Bailey update

**Codysmom** · 06-27-2011, 10:46 AM

Well we've had Bailey for 5 weeks now, he's gained almost 30 lbs and is looking wonderful! He sheds about a a pound of fur a day, he has no undercoat at all but the vet thinks that due to his extreme malnutrition his body has just rejected his old coat? He says by fall when his winter coat comes in it should be fine. We're continuing to battle the happy tail. We just cannot get it healed. We have tried everything from paper towel rolls to pipe insulation! We've probably gone through 20 rolls of vet wrap and who knows how many rolls of medical tape! And to add insult to injury he has a couple of more new sores. We try leaving him outside unwrapped so it can get some air to it but as soon as he gets near anything solid he breaks it open again. I wish we could just move to a round house with no doorways but I don't think that's an option. I'm really beginning to think we may have to start thinking about having part of his tail amputated. I'd really like to hear from those of you who have dealt with this. It's sad because we haven't been able to let him go swimming anymore since that first time because we're worried about it getting infected. And we spend all our time worrying about his tail and not being able to fully enjoy him.
Advice please!
Linda

**rpost7786** · 06-27-2011, 10:57 AM

I hope Bailey get's better soon!!!

**deidra** · 06-27-2011, 12:23 PM

I am glad to hear is gaining weight. I have heard of people amputating the tail and if it is for the better I say go for it. I would talk to your vet about it and see what he says.

Can we have some pics please?

**Codysmom** · 06-27-2011, 01:04 PM

Here are some new pictures of our boy. I included the first one we took when he came home with us. Like I said he's up almost 30 lbs!

http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/...nybailey-1.jpg
http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/...9/baiey005.jpg
http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/...9/baiey010.jpg
http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/...9/baiey007.jpg
http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/...9/baiey004.jpg

**deidra** · 06-27-2011, 02:13 PM

He looks so much better! What love and food can do

**TBGSAM** · 06-27-2011, 02:42 PM

wow he looks so good! Congratulations on his weight gain and look at the smiling face

Happy tails are hard to get under control.

The only thing I can think of too protect the tail but let it heal is using the pipe insulation along with the cardboard from a paper towel roll. Cut a small slit in the pipe insulation and insert the cardboard so it looks like a saucer that might help keep the tail from hitting the wall instead it will hit the cardboard first. If you can understand any of that you are doing better then I am

hard for me to get across sometimes what I am trying to say.

**MidwestGirl** · 06-27-2011, 02:44 PM

Love his smiley face !! Glad he has you.

**tismom** · 06-27-2011, 06:10 PM

He looks so much better--thank you for working with him. Good luck with his tail.

**BigBrownDog** · 06-27-2011, 07:37 PM

I did have a cat whose tail had to be amputated (due to some jackass actually trying to run him over and just catching his tail) and he healed up fine. It's not preferable for sure - but if you have to do it, it's not a big deal.