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Tanya | 4 years ago
My 8 Year Old Labrador Had A Lump Removed From Her Chest Area Two Weeks Ago And …

My 8 year old Labrador had a lump removed from her chest area two weeks ago and has developed a seroma at the incision site. Vet is monitoring and happy that it’s not infected, but is there anything I can do to help it reduce, light massage? Hot or cold compress? She isn’t in pain, but she does seem to be finding it uncomfortable to lay down.

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    While I don’t think that massage or compress hurts I don’t think it speeds up the absorption. Keep a close eye on it and call your get if anything concerning arises.

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Robyn | 4 years ago
Hello! I Will Try To Keep This As Short As Possible But Is Hard Because So …

Hello! I will try to keep this as short as possible but is hard because so much has happened.

I have 3 cats. My male cat is the one I am worried about the most right now. About a month ago all 3 got URIs and went to the vet. They were treated with antibiotics however they weren’t helping much so I had to bring them back a few times! Due to financial issues I ended up bringing them to our local shelter/humane society where they have a free clinic right now due to Covid. Biggest mistake EVER! They were so mean to my cat and overly rough with him completely stressing him out. I wasn’t allowed to go in the room with him however was able to watch some of what was going on through a window. This stressed my cat out so much that a week later he got a urinary blockage (2 weeks ago now)… I have never had issues prior with the other vet. He is 8 yr old. Anyways the vet cathed him and sent him home since it was the weekend and they are closed… where he ended up going to the ER the next day because he was crying all night…. They took the cath out… gave him pain meds and fluids… and kept him for 5 hours… He came home that night and has been on pain meds as needed and prazosin 2x a day. He is also on Hills C/D wet (with minimal dry of the c/d) He has been seen 2x since at the vet and Monday they did a urine sample/culture…. They said he has white blood cells so was put on antibiotics…but once the culture came back it showed everything to be normal…so was taken off of them…. Prior to all of this he was free fed however I have been switching all my cats to meal times 2-3 times a day… and will continue with that because of weight issues . He has been peeing, however, sometimes when I am peeing he will come pee in his litter box at the same time… He shakes his back end and puts it up in the air kind of and the pee shoots or sprays out …. this isn’t every time he pees but it has happened 3 times that I have seen. His pee clumps aren’t as big as they were prior to all this and now vary in size… sometimes a golf ball size give or take a little bit bigger/or smaller. I also will see his back end/tail twitching randomly in the day. The vet said this happening more than likely was due to stress. I have been making sure to keep the stress level low at home, use feliway (idk if it helps) and new toys/cat nip.

My questions are…

1. When switching to a wet food diet…. Will cats pee more than usual? They were on a 90% dry diet before. Sometimes I add a little water to it as I don’t see him drink a lot.

2. He only has a few days left of the prazosin… Should he been weened or go off cold turkey?

3. Is the shaking and spraying like pee normal? He does so in the litter box however because of his angle sometimes it gets on the wall.

I am new to this… and have talked to/seen several vets however they all say different things so I am confused… I just want to know if this is normal….. I think he is probably irritated from being cathed and such… due to licking his private sometimes and whining (both aren’t as bad as they were before however still happen)

Thank You for taking the time to read this.

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    I’m sorry all of this has happened. I will try to answer your questions BUT you really need to stick with a vet you trust and be prepared for this to take a while to resolve. In some cats it is a lifelong issue.
    I prefer wet to dry as it is a much higher water content and usually much less fattening. I even recommend adding water.
    I also advise clients to try to give Sq fluids at home.
    Prazosin is a question for your vet. Some stay on this medication long term as it seems to be very beneficial.
    I am not sure what the shaking is. Maybe try to get it on video and discuss with your vet. Maybe pain?
    You should also ask about anything you can try for stress? Like Feliway? Catnip? Toys? Confinement at night? An anti anxiety medication? This is a discussion for your vet. What really matters is that you have someone advocating for you and your cat and you do everything you can to avoid another blockage and learn how to manage this long term.

    Best of luck.

    If possible can you share your vet experience (with the costs included) in our storyline section. It might help others.

