Amputation advice needed please

Have had a lot of issues with my female cat PEbbles, this past few weeks - see this thread

http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=83929

The vet wants to try one last lot of meds, but has warned that if they dont work (and there is no guarantees) then we are looking at amputation. It is her back left leg, she is 11, and all these issues have caused some weight loss, but at 3.63kg, she isn't overly thin. She also has pre-cancerous scabs on her nose, but blood tests in Feb showed that she has no issues with her kidneys/liver, but I might get them re-tested as she has had an op and sedation since then. Just wondered if anyone has gone through this and has pics/advice. I am fine with the thought of amputation (she says now, knowing it will be at least a week before the final decision), and the fact that the vet says she is in a lot of pain makes me feel I dont have much choice.

As I know cats usually manage quite well with three legs. Especially if they are indoor cats.

I had read about a horror case with lucky end being an excellent illustration:

It was a rescue-group, they were out to catch a homeless cat. A cat WAS catched in the trap - wrrong cat. Without a leg! They asked the neighbours. Yes, he was a homeless semiferal. He lost his leg when homeless, did survive, the horrible wound did healed. He managed to live as homeless threelegged...

The story ends well, they did found a lady who wanted to give him a home, although sky semiferal...

She has always been an indoor/outdoor cat and even while she has been feeling out of sorts she has wanted to go out, so not sure if I will be able to convert her, and do have 3 others that have outdoor access. I know my vet has a three legged cat that still has outdoor access, but he is a lot younger than she is, and she has already been plagued with health issues!!

I have a friend with a 3 legged cat who goes outdoors - he copes very well and can do everything he could do before he had the leg amputated (after an RTA).

Maybe instead of an overnight convert to indoor only you could allow her some monitoring outdoor time (i.e. harness and leash, or you there with her) to see how she does. I know some older cats that crave being outside less and less the older they get....especially if she has some arthritis etc.

Good luck with everything, I'll be thinking about you Pebbles

I have tried a collar and lead on her, after the intial prob had flared down and before I coudl talk to the vet, and she tolerates it for a couple of seconds - wouldnt attempt to put a harness on her, she is very temperamental. She doesnt' go out all that much though, which is a good thing, and she might change completely after the op.

I question amputation for Pebbles, as she is "elderly" and has been having health problems. However, maybe this is the source of some of her problems. I guess just really try to get a good feel from the vet if they think this will correct things for her.
If she is going to be put out for an amputation, is there any way they can remove the lesions on her nose, too, to prevent her needing to go through surgery again?
Poor girl, I hope she surprises us and just gets well!

I think this is why the vet wanted to try meds first Becki, but so far she has had one good day followed by one bad day, and when she has a bad day, she barely eats and doens't move much, and she has already lost nearly half a kilo in 3 weeks, so we can't allow the not eating to continue, and she has always had a prob with that leg, my concern is that if it is left, she will end up making it worse. I might ask, but at the moment they are still pre-cancerous, so not sure, and is two ops in one go the best thing for her recovery wise? Will have to have a chat with Mrs Vet.

I dont see any problem with amputation and I have seen happy healthy 3 legged cats (as well as dogs). I think if the leg is causing her pain the best thing would be amputation (so long as she is healthy otherwise/I cant see putting her amputation if she has other chronic health issues) I am wishing you and your kitty the best and I will say a prayer that the surgery goes well.

Steve

Vet is reluctant to do the op, presumably with her age, and we have had a few health scares - she had to have a special kidney test as the vet was convinced she had a prob, but her bloods came back normal, as they did in August when they were done cos the vet was convinced she had a prob. She has noisy breathing, but a chest x-ray was clear.And if it was just inflammation, I could cope with meds, but there are too many other issues with that leg!!

When my vet amputated Tommy back leg we didn't know how old he was due to him being a stray. He did quite well with the three legs and I did let him "roam" outside with supervision after the stitches were removed. He didn't like though when I "helped" him in a difficult task like jumping up on an area he used to sleep on. He moved around the yard much faster than I thought!!

Thanks for that. I am going to have to talk to the vet tomorrow, as her eating is a bit hit and miss, and mostly when I encourage her too, rather than her asking. But that leg is still looking bad when she walks on it, and it is worse than the weakness she had before the op.

I think you have to do what is best for Pebbles. What's worse, her missing a leg, or her starving to death and having "good days and bad days"?

11 isn't really a bad age, yeah she's "older" but I think she will do just fine.

Many animals do fine on three legs, it doesn't sound like she's using the leg very well anyway, so it's probably more in the way than anything else. I think you have her best interests at heart and I think you have to do what you have to do to make her feel well.

I am praying for your angel.

Originally Posted by booktigger

Have had a lot of issues with my female cat PEbbles, this past few weeks................. vet wants to try one last lot of meds, but has warned that if they dont work (and there is no guarantees) then we are looking at amputation. It is her back left leg, she is 11,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Just wondered if anyone has gone through this and has pics/advice. I am fine with the thought of amputation (she says now, knowing it will be at least a week before the final decision), and the fact that the vet says she is in a lot of pain makes me feel I dont have much choice.

Click to expand...

YES! My Corkie was 10 or 11 when she got VAS vaccine associated (caused) sarcoma (cancerous tumor) in her right hind leg. SHE had to have her leg to the hip amputated to save her life. it took a bit of getting used to for both of us and she DID go out but only to a fenced in yard. She did just fine though!

Here she is:

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL22/...28/9431269.jpg my tripod Corkie scratching Minnie's delux scratcher

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL22/...28/9452703.jpg Little Braze toaster sunning herself in RP yard on Christmas box

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL22/...9/20018882.jpg 3 legged Corkie jumping DOWN from 6' green kitty tree

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL22/...9/19790062.jpg Corkie after amputation

Good luck! PM me or email me if you want to know or see more!

Crikey, didn't realise they would shave so much fur!!! The op has been booked for tomorrow (will start a new thread asking for vibes) - when I told vet that her eating was hit and miss and mainly reliant on me coaxing her, she had got more aggressive (she turned on me last night, it was scary and upsetting), and that 'weakness' is getting worse, the vet said we didn't have a choice, and I am glad that the vet said it and I didn't have to push for it, as I know deep down that it is the only thing to do, I don't actually think it has ever been that much of a doubt in my mind, and I have had a week to get used to the idea, and do some research. When she had her first op 4 weeks ago, I Asked the vet nurse who handed her over if she would have any long term effects from taking that pin out and was assured that she wouldn't and would be fine - and look what has happened!!