Helping Rafiki to play again

It’s been a little while since our last update and Rafiki is doing ok. Rafiki’s had enough time now for the medications to all start working and he’s responding well to them. For the most part he seems happier and is walking a lot better. He still has the odd bad day and can be a little stiff and sore when he first gets up in the morning but overall he’s in a much better way.

We’ve decided that for now the best route forward is to hold off on the surgery for the time being. It’s not been an easy decision to make, weighing up all the factors. We’ve gotten information and advice from two different vets and an orthotic specialist. And basically it comes down to, at the moment, medication management is working so we keep going with it. Rafiki likely will eventually need to have surgery for his luxating patella. But the surgery will increase the likelihood of his arthritis worsening more rapidly, so we’d be helping one problem by making the other worse which isn’t ideal. So holding off on the surgery will hopefully help him more in the long term.

We’ve also been trying different dietary supplements. Unfortunately Rafiki was allergic to flaxseed with hoki oil, so he’s now back to just flaxseed on its own. He managed for a few days with green lipped mussels powder but then also had a bad reaction to it. He’d probably be ok eating it two or three times a month, but that wouldn’t really give him the benefits of it so wouldn’t be worth risking him getting all itchy. The cats, who have previously turned their noses up at mussels (except Astoria) have changed their minds about it and are all only too happy to eat the leftover mussel powder for him 😂 So onto the next thing to see how Rafiki goes.

Since we delayed surgery, we just wanted to give an idea on how funds raised from both givealittle and helping paws bow sales have been used:

• 6 veterinary appointments (excluding the one for X-rays) ranging in price from $0 - $75

• Appointment for X-rays and ear infection: $947.98

• Cartrophen injections: $27.95 each (Rafiki needed 4 in the first month so that’s $111.80. From the second month onwards it’s just one per month)

• Previcox 227mg pills: $74.66 for 10 which Rafiki needed to alternate between a half and full pill everyday before he started getting his cartrophen injections

• Previcox 57mg pills: $57.62 for 20 which Rafiki needs to take everyday and he began taking after starting with the cartrophen injections

• Supplements for Rafiki to trial: $60 (green lipped mussel powder and flaxseed with hoki oil)

• And as a little way to give back to the community, a $25 donation to HUHA to help the animals affected by the floods and cyclone.

Thank you so much to everyone for all the incredible help, kindness and support. Rafiki wouldn’t be where he is without you. Words can’t even begin to express how grateful we are and we shall be forever thankful. Sending so much love and Rafiki cuddles to you all 💛💛