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Post by tonib on Aug 22, 2019 18:33:46 GMT
Today I noticed Lexie was limping on her right hind (or at least I think its her right hind). I first noticed it when she jumped up on to the worktop & she didn't put weight on her right properly & then the limp when I put her back on the floor. Her hip movement was a bit uneven as well. So phoned the vet & we got the 17:40 appointment at the main hospital branch (about 20 minutes away) as our local was full today & tomorrow morning. Lexie has been subdued all day, even being quiet travelling to the vets - unlike her. At the vets of course she would walk properly for the nice young female vet to see the limp but after some manipulation did agree Lexie was tender on the right leg (thigh/hip area). As a result she's on Metacam for 5 days. However she then felt over her stomach/groin area & seemed to find something. I wondered if Lexie's bowel was thickened again as I'd tried her on Royal Canin Light as an alternative to JWB moist (as Lexie can react to some foods as has been seen in the past) but no the vet had found a lump & one that I could easily find once I knew where to feel Result - Lexie back to vets on Tuesday to see how limp has done on Metacam & more importantly for the vet to see how the lump is as that is what concerns her most. I've an appointment at 11:20 at our local branch (5 minutes away) as the vet is there that day so good for distance & continuity. A decison will then be made about the lump, probably to arrange an op to remove it & get a biopsy done. I one sense I'm glad I took Lexie rather than wait to see if the limp was only temporary as it means that the (unconnected) lump was found. It's definitely not just an abscess as its attached to something - not sure precisely what, I'll just have to wait & see & keep fingers crossed.
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Post by lotsofcats on Aug 27, 2019 13:29:56 GMT
Fingers crossed that it's nothing serious tonib. I hope the vet visit went well.
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Post by scallywag on Aug 27, 2019 15:27:43 GMT
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Post by tonib on Aug 27, 2019 18:36:11 GMT
Well .... first of all thanks for the well wishes for today lotsofcats & scallywag. Limp - seems Ok so off the Metacam & see what happens Lump - still the same. The vet is sure its not Lexie's mammary gland so that's something. She asked is I knew if Lexie had been midline spayed as sometimes some fat can caught in the scar tissue & can subsequently form a lump but Lexie's now 10 so it's a bit late for that as she was spayed as a kitten. The vet doesn't think the lump is attached to the intestines, its most probably attached to muscle. Also Lexie had a good examination 2.5 years ago yourpetforums.co.uk/post/141222/thread so any lump would have been found then. Not sure why but her records on the computer system only go back 2 years - although that could be the vet doesn't know how to find older records (there may have been a system upgrade since early 2017) as she's fairly new to the practice. I might email her the post (edited) with the dates so she may be able to get access to Lexie's older records. Anyway the vet wants to do an x-ray to see where the lump actually is. I queried whether a CT scan would give more information & its possible. The vet wants to discuss it with the head vet who's back 2nd week of Sept. so Lexie is booked in for either x-ray or scan on Tuesday 10th Sept. I must admit I didn't think our vets did CT scans, as I typed this forum post I wonder if the vet meant ultrasound. I have said that cost isn't an issue - as I expected the CT scan to be a referral to a specialist facility but we'll see. I might add that to the email. So just a waiting game for the moment.
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Post by cazypops on Aug 27, 2019 22:53:43 GMT
Glad to see that Lexie's limp has improved, and fingers crossed that the lump isn't anything too serious tonib.
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Post by lotsofcats on Aug 28, 2019 14:29:37 GMT
So pleased that Lexie's limp is much improved. Good luck with the x-ray or scan in September.
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Post by chantel on Aug 29, 2019 16:19:05 GMT
Well .... first of all thanks for the well wishes for today lotsofcats & scallywag. Limp - seems Ok so off the Metacam & see what happens Lump - still the same. The vet is sure its not Lexie's mammary gland so that's something. She asked is I knew if Lexie had been midline spayed as sometimes some fat can caught in the scar tissue & can subsequently form a lump but Lexie's now 10 so it's a bit late for that as she was spayed as a kitten. The vet doesn't think the lump is attached to the intestines, its most probably attached to muscle. Also Lexie had a good examination 2.5 years ago yourpetforums.co.uk/post/141222/thread so any lump would have been found then. Not sure why but her records on the computer system only go back 2 years - although that could be the vet doesn't know how to find older records (there may have been a system upgrade since early 2017) as she's fairly new to the practice. I might email her the post (edited) with the dates so she may be able to get access to Lexie's older records. Anyway the vet wants to do an x-ray to see where the lump actually is. I queried whether a CT scan would give more information & its possible. The vet wants to discuss it with the head vet who's back 2nd week of Sept. so Lexie is booked in for either x-ray or scan on Tuesday 10th Sept. I must admit I didn't think our vets did CT scans, as I typed this forum post I wonder if the vet meant ultrasound. I have said that cost isn't an issue - as I expected the CT scan to be a referral to a specialist facility but we'll see. I might add that to the email. So just a waiting game for the moment. So sorry tonib I must have missed this post about lexi glad the limp is better and the lump is not connected to the mammary gland has you know I have had issues with my 2 late dogs with mammary lumps so that is why I got Elsa spayed straight away . Like you say itโs a waiting game once again I think thatโs the worse part not knowing what it actually is ? Your doing the right thing getting it scanned ๐ fingers and paws crossed- has the vet given you any clues to what it might be ? What ever you do donโt goggle it , I have learnt my lesson with that it just sends my anxiety into overdrive โน๏ธ Keep us posted tonib
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Post by tonib on Aug 29, 2019 21:08:12 GMT
Thanks chantel, I don't think the vet knows what it is, especially as she'd not sure exactly where it is (or perhaps that is more correctly what it may be attached to) As you say scan/x-ray will help with that. I definitely don;t google these sort of possibilities only more defined (by vet) diagnos(es) & treatments. So I just wait.....
