Pebbles is having to go to the vets tomorrow

[Booktigger]

HAve lost track of how many times she has already been there this year!! Her back leg is looking like it is out of position, she has a dodgy back leg anyway cos she has been hit by a car when she was younger, the vet looked at it last year for me and didn't seem to say she would get any probs from it - she can walk, run and jump on it though, and is eating and drinking well. I thought she was holding it odd earlier, but she has had probs walking on my new quilt so dismissed it, but am ringing at 9am when they open - I know they keep emergency spaces, so will insist on her being seen tomorrow. And I had already booked an app for next weekend for her, cos her nose is looking worse and she is looking a bit thin, and the Australian vet isn't on this weekend.No idea if I will see the regular vet tomorrow, the vet I refuse to see (but will have to compromise in this case), or a vet we have never seen. Her breathing is also bothering me, but both vets have dismissed it so far, so might really push for that tomorrow, esp if it is a different vet.I do hope I am proved wrong about it being something serious again, but am really worried - I had a dream that we had to rush to the emergency vets at 2am with her, hope that doesn't come true. Please send good vibes for her, I am feeling sick with worry.

[Hreow]

Trust your instincts, you're not a scatty worry-wart but a stong woman who knows her cat and cares. Push for help. Good luck, we'll be here sending the best vibes we can muster for you both.

[Booktigger]

I know, but the amount of times she has gone up and there has been nothing wrong with her does make me wonder - mind you, she went up in August for a kidney test just to make sure her cystitis wasn't related, and the vet thought she looked so bad she insisted on a full blood test, and when I took her up the other month for a final check up before going through with the specialist, she looked so bad the vet insisted on blood tests, and both came back fine, so at least it isn't just me she kids!! I hope I am doing the right thing by waiting till the morning rather than going to the emergency vet, but she seems normal, she is currently sitting on the bed cleaning herself, but if at any point during the night she starts sounding in pain, we will go. Her leg did keep looking awful, but she wouldn't stay in one place, so hopefully isn't too bad.

[dandysmom]

Oh, Booktigger, hope this is a false alarm & that she'll be just fine....sending GOOD vibes!! Keep us posted!!

[Hreow]

To be honest, I haven't met a cat-owner yet who's felt they've been wrong in a call like that. Not even with hind-sight. If you can calm the panic and worry for long enough to listen to your heart, you know if it's emergency time, or if it can wait til the next day. IMHO, that is. :-)

[Booktigger]

Yeah, I suppose. I decided that as she was walking on it, and eating and drinking fine then she would be OK till the morning - the only thing is I can't remember hearing her use the litter tray (she only seems to use the one in my room - it has been used, but 3 of them use it). It is still looking up, and she is really grumpy cos I am starving her just in case they do want to do an x-ray (prob why most of mine hate going, they normally get pre-starved just in case!!).
Oh, and she got an excellent nights sleep, tucked up under the duvet with her head on the pillow. I didn't, and have got 50 mins left till the vets open!!

[Donna]

Sending Pebbles lots of good vibes today. Wish you well x

[Fran]

Hoping all is well when you take Pebbles to the vet's today. Let us know how you get on x

[Booktigger]

Well, her app is at 10.40. Still haven't seen her use the tray, and I have been up for nearly 2 hours now. She does keep drinking water, but not sure if that is cos I wont let her have any food. Only an hour to go till I get some answers though - it is a locum vet on today, so will push for an explanation for her noisy breath.

[Jac]

How are things now? What did the vet say? Any inprovement?

[dinahsmum]

Oh, another poorly one.
Hope you get good news

[Mags]

Sending Pebbles good wishes.......

[Donna]

Hoping things went well today at the vets x

[Sweet]

Only just caught this thread.....

