Questions About Possibly-Necrotic Toes

[jacqui778]

Hey guys,

A lot of you are familiar with Gem, my recent rescue. If you were on her ER thread, you can remember that the vet said that the bones in her ankle were almost completely gone due to her body pulling the calcium from them for her blood.

So, here's my question: Could her not having bones in her ankle cause her to have no "contact" with her foot?

The reason I ask is because her toes are a dark brown, and older patches are starting to turn black, while the color is spreading. I thought it was nothing to worry about until I'd seen it was spreading and darkening.
Could they possibly be necrotic due to lack of blood flow or movement?
She definitely cannot feel her toes. I (being the mean slave that I am) pinched her toes, and she didn't even blink. She doesn't walk on them, and can't grip with her claws on that foot.

Is there another explanation for the discoloration on her toes?
I immediately thought necrotic, since she couldn't move them or feel them and they seem to be darkening slowly to black; but, I'm certainly no vet, and my assumptions could definitely be wrong.

I will get some pictures as soon as I figure out how to charge my dad's camera. It died on me.

Jacqui

 

[Drache613]

Hello Jacqui,

I will definitely look for pictures. That will help.
Having thin bones in the ankle area could decrease the nerve endings yes. However, I do not think that it would cause the feet or toes to become necrotic unless she has injured them somehow. Metabolic bone disease can cause the body's frame including the muscular system along with the skeletal system to become very fragile making it very easy to damage parts of the body.
How long has this area looked like this?

Tracie

 

[jacqui778]

How long has this area looked like this?

Uhhhmmm.... well.... since I got her, really.... I never worried about it because it wasn't spreading or getting darker. Now it is.

My dad will be up in about an hour. I'll get him to charge the camera.

Jacqui

 

[Drache613]

Hello Jacqui,

Ok, I will be waiting for pictures soon then. She most likely injured that foot previously before you got her. That is why the foot is turning necrotic now. It will most likely have to be amputated I am afraid. I will wait to comment more when I see the pictures.
How is she doing today?

Tracie