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Post by tonib on Sept 10, 2019 7:16:17 GMT
Spoke to the vets yesterday in advance of today's appointment(s) & the head vet wants to see Lexie before deciding what to recommend. So instead of going in at the earlier time for admission we've to keep the 9:10 appointment with him (they booked both at the last visit) but still keep her starved after 10:30 pm last night & no water after 7:30 am this morning as she will probably still have an anaesthetic for whatever they decide is best.
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Post by lotsofcats on Sept 10, 2019 8:15:33 GMT
Good luck with the vet visit.
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Post by tonib on Sept 10, 2019 11:01:36 GMT
Saw the head vet who said the lump is attached to Lexie's abdominal wall. He said the best way to continue is to remove it & if necessary send it for testing. The possibilities are that it is a fatty lump, a hernia (in which case repair not remove) or most likely a tumour. So just waiting to hear what happens. If I haven't heard anything by 4 (clinical rounds at 3:30 when they assess for recovery to go home) then I'm to ring the vets. I suspect she will need some form of incarceration to recover, not sure whether that will be cage rest (I.e. limited movement) or just being kept in. whichever will be an interesting exercise with Lexie our fidget Bridget! I've thought about it all since I left the vets & bearing in mind that it was found when she went to the vets with an unexplained limp & also that she had been jumping around trying to catch butterflies & getting the conservatory wall/windowsill instead, I wonder if it could be a hernia. Although the limp did seem to respond to Metacam. I realise that this could just be wishful thinking but fingers crossed if it is a tumour then its not malignant. I suppose one can't help thinking of the worst & hoping for the best
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Post by lotsofcats on Sept 10, 2019 13:25:56 GMT
Ooh, a worrying time for you until you hear from the vet tonib. Wishing that it's the best news for you. I can't tell you not to worry as I know what it's like. I hope they ring you very soon.
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Post by tonib on Sept 10, 2019 21:38:11 GMT
Well its good news, it was a hernia on the site of an old op. Her spay was flank so that wasn't the cause but looking further at her previous owner's vet records, less than a month after her spay, she had sequential biopsies of the intestine etc. which is when they found out about her probable food intolerances. I'd seen 4mm biopsy on the records but hadn't thought that they would have to open her up I was thinking more about the 4 mm being keyhole rather than the size of the samples! So that is probably the cause of the weakened area of the abdominal wall. That was 2010. So its been fixed & she will have the stitches out in 10 days. In the meantime she's on full cage rest for 5 days then can have some time out of the cage for the next 5 days but still not going out or overdoing it. Luckily we had the medium dog crate from when Roman was incarcerated on 2015/6. Lexie is not impressed to put it mildly. She has been climbing the wall - literally the bars of the cage - not what is required She's managed to get her eliazbethen collar off 2/3 times & was licking the wound I've now got it on its smallest fastenings & that seems to have resolved that although it took a couple of attempts to gt that right so that the overlap didn't cause a problem! Not sure she's worked out how to use the litter tray with the collar on as she seems to want to put her head down & gets the collar into the litter . At least she's eaten well but not sure about drinking - I've changed the water once as it had litter in it!! We used the clip on water bowls from the carriers but the bar we used is a bit high for Lexie with the collar on so its bowl on the floor of the cage Osiris was looking at her in the cage in horror & Roman has seen her twice, going up to the cage & then really hissing at her & then left the room - not sure why. Could be an interesting 10 days!
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Post by tonib on Sept 11, 2019 8:38:48 GMT
Well it seems to have been a peaceful night for all. Lexie kept her collar on & I didn't hear a peep until I got back downstairs this morning. She's definitely disorientated with the collar on as when I let her out the cage while I vac'd up the litter etc from the cage & made the cushions etc a bit more comfortable. She's walked through the litter tray but not yet used it, I might try a slightly lower sided one albeit it is a bit smaller but she might find that easier as less likely to catch the collar on it. She's had some of her breakfast & has settled again. Roman's definitely not happy about being in the living room with her in the cage. its raining today & once he'd had part of his breakfast he went out, as usual. He's has just been back in for more & has gone out again rather than his usual come on to the sofa or windowsill in the living room At the beginning of last week the decorator finished painting the spare bedroom (started the previous Wednesday) & a new carpet was fitted on the Wednesday & new bed was delivered on Saturday along with a new chair for the living room, so there's been quite a bit of disruption in their lives over the last 2 weeks & room now a caged Lexie in living room! Hopefully he'll settle to it soon.
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Post by lotsofcats on Sept 11, 2019 9:25:45 GMT
Good news that the op went well tonib. Poor Lexie on full cage rest. Cats really have a difficult time with the collars and litter trays, Kiba-Khan was the same. Especially hard for Lexi with not much room for manoeuvre. I expect Roman and Osiris are thinking rather you than me.
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