Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
Tripawds is your home to learn how to care for a three legged dog or cat, with answers about dog leg amputation, and cat amputation recovery from many years of member experiences.
Join The Tripawds Community
Learn how to help three legged dogs and cats in the forums below. Browse and search as a guest or register for free and get full member benefits:
Instant post approval.
Private messages to members.
Subscribe to favorite topics.
Live Chat and much more!
Register
Log In
Members
Add Topic
Offline
Are Kerren and Holly the best or what???? So much invaluable knowledge!!
YAAAAAAAAAY FOR LYNX!!! YAAAAAAAAAY FOR
YAAAAAAAAAY FOR MOM!!! You are doing a great job of observing and understanding what Lynx is trying to tell you! Such a great team!
So happy to read this update!!
Hugs!
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!
Thanks for the great info and suggestions!
So Lynx's post op instructions say to keep him fairly inactive - no running or jumping - for 14 days. Hah, can't remember the last time I saw him run lol. That is not until Wednesday so I guess you're right about confining him on Monday. His stitches are "self-absorbing" and are "inside" although I can see them outside too. They said those wont' be fully absorbed for months. So I'm wondering when the rest of you got the stitches out? I know that is when you allowed the cat to be fully active. His incision looks very good.
Becky and Lynx
14 days for Purrkins his stitches were out and free. It was a scary time for me, not him.
I would still take some precautions until you see Lynx being back to his new self and know what he can and cannot do. Nothing wrong with closing a door or whatever to keep him safe. If your not home and unsure close the door or gate the area off!
I am overly cautious , because I had a 16 year old cat with 4 legs fall off a table and break a leg. My advice may differ then others. But I would rather be safer then sorry.
Okay thank you Holly! I think I will keep him upstairs next week and then I can let him down after I come home. I am gone for 12 hours on each of those 3 days so better to be safe than sorry.
Your frequent advice and support - and those of Kerren and Sally and Jerry too - have been instrumental in Lynx's care. My feline boy thanks you all for your generosity!
Becky and Lynx
Hi folks
Just thought I'd check in and give an update on Lynx. It has been a little over 4 months since his amputation. He is happy and healthy and back to his usual self, just on 3 legs. He and Leah will be 16 yo in August. There have been changes in the household since the amputation. Lynx now stays on the top floor near his Mom :). He is not interested in going downstairs but he is happy upstairs. This is largely due to Leah not accepting him since the cancer. She still hisses at him and it does bother him. So I keep a gate with blanket across the stairway and they both live separate lives. I tried everything everyone recommended (trust me, there's not anything I didn't try) for about 3 months and she wouldn't budge. So finally, I put the gate back and I keep them apart. This is working well. I just balance my attention between the two of them. It works better for Lynx because before the amputation Leah used to move in and take over if I was petting Lynx. She's more needy. And he was getting intimidated by her after the amputation. So now he gets lots of individual attention.
I am very happy with my decision to have Lynx's leg amputated because he doesn't seem to care at all about that. And so good to have him around. Thanks to all for the support during this transition. Have a wonderful summer. 
Becky, Tripawd Lynx and Leah
We have been PMing so.. I will just say YEAH 🎉😸here too!
Lynx being a senior trikitty will help other kitties & kitty parents some day!
Becky has indeed tried everything to get the kitties back to being brother and sisters & Leah will not have it!
This is working and everyone is happy so YEAH again! Happy early 16th Bday to Lynx and Leah ❣️
Keep on hopping on Mr. Lynx!
P.S. Any trikitty members reading this lives in Boston Mass. Becky might be interested in a cat sitter in the summer;)
HUGS
Holly & Purrkins
Thank you Holly. You have been so helpful to us over the months and we appreciate it.
Becky and Lynx
So glad to hear rhis delightful update!! 🙂
You've done an excellent job of giving each kitty their own special place filled with one in o e love time from you!
HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET LYNX!!! A 16 yr young tripawd kitty is a big deal!! 🙂
Such an inspiration!!! 🙂
Hugs and kitty ear scrathes for Lynx...and Leah too!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
PS. Yes, we all are soooo appreciative of the incredible support and insight provided by Holly and Purrkins!!! 🙂 They are absolutely invaluable here, as wel as their kitty partner, Kerren and Mona!
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!
Becky that is such a wonderful update! I'm thrilled you were able to find a way for them to call a truce and live relatively peacefully together. What a relief that must be. Kudos to you for your sticktoitiveness and all you do to help them have great lives into their golden years. You are such a pawesome pet mom!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
It's always wonderful to get an update. It's great that Holly gave you so much support.