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Kerry | 4 years ago
My 11 Year Old Yorkie Began Trembling And Having Trouble Walking 8 Days Ago. I Took Her To …

My 11 year old yorkie began trembling and having trouble walking 8 days ago. I took her to the vet the next day and she suspected IVDD. She put her on a pain reliever, prednasolome, and a muscle relaxer. She could still walk a bit when she went outside to go potty. 3 days ago she started to have extreme pain in her left shoulder/neck. She completely stopped walking but she tries and can stand and sit, but she falls over. I took her back to the vet and had an x ray done. They showed that the vertebrae between the neck and shoulder was very messed up. They kept her on the same meds. Is there hope for her? She is extremely healthy and fit. She is not over weight and was still very playful. She starts shaking and her neck muscles tighten and start twitching about 4 hours after I have given her the muscle relaxer, and she takes it every 12 hours so she is very tight for hours! What can I do for her? We cannot afford an MRI although wish we could. Also how often do I move her during the night? Thank you!

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  1. Sarah

    Hello- so sorry that you and your pup are going through this. If you look up on YouTube, Dr. Magnifico has posted a lot on ivdd. You may be able to find some valuable advice from her. Hoping that she see your post here- she’s very knowledgeable and will hopefully be able to offer some tips on how to help. Best of luck ????????

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Sara | 4 years ago
My Cat Has Been Limping On His Hind Left Leg He Hissing Aggressively Meows When He …

My cat has been limping on his hind left leg he hissing aggressively meows when he moves I’m pretty sure he either has a fracture or sprain or dislocation. he is eating an drink and using the bathroom but I can’t afford to take him to the vet for treatment what can I do for him and for his pain?

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  1. Sarah

    I’m sorry your cat is in so much pain. Really, you need to get him to a vet… especially since he is in so my pain.

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Heather | 4 years ago
My 1 Year Old Golden Doodle Was Neutered Last Week. The Incision Is Healing Nicely, But I …

My 1 year old Golden Doodle was neutered last week. The incision is healing nicely, but I am noticing some red fluid filled sacs on each side of the incision. He is acting ok and occasionally tries to lick the area. I noticed one sac burst and fluid came out, not bloody just pink. Is this normal?? He doesn’t seem to be in pain. Thank you!

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  1. Laura

    Seromas at incision sites are normal but I would always ask the vet who did the surgery to verify.

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Jessica | 4 years ago
My 4 Year Old Lab Has Chronic Ear Infections. We Have A Great System In Place (regular …

My 4 year old lab has chronic ear infections. We have a great system in place (regular ear cleanings, steroid drops during an infection, and anti inflammatory when it’s really bothersome to him) to try to stay ahead of them, and treat them from home when he has a flare up. Recently during a flare up (about 2 weeks ago) he developed a lump on the inside of his ear that I thought was a scab from scratching, but now I’m worried it could be some kind of skin cancer. Or is it just scar tissue and since it’s on the ear is a little more raised? Should I take him in to be seen for this or monitor it a little longer to see if it heals and goes away? It doesn’t seem to cause him any pain, he’s more concerned about his itchy ears.

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  1. Laura

    Hi there. Unfortunately it’s impossible to diagnose a lump or bump on the internet – the vet needs to actually touch it, feel it, etc. I wouldn’t freak out TOO much unless it starts to grow. In your situation I’d probably draw a circle around it (yes, on the ear itself) to monitor it, and I’d let the vet know what’s going on.

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Robyn | 4 years ago
My Cat Was Blocked Wednesday, The Vet Had A Hard Time Getting Catheter In. The Unblocked …

My cat was blocked Wednesday, the vet had a hard time getting catheter in. The unblocked him. Sent him home with pain meds and proposing.

He didn’t go to the bathroom at all that night
I took him back Thursday morning, they drained his bladder again . He had alot of bloodclots.

They told me next option was to hospitalize him.

But sent him home with a sedative to keep him relaxed and hopefully he can pee..
Mufasa has been drinking water. It looks like he has pass dribbles of pee in the litter box.

My question is if they had a hard time getting the catheter in the first time, will another place be able to get one in and keep him monitored?

Going on the third day and I am so worried keeping him sedated and not knowing if he is actually blocking back up

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  1. Sarah

    I would call your vet. I would think (I am not a vet though) they would want to keep him and monitor him closely since he posed such difficulty in the first place… especially after the second visit.