Fingers and paws crossed here all is ok :) x

[Booktigger]

Well, what a day!!! Saw a locum vet, who pulled at her legs (good job I am used to holding my own cats at the vets!!), prodded her abdomen, listened to her chest, and looked at her ears, eyes, nose and mouth without saying a word!! Then said that he thought my friend was right about it being a dislocated hip, and he wanted a hip and chest x-ray (he put in her notes that he could hear a loudness in her chest), and if the chest x-ray came back clear, he wanted to do a further test to see if there was any reason for the noisy breathing. But, the other branch of my vets dont have a vet nurse on a Sat (despite 4 receptionists), so they couldn't do the x-rays there, we had to either go to the on-call vet, or wait till Mon - and if it was a dislocated hip, waiting till Mon would have meant there was no chance of trying to pop it back in place and woudl have meant surgery. I opted to go to the on call vet, who took her and said they would ring in a couple of hours, I thought I could wait while they did it. Turns out, she has a pin in her leg from when she had the car accident, and that is what was causing her to be lame, so he wanted to operate to remove it - I was iffy, as she is so far away, but decided it wasn't fair to bring her home today to have to take her to the regular vets during the week, when it could be done today and she could be home tomorrow. So, she has had an op, and I can ring when I get up to arrange picking her up. Her chest x-ray was clear, and he just said it must be coming from her throat - so it has been dismissed yet again. Fortunatley she doesn't have to have cage rest, but will have to be kept in for a while - he said a few days, but she will have stitches, so it will prob be till they are gone. I am pleased that I thought she would have to have an x-ray and pre-starved her, or she might have had to wait till Mon. Not looking forward to the bill though!!

[Fran]

Gosh, it has been a day hasn't it? Glad Pebbles is ok! Hope her recovery is very quickl. Let us know how she gets on....

[Donna]

Oh I am glad they can sort her leg out properly. Keep us updated.

[dandysmom]

Poor baby!! I'm so glad you decided to go to the on-call vet...and she'll soon be home...please give her a hug frm me!

[Elaine]

Wishing Pebbles a speedy recovery. I'm sure she'll be very pleased to see you today;)

[Mags]

Wishing Pebbles a quick recovery......

[Booktigger]

She is home, but not sure for how long!!! while she was eating, I noticed that she was holding her back leg funny (you can see it on the pic), so I rang the emergency vet back who told me it wasn't normal, and he was very sorry for not picking up on it, it could poss be some inflammation from taking the pin out. So, I can either get her back over today, and he will look at it free (should hope so ith how much I paid!!), or leave it till she sees my vet on Tues for a check up. My neighbour has said that if she is still struggling in a couple of hours, they will take me back over. Just how I anted to spend my weekend!! Things are never simple with her!! And she didn't seem all that happy to see me, she turned her back on me when they brought her out, rather than look at me!!

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b45/booktigger/afterop.jpg

[Mags]

Oh dear...I hope it is nothing too serious BT.......:(

[Donna]

More good vibes for Pebbles x

[Elaine]

Hope she's ok Des xxx

[Sweet]

((((((hugs)))))) for Pebbles x

[Booktigger]

Sorry for the delay, my friend has been on the PC most of the afternoon. Ended up taking her back to the vets, and he says it looks like nerve damage, but he has never seen this happen before when a pin has been taken out (my neighbours have had cats for over 20 years, and mine have had things that they have never come across!!) and has taken lots out. He says it is quite swollen though, so what he is hoping is that the swelling (which he also can't fully understand as all he did was make a slight incision and the pin was there) is pressing on her sciatic nerve and causing it to be trapped - it could take up to a week for it to come down though, and nerve damage is irreversable, so if it isn't due to the swelling, I don't know where we go, I didn't really want to ask. She is on 3 drops of Metacam once a day for 3 days, then 2 a day for the rest of the week, but have just struggled getting her to eat, and I bought more of her favourite food yesterday that she never refuses. He assures me she will be able to use the litter tray without any probs, but I am going to keep her in the bathroom while I am at work, as the one in the bedroom is a large lidded one (to stop Molly missing), and I am pulling up the carpet in a couple of weeks anyway, so no big deal if she misses. She already has a bed, food and water bowl in there.

[Jac]

Oh poor kitty. She sounds like me:( I hope they get her sorted. Sending hugs ((((((()))))))

[Booktigger]

Have to say, I haven't noticed her noisy breathing today, wonder whether it was related to the pin, cos it might have been bothering her for a while, the vet said he normally removes them after 9 months, I have had her for 15 months, I dont know how long her previous owners had her, but they knew nothing about it.

