Amputation of a Cat's Leg Due to a Bone Tumor

[ultraMANsexSY]

So good

[Alchemyfreak990]

Why use a trachea tube when you can just put the mask on him?

[DrGregDVM]

@Alchemyfreak990 Trachea tube helps more in case of emergency to inflate lungs, keep vomit out of lungs, and control breathing and anesthesia.

[mrdefkon1]

I gotta chime here and say this was a great thing for me to watch. I currently work at City Vet here in Dallas, Tx and have been at the boarding facility across the street from the clinic. I got the great news last night that an ACA position ( animal care attendant ) became open and I was recommended by my manager to fill that spot and so I will be working with a team of doctors and on my way to learning vet tech assistant work.

[curtisjtmachen]

6:12 "And if we take the drapes away, we can see what we're left with" xP - Funny as hell

[JudgeSK]

So, good to see the cat take off on its own!

[krazyperson97]

do u still have this cat???



[DrGregDVM]

@krazyperson97 It went home with it's family

[dancerabigail29]

@turbo4097 the type of cancer the cat has is clearly aggressive, and to remove all the cancer you have to take a large margain around the tumour. and that margain is basically the leg.

[DrGregDVM]

@dancerabigail29 Well put and exactly why we amputate. tx for watching

[alwaysalondra]

Omg this is so sad I literally started crying I feel so bad! I hope kitty gets better :,,,(

[DrGregDVM]

@alwaysalondra Don't feel bad, the kitty did real well

[lalinda1985]

awesome job.

[ThegioC123]

POOooooooOOooOOOOooOoOOOrr Kittahh  :'(

[WinchesterPearl]

Yeah me and Ali were classmates....

[DrGregDVM]

@WinchesterPearl I'm sure she would appreciate a call sometime

[WinchesterPearl]

Ali......it me NOU. nice to see you in surgery......Wow... nice video

[DrGregDVM]

@WinchesterPearl Thanks for watching!

[DrGregDVM]

@turbo4097 Cats and dogs beat up the end of the leg, but do better when it is amputated up high. They can't use part of a leg and could injure or hurt it easily

[Pappito1000]

I work at a vet. clinic and we just did a dog today, its sad to see them lose the limb, but its cool to know they will live better after, and its awsome to watch in person!!!

[DrGregDVM]

@Pappito1000 You'll be amazed how quickly they adapt to life without a limb. There are lessons to be learned from them!

[hellokityfartsniffer]

How much do these amputations usually cost?

[DrGregDVM]

@hellokityfartsniffer Usually 700-2k depending on the support needed(blood work xrays iv therapy)

[DrGregDVM]

@thevideomaker34 The cat was probably glad to get rid of that big painful rotten tumor and still be alive 

[thegawks]

Amazing. Thank u for sharing. So educational.

[DrGregDVM]

@thegawks Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching

[spacemomma23]

@DrGregDVM my kitty got hit by a car and out of all the vets in cortez co they just want to kill her all they would have to do is amputate his back right leg and they want to wait a few days on antiboic. i think she has a better chance while its not infected because it stinks already smells infected .. so out on a hunt for a kind harted vet to help this kitty while i can make payments but all they just want money up front even with 200 up front :( its a sad place to have animals CORTEZ COLORADO

[Chococat1720]

DOC GREG! A cat at the animal hospital had his leg amputed because of a type of bone cancer. They removed it. It was a cute tabby and i had to hold a warm towel on his little stitching. Anyways, sadly the cat was put down because the cancer wasn't gone.. How is that possible? thank you.

[DrGregDVM]

@Chococat1720 Some tumors spread inside into the bone, muscles, skin and other tissues. When the bone is removed, the cancer is still rooted in the tissues around the bone and comes back just like a weed does when you do not pull out the whole root.

[Islefan24]

poor kitty

[epcvirus1]

doc greg, can you post a video how to do gas anesthesia in dog or cat? we could learn a lot from you if you can. God bless

[DrGregDVM]

@epcvirus1 You mean to anesthetize a cat or dog with a mask or box?

[epcvirus1]

@DrGregDVM I mean to anesthetize a dog or cat using the one you did in cat on this video

[DrGregDVM]

@epcvirus1 I will post an anesthesia video next week or two. Thanks for the suggestion.

[DrGregDVM]

Respond to this video...Hit the wrong button. Your vet will probably take the whole leg. Thanks for watching 

[DrGregDVM]

@cadburyeggman We usually amputate the useless limb at the shoulder because the end of the stump gets traumatized from bumping it. Your kitten has already learned to live life with three legs and would be fine. Your v

[DrGregDVM]

@ivytobbyyou the kitty ate two bowls of food the next day and had his staples and sutures removed in 10 days. He's doing great

[thegizmoguy1]

How did it get that bad without getting it taken care of soner? I doubt the cat woke up one night and suddenly had a club for a paw.

[DrGregDVM]

@thegizmoguy1 Don't really know. These situations are often caused by personal issues and money issues. I am just glad it was taken care of and the cat will be ok.

