My vet had a much different diagnosis and I trust it especially after taking another set of better x-rays that included the spine more.

The cat is showing all signs of a damaged radial nerve.  Now the question is is it not severed and is the nerve's sheath intact.  If so, the nerve can regenerate slowly.  Only exploratory surgery or an expensive scan would verify...however; that would not get us any advantage now. 

I will have to basically rehab the cat daily a bit to keep it's muscles intact.  I have also signed up for weekly laser treatments.  They worked great on my elbow a few years ago and my vet feels it helped him get over a knee injury that more traditional approaches didn't resolve.  If she doesn't respond to the treatments over the next year, we will know the nerve was permanently damaged.  The goals are going to be keeping her from hurting her wrist since she walks on it with her paw curled up and also from gnawing at her leg should she decide it's hampering her too much.

She is a sweet cat, never once has tried to bite or scratch anyone no matter how scared or probed she was.

Unfortunately, my tripawd dog Foxy had some bad news this morning.  Her occasional hacking cough was a symptom of her lung tumor majorly increasing in size over the last six months.  She developing a little fluid it now.

Approaching 12 years old and this cancer already metastasizing from her spleen neither of us feel surgery is the right choice for her.

I have to break the bad news to my wife tonight, she got called in to work.

We will enjoy the time we have left and try to make the right choice sooner than later once her quality of life declines.  She been a great dog the past 2 years I have owned her.  I am glad my grandmother passed away (also from cancer, but of the bone) prior to her having to deal with this.  She really loved this dog and had her since she was about 1 year old.

If I knew even spending major money would only get one good year for her I'd do it in a heartbeat.  All signs say taking her lung now will have her in a lengthy recovery only to have a new cancer site found once she's sort of back to herself.  On some past tests/scans quite a few lymph nodes/glands showed signs of cancer.  She's such a wonderful dog, it's so sad her time is running out so quickly.

tazziedog said:

She may have had a brachial plexus injury (nerves under the armpit) which cause atrophy but no pain.  Amputation is often the treatment of choice since it allows the pet to walk in a more normal manner.  Cats adapt very well to life on 3 legs; often more quickly and with better results than dogs.

Pam

 

You were right in the ballpark.  It all ties together.  If my vet could guarantee the nerve was severed or the shealth compromised, he'd have gone with amputation.  There is no real hope after that and the leg would do nothing but get in her way.

He did agree that cats also get along better most of the time than dogs with three legs.  Of course, providing they are kept indoors.

She was still able to climb into trees.  She'd sort of fall out of them though rather than gracefully land 🙂