Not sure whether to call emergency vet or wait until tomorrow

[afaloren]

Cat had cellulitis in his paw a couple of weeks ago, was given antibiotics and painkillers. All sorted. Now he’s holding the same paw up/not walking on it and it’s got a bald patch on. He ate his breakfast and seems ok in himself. Emergency vet today or can it wait for regular vet tomorrow?

I would call the vet after hours number and describe the problem and see what they say.

Have you got any of his pain medicine left, can you give him that? I'd say he needs to seen tomorrow. After hours will be extortionate and it doesn't sound life threatening, though obviously upsetting. Keep him indoors til then. But do ring the out of hours place just for advice, I've done that before and they're quite helpful. They won't pressure you to bring him in unless it really is an emergency.

That’s an idea, I do have some painkillers left. Perhaps I will give him that and call the regular vet first thing tomorrow.

I’d give the painkillers and call vet first thing tomorrow. Doesn’t sound like it’s life threatening enough for the extortionate Sunday fees! Just keep an eye on him, if he stops eating/drinking or is listless give them a call.

That's what I would do. The emergency vet near me is £285 just to be seen!

If he's ok in himself (i.e not listless, warm or looking especially unwell), I'd leave it until tomorrow.

@Toddlerteaplease we might be in the same area 😁 we took the cat to the emergency vet yesterday and that was the price.

id give painkillers and wait tbh. If he’s eating/drinking etc then it should be fine, but I’d keep him in so you can keep an eye.

Give him the pain meds, keep him inside the house and keep an eye on him then get him to the vet tomorrow morning.

Give him painkillers but ring an emergency vet if he seems any worse later. Cellulitis can spread quite quickly (it's also very painful) and can be life-threatening.

@LeroyJenkinssss I don't understand how they can justify that price just for a consultation. And that's not including the £25 admin fee. That you have to pay regardless of if you do a direct claim or not!

@Toddlerteaplease the vet did at least ask if we were claiming (we aren’t as the excess is massive given the cat is old) and so we didn’t need to pay the admin fee. They did say if we changed our mind to let them know and they could do it in the future if we needed it.

Really appreciate everyone’s input. He seems fine in himself including his usual crusade to be let in the spare room which we try to keep cat free for guests (of course I let him because he’s poorly ) but if he deteriorates this afternoon I shall call the emergency vet.

Oh and I gave the painkillers

Does your insurance have a helpline? We can call 24/7 and talk to a vet nurse, and they can switch to a video call if necessary. I used it late one night when our cat had been really sick and they gave us loads of checks to run through, then rang back two hours later to check in. By the check in whatever it was had passed but I found the whole thing really reassuring.

Just an update, I took him to the vet this morning and she said I did the right thing giving the painkillers. He’s no temperature so going to carry on with anti inflammatories and bathing the wound. She thinks it might have been a grass seed but there’s nothing in there now.

Thanks again all for your advice

How are things @afaloren ? Hope your little cat is well on the road to recovery!

Sorry @Pudmyboy I didn’t see this earlier! He’s fine. Wound has healed and he happened to have his annual booster appointment so they checked it again then. He’s raising hell as usual!