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#11
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Thank you all for the replies! I'll summarize my response, rather than
sending individual replies. "buglady" wrote in message rthlink.net... http://www.afip.org/vetpath/WSC/wsc00/00wsc06.htm Ceroid pigment is present as brown/gray globules, mostly within the cytoplasm of macrophages The pathology presented in this link is quite an accurate description of Bubba's condition when we first discovered it. The vet clipped all the hair off his abdomen, and the yellow/brown discoloration was very apparent. At the time, he had one central opening, draining blood. Her immediate reaction was that it was a necrotic malignancy, beyond hope, and that I should put him down. I insisted that she run some tests first, though, and fortunately she consulted with the vet who had seen steatitis. The only abnormality on the CBC was an elevated white count, of about 28,000. He hasn't had a fever, and did respond very quickly to treatment for steatitis. The holes do appear to be the result of fluid draining from the area, and have usually first manifested as an area of "thin" skin or a blood blister. It's quite difficult to describe accurately, and has been changing rapidly. I've been told that the progression from bloody discharge to clear fluid is a positive sign, however, and there hasn't really been any drainage at all over the past few days. There hasn't been any obvious indication of parasites, and I don't think the vets have even considered that as a possibility. However, it is easy to imagine that parasitic growth or some other secondary condition have occurred since this all began, or that the skin condition is indeed a result of the medication, and I'll ask the vets tomorrow. It's gotten to the point where they both look at him whenever I bring him in. The reason I've continued the steroid use is that the area appeared to clear up very quickly when he was first on them. When I stopped the steroids (as directed), it then quickly erupted, and his overall condition deteriorated. Restarting the steroids again led to rapid improvement, and I do have a reference to effusions related to steatitis. You raise a very valid point, though, Liz, and I'll discuss the issue with them in depth. I hope that I'm looking at the healing process for steatitis, but am concerned that there might be a large area of necrotic tissue, including the skin. I do understand that necrosis is often associated with steatitis. There is an odor as well, although the tissue I looked at yesterday does look just a little less disgusting today - it's smoother, and the affected area doesn't look as deep, although it's still a grayish brown. The vets have been "on alert", so I'm sure we'll be able to get in there tomorrow morning. I'll still be grateful to receive any additional thoughts/experiences, though, and again, thanks to all for replying! Steve |
#12
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"S. Gass" wrote in message om... Update: There now seems to be a more normal color returning to the open area, i.e. pink rather than brown. And it doesn't really smell acrid or skunk-like There is still an open area of about 1" in diameter, though, with the likelihood of becoming quite a bit larger. Tomorrow I'll learn how best to treat it, or if surgical intervention is necessary/possible. .......Personally if things are improving, i think I'd leave it alone. Surgery makes bigger holes than that!. Since fatty acids play such a big role in skin permeability/integrity. I think the accumulated fluid weighing on fragile, too porous skin, probably just caused it to open. This, after all, is what most infected wounds will do - find the easiest point to drain and rupture the skin. Glad to hear thinks are pinking up. buglady take out the dog before replying |
#13
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"S. Gass" wrote in message om... Update: There now seems to be a more normal color returning to the open area, i.e. pink rather than brown. And it doesn't really smell acrid or skunk-like There is still an open area of about 1" in diameter, though, with the likelihood of becoming quite a bit larger. Tomorrow I'll learn how best to treat it, or if surgical intervention is necessary/possible. .......Personally if things are improving, i think I'd leave it alone. Surgery makes bigger holes than that!. Since fatty acids play such a big role in skin permeability/integrity. I think the accumulated fluid weighing on fragile, too porous skin, probably just caused it to open. This, after all, is what most infected wounds will do - find the easiest point to drain and rupture the skin. Glad to hear thinks are pinking up. buglady take out the dog before replying |
#14
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Oh my goodness. I am SO sorry ( So sorry. My thoughts and prayers are
with you. Karen "S. Gass" wrote in message om... We just got back from the vet. It is gangrene. We're not going to subject him to surgical attempts to correct it. Thanks all. Steve |
#15
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Oh my goodness. I am SO sorry ( So sorry. My thoughts and prayers are
with you. Karen "S. Gass" wrote in message om... We just got back from the vet. It is gangrene. We're not going to subject him to surgical attempts to correct it. Thanks all. Steve |
