Pebbles is going to have to go back to the vets

It is 6 weeks since her leg removal, and she is doing really well, she has the occasional struggle to get on the bed but that is about it really - I will post some pics later. She is up this week for her first weigh in since it, to check that she hasn't put too much on, but her nose is looking worse than it has ever done . I rang the vets earlier this week, as it was looking bad then, and it is looking even worse now, and her 'nose vet' is on Mat leave till about Christmastime, so at the moment, there isn't anyone knowledgable enough about it, they were hoping that one of the locums would know something about it and could see her for me. If not, I honestly dont know where we are going to go.

I am glad to hear she's been doing so well post amputation, but sorry to hear about the nose Hopefully, someone wil review her chart (maybe even call and chat with the vet on leave?) and be able to come up with a plan to help her.

I am praying for sweet Pebbles.

Would you give us a review about Pebbles nose problem?

There is a thread on here somewhere about PEbbles, but basically, she has pre cancerous scabs on her nose due to sun damage. These were diagnosed towards the beginning of the year, and her nose had started to look bad the day before her leg probs started, so although I had initially booked an app for her to be seen, it got cancelled cos she was having probs after the initial pin removal, so I decided not to put her through another app. She now has scabs that have never been there, so I am hoping that the new ones dont mean that it has gone that step further, as while a leg amputation seemed no prob to me, removing the scabs off her nose is a different matter completely!!

Poor Pebbles and you!

Sending many health }}}VIBES{{{ her way! Hopefully they aren't as bad as suspected - remeber that Pebbles is a wonder and she'll certainly go against what everyone thinks!

Yes, she does keep going against what everyone expects, so I do hope that these stay pre-cancerous.

for Pebbles

I hope that you get Pebbles in right away to have those scabs looked at.

Hugs & prayers for you both.

XOcats - as I said in my original post, it isn't as easy as just taking her to the vets, my vet doesn't have enough knowledge on nasal SCC to even say if it was pre-cancerous or not, we had to see a different vet, who is now on mat leave. If neither of the locums know enough about it, then it is looking like the only option is a specialist, which I dont wnat to have to do, as it is a long journey (and I get lost every time I go somewhere I dont know). Here are a couple of pics - one taken a couple of months ago


and one taken today

I am so sorrry that you and Pebbles are going through this.
It does look like it has spread.

I am assuming a locum is a local vet but I am not familiar with the term.
Am I correct?

It does, doens't it? I am just hoping that more scabs doesn't mean it has gone more than pre-cancerous. A locum vet is one they have in to cover the mat leave, so until they get here (which is tomorrow), we dont know how experienced they are going to be on this. I will ring them tomorrow though, and get one of the receptionists to find out - as she is supposed to be up this week for a weigh in anyway, so if there is someone who can see her, I will just re-arrange that app. I knew there was a chance that this would turn cancerous, but I did hope that it wouldn't happen any time soon, we have already had too many vet visits this year!!

I will once again add you and sweet Pebbles to my prayers and watch for your updates.
Pebbles is an amazing kitty....
Miracles do happen.

Poor Pebbles - she doesn't deserve two such serious unconnected problems.

Thanks everyone. I bent my own rules to take her on, as she was only 10, and thought I might have a nice easy cat with no major health issues at that age!! Boy, was I wrong!! WE have just had one thing after another, and everytime we get one thing sorted, somethign else rears its ugly head, so yet again, I am wondering where the end of the tunnel is with her, and hoping that yet again it is something that we can beat. I know that one of these days it isn't going to be something we can beat though, so everything like this is worse, as there is always that niggle that maybe this is the thing that she wont be able to beat. But, she has proved to be a fighter, so I keep trying to stay positive.

Well, the vet has rang, and the only option she can offer is cryotherapy. This was offered initially and I decided not to go through with it after research, so am not sure I can go through with it now - esp not as she would have to be sedated, there is no way my vet would attempt it otherwise - she has already had 2 ops and a sedation this year, as well as tests as the vet thought she had kidney probs - initially they said she would need 3 courses, although it could be more now with the amount of them. She did say the ideal treatment would be radiotherapy, but there are only a couple of centres in the UK, and sadly I dont live near neither of them. I am not sure whether to push the specialist option either (supposedly only a 50 min drive each way), as she has already gone through so much and so many vet visits this year alone (and nearly as many last year as she has had this year so far - she does have 10 years worth to catch up with you know!!), so at the moment my heart is telling me to leave her be for a while. I know that some of you wont agree with this decision, but I just feel that with what she has gone through this year already, she needs a break from the vets, and her behaviour isn't any different, so I think they bother me more than they bother her.

Have faith in your own judgement, you were right about her leg and I am sure you are right about this. Quality of life is sometimes more important than quantity.
Anne

Aw, poor Pebbles. I am so sorry she is going through all of this.

Thanks Anacat - it is something that I have a heavy heart over, but I have to think of what is best for her, and I honestly dont think that putting her through treatment that may be uncomfortable, sedation which carries risks, when there are no guarantees it will work, and no guarantees that it wont recur is the best thing for her, esp not with what she has been through so far. I knew instantly that amputation was the right thing to do, even before the vet was ready, but have always been iffy when it comes to her nose. I do agree that quality is more important than quantity, and I have stopped treatment on other cats to give them it.