Went for second opinion today.

marinewife05

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well maybe third. As many of you know I adopted Kiki with a broken tail. I took her in the the regular vet today for another opinion. (SPCA said tail was fine...on base vet said to remove it) Today the vet told me that unless she had an extreme trauma at a very young age her tail is probably a congenital defect. She did tell me to think hard about removing her tail. She said it wasn't an emergency, but as time goes on she could develop moist dermatitis which could effect the surgery later. She also said Kiki could develop arthritis in her tail. So I guess after the holidays Kiki will go under the knife. I hate to do it. I asked if she might suffer from phantom limb disorder the way people do when they loose an arm or a leg, but she said she didn't think so. She will have a very small tail if any at all. They have to remove it at the first joint. It'll cost about $200.00 for pre-surgical blood work, the surgery, anesthesia, and antibiotics, and maybe a cone collar so she can't lick it. But I guess if it prohibits problems later than it'll be worth it.
 

sharky

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Always glad when someone gets a second or a third opnion...Kiki will thank you later
 

ldg

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I'm sure it will be worth it, especially given the opinions stacked in favor of having it done now rather than later.
There are a number of TCS kitties that have had to have their tails or part of them amputated, and they always seem to be happier about it after it's done.
 

icklemiss21

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We probably have about 10 cats come through the shelter that need part or all of their tail amputated each year and I am yet to see an issue with them after surgery. We had one that we were not sure if it needed to be removed or would heal in time and we removed her tail due as she was not cleaning her back end as she found it uncomfortable to sit on her back end like they do when grooming down there.
 

Ms. Freya

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My Freya only has an inch or two of tail. She had to have it amputated shortly after we got her because of an abcessed injury and she doesn't seem to miss it at all. In fact, once we got Cotton, I think she found it weird to see a cat with a tail, since she was so used to not having one. She healed up quickly and easily from the surgery (was more annoyed with the bandage on her tail than with the actual stitches and wound) and now we just giggle when she flicks her little stub or "fluffs up" her tail...which makes it look like a giant pompom on her backside.
 
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