Help! My cat has chronic wound infection

hanonanne

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Mar 22, 2016
Messages
2
Purraise
1
Location
Cebu City, Philippines
Hi. THIS WILL BE VERY LONG BUT PLEASE TAKE TIME TO READ IT. I REALLY NEED YOUR ADVICES.

I have a 6 year old male cat named Smeagol. He is an indoor-outdoor cat, but mostly he spends his time outside. He hasn't been neutered because I didn't know such thing existed (since I had cats when I was 10 years old and he came when I was 12). I wish I knew about it though, everything wouldn't be this way.

Anyways, 4 months ago, he came back home with a wound with a hole in a size of a coin. It didn't bother me so much since he always had wounds and they were treated well. As the days went on, I noticed another wound just below it and it was bleeding. I was starting to be alarmed so we put some antibiotic powders on it and cleaned it up regularly. I was busy with school that time and he wasn't always at home. A month later, I decided to bring him to the vet since it was already swelling and it looked awful. When I got to the vet, they told me it was infected so they cleaned it up and told me I had to administer Cefalexin orally and Carprofen mixed with food. Nothing improved 10 days later, and I was really stressed because he wasn't cooperating at all. He kept crying at night and wanting to go out. My parents are complaining with the noise and he peed everywhere (since he wasn't use to staying at home all day). The whole week was just stressful but we managed. Nothing improved for 10 days so we took him back and the doctor performed a CBC. They found out he had anemia and that's why the antibiotic didn't work. His lab results were unstable. PCV was too low and WBC was too high indicating there was still an infection. They advised for admission but I still didn't have enough money for it. I kept him outside with his cage and still did his medications which were doxycycline, ferrous sulfate and some ascorbic acid. It was the most stressful week I admit because I went back home very late and I still have to give his medicines orally (and giving cats oral medication is so hard). Unfortunately, no one was home one Saturday and he made his way out of the cage! I saw him outside fighting with some feral cats and I knew it was hopeless. My parents wanted me to just leave him outside but I insisted on keeping him. The wound looked bad so I decided it was time for admission despite the financial problem. He lost his e-collar outside too and that made the wound bleed because he kept licking it. A week in the clinic, the vet announced that his WBC was stable which meant his infection was starting to wear off. His PCV didn't reach the normal level but we were close to it. I was extremely happy to hear the news and I decided to let him stay inside the clinic again for a week to finish his antibiotics, hoping his wound will start to heal. Note that within a month, nothing changed in the wound. It even grew bigger and larger. The vet told me it wasn't a tumor but I kept wondering what it was and she said it also wasn't an abscess but just white blood cells. She diagnosed it with chronic wound infection and would take a longer time to heal. I asked her if she can perform a surgery to take the lump but she told me it would be risky and he might not recover from it too. I kept researching about lumps but usually they are abscesses and tumors. They couldn't tell what it really was and what we have to do to heal it. Since the wound wasn't improving, they made a glucose test and he wasn't diabetic. She told me it was anemia and his old age that might affect the healing process. And I personally don't think 6 is old? Some cats reach 10 and can still undergo surgery (but the vet knows best).

Now, I thought he was doing better because he was finally being guarded by the doctor, but last Saturday, they told me that his infection went back (not as worse as before though) and when I looked at the wound, it was the largest it has been and there were little wounds surrounding the 2 big ones. I was frustrated when I left the vet since she couldn't really answer me why it went back. She told me because it was chronic and I asked her what would be our solution, she didn't answer me clearly. Now I'm left with so many worries and even more stressed since I've got more problems with my family and a cat to take care of. I brought back Smeagol home with his Ciprofloxacin and Ferrous Sulfate. The doctor asked me to clean it with hydrogen peroxide and sodium chloride, but I didn't continue with the hydrogen since I found so many negative things with using it. I just mixed Sodium Chloride and plain water to clean the wound, and apply his silver sulfadiazine. The doctor said we have to bring him back again after a week which I doubt I will. I am tired of seeing my cat not improving and I'm tired of bringing him back and administering different medications. I am very worried now. Smeagol is eating normally and drinking more than usual. He hasn't been insisting on going out since Saturday and that's really weird since this cat has to be the most stubborn of all. He sleeps all day, and now he's starting to eat his cat litter which is a sign of anemia. I have to keep him guarded when he wants to go his litter box because he might eat them again and since it's clay, I know it is dangerous to him. I have to wake up 3 times in the night to make sure he isn't eating them when he urinates. He hasn't pooped in 24 hours now and saw small black circles exit from his butt. I pressed them and I am sure it was from his litter. I hope he isn't constipated and will defecate tomorrow.