[wlmason73]

@DrGregDVM I agree. It's easy to judge, but your never know what's going on in someone's life. The owner is (in the end) doing the right thing. I can't imagine this is an inexpensive procedure. If Eliza's owner didn't love her, she would have been euthanized or abandoned. I really feel for the cat though. It's so difficult to see an animal suffer. I can't imagine what it would feel like to walk around with a tumor like that. I hope she's doing well now.

[DrGregDVM]

@wlmason73 It is probably hard to tell her apart from a 4 legged cat at this point unless you are pretty close.

[pixiestar123]

Thanks for posting this!! :D was a great video!

(and don't worry about grossing people out, it's a clearly labeled video :P obviously an amputation video is going to have some blood)

[DrGregDVM]

@pixiestar123 Thanks for watching! I do like to warn people in case they think it is a dress rehearsal

[DrGregDVM]

Cats and dogs do well with three. They know how to live in the present

[SensualCoconuts07]

poor kitty :( atleast he still have 3 paws unlike humans , if 1 leg is being amputated he has 1 left ..

[KendarB]

Awww, what a sweetheart. It's amazing how animals can adapt so well. He just wakes up and goes "ok, how can I work with this?"

[DrGregDVM]

@KendarB They are truly an inspiration to me. When I find myself complaining, I just think of the resilience of my patients and what some endure with love

[VengenceOfHansenmol]

Thanks for video taping this, was very interesting to watch.

[DrGregDVM]

@VengenceOfHansenmol I try not to gross people out but thought that people might find it interesting. Thanks for watching

[reaperette]

So do cats have a higher survival after a bout of osteosarcoma compared to dogs?

[DrGregDVM]

@reaperette Yes my research showed their survival rate was at least 2 years. Enough of a gift of life to warrant surgery. The best part is...no additional treatment is required and cats(and dogs) adapt well to a three legged life. I had a three legged dog named Carly who loved to run on the beach and chase birds.

[reaperette]

@DrGregDVM Well, it looks scary, not to mention very invasive. ...but if it means kitty will have an extra few years, then I guess it's definitely worth it.

[DrGregDVM]

@reaperette I really think it is worth it. The procedure does look gross, and the intubation scary, but the kitty just went with it!

[dehbee]

wow, this cat is pretty calm.

[DrGregDVM]

@dehbee Animals are very accepting of surgical outcomes especially when the leg itself probably wasn't working for at least a couple months

[reaperette]

That looks terrible!

"You goddamn hoomins! This is uncomfortable!!" Poor kittyyyy!

[DrGregDVM]

@reaperette The kitty is fine and much better without the leg that was killing it. What was the worst to watch or looked bad?

[68cupcake]

poor kitty!! :(

[isabella8885]

awww so sad but hes alive so thats awesome !! why didnt the owners took him right away to your hospital?? the tumor looked really big

[JLVBigPuma]

thats sooo sad

[17animallove]

why would an owner wait until it got this bad to take that poor cat in I dont understand..

[DrGregDVM]

@17animallove Don't know, but the outcome would have been the same.

[DJSLIPMAT87]

great vid and comments thanks Doc

[jessetalksTV]

so why dident yall put the cat asleep when you put the tube down the cats throat? Id say that would hurt! thankks for helping the innucont

[17animallove]

@jessetalksTV they did that is what they put in the IV at the bigining on the video

[jessetalksTV]

@17animallove dude, tht cat was NOT asleep when they put it down the throat

[DrGregDVM]

@jessetalksTV The cat is lightly anesthetized from the IV and the gas puts them all the way out. Some cats and dogs breathe very heavily and react strongly to the tracheal tube by coughing. The gas slowly puts them deeper as they are readied for surgery

[17animallove]

@jessetalksTV no totally but most of the way that is the way all vets do it..

[17animallove]

@17animallove He is not totally asleep but you could tell if he was awake there is no way they would even try it

[DrGregDVM]

@17animallove animals breathe like that even when lightly anesthetized.The gas puts them deeper

[DrGregDVM]

@jessetalksTV The cat is lightly anesthetized from the IV and the gas puts them all the way out. Some cats and dogs breathe very heavily and react strongly to the tracheal tube by coughing. The gas slowly puts them deeper as they are readied for surgery

[capnquack]

@jessetalksTV The cat was sedated, but not completely out. The reason they don't knock the cat out with shots is that shot tranquilizers can have a large variety of effects (including coma and death - and once you've given that shot, there's no way to turn it down or turn it off) - gas is a much easier method of control, as it can be altered as it goes along. Being trach'd even as a human does hurt. But it's like a sore throat and does go away after a day or two. Kitty wouldn't even remember!

[jessetalksTV]

@capnquack

I dident even remember i posted this! thanks for the reply! im older now so..

[17animallove]

I was just wondering how Jazzie is doing? I hope tthis little kittty will be ok will the surgery cure him of cancer or does he have to have other treatment?

[DrGregDVM]

@17animallove Cats don't need other treatments for osteosarcoma or bone tumors other than amputation

[DrGregDVM]

@17animallove Unfortunately Jazzie got worse and we had to let her go. Her poor brain really went downhill and she couldn't walk again