#16
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On 28 Jul 2003, S. Gass wrote:
We just got back from the vet. It is gangrene. We're not going to subject him to surgical attempts to correct it. Thanks all. I'm very sorry Steve. Dee |
#17
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On 28 Jul 2003, S. Gass wrote:
We just got back from the vet. It is gangrene. We're not going to subject him to surgical attempts to correct it. Thanks all. I'm very sorry Steve. Dee |
#18
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On Mon, 28 Jul 2003 20:03:45 +0000, buglady wrote:
Oh, how awful, I'm so sorry. I know you won't feel up to answering questions now, but was this a complication of the steatitis? Is there any chance of saving him? Yes, it is apparently a result of the steatitis. After much thought, and discussing it with my wife, we've decided to seek a second opinion. These vets explained that they can excise the tissue, leaving an open wound of 5 - 6" in diameter, and involving a very long, difficult and painful recovery, if recovery is even possible. We can't put him through that. It was a nice day, so I took him outside and sat with him, figuring that a dirty environment could do him no more harm. He rolled in the grass, then laid on his back, purring and kneading the air as I skritched his chin and rubbed his ears. Overnight, the open area had become genuinely appalling, but we can't give up just yet. I spoke to another vet, who doesn't see why there wouldn't be enough skin to at least mostly close the wound after excision, which would give Bubba a chance of living in enough comfort to give recovery a shot. At this point there is, of course, no way of knowing how far the gangrene has spread. If organs are involved then there truly is no hope, but if it's still limited to the fat pad, and if the skin can be closed, he may have a chance. I have another appointment tomorrow morning, and will see what a different vet has to say. Thanks again. Steve |
#19
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On Mon, 28 Jul 2003 20:03:45 +0000, buglady wrote:
Oh, how awful, I'm so sorry. I know you won't feel up to answering questions now, but was this a complication of the steatitis? Is there any chance of saving him? Yes, it is apparently a result of the steatitis. After much thought, and discussing it with my wife, we've decided to seek a second opinion. These vets explained that they can excise the tissue, leaving an open wound of 5 - 6" in diameter, and involving a very long, difficult and painful recovery, if recovery is even possible. We can't put him through that. It was a nice day, so I took him outside and sat with him, figuring that a dirty environment could do him no more harm. He rolled in the grass, then laid on his back, purring and kneading the air as I skritched his chin and rubbed his ears. Overnight, the open area had become genuinely appalling, but we can't give up just yet. I spoke to another vet, who doesn't see why there wouldn't be enough skin to at least mostly close the wound after excision, which would give Bubba a chance of living in enough comfort to give recovery a shot. At this point there is, of course, no way of knowing how far the gangrene has spread. If organs are involved then there truly is no hope, but if it's still limited to the fat pad, and if the skin can be closed, he may have a chance. I have another appointment tomorrow morning, and will see what a different vet has to say. Thanks again. Steve |
#20
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Oh, I am SO VERY VERY GLAD you are going to another vet.
Cats are very resilient. They can tolerate a lot, and will recover just to be "with you". I've seen my cats recover from horrible things many times, apparently to please me. Please give Bubba a chance! And do keep us posted. "Steve Gass" wrote in message news On Mon, 28 Jul 2003 20:03:45 +0000, buglady wrote: Oh, how awful, I'm so sorry. I know you won't feel up to answering questions now, but was this a complication of the steatitis? Is there any chance of saving him? Yes, it is apparently a result of the steatitis. After much thought, and discussing it with my wife, we've decided to seek a second opinion. These vets explained that they can excise the tissue, leaving an open wound of 5 - 6" in diameter, and involving a very long, difficult and painful recovery, if recovery is even possible. We can't put him through that. It was a nice day, so I took him outside and sat with him, figuring that a dirty environment could do him no more harm. He rolled in the grass, then laid on his back, purring and kneading the air as I skritched his chin and rubbed his ears. Overnight, the open area had become genuinely appalling, but we can't give up just yet. I spoke to another vet, who doesn't see why there wouldn't be enough skin to at least mostly close the wound after excision, which would give Bubba a chance of living in enough comfort to give recovery a shot. At this point there is, of course, no way of knowing how far the gangrene has spread. If organs are involved then there truly is no hope, but if it's still limited to the fat pad, and if the skin can be closed, he may have a chance. I have another appointment tomorrow morning, and will see what a different vet has to say. Thanks again. Steve |
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