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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Difficult decision

7 replies

poorcat · 21/05/2022 07:04

DCat is around 13, a rescue, had her since she was 8. She's an indoor cat, it was a condition of her adoption as she'd never been outside.

She has what was diagnosed as 'granulomatus dermatitis' on her right hind leg. It's growing, raw, and can't be removed because there's not enough skin to close the wound. She initially got it from (we think) a fight with her sister.

As it grew, it got infected, so now she's permanently in a collar. She hates it, grooming is her greatest love. She's not been herself, off her food a bit, bit lacking energy. Now on antibiotics and steroids. A short term solution only.

Vet says the only thing to do is amputate the leg. BUT, they are not certain the leg is cause or symptom of something underlying. Her bloods were ok, bit borderline on kidney function.

So, if I do nothing the cat will be miserable and will certainly decline.
If we amputate her leg there's a chance she'll be fine, but also a chance I've put her through a big op to still decline.

She's DD's cat really. I've not told her as she's sitting exams. I feel we or have to do the amputation but it's so hard. Words of advice welcome! Anyone been through similar?

OP posts:
poorcat · 21/05/2022 07:08

Here she is before we had to put the collar of doom on!

Difficult decision
OP posts:
Toddlerteaplease · 21/05/2022 08:36

I'd probably try the amputation. If it helps it could transform her life. Cats manage well as tripods. And if it doesn't work? You know you tried everything.

poorcat · 21/05/2022 08:46

I think so too, she's so desperate to groom herself bless her. I can't just watch her decline like this without doing something to help.

OP posts:
Holidayroundthecorner · 21/05/2022 09:11

We had a dcat who was hit by a car
Had a back leg removed.. He became a true Six Dinner Sid.. He managed more than fine.

poorcat · 21/05/2022 09:43

She doesn't go out, so would probably adjust easily to her environment. I'll have to break the news to DD soon.

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70isaLimitNotaTarget · 21/05/2022 09:46

Aw she's lovely
I would definately try the amputation if she is fit enough to go through the surgery and recover

Our old moggie had a "lick granuloma" in her tummy but a couple of weeks with the hated Collar of Doom and salt water cleansing sorted it .(She was already on low dose steroids)

It stinks too . Sad Felt sorry for her not able to groom but she was overdoing it

poorcat · 21/05/2022 10:31

I suspect we missed a chance to get to it earlier. She escaped several collars... thanks for responding, I just feel so sorry for her!

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