Becky--vet question

[Dr. Jill]

Hi Becky:
Sounds like you did a good job of treating your cat with hypericum orally and calendula topically. Especially since the sensation in the tail is returning.
I might also give a dose of Ledum 200C for the puncture wound aspect.

As a homeopathic vet who sees many animals that come to me on antibiotics and sometimes steroids, I don't worry about the antibiotics antidoting the remedy. If the remedy is going to work, it usually works. I also don't personally think one dose of Rimadyl will hurt your cat.

Rimadyl can have negative side effects on the intestinal tract and liver, but that is usually after repeated doses are given and the drug reaches a certain level in the blood stream.

Hopefully you have an e-collar on the cat so it can't keep licking its tail. This will give the tail a chance to heal on its own. The cat's tongue has spines on it and the licking activity may cause more damage on the skin.
Hope this is helpful.
Best,

Jill Elliot, DVM
The Holistic Veterinarian
New York, New York
212-794-4993
www.happytailsvet.com
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[becklesfield]

Hi Dr Jill

Thanks for your reply, it's very reassuring. I did actually give him
one dose of Ledum 30c on Thursday morning before going to the vets
that evening. I also tried to administer some on Wednesday night,
wrongly with food so perhaps some of it helped, I'm not sure. But he
definitely got a good dose in the morning, when I was being more
determined (he's a very big cat and is hard to handle when he's not
happy about something).



This is really good to hear. My fear was always that one dose has
potentially done some kidney damage. I checked out the usual side
effects from Rimadyl tablets that are seen in dogs, and he's had none
of those. Generally he's a very healthy cat on a species appropriate
raw diet with no vaccinations since two years ago, and no more in the
future.



I think I will still add milk thistle to his food for the next week
just to be on the safe side, also probiotics of course.



Actually this hasn't been necessary. He'll lick it a little bit just
after we've bathed it, but otherwise he's leaving it alone.

Can I ask just one more question? My vet said she would have to
amputate my cats tail if he didn't regain usage because the tail
obviously gets dragged around and can become damaged. But if this is
the case, is it normal to say that it would need to be amputated so
quickly? Surely if the cat was being kept indoors and therefore
minimal damage was being done (due to carpeted surfaces) then surely
a few more days can be given before having to do the operation? I
know she was also very concerned about infection spreading up towards
the spine, but that was not the reason she gave for potential
amputation.

I would ask the vet herself, but I already quizzed her about the
Rimadyl yesterday and she didn't sound particularly happy about
having her judgement questioned. This is a new vet so the jury is
still out. I did like her though, she uses homeopathy on herself so
understands my desire for natural healing where at all possible,
which is a vast improvement on the previous vet.

Thanks very much, I've just seen your website address, and it's very
pertinent!!!

Becky