Nika's Broken Tail

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  • #846783
    Megan Boudreaux
    Participant

    Hey, ya’ll! I haven’t been here in a while, but some things have come up and I thought I’d ask for everyone’s advice:

    My 11-month old kitten, Nika, recently broke her tail. You can’t really tell it’s broken from looking at it, although I do notice a slight “crook” in her tail now. We took her to the vet the morning after it happened and she got x-rayed and they confirmed it was a break. They actually wanted to amputate but I was against going that route. We decided to do some pain meds, an anti-inflammatory, and some separation between her and her brother since they like to wrestle.

    It’s been almost two weeks and she’s almost completely back to normal. She’s using her tail about 100% percent. I stopped administering the pain medicine about a day and half ago because I didn’t feel it was necessary to keep drugging her if she was feeling better. Since then, her activity level and appetite have decreased a touch. When I say “a touch”, I mean a touch. She’s not eating as much in one sitting as usual (although she does eventually eat everything), and she’s been a bit more “hidey”.

    Do you all think it’s because she’s in more pain now that she’s off the medicine? I’m torn between administering it again. Mostly, because I hate to keep giving her pain medicine, for one. Secondly, I’m wondering if a little soreness would be a little “good” for her in a way? Maybe get her to continue healing and not want to jump around all crazy like an 11-month old does? I’m sure all her activity during her recovery couldn’t have really helped that.

    IDK. That’s why I’m here. Should I try to relieve any amount of her discomfort or maybe keep weaning her off the pain meds? My heart hurts so much for her so obviously I don’t want her to be in ANY pain at all, but . . well, as you all can see, I’m torn!

    Any thoughts you experts have on this stuff would be most appreciated. Thanks!

    #846785
    katzenjammer
    Participant

    I would think that the vet would have made a follow-up appointment. In any case, I suggest calling the vet with your concerns as he/she has seen Nika and prescribed the medication. From the little that I have read or seen here, cats tend to mask their pain as a survival instinct, and I don’t believe that anyone, human or kitty should be in unnecessary pain.

    #846788
    Kittyzee
    Participant

    I agree with KJ about at least calling the vet and voicing your concerns. Cats do mask illness and pain, so you are only guessing at what might be going on. I don’t like to give pain meds to anything (including me) unnecessarily because of all the complications that can crop up, but a vet call or visit might indicate what might be causing her change in behavior.

    #846809
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I don’t know if she’s in pain but I think she might be coming off the pain meds. This doesn’t mean to start her again. The notion “no pain, no gain” is ridiculous. As KJ and KZ said call the vet. and ask questions about Miss Nika.

    PG

    #846815
    Megan Boudreaux
    Participant

    Thanks so much for the responses, everyone. I COMPLETELY forgot to mention – and I do apologize – that she does have a follow-up appointment coming up tomorrow (5/4). I’m not sure what it will include, if they will want to take another x-ray, etc. Tomorrow will mark 2 weeks since the day of the break.

    I’ve been monitoring her very closely lately (well, since she broke her tail, but even more so since I stopped administering the pain meds). Last night she was goofing around and seemed very active. However, I think tonight I will give her a little dose and see how she does. It’s hard to gauge how well she’s doing if I don’t experiment with having her off and on it and noting the differences in behavior, etc. I may be absolutely delusional and making it up, but better safe than sorry, right?

    Thanks for all your advice. We will definitely ask the vet tomorrow morning about continuing with pain meds. I don’t have much experience with taking pain meds myself and need to become more educated on pain meds for cats.

    #846816
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Hi Megan,

    No better safe than sorry doesn’t apply to pain medication. Just like humans, animals can get addicted to meds. I don’t think giving Nika more pain med is a good idea. If she were in pain, she wouldn’t be active like last night. Please wait until her appointment or at least, call the vet. and explain your concerns.

    PG

    #846866
    Megan Boudreaux
    Participant

    Hello fellow cat people!

    Update on Nika: vet says she looks great and is free to be off meds and can now free-roam with her brother again. Yay! She said to just continue monitoring the tail and to come in if she manages to reinjure herself. But it looks like she’s good to go!

    No more pain meds for her.

    Thanks again everyone.

    #846882
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Yea Megan and wee Nika! I’m glad she doing good.

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