Pacey Needs His Front Leg Amputated

Hello, my name is Laura Peterson, and I am reaching out for assistance regarding my four-year-old male neutered cat named Pacey. On Monday, June 5th, 2023, Pacey came running into the bedroom, visibly in pain, and holding his left front leg up. We suspect he fell down the stairs due to some scrambling sounds we heard. We immediately rushed him to our vet, who performed an X-ray on his paw and determined that there were no broken bones. The vet initially believed it was a sprain and prescribed medication, expecting Pacey to recover by last Friday. However, his condition worsened, and we decided to seek further medical attention.

On Thursday, we took Pacey to an Emergency Hospital specializing in orthopedic surgery. During the eight-hour visit, they conducted various tests including blood work, urinalysis, an echocardiogram, a cardiac consultation, and an ultrasound of his stomach. Surprisingly, they diagnosed Pacey with a blood clot in his leg, even though the echo and blood work appeared normal. The hospital initially mentioned the possibility of amputation but later indicated that Pacey could live with the leg for a while. The cost of this visit exceeded $3,000.

To seek a second opinion, I returned to my regular vet, who concurred that it was a blood clot resulting from the initial injury. However, since my vet was going on vacation, he referred me to another vet. Unfortunately, the vet he recommended had poor reviews and exhibited rudeness when I contacted him. Determined to find a suitable solution, I reached out to other veterinarians and even contacted veterinary schools at the University of Wisconsin in Madison and the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. The estimated cost of the required surgery varied between $3,000 and $5,000.

Eventually, I found another vet hospital that was highly recommended, but their fees amounted to $5,000 for the amputation itself, with an additional $1,000 for the anesthesiologist. As I continued my search, another vet quoted a range of $1,400 to $1,800 for the amputation. I scheduled an appointment with this vet on June 13, 2013. After conducting X-rays and additional blood work, the vet informed me that although Pacey's heart appeared healthy during the echo, there might be an underlying heart condition that could be checked through a specialized blood test. In the event of an abnormal test result, the vet would not proceed with the amputation due to the risk of complications. If the test came back normal, the vet would consider the surgery but recommended returning to the hospital that had already charged me over $3,000. I am currently awaiting the test results, and the recent visit cost $775.

To summarize, after eight days and spending $5,000, my cat Pacey remains very ill and requires immediate leg amputation to alleviate his suffering. We have not received a definitive explanation for the cause of his condition, and his leg is still attached. Unfortunately, I do not have pet insurance.

In light of the circumstances, I have created a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds and recover the expenses already incurred or to cover the cost of amputation surgery, should I find a vet willing to perform it. Any support or contributions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your consideration and assistance during this challenging time.