Aa
Update on vet appointment (OT)
A few of you asked to be updated on the kitty cat I found (or I should, "Who found us!"). We just got back from the vet. He got vaccinated, medication for an infection in his ears, de-wormer stuff, and x-rays. The x-rays showed a BB pellet lodged in the cat's chest, but that isn't something we have to worry about. But I was absolutely livid inside when the vet told me.
The x-rays also showed that Beckett does have a broken femur (leg) and it's been broken for about a month and has healed over funny. So the only option is amputation. My SIL, a vet tech, also told me it sounded like amputation was the way to go when I described everything to her.
So we're looking at about $450 on a surgery on a cat that just appeared on our doorstep. Ouch.
The x-rays also showed that Beckett does have a broken femur (leg) and it's been broken for about a month and has healed over funny. So the only option is amputation. My SIL, a vet tech, also told me it sounded like amputation was the way to go when I described everything to her.
So we're looking at about $450 on a surgery on a cat that just appeared on our doorstep. Ouch.
$450 is an awesome price in my opinion. An amputation usually costs in the thousands, something like 3500 or more. Cats do very very well with amputations, they are very active animals and having a useless limb or impaired limb can slow them down, causing other health issues. The amputation isn't a *Needed* thing, but it is highly advised because cats are so active.
You can always call other Vet clinics and explain the cats situation and see how much they will charge for the amputation.
Make sure you ask if the $450 includes medication, anestesia, and other charges for medical equipment. Sometimes they even charge for the usage of a surgery room.
If you have any other questions you can always email me and I can answer them the best I can.
You can always call other Vet clinics and explain the cats situation and see how much they will charge for the amputation.
Make sure you ask if the $450 includes medication, anestesia, and other charges for medical equipment. Sometimes they even charge for the usage of a surgery room.
If you have any other questions you can always email me and I can answer them the best I can.
so have you decided to keep the kitty?
i feel bad for my cats are cheaper than dogs comment but i didnt realize theyd have to amputate the leg.. sheesh poor poor kitty hes lucky you found him!
i feel bad for my cats are cheaper than dogs comment but i didnt realize theyd have to amputate the leg.. sheesh poor poor kitty hes lucky you found him!
BTS, I had no idea you were a vet tech! So does $450 sound reasonable? She actually told me $400 for the surgery but she mentioned there'd be pain medication I'd have to buy as well. So I just rounded it up. It might be less than that.
The vet seemed genuinely sad about the kitty's condition. But he also told me that cats do really well with amputations. This particular vet office wants payment up front or you cannot take the animal home with you. That's one way they keep their costs down because they don't have debt from non-payers.
The vet seemed genuinely sad about the kitty's condition. But he also told me that cats do really well with amputations. This particular vet office wants payment up front or you cannot take the animal home with you. That's one way they keep their costs down because they don't have debt from non-payers.
Even though Beckket may use his broken leg to an extent it is still the right choice to have it amputated. A lot of times limbs with severe injuries wether being used or not tend to get in the way of the animals normal behavior and activites, which is why vets reccomend amputations so much.
Being a Vet Tech myself, I have been present for a lot of surgeries on animals needing amputations, and all the patients even our elderly recovered and did way better than if the limb was left alone.
A lot of vets will work with you on payment plans, especially those with minimal income. It also depends on the vet, there are some out there that do their jobs for the *Money* and not for the actual welfare of animals, which is why vet care is so hard to afford these days. You can also ask local no kill shelters and privatly run sanctuaries for donations or help in your situation.
Some people have even done amputations in sections. Yes it does mean the animal has to be in some pain more than once, but sometimes this is done to be more cost efficiant. You can have the lower limb amputated first, pay a smaller amount than $450, and when you have the money saved, have the top part of the limb amputated.
I wish you the best, you and your new arrival will be in my prayers. Im 100% all about animal welfare and I think it is very hideous of vets to be more concearned with money than the animals wellbeing....But they will have their day......
Being a Vet Tech myself, I have been present for a lot of surgeries on animals needing amputations, and all the patients even our elderly recovered and did way better than if the limb was left alone.
A lot of vets will work with you on payment plans, especially those with minimal income. It also depends on the vet, there are some out there that do their jobs for the *Money* and not for the actual welfare of animals, which is why vet care is so hard to afford these days. You can also ask local no kill shelters and privatly run sanctuaries for donations or help in your situation.
Some people have even done amputations in sections. Yes it does mean the animal has to be in some pain more than once, but sometimes this is done to be more cost efficiant. You can have the lower limb amputated first, pay a smaller amount than $450, and when you have the money saved, have the top part of the limb amputated.
I wish you the best, you and your new arrival will be in my prayers. Im 100% all about animal welfare and I think it is very hideous of vets to be more concearned with money than the animals wellbeing....But they will have their day......
Oh Nikko, I just can't believe that happened but I'm so glad he's in such a better place, being cared for! Why people do the things they do...... I'll never know!
mjmommymanda, that's what DH and I were thinking. I just got off the phone with my MIL and she voted to keep the leg as-is as well!
sweetangel, the things we'll do for the pets we love! That is a lot of money!!! What a lucky little cat. Most people would've just euthanized the cat!
mjmommymanda, that's what DH and I were thinking. I just got off the phone with my MIL and she voted to keep the leg as-is as well!
sweetangel, the things we'll do for the pets we love! That is a lot of money!!! What a lucky little cat. Most people would've just euthanized the cat!
