Last Thursday, someone who knows I help cats called me about a cat with injuries. He had apparently been abandoned and wandered into a colony she was familiar with. Turns out, his claws has grown into his pads and were, of course, infected.
After calling around and finding no help, I told her to bring him to me and I would take him to the vet. In the process of getting him into the carrier, he bit me. It was my own fault, actually - I'd caught his tail in the door of the carrier. Poor dear, he was quiet on the way to the vet and just huddled in the carrier when we got there.
Of course, we had to call the health department and animal control because he hadn't had a rabies shot (he hasn't even been neutered). I had to have a tetanus shot and am on strong antibiotics. I barely avoided stitches but the doctor said I was OK.
The poor thing is in quarantine for ten days, with the plan to euthanize him after that. If he were to die before the ten days is up, I would have to have the rabies series (ech).
I could not bear the idea of him in pain all that time, so I authorized the vet to clip his nails, give him an antibiotic and some pain meds. I have called to be updated every day and he is a) definitely not rabid; b) about eight years old and c) just a tired old man. I had them do a combo test and fortunately, he is FIV and FELV negative.
After thinking about it and consulting our budget, we made the decision to bring him home and let him live out his live in dignity and as much comfort as we can provide.
The vet said the nails are probably the result of poor nutrition and may not reoccur once he's fed properly. We'll take that a day at a time. He will need further surgery as a claw has imbedded in one of his paw pads (the source of the biggest infection, which is clearing up with the antibiotics).
He is in quarantine until next Monday. Right now, I plan to keep him in my recovery en suite (two crates connected together in my shed) until after the paw surgery and his neuter.
I will put him in the enclosure with Schofield and Alfred after that. His name is Jonathan but I'm calling him Papa John. Fingers crossed all goes well between now and Monday but I sure could use some strong TCS vibes, please.
After calling around and finding no help, I told her to bring him to me and I would take him to the vet. In the process of getting him into the carrier, he bit me. It was my own fault, actually - I'd caught his tail in the door of the carrier. Poor dear, he was quiet on the way to the vet and just huddled in the carrier when we got there.
Of course, we had to call the health department and animal control because he hadn't had a rabies shot (he hasn't even been neutered). I had to have a tetanus shot and am on strong antibiotics. I barely avoided stitches but the doctor said I was OK.
The poor thing is in quarantine for ten days, with the plan to euthanize him after that. If he were to die before the ten days is up, I would have to have the rabies series (ech).
I could not bear the idea of him in pain all that time, so I authorized the vet to clip his nails, give him an antibiotic and some pain meds. I have called to be updated every day and he is a) definitely not rabid; b) about eight years old and c) just a tired old man. I had them do a combo test and fortunately, he is FIV and FELV negative.
After thinking about it and consulting our budget, we made the decision to bring him home and let him live out his live in dignity and as much comfort as we can provide.
The vet said the nails are probably the result of poor nutrition and may not reoccur once he's fed properly. We'll take that a day at a time. He will need further surgery as a claw has imbedded in one of his paw pads (the source of the biggest infection, which is clearing up with the antibiotics).
He is in quarantine until next Monday. Right now, I plan to keep him in my recovery en suite (two crates connected together in my shed) until after the paw surgery and his neuter.
I will put him in the enclosure with Schofield and Alfred after that. His name is Jonathan but I'm calling him Papa John. Fingers crossed all goes well between now and Monday but I sure could use some strong TCS vibes, please.
