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Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat

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Newbie story share and question about phantom limb
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Member Since:
14 January 2014
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14 January 2014 - 8:51 pm
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Hi everyone,

I've been making my way around the blogs and in the forums and thought I would introduce myself and hopefully get some feedback to a question I haven't found a lot of answers for.

First, my baby is Vin, and she's about two.  We got her a little over a year ago from a shelter, rescued the poor thing out of those of those cages at Petsmart.  It's been a rough journey as she's had a hard time trusting us, a finicky eater, and a little bit mean.  The trust we built over the last year was severely tested when on Christmas Eve we saw her limping and found huge lump on her back right leg.  We rushed her to the ER vet who assured us she hadn't broken a bone or anything but that it was some kind of tumor.  A few days later she was at a local vet getting x-rays and we had the good news that it was soft tissue only and has not metastasized.  But it was large, clearly causing her pain, and had grown quickly, because we pet her all the time but hadn't felt it before.

A week later and she was back for a biopsy because the aspirate test was inconclusive.  I was at work but the way my husband tells it: two vets on staff that day looked at her and both agreed with us that it had grown further over that week, and given the way it was behaving it was almost definitely fibrosarcoma and that if we waited for the biopsy results to come back it could grow beyond what even amputation could do for her (it was pretty high on her thigh).  Having spent all the time I could researching fibrosarcoma I was sort of prepared for this and so her leg was amputated two days later.

We are currently one week into recovery and for the most part she is doing well.  She hasn't needed pain medication (was on Buprenex) for the past three days, has been able to lay on the stitched side, has accepted with some dirty looks wearing her cone, is eating well, using the litter box and getting around really well.  Our only problem is that a few times a day since coming off the pain meds she has jumped up in the air (often from sleeping) and started falling all over the place like she is jumping away from being pinched or shocked.  A couple times I have been really afraid she would hurt herself.  Most of the time when she does this she seems to be trying to use the leg that isn't there anymore and also seems to be jumping away from pain centered on that spot.  Afterwards she sometimes trembles and almost always comes to lay up against us and wanting pets and seeming weirded out.

Have any of you gone through this?  Did it fade as your baby healed?  Should I be sneaking a little bit of pain med (we have a tiny bit left over) into her food?  I'm dreading that she might have to live with this for the rest of her life.  

I did call the vet to let them know, and was told they would call back of the vet was concerned.  I haven't gotten a call back so...  Am definitely going to ask in a week when the stitches come out tho...

If you got this far, thanks for hearing me out, it's appreciated.

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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14 January 2014 - 9:20 pm
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Welcome! Your future forum posts will not require moderation.

Sudden outbursts can certainly indicate phantom limb pain. You may find these posts and videos helpful:

tips-for-managing-phantom-limb-pain-in-dogs

post-amputation-side-effects-in-dogs

Tripawds Get Phantom Pain Relief with Farabloc Drug-Free Therapy

Tripawd Pawrents Describe Post-Amputation Pain Relief with Farabloc

Search the forums for more feedback from members, or search all blogs here.

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

Member Since:
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14 January 2014 - 10:31 pm
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Thanks so much for the links, I will check them out.  Also I realized I didn't say, but my Little One is a cat.  I know this is primarily a dog place but I've read some of the cat blogs so I hope I'm not intruding.  🙂

On The Road


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14 January 2014 - 10:35 pm
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thejadedhippy said
I hope I'm not intruding...

Not at all! We have a growing number of tri-kitty bloggers .

Thanks for the clarification.

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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14 January 2014 - 11:11 pm
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Welcome...and sorry you have to be here!

My cputer is freezing up, but just wanted to say Vin is a very lucky kitty to jave you as her advocate.

She seems to be recoverin within the "normal" range. And yeah, it sou ds like she's getting a dose of that sharp phantom pain where nerves are still firing off to a leg that's not there.. It's good that she's eating, using the litter box, etc.

Yes, we are all one big family connected by our love for our dogs and cats and because we are dealing with the stress of a generally cruel diagnosis.
We have several cat families here who will chime in and offer more specific cat-related suggestions.

Vin WILL get better. She's very, very early in recovery from a major surgery. Kitty Jill jist celebrated her thirteen month ampiversary and is enjoyingnher life to the fullest!

We are here to help anyway we can. Hang in there, okay?

Hugs to you and Vin!

Sally and Happy Hannah

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!

