Animals and the surgical experience

Message

#1 Post by **zou** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 12:22 am

I'm just wondering if anyone else has had the experience with their pets becomeing overly attentive following surgery. Ever since I came home from the hospital my little girl kitty has insisted on sleeping ON ME every night. This is not something she did previously in her 19 years. Even now she will not leave me alone and is resting on my arm as I type.

I don't know if she can somehow sense that I was broken or weakened or what. I've been sick before (2006 got whooping cough and she could have cared less) and she has never acted this way.

Has anyone else had a pet react differently or am I just imagining things?

#2 Post by **asd** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 3:19 am

Yes i think animals can definetly sense when someone is unhappy or unwell. After my operation my little Shih Tzu would not leave my side, she followed me everywhere and insisted on sleeping on my bed next to me everynight!

#3 Post by **loulou123** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 3:46 am

Yep i agree that animals can sense this kind of thing, not had my jaw surgery yet, but know from previous operation that my dog was relucent to leave me and also seemed to know that i needed to be treated abit gently for a few days.

#4 Post by **Spanner** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 5:11 am

Animals can most definately tell when someone is unwell. They not only sense if you are in pain or move differently etc. they also sense a change in how you smell.

#5 Post by **cmm1280** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 3:34 pm

I know my little rascal will be there comforting me and keeping my company when I'm home/off of work recovering for 1 week+... gotta love those fur-babies!

#6 Post by **zou** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 6:24 pm

That was actually the best and worst thing about being home post op. I was able to spend so much time with my three kitties, but I was also there for the last days of my Sweet Kim's life. The fact is if I had not been home I might not have realized what was happening when I did and rather than being able to make the hard decision to let him go, I might have just come home one day to find him gone.

In a way it was a gift to have those last days with him 24/7. The other two have been not just an aid in my physical healing but in my emotional one as well.

I do think that little Ky is going to be very upset the day I return the bed to a flat position as she as become very comfortable curling up in the divit made by it in the upright position it has been in.

#7 Post by **Andantae** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 8:55 pm

Absolutely they can sense something is different! Even animals in their natural state-especially if the are herd or pack animals-will often protect/help/bring food to a sick or injured member. I'd like to think they are keeping watch over you and offering their comfort so you can rest at ease.

Much research has been done recently to train dogs to detect cancer by using their amazing sense of smell. Once trained to the smell of cancer cells, they are highly accurate. So yes, I would think your major surgery would be very noticable to them. However, I am not a vet and I don't even play one on TV, but I live with many!

How are your aching bones this week, Zou? Better?

Andi

#8 Post by **zou** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 10:51 pm

I think you're right Andi. Funny thing is that I think they not only sensed the physical changes in me but in Kim as well. The young male cat became much more attentive and caring towards the old man...and his sister wanted nothing to do with him.

The aching bones are better this week in all areas except that darn right side. I see the OS tomorrow and will beg him to remove that wire holding the bone in place as I'm more and more confinced it is causing the pain. I can almost trace where it goes through the bone and wraps around the jaw to exactly there I have the most pain. Also, the molars on that side are also just shooting pains into both the uppper and lower jaws from time to time. I think that could be from 6 weeks of being wired and the constant pressure on those teeth. Only about 8 days left of this special torture.

Tomorrow I'm going to try the lymphatic drainage massage to see if it helps with the swelling (although this week I think I did see some improvement in that area). I figure it can't hurt and may even help with that right jaw pain and healing.

Must say, for an 8 pound animal Ky is persistant. I keep moving her and she just insists on laying across my arms as I type. Makes for a bit of a challenge....but the purring is soothing.

#9 Post by **cmm1280** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 5:26 am

Just wanted to say I love your avatar Andantae!

#10 Post by **Andantae** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 8:01 am

However, I am not a vet and I don't even play one on TV, but I live with many!

Ummm. I hope it was understood that I live with many animals not vets!

Glad you're meeting with your OS today so he can take a look and maybe remove that wire---relief may be on the way!

I would really like to hear how the lymphatic massage goes for you. What is done etc as someone else her on AW recommended them.

--cmm1280 Thank you! He's one of my favorite animations.

#11 Post by **Andantae** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 7:36 pm

That is very funny, Meryaten! I give cats much credit for their manipulative sort of intelligence. Apparently your furbabies are clever enough to attempt to convince you that jamming your laptop is an accident!

Is there any other animal that makes the act of sleeping look so enviable and inviting? No wonder they're such wonderful therapy!

cmm1280----Is your 'little rascal" a MinPin?

Andi

#12 Post by **science teacher** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 7:47 pm

I know my cat stayed very close for the first 2 weeks after my tonsils were out. However I lived in her favorite chair.

Kim

#13 Post by **cmm1280** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 5:17 am

Yes, my avatar is my min-pin "Talli" when she was about 9 weeks old! She's 3 yrs now, and that is my very favorite picture of her.