[dandysmom]

Glad the breathing is better! Now if the swelling will just go down.....sending good vibes again!

[Booktigger]

Actually, I have just heard her breathing loudly. She is still not that interested in her food though, I am a bit bothered moreso cos when she had a dental she wolfed her first meal down and then barely ate, so had to go for a shot two days later - only cat I have had a dental done where they have had to go back. So, I am hoping she doesn't do the same, but she is back on Tues at my vets for a check up anyway.

[Booktigger]

Well, her pupils are back to normal, and she is seeming OK in herself. Eating is an issue though, she seems to want to eat wet food, but puts it in her mouth, moves it round and drops most of it. She has eaten a lot of dry food though, so am not too concerned. She has drank a lot of water though, I am hoping it is a combination of the anaesthetic and eating dry food. Her leg to me looks worse - at first I thought it was looking well, cos her paw wasnt bending under as much, but then I noticed that while the paw was fine, her leg was actually turning out, and then she started dragging it behind her, and at least 3 times since I got home, she has been walking and has ended up sitting/lying down cos her leg gave up. But, we are seeing the vet tomorrow, and am speaking to the vet who did her op, so we will know more. We have worked out that the pin has been in for at least 4 years, and the vet said they normally take them out after 9 months, so I wonder if that is part of the problem.

[Fran]

Fingers crossed for tomorrow BT. I really hope she starts to pick up x

[dandysmom]

Awwww, poor little girl! Hope everything goes well tomorrow..(((hugs)))

[Booktigger]

Only 2 hours till our app. I have changed her wet food, and she is now eating wet (will make the meds so much easier), and she is eating dry well. She drank a lot of water yesterday, but she had eaten mainly dry, so fingers crossed that is nothing to worry about. Her pupils are back to normal, she has had a poo, and she is seeming fine in herself. But, I am still not happy with her leg, when I first got home last night, it looked better, her paw wasn't bending over, but then after a while I noticed that her paw was actually turning outwards, and then she started dragging her leg a lot, and at least 3 times she ended up sitting/lying as though her leg had just given up on her. My friend came round, and I went to show her how she was walking in case I was over-reacting, and I couldn't get her to walk, she did a few steps and then ended up lying down with an odd look on her face. She barely walked on it this morning, just enough to get to the tray, and then into the bathroom for her breakfast (She wont use the tray in the bathroom, odd cat that she is), so not sure how positive it is really. WE worked out that the pin has been in for over 4 years, I have spoken to the vet who operated and he doesn't think that it is connected, the pin was well away from her sciatic nerve, and apart from the swelling, there is no reason for nerve damage, so will have to wait and see what my vet has to say.

[Booktigger]

WEll, the wound is looking good, but there is still some swelling, so the vet is still hopeful that the nerve damage is due to the swelling, we have to give it a week on anti-inflammatories and if no better in a week, she has to have more x-rays. She has also advised keeping her just in one room so that she has some exercise but doesn't overdo it, I have been doing this while I have been at work anyway, partly so she could have food left down all the time, partly cos I was concerned that she might hurt herself when jumping off the bed and I wouldn't be around - the vet said she will only fall once and then realise, but my concern is that she will do some damage if she falls, and she already has one dodgy leg. I have brought her into my room while I am here to supervise so she can have some time out, and will do that all week for her. But she is eating well, and using the toilet, and seeming well in herself, so as long as this is only due to the swelling, then she should be fine.

[Hreow]

Fingers crossed and best vibes!
Glad she's feeling herself again!

[Donna]

Keeping fingers crossed for Pebbles x

[dandysmom]

Glad she seems to be feeling a little better! Good vibes coming!!

[Booktigger]

Well, her paw isn't bending under her leg anymore, but her leg is turning outwards when she walks on it - the vet can't say if it is a good sign or not, so still a matter of waiting - but I think it looks slightly better today. I do hope so, as her op was a week tomorrow, so if it isn't any better, then I am not too optimistic. Her antibiotics finished today, and she is on anti-inflammatories till Sun. If there is no improvement by Tues, then I will have to book her an app for x-rays. She was supposed to have been seeing the other vet about her nose tomorrow, but have cancelled that as she has had 4 vet visits in a week, and we still don't know if she will have to go back next week. IF she has to go back next week, I will see if the vet can look at it then.