  2. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    I’m not sure what options were given to you at the first vet visit but in every cat blocked case I see I recommend placing a urinary catheter and hospitalization for three days (at least) to flush the bladder and debris that caused the blockage. Placing and then replacing a catheter just adds trauma to an already traumatized urinary system. This is what I recommend now.

  3. Robyn Post author

    I took him to Purdue, and unfortunately his bladder ruptured, RIP MUFASA

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Lisa | 4 years ago
My Dachshund Lucy Is Now Starting Her 3rd Week Of Conservative Home Care For IVDD From …

My dachshund Lucy is now starting her 3rd week of conservative home care for IVDD from C1-2 with paralysis of front and rear legs with deep pain present in all extremities. She is currently on gabapentin, prednisone, pepcid, and methocarbamol. I’m trying my best to stay hopeful however she still has pain with any movement. The only time I move her is for repositioning, cleaning, and feeding. I can’t afford surgery due to spending several thousand at the ER vets where she was misdiagnosed numerous times. I will however do anything in my power to keep her happy, functional, and pain free. I’m fine with her ending up in a quad chair if that’s the best we can do. Am I doing my best?

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    Without knowing the doses that you are using I would say it might be helpful to see if you can get into a neurologist ASAP. I would also ask about increasing the doses of the meds with your current vet. Also acupuncture might help. Lastly I think that at this point you may have to consider rechecking xrays to make sure this isn’t a fracture or neoplasia. I guess I would suggest to regroup and reassess. I hope this helps. Good luck

    1. Lisa Post author

      It does help. We do have an appointment to see a vet acupuncturist but with the holiday they are booked until Jan. 13. We have consulted on Zoom with a neuro who read her CT. Thank you!

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Shamra | 4 years ago
My Cat Is About 14 Years Old. Male. Last Week Really Noticed He Goes To Litter Often …

My cat is about 14 years old. Male. Last week really noticed he goes to litter often but doesnt go. But sometimes he did have a few times of clumped urine litter. So took to emergency clinic Sat 12/13/30. They could not get any urine to test. Sent home with antibiotics antiflamatory- pain meds and told to get in see regular vet.
Took to vet today 12/15/20. They were able to get a good stream of urine out as well as these blood clots tissues. See image. Said that I would need to ck his bladder ongoing to make sure it doesn’t get rock hard baseball sized. Gave me a medication to help dilate. Did blood panel and Im waiting to hear back on any other medications.
I feel like imaging should be done like yesterday.
If this blood clot tissue can happen again should he have been keep at vet to do something ?
Was this blood clot a actual plug and blockage. So since they got it out the blockage is gone at the moment?
I am just worried and dont want to make a mistake and not know if he has a full hard bladder.
Or did this clot coming out as he is good currently. How long would it take for another clot to form?
Any input advice would be much appreciated

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    I think that all of the questions you pose are excellent questions to ask yourself vet. I also talk to parents about feeding watered down canned food. I often add a steroid and I give cats Sq fluids daily to help flush the bladder. Just things to talk to your vet about. I get super aggressive with these guys. And I offer lots of options for parents to do at home. Along with showing them how to palpate a bladder to monitor at home. I hope this helps. Good luck.

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Jennifer Taylor | 4 years ago
In June My Labrador Developed A Lesion On Her Side. She Was Treated With Antibiotics And …

In June my Labrador developed a lesion on her side. She was treated with antibiotics and a medicated shampoo with no success. Her hair started thinning and she developed a lesion on the opposite side. Bloodwork was run to test for Cushings which was negative. As she started to take a Cushings type appearance her docs followed up with an ultrasound. In October she had a punch biopsy. She was treated with Apoquel with no improvement. She has lesions on her chest, both sides near her hips and one near her hind end. I have never seen her itching or chewing. The lesions are crusty and pretty dense. Hair loss is only on her trunk.
A little history: my dog is 10 1/2, has spay induced incontinence, history of frequent UTI’s, frequent urination, and megaesophagus. She is on Dasuquin, Cranmate and Welactin. Despite her plethora of health issues she has never had skin issues. Typically her coat is blue-black, thick and shiny.
She doesn’t seem to be uncomfortable but she seems to have a pretty high pain threshold.
Thank you for your time.

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  1. Laura

    Did they test her thyroid? A FULL thyroid panel, not just T4?