Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat

Thank you every one for your advice and your words of encouragement. Opal is doing so well! Such a little rock star. She slept by my side the first nite, I had to help her down once to go to the litter tray and I thought she would need help in and out but she proved me wrong. Day one was much easier that I imagined.

Sadly I couldn't get time off work so I had to leave her in the care of my family who have been spoiling her rotten. Thank you for suggesting the onesie Holly, I got a couple on the way home from work yesterday they are working wonderfully. She is much happier in them and can eat much easier. She came out and curled up on my lap that nite and had a good groom, it was nice not having to worry she was "grooming" her wound. Again she slept up on the  bed with me all nite, I woke up to see her sprawled out with her belly up just like old days.

Today she spent most of the day under the bed in the little spot I have allowed her to get to, right now she is in the wardrobe. She seems a bit more subdued tonite. 

Thanks for the tips on how to help the diarrhea, Jackie. Thankfully she went  this morning and while it was in the hallway and not her little tray, it was hard. I will keep in mind your suggestions. She has been a bit reluctant to eat, she is ignoring the biscuits for the most part. I got her some chicken tenderloins which went down a treat until today so I tried some tuna, she ate half a small can. She has lost a little over a kilo since the accident, she was 5.5kg now she is 4.4kg. She is a big bread of cat, hopefully when she is feeling better she will put on a little weight.

jerry said
I'm so glad you were able to get photos uploaded but WOW that break looks awful, poor baby! She's a real beauty, and you are going to be even more in love with her now that she's even more unique.
Best wishes in the coming days, keep us posted.  

It really was terrible. The awful thing is that is a dislocation not a break! I can't imagine how bad it hurt. I am so grateful the on call vet realised she was someones beloved pet and provided more than pain relief which is all the SPCA allows if they don't know the owner. He took one look at her and knew how much she was loved. When we found her we were crying and so was the vet nurse she was so happy they found the owners.

I keep feeling guilty, I don't usually allow Opal outside at nite but it has been terribly hot here and she hates the heat so wanted to spend the nite in the cool, usually she will sleep on the front step and we can see her through the screen door when we get up in the nite. I know it was just an accident and I don't blame the dog or the neighbours, she wandered onto their property after all. But I do feel guilty when I see her hobbling along.

Just a small update;

Opal felt much better last nite after her meds, she came out from the wardrobe and jumped on the bed and snuggled in for the nite. I managed to get her eat some more tuna before we went to sleep. During the nite I felt her stirring and was about to help her down but she jumped, its not far and she had practice I guess when she was bandaged up. To my delight she started munching on her biscuits, which was the best sound ever. She has always been a nite eater so to hear her munching away was great, then she used her litter tray and was soon back on the bed purring away. 

This morning she hopped her way to the kitchen and I warmed the chicken for her, worked a treat! Thanks for the suggestion, with in minutes it was all gone. Then she spent a bit of time looking outside longingly before choosing a different wardrobe to sleep in for the day.

Her resilience continues to surprise me.

benny55 said
Btw.  Opal is beautiful!!!!  

Thanks, shes pretty special.

Very relaxed!

Getting a quick lick in before I change onesies!

paws120 said
That's wonderful news! Fantastic pictures, she is so beautiful! I'm glad she is eating for you. Has her loose stool eased up at all? Don't forget, if you're adding rice or rice water and they switch her meds it may do the opposite and bind her. So glad she's feeling better!

Jackie  

No loose stool! She has mainly been eating chicken and biscuits, I did give her a little tuna at the start but she has never been a big fishy girl. She has done two  so far and both have been firm. I read somewhere around here to put several litter trays around the house which worked a treat. The first  she did on the floor in the hall so I put a tray near by and sure enough woke up one morning to a fresh  in the tray. I haven't had to cut the sides either, she seems to be handling it all in her stride.

It has been very hot here, she spent most of yesterday conked out in the wardrobe, which isn't unusual she spent a lot of time in there pre accident too, so I put a fan on for her and closed all the curtains to help cool her down. Then I took her outside for the first time. We stayed around the back steps, she would walk a few steps then have a lay down, but I could tell she was loving it she was rolling around, cleaning herself and just enjoying the cooler night air. I took her out again this morning but its another really hot day, she went straight under the patio where I couldn't keep an eye on her so we came back inside. She managed to escape once when she was bandaged up  and took off next door for an entire day, I was so worried, and I don't want that to happen again just yet. Usually she is very good at coming when you all her, and when you walk near her she can't help but say something, but she has been cooped up for so long I feel like as soon as she is given full freedom she will be off.

I do have a question, after the staples are removed do I have to still keep her from licking at the wound? Or can I remove the onesies at that point?

Purrkins said

Give her a good chin scratch & cuddle from us!

 

Will do!