[Elaine]

Poor Pebbles, she really is having quite a time of it. Fingers crossed the leg mends well and properly.

[Booktigger]

Cheers. If there is no more noticeable improvement by tomorrow night, I am going to start desparing though, as her op was last SAt teatime - I know that things with nerves can take a while to settle down, but the op shouldn't have caused nerve damage, it was nowhere near the nerve. So, they are assuming that the damage is due to swelling - which I can no longer feel. So, am hoping that the swelling has done down (when I spoke to the vet yesterday, he did say he hoped that there would have been some improvement) and it is just a bit weak, if not, she will have to be booked in for more x-rays - prob Wed at the earliest. And the vet that does her nose is going on maternity leave soon, so no idea what is going to happen with that.

[Fran]

Good luck BT. Hoping for improvement tomorrow x

[dandysmom]

Poor Pebbles, poor you! Am sending good vibes; please let us know the latest (((hugs)))

[Booktigger]

Well, it is still slightly turning when she walks on it, but still seems better than it did last weekend. She is back to eating her normal cat food (hours before I went and bought her some different food!!), and I even found her on the stairs earlier, so she is walking on it more (although she hasn't moved off the bed this afternoon!!). So, am feeling a lot more positive, although if she has the slightest bit of turning/limping on Tues she will be booked in for x-rays just to check that there isn't anything else.

[Hreow]

Cats! :-) I'm glad she's getting better. And better safe than sorry with the x-ray.

[Booktigger]

Well, it is only turning very slightly outwards, and she is trying to do normal things like attack my hand under the duvet and scratch her ear - she has lost her balance 3 times though, so might learn that it isn't fully strong enough yet. She has taken herself into the cat room to sit on the windowsill in there, as it gets more sun than my room at this time of the morning, so have left her there. Today and tomorrow will be a big test, as the vet said to have her on Metacam for 7 days, and the 7th day was yesterday, so she has no more meds to take, so fingers crossed it doesn't flare back up again.
By the way, does anyone know how long dissolving stitches take to dissolve, I forgot to ask both vets - they have been in for 7 days now.

[Booktigger]

She is seeming a lot like her old self - she has come downstairs twice (and used the tray and water bowl that is down there, despite there being 2 of each upstairs!!), and even sat at the door, so I put her on the extendable lead and let her have 2 mins outside - she was starting to get annoyed by the lead then, so I carried her in. Sometimes when I look at her walking, you wouldn't suspect anything, other times, you can see a limp and a slight turnout of that leg. It is 8 days since her op, and am glad that it is seeming so much better. She is still going upstairs funny, but she has always done that, so not that big an issue. Just so relieved, but don't want her having full outdoor access just yet. So it is looking like she wont have to go back to the vets this week, I am sure she will be incredibly pleased!!

[Fran]

That's wonderful news BT! Hope Pebbles continues to improve x

[Kazz]

I hope the positive news continues. :)

[Hreow]

If she has the strength to get annoyed at the lead, she must be feeling better. :-) Good!

[Mags]

I hope Pebbles continues to improve....

[dinahsmum]

I hope Pebbles continues to improve....
Me too!
http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/12/12_6_16.gif

[Booktigger]

She is still struggling walking on the bed, but seems fine walking from the bedroom to the bathroom, so I am still swaying towards ringing the vets tomorrow to book her in for x-rays, as she was like that before the pin was taken out, and I dont think it is normal.

[Booktigger]

Well, I am either talking to the locum vet, asking to see the locum vet tomorrow night, or arranging for her to have x-rays on Wed, as she has just wandered into the cat room and struggled cos it is bare floorboards, combined with still struggling with the stairs and bed seems to indicate that she still has a weakness in that back leg, and in which case she isn't any better off than before having the op, which is making me wonder if the pin was the only issue. Esp as the locum vet thought that it felt dislocated. Surely a pin can't do that.

