Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Thank you everyone tomorrow is our day to take Purrkins. Armed with lots of questions for the surgeon
but will get all those answered tomorrow.
If you wouldn't mind keep Purrkins in your prayers and or good thoughts . I will update you as we go!
Thanks for being her Tripawds and family! 
Hi - best thoughts for Purrkins' procedure and recovery.
I think you mean Convenia for an inject-able antibiotic.  We have opted for it for our dog before - there are times it seemed like the better option because it won't create gastric distress and we needed him to get back to eating after a gall bladder issue resulted in profound nausea and anorexia.  Are you concerned about it being the cause of Purrkins cancer?  I have certainly know there are instances of injection site sarcomas in felines and canine - usually associated with vaccines.  I had not heard it associated with inject-able abx, but perhaps.
Cerenia is, btw, an anti nausea. Â Can also be injected or given orally.
Lisa, Minneapolis
On October 27, 2016, nearly 6 months after amputation, and 18 months since his cancer likely started, we lost Pofi to a recurrence of Soft Tissue Sarcoma in his spine quite suddenly. Â His canine sister also succumbed to cancer on March 1, 2019 - we lavished her with our love in the interim, but life was never quite the same without her only real canine friend. Cliff kitty had to leave us, too, suddenly, in August 2019. Lucia kitty grieved all these losses, but helped us welcome two new Lurchers into our home and our lives, Shae and Barley.
BTW, she is a really pretty kitty.
Lisa, Minneapolis
On October 27, 2016, nearly 6 months after amputation, and 18 months since his cancer likely started, we lost Pofi to a recurrence of Soft Tissue Sarcoma in his spine quite suddenly. Â His canine sister also succumbed to cancer on March 1, 2019 - we lavished her with our love in the interim, but life was never quite the same without her only real canine friend. Cliff kitty had to leave us, too, suddenly, in August 2019. Lucia kitty grieved all these losses, but helped us welcome two new Lurchers into our home and our lives, Shae and Barley.
Yes ,Thank you for the correction! are right that is what I meant Convenia. Our other cat gets cerenia for nausea for IBD. LOL Just too many things going on I guess.Â
Yes there is so many side effects on the convenia and really wished it was not used recently and would of been an option for this surgery. With cats the vets thinks you can't do oral medication. And for some cats there is a problem getting them there meds . Â
I can get meds in both kitties. I guess Ill see what he says on antibiotics and are best options are. Purrkins tolerated the Convenia I have concerns for 3 months after for side effects. He just had it Convenia june 28th for biopsy.Â
Thank you, He is a handsome guy 
With cats, they usually take the shoulder as well. Â It makes recovery easier and ends up being more comfortable for them. Â
Good luck Purrkins!! Â The next few days will be rough and tough but soon you will feel *so* much better. Â
Ok on the shoulder.Â
Thank you, scared to death ,but we will get thru this and look forward to a new normal.
The vet initially thought her shoulder would remain but when he consulted with the big city vets they said to take the shoulder. It might have been to ensure extra wide margins for the tumour removal.
The vet suspected vaccine associated sarcoma because it was grew so quickly and he eliminated other options. However, no biopsy was done so he wasn't 100% certain. The records showed the type of vaccine, lot number, and where it was injected. The pathologist confirmed it was mostly likely VAS. The pharmaceutical company paid part of the amputation costs in order to keep my vet as a customer.
There is a new term used these days, "injection related sarcoma", because they have also found sarcomas produced by microchips, flea medications.
The vet gave Mona Buprenex (for pain) and Metacam for Felines (antiflammatory, pain relief), which is widely used in Canada. Mona was fine with these but nutty from the Buprenex. One thing I learned here is to keep ahead of the pain. The dosage was 3-4 times a day, I chose 3 and it should have been 4 since she was a little squirrelly by the time she was due for more meds.
Wishing Purrkins a smooth surgery and recovery,
Kerren and Tripawd Kitty Mona
Interesting thank you for the term "Injection related sarcoma" I hadn't heard or read that term makes sense for any injection site in cats with inflammatory responses . I have more questions to add to my list.
Definitely want to stay ahead of any pain as much as possible. One of my huge concerns. Thank you for all your experience .Â
Holly, Â Purrkins and family
Holly and Purrkins, we've got your back over here in tripawd land! Lots of hugs and good wishes for a speedy recovery!
Purrkins will be seeing pink elephants tomorrow and enjoying the scenery! You, in the meantime, will be stressed out! HOWEVER, there is a helpful natural "drug" that I can personally endorse..CHOCOLATE! Eat lots of chocolate and bowls of ice cream! You'll feel so .uch better! 🙂
Love
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
OMG, Purkins is my second favourite flavour of kitty after grey tabby!
