Hello to all cat lovers! 

My name is Barbara and I am originally from Germany...so please excuse any mistakes with the English language during this Blog!

 I currently reside in Los Angeles, CA. Our household consists of my husband, a daughter and our beautiful 17 month old Maine Coon “Bentley”.

This blog is designed to help others undergoing an FHO surgery with their cats. The experience can be quite nerve racking and heart wrenching. If you Google "FHO surgery", you will also see a wonderful informative Blog by the name of: Jason’s cats. I found a lot of useful information there however; I don’t think it is no longer active! 

Here is our cat Bentley’s story:

We noticed a slight limp on our Bentley off and on. We didn’t think much of it since he played, ate and showed no other symptoms of discomfort. We thought that he must have stepped wrong and eventually would work it out. However, he started to have more and more trouble jumping up on things and sometimes he would actually completely miss the jump. That was odd for a young cat! We also started to notice that he would just lay down more and more and when it came to play time, he would just use his front paws. That was even odder. My husband said that he also started to hiss at him while playing, or when picked up…it was time for a Vet visit!

Our Vet gave Bentley a thorough exam and when she reached his right hind leg, he hissed and lashed out…it was time for X-Rays!

It turned out that our poor Bentley had a Femoral Head Fracture right along the growth plate. We were advised to have Bentley undergo FHO surgery.

A Femoral Head Ostectomy (FHO) is a surgical procedure that removes the femoral head and neck from the femur. FHO surgery is performed to alleviate pain.

Cats do quite well with this surgery. Our Vet explained that Bentley will form what is called a fake joint and that his strong muscle group in his hint leg will help keep the joint together. Hard to believe but true!!!

We were in a state of shock, since we never even saw him getting this horrible injury in the first place. Bentley is mostly an inside cat and if allowed outside; only on a leash under constant supervision! Our daughter however had witnessed him jump from our living room table the other day and landing awkwardly. But for a cat his size (he is a very large pedigree Maine Coon with a current weight of 18lbs 14oz and according to our Vet he is just at a right weight for his size), a jump from a table shouldn’t be a problem! Well obviously not!

We bought Bentley from a Breeder and we were advised to have him neutered at 6 month of age. Bentley’s Vet thinks that this could be the reason for his growth plate fracture. And I emphasize “Could”!!!These fractures are often seen in young male cats that have been neutered at 6 month or even younger. One of the hypotheses is that the lack of hormones (due to early neutering) prevents the growth plates from closing properly, which can result in a fracture at the weakened growth plate. More and more Veterinarians are discussing the possibility of a link between early neutering and growth plate fractures.

Please make sure to discuss with your Vet, what he thinks should be the right age for your little guy to undergo neutering surgery.

 Your Vet will know what’s best for your little guy and hopefully therefore safe you from a huge heartbreak, expense and the most important…your poor cat from a lot of pain and agony!

Bentley had his surgery on March 15^th, 2012. We dropped him off Thursday morning 8:30 AM and my daughter and I picked him up the same day at about 5:30 PM. I was not prepared at all for what was about to come and to see my poor Baby in so much pain. He growled and howled, hissed and paced the floors none stop. He would not allow anybody near him without hissing and getting more and more agitated. We finally managed to confine him in a small area and by then he had somewhat settled down. His Fentanyl patch attached to his neck must have finally started to kick in. We were told that the patch could take 6-12hrs after application before it starts working. Beside the Fentanyl patch, he was also placed on an antibiotic Cephalexin, 25mg every 12 hrs.  

The next morning Friday his first post op day, Bentley would just lay there staring into space. He had used his litter box to urinate during the night but no bowl movement. He would only eat food out of my hand and he would barley move. Each time he would switch sides he would make a kind of squealing sound. It was so sad to witness! He pretty much spend the whole day just lying down. I wasn’t too worried about his water intake since he had a lot of IV fluids the day before and the wet food also contains enough moisture to help keep him hydrated.

