Any vets present?

[elise2000]

Hi all

Can any vets shed any light on what this is on the xray by the tail?

Long story short, cat went missing for 36 hrs. Returned this morning. Off food. Lethargic. Not walking well. Etc

Local vet gave antibiotic, pain relief etc, but not sure what this is on the xray. Taking cat back in morning (if still with us) for a follow up.

Thanks in advance

[maccboy]

From my son (small animal vet):
Looks like an area of fluid or gas radiopacity either underlying the base of the tail or within the rectal/pelvic area. The back of the pelvis (ischium) looks a bit dubious for a possible fracture (e.g. if the cat was hit by a car) so the opacity could also be related to that, although it would need a wound communicating to the outside (or inside the rectum) for that gas area to be present which the vet would probably have seen. The X-rays not the best quality though!
Given that it's an entire male cat and it's around it's back end, could be a cat bite abscess that has developed but I'd expect the vet to have noticed that already if so (and would presumably be why they gave it antibiotics).
Hope that helps.

[elise2000]

said:

Thanks that’s really helpful and much appreciated. His temp was 40.5 this morning so suggests infection I suppose. I’m not entirely convinced by our local vet, hence the post!

[Blackpuddin]

Hope he gets through it ok

[elise2000]

Blackpuddin said:

Hope he gets through it ok

Many thanks

[Landlubber]

'Nam two tours.

[elise2000]

So our cat is still rather unwell. Not walking, sleeping lots, back legs swollen. Vet has given him Iv drip for a couple of hrs for 3 days and many antibiotics. Can’t come up with a diagnosis though. Blood test results from today are below. Just found out he is FIv as well.

Any thoughts from vets very welcome…

[Thevet]

So, back legs swollen suggests circulatory issues, FIV diagnosis is almost certain to be a disaster in the long run, its called feline AIDS! Only had one of our own with it and there was nothing could be done although was under a year old.
History of missing for a while could mean all sorts of hidden issues esp with regards to trauma. Not sure if the xray "balloon" was jusr rectal gas or a pocket of gas, don't think it was purulent fluid as that would likely be flocculent in appearance, but simple patient investigation would answer that.
To me, it sounds like RTA trauma causing posterior issues, but what do I know, I just did cows.
FIV is the major challenge in my mind which is really unfair

[Landlubber]

We had a puss with FIV who lived on into old age.

[elise2000]

Thevet said:

So, back legs swollen suggests circulatory issues, FIV diagnosis is almost certain to be a disaster in the long run, its called feline AIDS! Only had one of our own with it and there was nothing could be done although was under a year old.
History of missing for a while could mean all sorts of hidden issues esp with regards to trauma. Not sure if the xray "balloon" was jusr rectal gas or a pocket of gas, don't think it was purulent fluid as that would likely be flocculent in appearance, but simple patient investigation would answer that.
To me, it sounds like RTA trauma causing posterior issues, but what do I know, I just did cows.
FIV is the major challenge in my mind which is really unfair

Thanks for the reply. Things have changed somewhat today. Last couple of days he’s been getting progressively stronger and more alert. Today, what we now believe is an abcess burst, oozing pus/poo/blood from 3 small holes.

Went to vet who sedated. End of intestine damaged so stitched up, removed lots of dead skin around rear end and stitched up.

Says next few days crucial to see if stitches hold and no further infection occurs