After all he's been through Lynx has earned the right to get lots of attention. It's too bad that you have to separate the cats but it seems to be working and you have peace in your house.
16 years old!! Although Lynx's recovery was hard, you persevered and can now enjoy your time together.
Kerren and Tripawd Kitty Mona (she hisses too but it's more funny than scary)
Hi
Just want to let you know the sad news that I had to put my darling Lynx to sleep 3 weeks ago. Couldn't bring myself to write until now. He got a recurrence of his cancer in the incision spot which got huge quickly and then burst open a few days before he went to sleep. The tumor was quite large and in retrospect they are saying it must have been vaccine-related. He made it to his 16th birthday just days before he went to sleep.
We had a nice ceremony for Lynx at home with a vet who does this for a living. He got an opiate and sedative and got to cuddle for about 20 minutes before the final injection.
His sister Leah is still the same. She won't go upstairs where Lynx stayed for the past 8 months. She saw his body so she knows he is gone. And now she gets all of the attention instead of splitting it.
Having the additional 8 months with Lynx was priceless and I would do the amputation again. The first week after the amputation was hard but after that, he really didn't care that his leg was absent and he was happy.
RIP my darling Lynx
Becky and Leah
Becky ,
Again so very sorry for your LOSS! I didn't say thank you in our PM ! Thank you for PMing & letting me know before reading it here! I wont rewrite everything on the post!
Please know you gave Lynx 8 months of quality time & we all THANK YOU for sharing Lynx with us! He will always be remembered here! He was our hero hoping on and showing us that seniors with cancer can indeed recover & have more quality time! I am just so very sorry and cry with you there are no words of comfort that will make this pain go away!!
You are always welcome here & Lynx will always be remembered here!! As I said if ever want to share pictures PM me I would love to do that & honor Lynx ! It was our pleasure getting to know you Lynx & Leah!!
Lynx is whole and running free or flying whichever Lynx is wanting to do & we will miss you Lynx Fly free buddy!
With heartfelt tears & much love!!
Chin scratches to Leah
((((((((((HUGS)))))))
Holly , Purrkins & Saxton
We k ow how much this hurts and we are all so very very sorry. Having been such a good caregiver all these months, and now that "routine" is no longer there, just adds to the grief.
With Lynx there is sooooo much to celebrate though! Your sweet Lynx has left a legacy here that will continue to touch lives and make a difference furever! Lynx has shownnthe world that senuir cats can rock three legs just fine! And this Mighty Warrior beat that piece of crap disease for almost nine months, and he did it wilh determination, courage and a whole lot of grace! Because of Lynx other seniir kitties will be given a chance at ap extended quality time for more loving and spoiling.
Yiu gave Lynx such a great life!! He's been at the Bridge braggiw about what a spectacular time he had with you! And he got to jave a ither birthday celebration at the Bridge chock full of goodies!!
I do hope you'll take Holly up on ner kind offer to post some pictures of yiur Darling Lynx. We woukd love to hear more abojt him and some of the uniqueness of being Lynx!
Sending love and hugs
Sally and My Chunky Spiritual Being Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie
PS. Pay attention because Lynx will be connecting with you and sending signs to you that he is doing well AND that he is ALWAYS present with you!
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!
Thank you so much for your kind words. I do hope that other senior cats have a chance to extend their life. Lynx was very happy and playful after the surgery.
And I will look for signs as you (and Holly) have mentioned. Holly is posting some pics of my dear Lynx.
Hugs
Becky and Leah
Becky, I'm so sorry to hear that Lynx is now sleeping. You did an amazing job bringing him along through the recovery. Happily you got 8 more months with your darling!
To live 16 years is fantastic for any cat! As Sally said, Lynx is a legacy! We can give him as an example of a senior who recovered well and lived life to the fullest on 3 legs. It's unfortunate that Leah didn't recover as well but then Lynx got more cuddle time with you.
Please know that vaccine-associated sarcomas are very nasty and it's hoped that surgery will take the cancer before it's had time to spread.
When I see your avatar photo of Lynx, I see a bigger version of my Mona. I look forward to seeing more photos of Lynx - he looks very handsome. Your ceremony sounds lovely. May you hold all the wonderful memories of Lynx forever in your heart.
Many hugs and cat snuggles,
Kerren, Eli and Tripawd Kitty Mona
1 Guest(s)
