fibrosarcoma amputation decision

[kittymama916]

My 7 y/o cat has fibrosacoma in her front paw. Vet doesn't feel that it's vaccine related. We had it debulked & it came back 3 months later. It's grade 3 & now opting for amputation even though odds are 50/50. I am having a hard time with this, crying every day & I don't know if this is right decision. I don't have money for radiation treatment & my vet will let me pay monthly for the surgery. I just wanted to see if there is any hope by doing this.

[kittymama916]

Socks has been doing great & she was okay after licking the area where I took the fentanyl patch off, so i guess there was a residue of medicine left on that area.  She's getting back to her old self day by day.  I get a little sad when I see her try to use the amputated arm to try to bury her waste, she thinks it's still there :(  The vet amputated above the elbow, sort of where us humans would have the bicep.  He explained that he pulled the muscle over the remaining stub and stitched it up.  Sounds horrible, but he said it's better for balance.  And I have to say, she's running and going up & down stairs with no problem.  I probably should have waited to let her do all these things, but there's no stopping my little girl & she seems fine.  She gets her stitches out next Tuesday 6/4.  I tried to play with her a little bit, but I'm guessing it's difficult for her to play with only 1 front paw.  She loved to catch the feather toy with her paw & then she would get it in her mount and drag it to the corner of the room like it was a real bird.  I hope she'll be able to play somehow.. I know they can swat things with one paw as they lay down, but she hasn't done that yet.  If anyone has any suggestions on how to play in her situation, please let me know.

[opus88]

well I'm glad its all over and she has come thru it all so well....tough little critters aren't they:)
I hope she's come out of hiding by now, do you mean she was licking the area of the stitches or the spot where the patch was? she could get an extra high dose of the fentanyl that way...so I do hope you were able to wash it off.
keep us posted, good luck little Socks, keep up the good recovery:))

[Piparskeggr]

Reads like Socks is just treating this like a little bump in the road.

Best of luck for a swift recovery.

[kittymama916]

Socks had her surgery on Tuesday & she seems to be doing fine. She's jumping on the bed & couch & walks up & down stairs too.  She does not liked to be confined so I let her out of the room a couple of hours after she came home.  She did good & has no trouble with the litter box either. Today (Sunday) I removed the fentanyl patch off her leg and she licked the area.  She started drooling & now she seems tired & mellow (a little lethargic).  I called the vet earlier & she said that it shouldn't be a problem but to try & wash it off.  I wet a rag & tried to wipe as much, but Socks doesn't liked to be fussed with & she ran away. I'm a bit of a worry wart & I hope she's okay.  

[furmomof5]

As pet parents we have to make some very hard decisions.  It sounds like you have put a lot of thought and concern into every decision you make for your kitty.  You clearly have her best interest in mind and no matter what happens you made kitty's life complete.  Please let us know how her procedure goes and update us on her recovery.

[Piparskeggr]

Good luck for kitty and Gods Bless you for caring.

[kittymama916]

Thank you for your kind words.  I feel so bad because tomorrow is the day of her surgery & I'm getting much anxiety hoping that it will all work out.  And then again, if I didn't try I'd feel terrible too.  My sweet baby is so full of life & very agile & energetic so I'm hoping she will be fine. Please pray that she will be okay & she can live a happy life.  I only took her in a year ago from surviving the outside world & now she has a beautiful life indoors & I'm hoping for a miracle that she can live long. I love her so much!