Cat had subcutaneous emphysema

student456 · Sep 21, 2007

poor kitty! hope the cat feels better soon

its funny how you diagnosed your cat lol

al7139, ASN, RN · Sep 21, 2007

What procedure did your cat have? I had 17 years as a vet tech before getting my RN degree. It would help if you said what was done to her, then mabye I could help.

Amy.

RN1989 · Sep 21, 2007

I have always used my nursing skills on my animals. Thus far I have always been right. And now that my husband is in his new career as a veterinarian - we work terrific together. And he doesn't give me the rolling eyes and exasperated tone of voice because he knows that I am usually right. Unlike some of the vets we had before my husband took over our animal care. I had some snotty vets, including one at the teaching hospital where my husband went to school. That professor and I actually got into an argument. The little vet student that was with her in the room was freaking out. She couldn't believe that I would have the audacity to argue with a vet that is supposedly one of the best in the country. Guess who won that battle? I may be "just a nurse" but I am not stupid and my animals may not be another vet's priority but they are my priority. Good thing my vet husband has such a good bedside manner! :)

woody62, RN · Sep 21, 2007

Not sure where to put this but really weird. My cat had a procedure on her front feet on Monday. Tonight, Thursday, my son picked her up and said something was wrong. You could feel air all down her back, around her neck on on her head. Did not have my stethoscope so made a trip to ER vet. Said she may have a small tracheal stretch, not quite a tear. She is isolated and is supposed to be resting. Just wondering if anyone else has used there assessing skills on their pets. Thet was cool about it- she agreed it was SE but was not too clear on how it happened. My family thought I had lost my mind when I called the vet ans said she had SE. They tease me sometimes if I can't answer a question-"well, you ARE a nurse". This scored me some points for sure. Cat felt like she had bubble wrap under her skin.

I am not surprised. I diagnosed a growth on my daughter's greyhound, when it was smaller then a very small onion. He was pulling his hind leg off the ground a little bit and when I ran my hands over his hindquarters, he flinched(?). I feel more carefully and told my daughter to take him to the vet. I ended up taking him to another town for a surgical consult. Unfortunately Budman had less then a 10% survival rate of six months so we had him put to sleep, at home.

I also noticed when my daughter's only male cat started losing weight. I noticed he wasn't eating and his gum looked slightly swollen. Much to his distress, I pulled his mouth open and found an oral tumor inside toward the back of his mouth. My daughter told me not to look at her cats again (not really but I felt like the animal angel of death).

I love animals and have always had a number of pets.

Woody:balloons:

psalm, RN · Sep 21, 2007

Purrs to you and yours...

SaderNurse05, BSN, RN · Sep 21, 2007

What procedure did your cat have? I had 17 years as a vet tech before getting my RN degree. It would help if you said what was done to her, then mabye I could help.
Amy.

I hate to say she was declawed on the front. Please no flames. It was a very difficult decision and a long story but her next stop was not going to be good. I did spend over $200 in items to interest her before this procedure. I used catnip, etc. She would claw the new stuff and then destroy a chair or the couch.

BTW I talked to the vet today who did the procedure. She was intubated and their best guess is that her trachea got a bit streched and she has a slow leak. She is better today but still confined to 1 room so she does not hurt herself any worse. Of course I go in there every 2 hours (like the hospital!) to check on her and give her some attention.

psalm, RN · Sep 25, 2007

...how is the feline doing now? My Goldie Mae and I were wondering.

Soup Turtle · Sep 25, 2007

Not sure where to put this but really weird. My cat had a procedure on her front feet on Monday. Tonight, Thursday, my son picked her up and said something was wrong. You could feel air all down her back, around her neck on on her head. Did not have my stethoscope so made a trip to ER vet. Said she may have a small tracheal stretch, not quite a tear. She is isolated and is supposed to be resting. Just wondering if anyone else has used there assessing skills on their pets. Thet was cool about it- she agreed it was SE but was not too clear on how it happened. My family thought I had lost my mind when I called the vet ans said she had SE. They tease me sometimes if I can't answer a question-"well, you ARE a nurse". This scored me some points for sure. Cat felt like she had bubble wrap under her skin.

That happened to a cat that I had spayed for a relative at a clinic I work at. No one there had ever seen it before, and the staff is 30+ people including 7+ vets. I haven't gotten that far in school yet, so I don't know how serious it is, but my relative's cat turned out to be fine.

SaderNurse05, BSN, RN · Sep 25, 2007

Thanks for all the responses. She seems to be fine, still a bit crunchy as my son calls it. She is eating and doing all of her other cat business. No cough, SOB, etc. My regular vet called back on Saturday and wanted me to bring her up to the clinic so he could see her (and feel her I am sure:lol2:) but I was too busy and I think it might have traumatized her.

psalm, RN · Sep 25, 2007

...just wait til you can't find your fuchia rose nail polish, I bet I know who hid it!! So glad she is doing well and again, purrs to you. Our kitties are so important to us and it is a fright when they are hurting. Pats on back to you for your assessment!