Tripawd

Sadie, aka Bad Cat, aka Toader, has gone through a big change. 

She had an amputation five days ago. She developed a tumor that spread to both her left humerus and scapula, but the more likely source was chondral or synovial. What felt firm and osseous from the outside ended up as a large fluid muck of a tumor big enough to dislocate her shoulder. 

Nicely, her lungs -- the next location of spread for synovial/chondral tumors -- was totally clear, as were all other lymph nodes in her neck and other three legs. 

The entire staff at Alpine Veterinary Hospital loved her, which figures.  She always makes others swoon.  The surgery went very well as dos her initial recovery.  Our DVM said she spent much of her second day there happily lounging under a heat lamp.  Back home the next night she was practically her usual self aside from one less arm. 

The scar is big but not heinous, but she can reach some stitches to lick.  So she has also ended up with a cone.  She's strong enough to move with it, but she quickly realized its sight and maneuverability limitations and so mostly sleeps.  We take it off when she eats and leave it off until she starts licking or until we have to leave home.  She has had a bit of nerve pain, but so far we have not had to administer meds as it is in small enough waves that are fairly well spread apart.  Apparently cats typically experience little to no pain after amputation, which is quite amazing when your job deals with human postoperative pain on a daily basis.  She has only managed to ditch the cone once. 

Nine more days until the stitches come out. Mice beware -- I doubt missing a limb will slow her down for very long!