I'm only asking this here because I probably won't be able to see the vet until Friday due to the snow storm heading my way. I'm going to call first thing in the morning (Monday), but they probably won't be able to squeeze us in. I'm concerned about what's going on with my cat, so I thought maybe some people here could help while I'm waiting.
I have a 14 y/o, indoor only, male cat, Shorty, who has what may be a tumor on his front leg. There's an open, flat sore about the size of a penny that isn't healing very well. He's been on Amoxicillin (50 mg twice daily) for a week, but I'm not seeing any improvement. If anything, it may be worse.
He was prescribed the Amoxicillin for a herpes virus flare-up without being seen (he has a history of flare ups). I noticed the sore about two days before I got the prescription filled at my local pharmacy. At first, I figured it was one of the mysterious sores like he's had on his paw pads before, which was treated with antibiotics. So I let it go since it had already scabbed over. I figured the antibiotics would help. But Thursday, I noticed it was open and nasty looking so I wrapped it up so it wouldn't get cat litter and hair in it. But now I'm not seeing any improvement. There may be a lump or something under the skin.
Based on pictures I'm looking at on the internet, it appears it may be a tumor. At this point, the area is flat, not raised. It started bleeding from one little spot Saturday night when I replaced the dressing, but that was probably because Shorty was trying to pull the bandage off. It looks better today (Sunday) than it did Saturday. It's near his claw (the one equivalent to our thumb) on the side of his leg. The area seems painful to him. He certainly fusses at me when I try to treat the area.
Like I said, I'm calling the vet Monday morning, but I doubt I'll make it in before Friday due to the snow.
Does anyone have any thoughts or advice? If it sounds like cancer, does anyone have any info on whether the leg would need to be amputated? Can the regular vet do that? How much does it cost? I'd like to have an idea as to what I want to do before we see the vet.
I have a 14 y/o, indoor only, male cat, Shorty, who has what may be a tumor on his front leg. There's an open, flat sore about the size of a penny that isn't healing very well. He's been on Amoxicillin (50 mg twice daily) for a week, but I'm not seeing any improvement. If anything, it may be worse.
He was prescribed the Amoxicillin for a herpes virus flare-up without being seen (he has a history of flare ups). I noticed the sore about two days before I got the prescription filled at my local pharmacy. At first, I figured it was one of the mysterious sores like he's had on his paw pads before, which was treated with antibiotics. So I let it go since it had already scabbed over. I figured the antibiotics would help. But Thursday, I noticed it was open and nasty looking so I wrapped it up so it wouldn't get cat litter and hair in it. But now I'm not seeing any improvement. There may be a lump or something under the skin.
Based on pictures I'm looking at on the internet, it appears it may be a tumor. At this point, the area is flat, not raised. It started bleeding from one little spot Saturday night when I replaced the dressing, but that was probably because Shorty was trying to pull the bandage off. It looks better today (Sunday) than it did Saturday. It's near his claw (the one equivalent to our thumb) on the side of his leg. The area seems painful to him. He certainly fusses at me when I try to treat the area.
Like I said, I'm calling the vet Monday morning, but I doubt I'll make it in before Friday due to the snow.
Does anyone have any thoughts or advice? If it sounds like cancer, does anyone have any info on whether the leg would need to be amputated? Can the regular vet do that? How much does it cost? I'd like to have an idea as to what I want to do before we see the vet.