[Hreow]

The pin may have contributed? Hard to tell. She's soldiering on despite the problems, so "wringing" some suggestions out of the vet sounds like the thing to do. I'll keep my fingers crossed for some vet-side clairvoyance.
<hug>

[Booktigger]

Cheers - typical that my vet is off this week, as is hte vet who operated on her, so she will have to see a vet that she hasn't seen before (another one to add to the list!!). I could deal with the vet saying that she will have long term weakness in that leg, as long as she looks at the x-rays first. I thought the weak leg looked odd on the x-ray, but neither vet seemed concerned. There is a bone near the top of her tail that feels odd, but it could just be cos her fur normally hides it. I also need to know where we stand with outdoor access, as she did wnat to go out yesterday, but hasn't bothered today. And I doubt she will be happy being a fully indoor only cat, and she wasn't happy on the lead.

[Hreow]

Hopefully the locum will be a good vet who looks at all the evidence and finds a reasonable plan. I'm also happier with "It's there to stay" results, if I can see where they are coming from.

[Booktigger]

Grr!! The locum vet has looked at her history, and the notes from the op, but it doens't give her any clues, so says I have to see her if I am worried - she hasn't even spoken to me. I am reluctant to do that as she wont be able to do x-rays if I make an app tomorrow, and if she does want to do x-rays I will then have to take her to the other branch on Thurs, so as it isnt' bothering her, I think I am best off waiting till next week when both the vet who did the op and my normal vet are back - she has had this weakness in her leg all the time i have had her, but we didn't know before the other weekend that she had a pin in it!! I am debating whether to continue keeping her in one room to rest, but she feels up to walking around the house and up and down teh stairs, so might get worse if I confine her (and she hates being handled)

[Hreow]

That sounds like the best option for both of you. I'd keep her out of any place I thought might be too much for her, rather than confining her, since she's quite happy to pootle about but you know better than I what works.

[Booktigger]

Don't think I mentioned, but the receptionist said I could try contacting the on call vets surgery, and talking to someone there. I did, and the vet rang back. SAdly I was having a chat with my neighbour, but the message said that he had got hold of the vet who did the op, and wants a chat with me to see what my concerns are and where we should go. Which is what I wanted from my locum vet, as it is easier to get her there, but she seemed unwilling to talk to me, just got the receptionist to leave me a message.so, will be ringfing him at 9 sharp!!

[Booktigger]

GOOD NEWS!!! Just got off the phone to the vet – the vets at my on call are lovely, and are wiling to talk to me, unlike the locum vet at my practice. He thinks she may always have a weakness in that leg, and to just let her do normal things gradually. Off the x-rays he doesn’t feel it is necessary to do further tests, and maybe in time it will get stronger. So I am OK to let her have outdoor access. And he also felt the knuckling of her paw was down to brusing or swelling, but again, it shouldn’t have happened!! And, he mentioned her chest x-ray, so I explained why, and he said that maybe she had cat flu as a kitten and has been left with a bit of sinusitis cos of it. Can't believe I didn't think of it, as I have had another cat with untreated cat flu, and I also can't believe none of the other vets she has seen have thought of it.

[Fran]

Glad you got some answers today BT. Hope she continues to improve

[dinahsmum]

Sounds good. It's amazing how cat flu at an early age can affect them later in life, isn't it?

[Hreow]

Finally! :-) Glad you found someone who cares and knows what they're talking about.

[Donna]

Glad you have had some answers today. It has been a long saga!! Let Pebbles enjoy the sunshine now!

[yola]

I'm glad Pebbles' saga is starting to resolve itself. Pleased that answers are starting to be given :-D

[Mags]

Glad you've got some answers at last!

[Booktigger]

WEll, her leg has been buckling a bit today, so I am going to put her back on MEtacam, and ring both my vet and the vet who did the op (have already checked if he is in this weekend and he isn't) to see what we should do next. Hopefully it is just that I took her off the MEtacam too soon and she wont have to have more tests done. The vet was certainly right when he said that I took on a cat with a lot of baggage - the amount of worry I have had with her this year so far is unbelievable!! And her nose still isn't fully sorted.