Saturday on his second post op day, he was a wee bit better since the pain patch was now working for him. He still showed discomfort but much less than the day before. He still would only eat out of my hand and not drink. I started to give him water with a syringe. At about 10:3OPM Saturday night Bentley crawled and wobbled into his litter box. He sat there squatting and shaking and crying. He tried and tried…and finally produced a very small and dried up hard poop, which just dangled of his back side. He fell over from pain and exhaustion and all I could do is watch and cry. I tried to clean him up which resulted again in anger hissing and growling and more stress. The pain patch was making him constipated.

On his 3rd. day post op which would make it Sunday now, Bentley still had not produced a good bowl movement and I now started to help him along by feeding him pure pumpkin paste 1tsp 2x daily. I had spoken to our Vet Friday before the weekend and was advised, that if he doesn’t produce a movement to also give him some Milk with the pumpkin. Cats are lactose intolerant and will usually go to the bathroom shortly after they had Milk. Not our Bentley… he does not like Milk, Cat Milk or any of the Laxatone brand’s at all, not even Tuna flavored. Since it was the weekend I contacted an online Vet Service for advice. Here is the post:

Please advise....
My 16 month old Maine Coon Bentley is the 3rd day post op from an FHO surgery. He eats wet food only Natures Variety Instinct Lamb. He eats if I hand feed him. I do not see him drink very much. He is probably getting all the moisture out of the wet food. My concern is that he has not produced a bowl movement since last Wednesday 3/14/12. I have been giving him about 2 Tsp. of Pumpkin daily and extra water through a syringe (my Vets advice). He is urinating but no poop. My Vet also said to give him Milk. He however does not like Milk.
He is wearing a Fentanyl patch and he is also on Antibiotics Cephalexin 25mg every 12 hrs. Should he be pain free with the patch? To me he still looks very uncomfortable. He barley moves and I guess this also does not help with his bowls. What else can I do for him?
Thank you in advance....Barbara

The response:

Hi there,

The poor dear. It is probably uncomfortable to get into the position to have a bowel movement. The Fentanyl patch may not be doing the whole job for him to keep him pain free. You could by Miralax over the counter at the drug store and give him some of that. It is safe and mild. You could also try Cat Lax or Petromalt or Laxatone that you can get at your vets or a pet store. The doses are on the labels. I find psyllium seed powder easier to use than the pumpkin you can get that at a health food store. 1/8 teaspoon on canned food at each meal. Yes the extra water is important. If he hasn't pooped by Monday then go to your own vet for an enema and sub cutaneous fluids. It is not life threatening if he does not go till then.

Off to the store I went to buy Miralax for Bentley. I mixed 1/8 of a tsp. with his tsp. of Pumpkin and he happily licked it of the spoon. Still no BM and you could tell that he was starting to feel more and more uncomfortable. He kept on licking his back side. Finally Sunday night at about 10:30 PM he walked back into his litter box and produced a normal size BM. After wards he felt so much better. He actually came and walked around for just a little bit and even played just a wee bit with his front paws. We all slept well that night!

Monday 4^th day post op, we were back to square one! Bentley was just lying around and now not having much of an appetite either! He did not use his litter box all day and night which had me worried. I called the Vet and took the Fentanyl patch off which could have been the cause of his ongoing constipation.

We switched Bentley back to Bupernex for pain management every 8-12hrs.

My husband and I got up with him every hr. throughout the night and he looked very uncomfortable in his little bed. He did not move once.

Tuesday Morning 5^th day post op, Bentley had not urinated or pooped since Sunday night and also completely stopped eating now. I was mostly concerned about him not urinating. I feared a blockage. My husband and I were devastated! My husband took the morning off and we went straight to the Vet. Our Vet gave Bentley a physical exam and performed an Ultrasound to check his bladder... which was fine. She also gave Bentley an Enema, an Appetite stimulant and an anti-inflammatory, which made a huge difference. Bentley came home and he was a different cat. He played, rubbed up against us and had a great appetite. He even walked around using his leg with a slight limp. We were amazed at the difference in his demeanor.  