I know that was long but I had to share this with you guys since it's alarming me so much. I have so many things to think about right now and I love my cat, but I am out of money and I live in the Philippines so there isn't much low cost vets around and animal organizations which can help me. I am planning on taking him to another vet for second opinions but it will be next week since it's the holidays here. Can anyone please tell me what I should expect and what I should be doing right now to help me cure my cat? I keep thinking of what will happen the next few weeks, and I don't think I can commit more time for him since we have plans on family vacations and he must be left home. I'm lacking sleep and I've been thinking so much about him, it's stressing me out. I know I shouldn't complain because this is all my responsibility, but sometimes it's really hard to deal with this. What I am more worried about is that I only have until May before classes start again and if he doesn't heal by then, I'll have to make other hard decisions for Smeagol. My parents will absolutely tell me I shouldn't be devoting so much effort with just a cat, but I love my cat and he means so much to me. My mom is worried about me too because I feel so sad about this and I've been working real hard to give him comfort. She noticed that I haven't been doing my usual routine and she said she wanted me to be safe and happy again. I understand what she wants but this is really important to me. I wish I knew where this was going. Can somebody please tell me if I should find another vet or should I continue with the present one? It is hard to find a new one honestly since we live far from them and I have to take the taxi which is inconvenient. It's hard to fight something but nobody is even there to help you, not even my parents. What should I do next? (I CAN PROVIDE PICTURES IF YOU NEED. BUT IT WILL BE VERY GRAPHIC.)
 

margd

Chula and Paul's roommate
Veteran
Joined
Feb 24, 2015
Messages
15,669
Purraise
7,838
Location
Maryland USA
You and Smeagol have really been through the mill!.
  At this point, I think you are absolutely right to seek a second opinion.  Your first vet does seem to be making a real effort to help Smeagol but it's time for another pair of eyes on this problem.  It seems to me that it's important to figure out why he's anemic so whatever causes it can be treated.    I don't have any experience with anemic cats myself,  but do know that when it reaches a certain point, blood transfusions are necessary.  Since Smeagol is eating litter,  that point might be now.  Are there any cat-only vets near you?   If so, contacting one would be a good idea.

In terms of Smeagol being too old for surgery - you're right that 6 years is not that old.  It might be that the concern with surgery has more to do with the anemia and how weak he is rather than his age.  In other words, if he were not anemic, his age wouldn't be a consideration.

I wanted to tell you how much I admire you for everything you've done and are continuing to do for Smeagol.  It's hard when the people we love don't completely understand why we put so much time, energy, emotion and money into caring for our loved cats but it does sound like your mother's main concern is for your well being, which is understandable.  My fingers are crossed that a second opinion brings some answers and relief for Smeagol.  As you said, six years is not really that old.   Cats do generally live longer when they are kept inside, though.  As you've discovered the hard way, they fight (especially when still intact) plus there are other dangers as well, such as being hit by cars or attacked by predators.  

Good luck!  
  And please keep us updated on Smeagol's well being!  
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #3

hanonanne

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Mar 22, 2016
Messages
2
Purraise
1
Location
Cebu City, Philippines
Unfortunately there are no cats-only vets around. I have one vet in mind who people are recommending since he's a veteran and might be able to help me. There's not much option around since the best vets 'cause so much, almost double than my first vet. He hasn't defecated for 2 days and most vets are closed due to holidays. Most come back on Monday so I will try to contact them and see if they're open today, hopefully. I am planning on buying pumpkin juice for him and hopes that softens the stool. He isn't showing any pain though when urinating. Or spending more time in the litter box. I hope the pumpkin juice will play its part well. His acting normally today though. We went out for some walk last night and it was the first since Saturday so that was relaxing. Thank you so much for advising [emoji]128512[/emoji] i certainly will find another vet and hopefully will offer it in a lower cost since I'm just a student.
 
Top