[Booktigger]

Have spoken to the vet who did the op, who is confused about it seeming right and then having a setback, and thinks I did the right thing by putting her back on MEtacam. He wants me give her 5 days on it, which is Wed, and if there is no improvement to take her back to my vet - they didnt have any apps left for WEd (it is a half day, so not as many apps), so have made an app for Thurs just in case she isn't any better. He thinks they may want to re x-ray that leg just to check it out, and she might possibly have to be on Metacam for the rest of her life, and there is also a good chance that as that leg has been broken, she will get arthritis in it. I think I will keep that app anyway, just so that it can be felt and see if they think it is feeling normal.

[Booktigger]

she is defo going to the vets regardless of how that leg looks, she is more aggressive than normal, and it is poor Tom who is copping it at the mo (and he suffers from stress related cystitis, luckily I have daily 'preventatitve' meds for him, so he has been on those for the past couple of weeks), and he wont have a go back, the most he does is put a paw out after she has finished. She also let me feel it earlier, and there is a scab where the incision was - is this normal with dissolvable stitches??

[Fran]

Not sure if it's normal or not BT...probably a good idea to get the vet to check her wound over. Sometimes dissolvable stitches take ages to dissolve and are often best removed. Good luck at the vets, hope the news is good x

[Booktigger]

Took her to the vets, the vet watched her walk, and felt the leg, and said that there is a possibility there is a bone infection/inflammation, or it is something that will only be picked up on an x-ray. So we have put her on extremely strong antibiotics over the weekend, plus I am to keep her on 2 drops of Metacam and if there is no difference (and the vet isn't making any promises) then we will have another chat to see where we go - I will be pushing for x-rays next, I wont accept any more medications till they know what that bone looks like. The vet asked what she was like with medication and I laughed!! The vet then found out how difficult she is cos she couldnt get one down her, so she called the vet nurse in, but I took over (despite the vet telling me to wait) - by the time he had come in, the tablet was down her neck (although again, I had to get my fingers scarily close to her teeth for it to go down in one) - they can be opened and contents sprinkled, shall be trying that tomorrow.
The worrying part is that when the vet weighed her to get the right dosage, she guessed at 3.5 while holding her, and I said she couldn't be, she was 4.02 3 weeks ago - the scales said 3.63 - I dont understand how she has lost so much weight, even when she has had days of being off her wet food, I have given her enough to get the Metacam and then given her as much dry as she has wanted. It has also wiped out so many months of building her back up to over 4kg - but she has lost tiny amounts of weight the past 2/3 checkups, so she was being monitored to check it wasn't the start of yet another weight loss.
Did mention the scab to the vet, she had a quick feel and didn't really say anything.
So, still no idea of what is wrong with that leg, or when it will ever get sorted.

[Booktigger]

Not an incredibly good weekend for either of us. Sometimes when I watch her walk my hopes go up cos she seems fine, then other times my heart sinks cos it is looking as bad/worse. So I will be ringing the vets tomorrow and demanding x-rays. She has also been really iffy with her food, she has been given 5 different kinds of wet food (all bar one she has eaten no probs before the antibiotics), but is eating dry as long as I put it on the floor/bed, wherever she is, rather than in the bowl - and at the moment I am willing to pander to her. I am going to get the vet to check her mouth cos of it - I attempted to look yesterday and couldn't see anything, but she hates her mouth being touched. She has a black patch on her gum that is looking like it is bigger, and she does occasionally hold the lip on that side oddly - am sure I mentioned it to the vets at some point last year though.

[Booktigger]

X-rays are being done tomorrow, she will have to spend all day at the vets though, as they have to be done at the other branch. Am sure it wont be that bad for her though, and means she might get to eat more food (I can't leave any down as Tom is a scavenger). She has eaten 3/4 pouch and 10g of biscuits tonight, am very pleased as she only ate about 10g of biscuits this morning. I am getting the vet to check her mouth as well, in case that is why she is reluctant to eat (doubt it, as it only happens when her leg flares up), but have suggested it is done while she is sedated!! The vet saw how she reacted to her mouth being touched, so think she was pleased. So, I should know something after 2pm tomorrow, please keep you fingers crossed for good news for her.

[Hreow]

Fingers very crossed for both of you!
Wouldn't she prefer wet to dry food, if it was her mouth? Maybe not...I prefer crisp-bread for a sore throat - may be the same.