New York, NY
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3 December 2012
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15 January 2014 - 9:56 am
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Somehow I knew when I read that Vin was on buprenex that she was a kitty!  That is the typical kitty post surgery drug :)

My Jill is now 13 months post amputation (for osteosarcoma) of her right hind leg (she is also a kitty!)  I wonder if what you are describing is anything like this:

http://tripodbe.....chive.html

Apparently, some rear legged cat amputees do this "backwards walk" after amputation - it has something to do with nerves regenerating.  I was all prepared for it to happen, but my Jill never did it.  Little Man, another kitty blogger on here did it as well:

http://chelleb7.....ards-walk/

If that is what is going on, it does stop eventually!  If not, it could be phantom pain - I would give it some time and see!  I'm sorry you have to join us here - but it sounds like you did the right thing for your girl and you've come to the right place and we're so happy to have another kitty join us!  Please visit Jill's blog if you get a chance, I have tons of pics and videos of her if you go back to the very beginning of her entire recovery!

 

xoxo,

Erica & Jill

Jill is a 9-year-old tuxedo kitty. She was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma in June 2012 on her toe in her right hind leg. Her leg was amputated on 12/12/12 and she completed four rounds of chemo (2 of Carbo, 2 of Doxy) in April 2013. "Like" Jill's facebook page: https://www.fac.....tty?ref=hl Proud member of the WINTER WARRIORS!!!! Her blog can be read at http://jillsjou.....ipawds.com. xoxo

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15 January 2014 - 9:54 pm
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Oh my gods!  YES!  She has been doing the backwards walk as well.  I thought she was just trying to get out of her collar, like she could walk out of it...  But connecting it with these "fits" makes even more sense.  Thank you so much for the links, it made me feel a lot better about the whole thing.

New York, NY
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3 December 2012
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15 January 2014 - 9:57 pm
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YAY! As soon as I read your post I thought that's probably what it was...SO glad I could help!!!

Jill is a 9-year-old tuxedo kitty. She was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma in June 2012 on her toe in her right hind leg. Her leg was amputated on 12/12/12 and she completed four rounds of chemo (2 of Carbo, 2 of Doxy) in April 2013. "Like" Jill's facebook page: https://www.fac.....tty?ref=hl Proud member of the WINTER WARRIORS!!!! Her blog can be read at http://jillsjou.....ipawds.com. xoxo

Member Since:
14 January 2014
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22 January 2014 - 11:24 pm
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Hi guys,  Thanks again for all your help.  The stitches came out on Monday and everything's healing really well.  Haven't had anymore backward walking or weird freak outs since, so I'm hoping she might be past that hurdle.  She's adapting, and seems totally zen about the whole thing.  Thought you might like a picture, this is from Monday night, when she was finally able to sleep with a paw covering her eyes again!

 

the little oneImage Enlarger

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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22 January 2014 - 11:44 pm
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Awwwwww Vin! You look so sweet and comfy! A very pretty girl! Yor incision really looks lokeit's healing nicely.

So glad to hear jer recocery is coing along nicely. Sounds like all the hurdles have been handled perfectly!

And it ony gets bettrer! Thaks for updat g usand postigthat sweet picture!

Hugs to you both!

Sally and Happy Hannah

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!

On The Road


Member Since:
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23 January 2014 - 11:08 am
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Too cute! Here's to being a zen Tripawd!

Glad things are good, we have our paws crossed things continue to stay that way.

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

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11 April 2014 - 10:47 pm
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Thanks again for the kind words everyone.

We are taking the Little One in for a check up tomorrow.  She has been recovering so well, but the last couple days has started acting weird.  No appetite (she HAD been eating twice/thrice as much as she did before surgery), seems like she is having trouble jumping as high as she has always done, and today it seems like it might be painful for her to move around a lot.  Like, if it's possible to limp with only one leg she is doing it.  And she's always been only selectively graceful, but really seems to be flopping down the last couple of days as well, and today it looks like she's having trouble just getting up.  We've felt a lump on her neck as well, tho it's very hard and doesn't cause her pain.  She also was exploring outside for the first few times this week, supervised, and was eating grass and stuff...but so did our boy cat and he's fine.  I'm totally freaking out.  🙁

Wish us luck!

IMG_0174_zpse36f40b5.jpgImage Enlarger

 

from just five days ago, watching the birds and squirrels with Kitty...Image Enlarger

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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11 April 2014 - 11:23 pm
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I knwit's easier said thandone, but try not wo worry Coud be so e sort of pullled muscle, disc issue, etc.

It realy sounds like it could be soething along those lines and that could make her feel like not eating too.

Peeing and poopingokay? I would try and take in a sample of both. A UTI could make her feel all out of sorts to and weak.

Please update us toorrow and give uher extra ear scratches......and a little extra chcocolate for youz!

HUGS!

Sally and Happy Hannah

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!

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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11 April 2014 - 11:24 pm
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BTW.....the photos are great!! Love to see more!!

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!

On The Road


Member Since:
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12 April 2014 - 2:32 pm
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It's good to hear from you, and pics too, what a bonus!

OK you have to tell us what the vet said. We all have our paws, fingers & tails crossed that you got good news about her health. Let us know so we can uncross everything OK?

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

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