Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat

Hello Watu Wazuri

Paka Tom is still home and healing.. I wanted to ask how long it's normal for him to be medicated for? Both the vets said 5 days after surgery, but yesterday he had a slight fever in the morning so we went for another antibiotic + painkiller shot. I don't know what standard protocol is and the last thing I want is for him to be in pain, and he's so good at hiding it!

I'm also not sure about his energy levels, they're switching so much! He ran out into the garden yesterday under my Mum's supervision and just sat under the car for a few hours, and we had to bribe him back in with food.. and then we put him in the closet, but he has not moved out since, except for 2 steps to eat this morning. He hasn't even to peed or anything, he hates peeing himself so I don't know if he's holding it in or if there's just no pee. There's a litter tray very close to his closet. Definitely no poo, thank you for telling me about that Purrkins before I could start worrying But is it normal for him to just be in one place all day? I'm not sure what to expect, he seemed so springy yesterday until we brought him home and then he's just been in one place sleeping..

Other than that he is eating very well and purring a looot, which is very unusual for him! He sends his love, here is a photo from the vet where the light was better! Will take some more in the day tomorrow

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Hugs to you all

Oh my goodness, I typed up a reply and hit submit yesterday but it didn't submit at all

Sorry for the silence everybody!

My old boy Spike drools and purrs when he is a little stressed or not feeling well.

I think that might be it thanks Spike! I was reading about purring and apparently cats do it when they are nervous or uncomfortable too! I'm not sure how to make him better.. I think it's just part of his healing process, I'm just making sure I do everything possible to make him feel safe and recover quickly.

He is eating that is huge! Does Tom eat wet or dry food?

He's been eating meat and wet food, and drinking some milk. After the first day he wouldn't drink plain water, and he loves milk a lot, so I make sure he eats wet food and gets some milk to make sure he isn't dehydrating.

Mona, Tom needs to take a page out of your book! Here's a PEE UPDATE:

So the night that I made the post about Paka Tom not peeing, I heard some shuffles in the litterbox and I went to check, and he had peed a little and there was a bit of runny poo (sorry  ), so I thought that was all the pee! But he was scheduled for a vet visit yesterday anyway just to check him, since I brought him home early. When we got there, Paka Tom is hating the vet more and more and he was quite scared so he started to pee as they lifted him out of the carrier and it was a lotttt of pee.. he must have been holding it in for ages!  And he hasn't peed since (this was yesterday afternoon, it's morning now). I'm consistently putting him in the litterbox but he just goes back into the closet each time..

He has also been extremely reluctant to move - he walks a few steps but hurries back into his little closet corner, and has stopped coming out to eat as well - I put the bowl inside to get him to eat or feed him by hand to get something inside him. It's morning now, and he only ate a tiny bit of his meat last night. I'm not sure if he's trying to reduce his bathroom use by not eating, but I really don't want to let him out into the soil..

I asked the vet what's going on, and he said that it's likely that Paka Tom is very nervous about moving around now, and that might be why he isn't peeing. But I think he also hates being unable to clean his bum after so he's cutting down his need for it. Or maybe he doesn't like litter much and only uses it as much as really necessary.

I am thinking we will give him some fresh warm kuku for breakfast and milk now, and dunk him into the box, and if that doesn't work we'll put a t-shirt on him (Purrkins' DIY cone alternative  ) and launch him onto a mud patch in the garden (heavily supervised!). Or we might sneak the cone off for the t-shirt (also heavily supervised) so he knows he can lick his bum and maybe then he'll pee..

Thank you Super Stewieee and everyone for all the taps and Kiswahili pee thoughts    - I'm sure the pressure is building!! If anyone has any ideas do share, and I promise to update as soon as there is any change! Love to you all!

Hahahaha I think those pee icons are my new favourite thing in the world! Purrkins you are SO cute with your warm compress! Paka Tom is very disinterested in both hot and cold compresses, but I think I will try the warm one again in the night when it gets a little cooler. Also Holly I will make sure to search for Gerbers in the shops here - I had no idea cats could eat baby food, much less enjoy it! That's so interesting!

Aw Petra did Spike actually pass out at the vet? That must have been horrifying for you as well! Poor baby.. I'm glad the vets come home for him, he must be absolutely terrified going there!

And Kerren wow, that sounds like chaos - Paka Tom please don't take notes! But that's really clever of Mona to pee outside and then lean over the edge of the tray to cover up her business. You said she goes in the garden mostly now, yes? When she uses the litterbox does she step inside it now? I'm so grateful that Tom is using the litter properly, climbing in and not making too much of a mess except for the few bits flying out.

Right after I posted yesterday morning I went to check on him and he was very hissy and growly - I figured it was pain and ran to pick some pain meds from the vet. He never eats anything we mix the pill into so we have to give them to him straight. He has found a fancy new trick where he hides the tablet in the side of his mouth and spits it out when you're not looking, but for now the cone catches it so it's easier to spot.

We tried swapping the cone for the DIY tshirt (we had a baby one lying around the house) but it was too loose, and Tom was managing to lick the t-shirt and press it into his stitches if that makes sense.. so I went and got a onesie and have stitched it up, just waiting for him to wake up and I'll do the swap and see how he fares!

He has been peeing once a day (not the most frequent), but at least something is coming out! He also desperately tries to lick his bum after, but he can't reach over the cone so he sits with his leg up and gives the cone a thorough lick. I hope he thinks it's working!

Also we have discovered the poor baby has fleas! I don't know where he got them from but he is incredibly itchy and we are going to the vet first thing tomorrow to have them removed. Tomorrow is also the tentative date for removal of stitches -  I think the wound still looks a little bit raw so I have a feeling they may make us wait another day or two..

He refused to enter his recovery room after the vet visit, so he's in my room at the moment. The bed frame is too low for him to get through with the cone, but he has a brand new closet corner here. Early this morning he got out of the closet and hopped onto my bed to sleep next to me, which feels like a huge victory! He's also been moving around the room a little. It's so heartwarming to see him already being so independent when the stitches haven't even come off yet

I'm so optimistic about his new life, and once again asante sana to you all for making me see that he would be better this way! The idea of taking his leg seemed so terrible but he's already showing so much promise. Upendo, hugs and purrs to you aaallll