Wednesday day 6 post op, Bentley urinated and pooped during the night and his appetite seemed to be back with the help of the Mirtazapine (Appetite Stimulant). His energy level on a scale from 1 to 10 however is about a 2. Well I guess that is not bad for his 6^th   day post op.

Thursday 3/22/2012 one week post op.

Bentley has come a long ways. He is such a trooper!

Today Bentley ate without the help of Mirtazapine. We noticed that Bentley is trying to fight me all the way when it comes to his antibiotics. We think that the Cephalexin is really upsetting his stomach and that seems to be the worse of his problems at the moment. Sadly we have another week ahead with it. He is down to less than half a dosage of his Pain meds and managing very well. He is very alert and walking more through the house. We bought him stairs to help him get on our bed which he is using very nicely. He eats little throughout the day but more during the night. His cat box stays untouched throughout the day but in the mornings we find that he urinated and pooped during the night.

Friday 8 days post op

Today my husband got greeted at the bedroom door at 6 AM by a loudly purring Bentley waiting for his breakfast. His food bowl from last night was completely licked clean and he also had success in his litter box with both # 1 and # 2. I have a feeling that today will be a good day for our Bentley! This happy mood lasted until it was time again for the antibiotics. I don't know how he managed to spit them out 3 times but he did. When I finally managed to get the pill down his throat, he retrieved instantly back in his bed and all appetite was lost again. It finally dawned on me to start him on some Probiotics (Forte Flora) along with the Antibiotics, to help restore the balance in Bentley’s digestive system. It seemed to help… Forte Flora is very palpable to cats and once sprinkled over Bentley’s food he actually ate, not as much as he used too…but he ate.

He has been walking more and to my surprise he even wanted to go outside today! He also is starting to size certain jumps as if he wants to try! Unfortunately I had to turn him down with both of his attempts, he will have to wait 1 more week before he can resume his normal activities…Dr.’s order!

Today was the first day to see some of Bentley’s normal behavior back. There was also no need for pain meds toady. All Bentley is taken now is the Antibiotics, the Anti Inflammatory and Probiotics.

I finally see a light now and I think that Bentley is now gaining more and more strengths as each day passes in his recovery.

We still have a long road ahead of us but I think once he is done with his Antibiotics, then his tummy will feel better too and all shall be back to normal soon.

On his 10^th post op day we again headed 2 steps backwards! Bentley completely quit eating and drinking and vomited once during the night and once throughout the day. After I called the Vet we decided to stop his Antibiotics but to continue with the Anti inflammatory meds until finished.

His appetite improved somewhat but from what Bentley ate before his operation, was now only a small fracture. He used to eat a whole 5.5 oz. can pre op and know if we were lucky he ate 1/8 of a can.

Partly to blame was also his inactivity.

Slowly but surely Bentley’s appetite improved somewhat within a few days after stopping the Antibiotics. And it got even better after we had finished the Anti-Inflammatory.

Bentley is now almost 6 weeks post op and a different cat. His appetite is back to normal. He runs and plays. He begs for his food in the morning or at night! And he is begging twice a day to take him outside on his leash to chase Lizards.

The only thing that reminds us still of his surgery is that he walks with a limp… because of his leg being somewhat shorter. He also still needs help with little booster stools to get up on things. He can jump up onto a chair but prefers the booster stool instead. Probably still too early and I am maybe expecting too much too soon.

Otherwise Bentley has come a long ways since his surgery on March 15^th, 2012.

His bowl movements have also all turned back to normal. Time will certainly tell with him since we have read numerous times that the recovery for this specific surgery is a long one. It can take up to a year before fully recovered.

I will be more than happy to help answer any questions, should you have any!