect the Enrofloxacin (Baytril), though the vet's office disagrees with me.

We had our first handfeeding session today. It wasn't too bad, all things considered. She even ate a few veggies for me afterwards.

Her weight was 1178g before the feeding, and 1186g after.

I do not remember who suggested the wonderful idea of using the big syringe that comes with the Critical Care to fill the tiny 1cc syringes, but it was SUCH a big help. Thank you!

Post » Thu Oct 20, 2011 11:51 pm

I hope quitting the Baytril does the trick. Eating is so important! Go Sakura!

Talishan · Post » Fri Oct 21, 2011 12:50 am

How much longer is she supposed to be on the Baytril for?

Post » Fri Oct 21, 2011 12:56 am

She has another week to go, which would be the 28th. :(

Today was the last day for Metacam.

Talishan · Post » Fri Oct 21, 2011 1:38 am

Mumble.

Given the looks of her incision I'd want to stop it now, unless Dr. Wright thinks there is an active infection requiring Baytril. Otherwise I'd want the last week to be Bactrim, under the assumption this is for pre-emptive postsurgical care only.

I suspect you feel the same. See how she does but if she gets any worse regarding the AB I'd want to make some noise over at the vet's office if it were me. I hate to even write that because they have done such an outstanding job up to now.

She may also need a little more Metacam, but that's not for sure. Don't hesitate to ask them for more if you think she needs it (which I know you would anyway).

slavetofuzzy · Post » Fri Oct 21, 2011 1:24 pm

Baytril always messes up my pig's appetite too. If she's doing well, I would go with Bactrim too. She seems to be healing fine.

But, if she's taking the CC well, see how she does over the next few days.