I'm glad you took care of the cat...$450 for an amputation is pretty good. My cat was shot (we hope on accident by hunters) when I was a little girl...back in like 1993...and he needed an amputation for one front leg and a complete reconstruction on one rear leg because the bullet went through the front leg and shattered the back leg. It set my mom back over $5k!
Either way it sounds like your little baby is going to do fine!
Either way it sounds like your little baby is going to do fine!
nikko.. that is the saddest thing I have ever heard.. I can't imagine that.. Some people are so cruel! My little george was sick the other night and I was crying just because of that.. I dont think I would have been able to hold it together if I found that poor dog.
Joy- I would just leave the leg (as long as its not painful for him.) Maybe he will eventually start using it more.. and he can have his own "unique" way of walking :D
Joy- I would just leave the leg (as long as its not painful for him.) Maybe he will eventually start using it more.. and he can have his own "unique" way of walking :D
JoyRenee, Last year I had an incident that just makes my blood boil like hearing about the BB pellet in the cat. I am a runner and often will run up and down my road versus using my treadmill (haven't ran since I found out I was preggo again **docs orders**, but I sure do miss it). Anyway, I had my ipod in my ears and noticed this light blue van coming toward me kind of slow. Of course, being a woman running alone on my road doesn't normally scare me, but the van was moving so slow that I instantly went alert. I took one of my ipod earphones out so I could listen. I heard squeeling like happens when your brakes need to be fixed and turned around to see how far away the van was. It was about 300 feet back and I saw him chuck something out the door. After the van left, the neighbors dogs at that end of the road ran across to see what was going on and instantly I could hear a little dog begin to whimper as the others tried to play and nip at him. Well, I did a 180 and turned around to see what all the fuss was about. It was a miniature dachsund pup that looked like he'd been through H.E.L.L and back. I pulled my sweater off (it was december so kind of chilly) and wrapped the little pup in it. The other dogs followed me all the way back to my house (5 miles). I was afraid to run for fear of bouncing him and scaring him even more. I brought him in the house and gave him a bath. He had dog poo all over him. His hair was very sparse like the mange and he had cuts and what I think was bruising, but never in my life have I ever seen a dog in such bad shape. I have two cats that are mostly indoor cats and new a dog in the house was not an option, but I didn't want to leave him outside cause he was in such a bad condition and putting him in the pin with my four 80 lb plus dogs was not an option for fear they would treat him like a little doggy snack. My neighbor had a small dog that passed away just a few weeks before that. But I didn't have much of an option, I called them and asked if they could take care of the pup for a few days while I tried to find him a home. They ended up falling in love with him in 24 hours and decided to keep him. When they took him to the vet, he had 3 bullets that are lodged in his body. None of them are cause to be removed, but they do travel and so sometimes you can feel on under his belly and the next day feel one on his back or head. Come to find out he is a full blooded miniature dachsund, of course they can't get papers on him since they didn't buy him AKC. His skin ended up being an infection that caused him to lose most of his fur and was quite treatable. He's had his ups and downs, but almost a year later he is like a brand new pup. My neighbor's are the kind of people that treat their animals like royalty. So, he is so pampered and loved. I have always said that if there is such a thing as reincarnation that I want to come back as one of their animals. I think God works in mysterious ways and even though it wasn't the best way to come across this dog it did do wonders for my neighbors. They are a retired couple. The wife is beginning to show the oncoming of alzheimers. So, I think his recovery has also been a way of coping and healing for them too.
We can just leave it since it's healed in a sense. He hops around kind of like a rabbit and he's been starting to use it a little. So it's not dead and limp. My husband is POed when I called him (about the price). It would be $1500 to surgically fix the entire knee and put pins in. We definitely don't have that!
I felt so nauseous in the car envisioning all these awful things that probably happened to this dear cat and I had to tell myself to stop and focus on the future. He's in good hands NOW. But I definitely was trying to not cry at the vet and in the car.
I felt so nauseous in the car envisioning all these awful things that probably happened to this dear cat and I had to tell myself to stop and focus on the future. He's in good hands NOW. But I definitely was trying to not cry at the vet and in the car.
does beckett use his leg at all? or is it just dead and limp.. because if he uses it a little I would just leave it.. My aunts dog got hit by a car and had to have one of her legs amputated.. it was sad but she is happier than ever... I dont blame you for being mad about the bb pellet.. some people are so mean. and im sure little beckett didn't hurt them in any way.. well good luck with the cat! sounds like he found a good home :D
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Pregnancy Community
Get information and tips on how to help you choose the right place to deliver your baby.
Get the facts on how twins and multiples are formed and your chance of carrying more than one baby at a time.
Learn about the risks and benefits of circumcision.
What to expect during the first hours after delivery.
Learn about early screening and test options for your pregnancy.
Learn about testing and treatment for GBS bacterium.