Jack kept his shoulder which has delayed the wound healing a bit (he needed a second round of staples because the wound over the shoulder reopened after the first lot came out).Â
We managed pain on an NSAID drug alone by splitting the dose to 4 times daily instead of twice. Getting opiates for animals in this country is hard work due to drug control laws.
We found that putting antibiotic and pain med in 1 tbsp of kitten food and offering that first was the best way to get the meds in. Also sardine water (take sardines, use the can water which you can refill several times over 48 hours in the fridge before you feed Purkins the sardines) was good to get him drinking when  he was feeling sorry for himself.
We kept Jack off dry food until he was demanding to be fed - hydration will improve healing.
Jack is in week 3 and is playing. He went out escorted by Jenny and ended up walking along a wooden fence about 2 inches wide like it was a cat walk. The main thing is he tires more easily still so after 2 hours assisting the gardening, he slept the whole afternoon when he would usually swap between several snoozing spots most afternoonsÂ
Thank you Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too.
I know all about that chocolate drug lol I use it daily! Need more then chocolate today and days ahead.
Holly and Purrkins and family
We took Purrkins to MSU vetinary college this morning we spent over an hour talking everything over with the surgeon.
Got all the questions answered at least the ones we had for now. Leaving him for this was one of the hardest thing ever.
Tore my guts out. But we are giving him life. Doing this for him not to him. So i keep that mantra going in my head anyway. So trying hard to be positive .
We did leave Purrkins and he will have surgery tomorrow they will call me tonight on how he is doing. They will call me before surgery and after . Many prayers for tomorrow .
He will stay until thursday or friday depending on how things go. We will be able to visit thursday if he has to stay.Â
They will take the shoulder also.
The surgeon was very open to everything we discussed gabapentin and pain meds they were on top of everything which helped .We discussed all concerns.Â
He will allow the onesies , I took a couple in hopes he would allow rather then the cone. I cut off the bottoms and sewed the one arm closed. Â
He wants his him restricted for 2 weeks no steps, no up and done from the bed . He said I can pick him up and put him down, allow to eat or use the litter box. Â But no doing on his own.
We are going take the mattress off the frame today hopefully that will help. I wont have to worry about him getting under there or falling off.Â
I do believe Purrkins is great hands, I'm still Scared to death for Purrkins! He is my shadow, part of my soul and I already miss him. I Hate that he has to go thru this. If only I could of traded my arm . I would of happily. Â Love that guy
Thanks everyone truly helps !
Quirkyfriend,
quirkyfriend said
OMG, Purkins is my second favourite flavour of kitty after grey tabby!Jack kept his shoulder which has delayed the wound healing a bit (he needed a second round of staples because the wound over the shoulder reopened after the first lot came out).Â
We managed pain on an NSAID drug alone by splitting the dose to 4 times daily instead of twice. Getting opiates for animals in this country is hard work due to drug control laws.
We found that putting antibiotic and pain med in 1 tbsp of kitten food and offering that first was the best way to get the meds in. Also sardine water (take sardines, use the can water which you can refill several times over 48 hours in the fridge before you feed Purkins the sardines) was good to get him drinking when  he was feeling sorry for himself.
We kept Jack off dry food until he was demanding to be fed - hydration will improve healing.
Jack is in week 3 and is playing. He went out escorted by Jenny and ended up walking along a wooden fence about 2 inches wide like it was a cat walk. The main thing is he tires more easily still so after 2 hours assisting the gardening, he slept the whole afternoon when he would usually swap between several snoozing spots most afternoons  Â
Lol on flavour kitty. He is the sweetest guy there is you would love him .
There are going to take Purrkins shoulder.
We will be sent home with Gabapentin and he wasn't sure which pain med he was sending home yet. It would be a opiate. He wanted to see how surgery went and how purrkins tolerates everything.Â
I got the sardines from your suggestion earlier thank you ,l have tuna also. I use the tuna juice to give supplements in. Works well hides most stuff. We also keep turkey baby food on hand.Â
So Glad to hear Jack is doing so well!Â
Oh my gosh you are TOTALLY in great hands there, Purrkins will be so loved on and looked after.
I know this is really scary. But you'll be so impressed with how he handles things .... much better than any human. Promise!
Glad you got the onesies and that the vet was OK with it. You'll have to take some photos, would love to see the outfit 🙂
You are all in our thoughts and hearts, we are cheering you on 
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
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