[dandysmom]

Fingers definitely crossed and sending good vibes!! Keep us posted! (((hugs)))

[Fran]

Fingers crossed here x

[borderdawn]

Best of luck, hope she gets better,
Dawn.

[Elaine]

Fingers firmly crossed for her here Des;)

[Mags]

I hope everything goes well for her tomorrow.......

[Booktigger]

Cheers everyone, I do hope this shows the prob and we can start sorting it. Apparently cats with dental issues sometimes prefer dry as it doesn't get stuck in the holes in their teeth - Tom was like that.

[Booktigger]

Not excellent news, I'm afraid. The bone doesn't look good, it is a lot
shorter than the other one, so the pin wasn't that successful (prob why
there has been a weakness in it for so long, but on the first x-rays it
did look like it was necessary to remove it) and there is a lot of
changes due to bad inflammation but no sign of bone tumours (one of my
worries). She wants her on a high dosage of antirobe (should be fun),
and 2 drops of MEtacam for 2 weeks, as she does seem to be in a lot of
pain (Which I did know with the lack of eating and movement). If there
is no positive improvement in 2 weeks, we may have to look at
amputation - which had already crossed my mind, and as she is an older cat, it could take longer for it to heal, but the vet wants to just concentrate
on getting the meds into her and hoping for an improvement. So another
two weeks of praying that there is no further setback, and that she
improves enough to not have to lose her leg, but I would rather be
pessimistic about that, rather than get my hopes up and it turn out to
happen.

[Hreow]

I'm sorry it wasn't better news {hug}. At least you got some answers, one positive (no tumour!). Fingers will stay crossed, thought I think you are right to expect the amputation.

[Booktigger]

Cheers - I feel OK with it really, I don't know why - maybe it is the fact that I was right, that leg wasn't right, and that hopefully the tablets will do something, even if it is reduce the pain she is in, but either way, we have a timescale to work on now. The vet initially said that she wanted her on strong antibiotics for 2 weeks and then recheck, and then towards the end of the conversation said it could take 4-6 weeks for the inflammation to reduce, but if there is a setback then we will have to rethink. IF in 2 weeks there is no change, and the vet cant guarantee any change with further tablets, I wont agree to keeping her on them, even though I don't like the idea of the alternative, as if there isnt a good chance of improvement, then it is better to amputate, as at the moment she is in agony according to the vet, and I already knew she wasn't right in herself, so dont see the point in prolonging it if the chances of improvement are very slim. HOpe that doesn't seem too awful - my friend (who I got her off) e-mailed me back and asked if there was a measured consideration of whether she would survive an amputation, so at least I am not the most pessimistic person about it - I am sure hte vet wouldn't have mentioned it (I asked about it just before she got chance to mention it though) if the risks were too high - my neighbour didn't think they would do it at her age, and the vet said the recovery time is longer if they are older, but if she can't use the leg that much and is in pain with it, then it is the better option.

[Mags]

So sorry it wasn't better news BT.........

[Fran]

So sorry the news wasn't better BT :(

[Booktigger]

I have been shown the x-rays and am not sure if there is any chance of saving that leg, or if saving it now will be the best thing long term - you can see signs of arthritis on the x-ray, the leg is quite a bit shorter than the other one - it looks like the two ends of the fracture have joined next to each other rather than in a straight line, there is inflammation there and there is a decrease in the muscle on the lower half of her leg. She didn't eat a lot at the vets either, poor thing (I took her normal food with her!!). We also have Primula cheese and chicken livers to get through the pills, as she has to have 2 a day, which is effectively 100mg - I might end up deciding during the two weeks that it isn't fair to carry on, as she had the op 3 weeks ago and has only had one good week since then, and the vet feels that she might be in agony with it - I dont think I would go that far with how she is, but I would certainly say in pain and discomfort.

[Elaine]

Poor Pebbles. So sorry the news wasnt better. Best wishes to you both. xxx

[Hreow]

You know best and can make the right decision for her. We'll be here for support, though.

