[popstar1]

The vets say my cat poppy has had a really bad shunt by a car which has left her with a paralised tail. After the tail was amputated it was healing fine till I woke up to the remake of chain saw massacre after relising she had got her collar off. Another visit to the vet and another operation to remove even more of her tail great we thought. Over the weekend this terrible smell was about her so I took of her collar so she could clean herself, only the smell didn't go away so it was back to the vets. After examining poppy they said her skin was rotting and didn't know why! They removed the dead skin along with stitches cleaned the area and said to clean daily. My concern was that they have left poppy with an open wound! Why did they reoperate and charge me for the privilege after she was so proud of her tail mutilation abilities. After another check up they say get tail is healing nicely but gave me cream to aid the healing near her anus as it is damp there from toileting. After bathing and applying crean for a week the scab has come off again to leave an open wound once more... They can't take anymore off the tail as it is to near the original injury. My questions are will it ever heal with no other medical intervention and how long will it take?
Kassie and Poppy Pop Star

[Sariss]

How long was the cone off the last time before you took her back to the vet? Letting her clean it would inhibit the ability to heal and if anything, cause more infection.
Has your cat been on antibiotics at all? She should.
If that hasn't worked, they really should send out a swab of the area for a culture to make sure what they are using is working.

[popstar1]

I only took it of for ten minute so she could clean her bottom half. She had anitbiotics on the first op and on the second op they gave her a three week one. We have only been using the cream since Friday last 17th September. We have also been through the emotional roller coaster of their being a possibility she would lose complete control of her bladder and bowel motions, I am *** to say that area is improving ten fold.

[Sariss]

So it is improving?
Then maybe she's on the road to recovery. If it continues to not heal, or get worse, make sure they do a culture. Sometimes some strains of bacteria are resistant to certain antibiotics.

[popstar1]

I here what you are saying. My only concern now is if the open wound will heal naturally and how long! I know that is like asking how long is a piece of string but she is such a sprited cat and has had the cone on for four weeks now. I am worried about how much quality of live she is having as she loves going outside and hasn't been able too.

[Sariss]

It may heal naturally, but it may not if there is a bacterium in there like MRSA (or others). If it has been four weeks I'd be worried about a resistant bacterium in there that isn't allowing healing to take place.

[popstar1]

Thanks Sariss you have been a great help. Needed to ask someone as we have seen 7 vets and non of them are singing off the same song sheet.

[morgaine300]

Just an added note to Sariss's good advice about the antibiotics.

As for her quality of life, do keep in mind that as long as it does heal, this is only temporary, and while it may be very annoying to her, the best way to get her back to herself and the life she likes, is doing whatever is necessary now to get her healing properly. If you try to avoid things that need to be done for this reason, it can just drag out that much longer.

So just pull out the tough love and do whatever needs to be done. This may include not removing that cone, keeping her contained, maybe try using shredded paper in the litter box to avoid getting litter in it, etc. In the long-run she's not going to hate you for it.

(reoperate and charge me for the privilege -- I know that's not funny, but it was funny the way you said it :))