Amputated tail now open wound (cat)
Discussion
Our cat broke its tail a few weeks ago and we had the end removed by the vet.
After there was a 25-30mm shaved section on the end and then some stitches, all was fine and then she started licking where the shaving ended and the old hair was. Rang vet and he said to keep an eye on it.
On Wednesday morning we come down and she has a bloody stump, like she has de-gloved the end. Taken to vets, huge dose of antibiotics and said to leave.
We are now keeping her in and she is going crazy.
However the end is still raw and bleeding.
We have ordered various bits - dog ends, bandage, horse tape etc but she manages to get them all off.
Also tried the cone of shame but she nearly killed herself fighting it.
At a loss - leave it over the weekend and back to the vets on monday?
After there was a 25-30mm shaved section on the end and then some stitches, all was fine and then she started licking where the shaving ended and the old hair was. Rang vet and he said to keep an eye on it.
On Wednesday morning we come down and she has a bloody stump, like she has de-gloved the end. Taken to vets, huge dose of antibiotics and said to leave.
We are now keeping her in and she is going crazy.
However the end is still raw and bleeding.
We have ordered various bits - dog ends, bandage, horse tape etc but she manages to get them all off.
Also tried the cone of shame but she nearly killed herself fighting it.
At a loss - leave it over the weekend and back to the vets on monday?
My cat had a similar issue although his tail was taken off a lot lower than that. He had to have two further operations to take off a bit more each time and on the last occasion was told this with the final chance as was at his spine level. Thankfully the final operation allowed it to heal. Had to leave the stitches in a lot longer just to give it the best chance. Bex on here was a massive help and lots of people offered support.
I personally would be back at the vets, I was told to try honey dressings but once the bone is through there is no chance of it healing. I also had to cage him for weeks on end which he hated thankfully got there in the end. My vet was in tears when he finally healed.
I personally would be back at the vets, I was told to try honey dressings but once the bone is through there is no chance of it healing. I also had to cage him for weeks on end which he hated thankfully got there in the end. My vet was in tears when he finally healed.
I know a dog that had a similar issue.
He had to have a second operation which took 90% of the tail off and then whatever it took to stop him getting at the wound area.
Maybe inflatable collar and / or a small cage to restrict movement and try not to leave the cat unattended?
Good luck!
He had to have a second operation which took 90% of the tail off and then whatever it took to stop him getting at the wound area.
Maybe inflatable collar and / or a small cage to restrict movement and try not to leave the cat unattended?
Good luck!
Took her in monday to our normal vet (who has always been fantastic) and they said to leave it a few more days as they feel it is healing nicely and further operations could cause the same issues.
Not overly happy with this we took her to a different vet for a second opinion, and they have said exactly the same thing!
I cant remember the technical terms but basically the stub even though red is scabbing nicely and should grow back fine. As it is starting from fresh it shouldn’t be as itchy and so she shouldn’t bother with it.
So far she is leaving it alone, we can touch it and it doesn’t bother her and she is acting fine.
Both vets said to keep her inside for a few more weeks. However she is slightly feral and so is going crazy in the house - climbing curtains, deliberately being naughty etc.
A neighbour suggested building her an obstacle course/climbing frame so have got a load of various pipes from work and will construct something in the garage for her!
Not overly happy with this we took her to a different vet for a second opinion, and they have said exactly the same thing!
I cant remember the technical terms but basically the stub even though red is scabbing nicely and should grow back fine. As it is starting from fresh it shouldn’t be as itchy and so she shouldn’t bother with it.
So far she is leaving it alone, we can touch it and it doesn’t bother her and she is acting fine.
Both vets said to keep her inside for a few more weeks. However she is slightly feral and so is going crazy in the house - climbing curtains, deliberately being naughty etc.
A neighbour suggested building her an obstacle course/climbing frame so have got a load of various pipes from work and will construct something in the garage for her!
Bit of an update, it didn’t heal and so on Monday (a week ago) she had more amputated.
Its now around 4cm long, but this one is healing nicely and hair already growing back - unlike the previous time when it looked like the skin was dying back!
She is back at the vets again tomorrow for another check up, and hopefully they say she can go out by the end of the week. She is going crazy in the house!
Its now around 4cm long, but this one is healing nicely and hair already growing back - unlike the previous time when it looked like the skin was dying back!
She is back at the vets again tomorrow for another check up, and hopefully they say she can go out by the end of the week. She is going crazy in the house!
A bit late now but 25 years ago our cat was hit by a car and taken to a vet. After 3 days of him not coming home, we decided that there was nothing for it but to go looking. Eventually we hit upon the vet he'd been taken to, and he was in a bad way. After a while, he healed well and was completely mobile except for his tail which hung from his back end and flapped against his rear legs when we walked or ran. He wasn't able to move it at all and he tried to bite it as if it wasn't part of him. He clearly couldn't feel it and we were advised by the vet to have it amputated. We said we'd think about it, and we could see that it was bothering him less and less as time went on. But after 2 years, he started being able to lift it, and after three years he was able to hold his tail upright. He never regained full mobility and he couldn't wrap it around him when he slept or swish it about. But other than that he got a fair bit of function back and we were so glad we resisted the advice to amputate.
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