[Booktigger]

Cheers - I keep telling myself that at least cancer was ruled out, as cancer and amputation were my biggest fears, and cancer was the worst, we can deal with amputation, I know a couple of people who have had to have legs amputated on older cats, but the vet said we could be looking at a 3-6 month recovery and I think she will be a lot happier with it done. The more I am talking about it, the more I want to forget the meds and just go ahead with it, but the vet obv thinks it is worth trying first, but the lack of eating is concerning me incredibly, and I do think if it continues for much longer, I will end up ringing the vet and telling her how I feel, as she has already gone from 4.02 to 3.63kg in 3 weeks, I didn't ask if she had been weighed today, and if she loses too much, it could have a very negative effect on her.

[Booktigger]

She only ate her dry food this morning, and I decided during the day that I was only going to give her till Mon for the meds to get her eating better before talking to the vet again. WE had an excellent eve though, she ate her antibiotics herself (I dabbed Primula on them and she wolfed them), and put her Metacam in more Primula that she ate. Adn then she ate a full pouch and 20g of biscuits, so obv feeling better. I still dont think she will keep the leg, but if I can get her pain free for 2 weeks then it is better for her.

[Hreow]

Much better! Easier operation for both of you, if it comes to that.
Glad you've had a good evening - that's a lot of food for her, and a nice break for you.

[Fran]

Glad you have had a better day today BT

[Booktigger]

Cheers - I am setting myself up for the op though, as while the meds might be reducing the pain and poss inflammation enough for her to feel better in herself, they are so strong that it isnt a long term solution (the dosage of Metacam she is on can cause kidney issues if kept on long term), and only a week of being off Metacam was enough for a setback. The other thing is that there is arthritis, shortness of bone and loss of muscle to consider, so even if this does work, I think it is something that will flare up again, and next time, she could be jumping etc and cause herself more damage, so I dont think it is worth it, she will be able to adapt to an amputation.

[Fran]

Certainly sounds like the best way forward for her. You are right, long term metacam can cause problems..I'm sure she will have a new lease of life after her amputation

[Booktigger]

Thanks, it does mean so much to me to know that - esp when neither of the two people who know me were in the slightest bit supportive - one asked about the likelihood of her surviving, and then went on about how she couldnt bear to think about it (shame I dont have that luxury) and my neighbour (supposed cat lover and ex rescue person) thinks it is really drastic and is there no other option - she even wondered if they could break the bone and reset it, not sure why she doesn't think that is drastic!!
She is still eating well, but still eating mainly dry, which I am not that happy about, but at the moment as long as I can get her eating decent meals, I dont care what they consist of. She is a slim cat, which will go in her favour.

[dinahsmum]

I've met both front limb and rear limb cat amputees, and they have adapted really well and lived happy, healthy lives.
Best wishes to you and Pebbles.
Hope your health will improve now the decision is made.

[Booktigger]

I am so glad to hear that.
She barely ate this morning, and only moved to go to the water bowl and turn away from me when I was trying to get food into her, so not a good day, and if we have one good day followed by one bad day, then the op is the best thing for her, as this is no quality of life. She will also sleep on the bed while I am on the comp (what a good excuse to go on the comp rather than do the housework!!), but wont come on the bed at night, and she hasn't slept on the bed all week.

[Booktigger]

Have had a chat with the vet, and she is very reluctant to do the op and wants to give her the weekend on meds before making any decision. I can understand why, there is a risk she wont make it, and there is a risk that it will take her the rest of the year to recover, and if there was just inflammation I would feel a lot happer about keeping her on meds, but she has signs of arthritis, a shorter bone and less muscle in that leg - and either one or a combination is causing this weakness in her leg that is no longer occasional, it seems every time I see her walking (which is very rare I have to admit, hopefully I will be able to assess her more over the weekend) and is stopping her going outside, which makes her unhappy, plus I am worried that it will go while she is jumping down and cause more damage, but did forget to mention that to the vet. Vet is upping her Metacam to 3 drops a day, despite my reservations, and if there is no improvement in her eating by Mon, then we will have to see where to go next. IF she has to have the op, she will be at the vets for 2 days and will have to have cage rest when she comes home, luckily I have a very large cage.

[Hreow]

I keep a post-it with all the things I want to say the next time I see the vet, or I would forget 2/3 of them. Hopeless, me.
Fingers crossed for a reasonable weekend!