John Popp
Site Supporter
Yep that would be Chongo and just as we used to yell as kids "Uh Oh Chongo" before we were doing some death defying feat, the name really fits.
Savannah Cat Chat - THE Place for Savannah Cat Talk
Welcome to the Savannah Cat Chat Forum! Our forum has been in existence since 2012 and is the only one of its kind. We were here, serving the savannah cat community before Facebook and Instagram! Register for a free account today to become a member! Please use an email program other than Hotmail, since Hotmail accounts are blacklisted by many servers and ISP's. Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site in some of the forums by adding your own topics and posts. But in order to take advantage of the full features, such as a private inbox as well as connect with other members ad access some of the larger topics, a donation of $2.99/mo or $25/yr is requested. This will allow us to continue running this forum!
Broken Hip, Orthopedic Surgery Tomorrow
- Thread starter John Popp
- Start date
Yep that would be Chongo and just as we used to yell as kids "Uh Oh Chongo" before we were doing some death defying feat, the name really fits.
Sending hugs to you & your family and head butts to your little guy for a good outcome.
Tina Kinsley
Savannah Super Cat
I'm keeping you and Chongo in my thoughts, John. Sounds like you have an amazing team working for/on him.
John Popp
Site Supporter
Thanks Deborah and Tina!
We know he'll be fine, just need to get him home and begin his recovery. Neither Trish or I believe that this will slow him down much and the best medicine will probably be finding him a little brother next summer to keep him active and using his leg after he's healed.
We know he'll be fine, just need to get him home and begin his recovery. Neither Trish or I believe that this will slow him down much and the best medicine will probably be finding him a little brother next summer to keep him active and using his leg after he's healed.
John Popp
Site Supporter
A little update as Chongo's surgery has been put on the back burner for an emergency surgery this morning. I totally get that and wouldn't have it any other way as too many veterinarians are concerned with keeping a schedule and not concerned enough about their patients that have the greatest need.
Well it looks like Chongo will be getting the hip surgically repaired as opposed to FHO. I guess I'm happier about that as there is an 85-90% chance he will make a full recovery. If for some reason the fracture doesn't totally mend he will need a second surgery to do an FHO. The recovery time is a little longer for the surgical repair as he will need to be crated for 8 weeks.
The surgeon has had great success with these surgeries on much smaller dogs and cats. Chongo's size isn't even close to where he would see the limits of performing the surgery. Still we are cautiously optimistic about the results and hoping for the best.
Amongst all that we learned with this episode so far is that if your cat or kitten falls into this type of injury, definitely have your veterinarian recommend a referral clinic for surgery. The emergency clinic seemed a bit too willing to do the FHO and it's a widely accepted surgery. It can be done by a host of veterinarians and does not necessarily require a specialized surgeon. Not that the surgical repair doesn't come without risks, just that the typical veterinarian doesn't have that on his plate of surgeries they can perform.
On a much happier note, Chongo was entertaining the staff this morning by reaching out of his cage and playing with the bengal kitten below. The surgeon also noted how well Chongo receives strangers and his demeanor is quite different than the host of other Savannahs they have had through their facility which tend to be a little feistier or stand offish. I guess that comes from getting him out a bunch on the leash and isn't the least bit shy about meeting people or even allowing them to pick him up.
Thanks again for all the well wishes and I'll keep updating things as they proceed.
Well it looks like Chongo will be getting the hip surgically repaired as opposed to FHO. I guess I'm happier about that as there is an 85-90% chance he will make a full recovery. If for some reason the fracture doesn't totally mend he will need a second surgery to do an FHO. The recovery time is a little longer for the surgical repair as he will need to be crated for 8 weeks.
The surgeon has had great success with these surgeries on much smaller dogs and cats. Chongo's size isn't even close to where he would see the limits of performing the surgery. Still we are cautiously optimistic about the results and hoping for the best.
Amongst all that we learned with this episode so far is that if your cat or kitten falls into this type of injury, definitely have your veterinarian recommend a referral clinic for surgery. The emergency clinic seemed a bit too willing to do the FHO and it's a widely accepted surgery. It can be done by a host of veterinarians and does not necessarily require a specialized surgeon. Not that the surgical repair doesn't come without risks, just that the typical veterinarian doesn't have that on his plate of surgeries they can perform.
On a much happier note, Chongo was entertaining the staff this morning by reaching out of his cage and playing with the bengal kitten below. The surgeon also noted how well Chongo receives strangers and his demeanor is quite different than the host of other Savannahs they have had through their facility which tend to be a little feistier or stand offish. I guess that comes from getting him out a bunch on the leash and isn't the least bit shy about meeting people or even allowing them to pick him up.
Thanks again for all the well wishes and I'll keep updating things as they proceed.
I understand delays, emergencies do change the surgical schedule, but I hope Chongo is taken care of soon and that the surgery goes great. Thank you so much for updating us as I am sure we are all worrying for him!
Great information, John, I am glad that you shared this! I am a big believer in getting specialist care if the issue is out of the ordinary...just like if it was a human, we use a general practitioner for colds etc, but if something serious happens they refer you to a specialist. My vet is good at saying when he thinks it is worth considering seeing a specialist...over the years he's learned that I prefer to do all I can for my furbabies.
It's sad when I hear about a vet hospital having less than stellar experiences with Savannahs. Mine has been seeing Savannahs since I got my first (and their first SV too) in 2001, they love them. But I've taken my cats to shows and talked to veterinarians and even taken mine to a veterinary conference, and learned that not all get the happy, confident kitties we know as Savannahs. There may be an element of tending to remember the difficult kitties more than the easygoing ones, and the Savannah's dramatic appearance means they stick more in the memory? I don't know, else some get some less-socialized examples of our breed...
Reminded me, my vet hospital posted a pic of one of my kittens this past week on Facebook....you can see from her very curious face that she is not at all worried by the strange place
Great information, John, I am glad that you shared this! I am a big believer in getting specialist care if the issue is out of the ordinary...just like if it was a human, we use a general practitioner for colds etc, but if something serious happens they refer you to a specialist. My vet is good at saying when he thinks it is worth considering seeing a specialist...over the years he's learned that I prefer to do all I can for my furbabies.
It's sad when I hear about a vet hospital having less than stellar experiences with Savannahs. Mine has been seeing Savannahs since I got my first (and their first SV too) in 2001, they love them. But I've taken my cats to shows and talked to veterinarians and even taken mine to a veterinary conference, and learned that not all get the happy, confident kitties we know as Savannahs. There may be an element of tending to remember the difficult kitties more than the easygoing ones, and the Savannah's dramatic appearance means they stick more in the memory? I don't know, else some get some less-socialized examples of our breed...
Reminded me, my vet hospital posted a pic of one of my kittens this past week on Facebook....you can see from her very curious face that she is not at all worried by the strange place
Attachments
John Popp
Site Supporter
Brigitte, that is one beautiful kitten! I really like the darker tones.
Chongo is now out of surgery where he did excellent and the procedure went smoothly and without complications giving him an extremely good chance of a complete recovery. I'd go into more details, but 6'4" guys aren't supposed to be in tears at work.
Thanks for all the well wishes and all the good karma!
Chongo is now out of surgery where he did excellent and the procedure went smoothly and without complications giving him an extremely good chance of a complete recovery. I'd go into more details, but 6'4" guys aren't supposed to be in tears at work.
Thanks for all the well wishes and all the good karma!
Tina Kinsley
Savannah Super Cat
Yay for Chongo! I am so relieved to hear he did so well.