Well, the worst is over. Just to recap... Abby turned up 10 days ago with a horrid gaping wound and the origin is a complete mystery. It's doubtfull it was a bite wound- majority seem to feel she got herself caught on something. There were no teeth marks or scratches, blood or signs of a fight anywhere on her - just this big open wound.
She's an indoor/outdoor lawn tiger.
After a frantic trip to the emergency vet, treatment consisted of anesthesia, wound care, sutures, antibiotics and an outrageous bill.
The clinic put her on Baytril suspension which was a nightmare to administer. She would drool and foam for about 5 minutes and it was horrid to watch.
Follow-up care at my regular vet went well. He changed her to Baytril pills (it's easy to pill her) and she hasn't thrown up once since the switch.
He told me that I took her to the worst emergency vet clinic in the area - and he wishes he could shut them down! He also said that what they charged me for this fiasco is just shocking and wrong. He was livid! If I ever need emergency care again, I'll know better.
After removing the sutures tonight and really seeing how they stitched her - I think a trained monkey could have done a better job! I'm lucky that it healed so well in so little time.
Since he knows I have nursing experience he told me to just go ahead and remove the sutures myself. I did that tonight. (I've removed sutures lots of times, even on myself and my kids) The wound looks great. It's clean, dry and there is no sign of infection at all. She's doing so much better.
She doesn't like it at all - but she is now and forever an inside cat! We have to watch for her-royal-sneakiness when we open the door- she tries to slink out!
I thought I would post some pictures of her wounded and miserable in her e-collar. I know... I know.... *why*??? It's gross...
You can all beat me with wet noodles for posting pictures that are so gross.....
OK here we go... wound with drains in place...
She's an indoor/outdoor lawn tiger.
After a frantic trip to the emergency vet, treatment consisted of anesthesia, wound care, sutures, antibiotics and an outrageous bill.
The clinic put her on Baytril suspension which was a nightmare to administer. She would drool and foam for about 5 minutes and it was horrid to watch.
Follow-up care at my regular vet went well. He changed her to Baytril pills (it's easy to pill her) and she hasn't thrown up once since the switch.
He told me that I took her to the worst emergency vet clinic in the area - and he wishes he could shut them down! He also said that what they charged me for this fiasco is just shocking and wrong. He was livid! If I ever need emergency care again, I'll know better.
After removing the sutures tonight and really seeing how they stitched her - I think a trained monkey could have done a better job! I'm lucky that it healed so well in so little time.
Since he knows I have nursing experience he told me to just go ahead and remove the sutures myself. I did that tonight. (I've removed sutures lots of times, even on myself and my kids) The wound looks great. It's clean, dry and there is no sign of infection at all. She's doing so much better.
She doesn't like it at all - but she is now and forever an inside cat! We have to watch for her-royal-sneakiness when we open the door- she tries to slink out!
I thought I would post some pictures of her wounded and miserable in her e-collar. I know... I know.... *why*??? It's gross...
You can all beat me with wet noodles for posting pictures that are so gross.....
OK here we go... wound with drains in place...
Thanks for sharin'!
