Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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I want to sing the praises of the Farabloc blanket. I use it. Whereas the research is convincing, it was the dog "testimonials" that sold me. Dogs can't be fooled.
I hope you see a change in Jerry so his skin recovers quickly.
Cheers,
Kerren and Tripawd Kitty Mona
Thanks to you both- I will definitely check out this blanket! My preference is something holistic, but he was just in so much discomfort that I wanted to try something....anything!!
Hattie & Jerry
Hugs,
Hattie and Jerry Cat (right front leg and scapula amputation due to chondrosarcoma at age 14, lived 2 1/2 years post amputation, succumbed suddenly to suspected lymphoma at age 16)
10/2001 - 10/9/2017 R.I.P ~ Love you always
Hi there,
Your poor little Kitty! Your case actually sounds a lot like what my cat is going through (this is the link to my post about it if you want to have a little look: http://tripawds.....m/#p156289) (not sure if that url will work though :/).
My cat had his leg amputated 5th November so it has been less than a month for him with it and it has been really hard, so i really feel for you with it being 3months!!
Just wondering if you are having any luck with the Gabapotin (can't spell :p) drug? I may have to talk to my vet about it.
Thanks,
Laura
Hi Laura,
I'm really sorry! I hadn't been on this site for a few days and did not see this post or your other one until now! The Gabapentin did work for Jerry for the first few days. He did not itch at all, but then started ripping his scabs open again. It has not been quite a week yet, so I am thinking I may have to be patient and give it time to really get into his system? The Farabloc blanket is the next thing I'm going to try. I learned about that on this forum too.
Maybe try the NurtureCalm collar?
I got it from my vet. It's about $22 where I live. It is time released pheromones and works for a full 30 days. It modifies stress related behaviors and worked like MAGIC for Jerry's other issue he was having right after surgery. I can't believe how "easy" the actual amputation surgery was compared to solving this phantom limb pain thing!I am sorry your kitty is so uncomfortable! I hope to hear an update with good news soon!
Hattie & Jerry
Hugs,
Hattie and Jerry Cat (right front leg and scapula amputation due to chondrosarcoma at age 14, lived 2 1/2 years post amputation, succumbed suddenly to suspected lymphoma at age 16)
10/2001 - 10/9/2017 R.I.P ~ Love you always
Hi Hattie,
Surgery sites are itchy when they heal and the hair starts growing in. I have to admit when I have a scab that I find it itchy and I pick at it. Perhaps that is why Jerry is now itchy again. This is a tough one. Mona did not wear a cone and hardly scratched and if she did it was only at the drain which left crusty stuff on her skin. Why one cat scratches and another doesn't I don't know. Jerry could be a sensitive kind of guy.
I think another problem could be that the site is always covered. I wonder if it can heal faster with air reaching it. But then again, Jerry would scratch. Perhaps you can have some cuddle time with Jerry without any clothing (Jerry that is, not you. Well unless you preferred unclothed cuddling
). Mona liked when I clean the incision area with a damp facecloth.
Hope things improve soon.
Kerren and Tripawd Kitty Mona
Karren,
Oh my, that cuddling comment made me laugh out loud! Funny stuff. Thanks for the suggestion. I'll be home a lot today so it would be a good time to take off his t-shirt and let some air get at it! I have to get to the bottom of this...it is driving me bonkers.
Hattie & Jerry
Hugs,
Hattie and Jerry Cat (right front leg and scapula amputation due to chondrosarcoma at age 14, lived 2 1/2 years post amputation, succumbed suddenly to suspected lymphoma at age 16)
10/2001 - 10/9/2017 R.I.P ~ Love you always
Hi Hattie and Jerry
Reading your post brings memories flooding back. Our dog Yasmin had her front right leg amputated due to cancer 8 August 2013. She had lots of ups and downs along her recovery journey including licking and chewing at her scar even after it had healed.
We tried everything... Our breakthrough was with massage. I started massaging the site after Jerry suggested it I think. Massaging for ten minutes several times a day around the amp scar site seemed to give her such relief. In no time at all she had forgotten about licking and chewing and got back to a much happier normal life.
There could be stitches causing irritation or something else going on but from our experience all Yasmin needed was massage and time.
wishing you the best of luck with Jerry's recovery
Kate and Yasmin x
Thank you so much Kate & Yasmin! I thought a lot about it today and I'm now thinking that maybe Jerry is just itchy from the simple fact that scabs are itchy and that I have him on Gabapentin for nothing?! I'm so confused. I have been massaging occasionally but haven't been doing it for ten minutes or even several times per day. It is definitely worth a try! Someone else mentioned that his sutures might also be causing it. I just assumed those things would have disintegrated LONG ago...but I guess it could take this long? These are all such good points. I wonder if I should stop giving the med? We bought that pet wrap bandage stuff and wrapped his foot last night so he couldn't get to his scabs. But he got the wrap off somehow in the middle of the night and reopened it. Some of the other scabs from a month or two ago have actually healed and he hasn't revisited them. The one that he absolutely tears at throughout the day, is where his scapula used to be. So a cone won't work because it doesn't block that area (and he can get out of one of those in two seconds anyway).
I will try massage tonight and maybe call the vet again and ask what he thinks about the Gabapentin. Oh, maybe acupuncture? Anyone tried that?
Thank you for sharing that info with me! I will definitely take your advice!
Hattie & Jerry
Hugs,
Hattie and Jerry Cat (right front leg and scapula amputation due to chondrosarcoma at age 14, lived 2 1/2 years post amputation, succumbed suddenly to suspected lymphoma at age 16)
10/2001 - 10/9/2017 R.I.P ~ Love you always
Hi Hattie,
This has gone on way too long. 5 months is it? I keep forgetting that. You could post this question in the "ask a vet" forum.
I think acupuncture is a great idea. An integrative/holistic vet could also help out. I took Mona to one 4 weeks after her surgery for a chiropractic treatment.
I think someone said there could be a problem with a remaining stitch. I know nothing about that but Pam at "Ask a Vet" will know more.
Good luck,
Kerren
p.s. I've been waiting for photos of Jerry....
Yes! Acupuncture is fabulous for dogs and cats after amputation surgery! Most tolerate it very well and it does wonders. If your vet can't give you a referral to a vet acupuncturist, look one up here:
More pain management tips:
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thanks Kerren & Jerry - I am definitely going to pursue the acupuncture route. I haven't had a shirt on him for days now in an effort to let air get to it and it's just a bloody mess because he won't leave it alone. Yes, 5 months post surgery. His only active scab is the large one where his scapula used to be. I'm thinking there just HAS to be a stitch or something bothering him. Meanwhile he is enjoying the lap time massages!
Thanks for the link, Jerry. I'm pretty sure we have a holistic vet about an hour from me, so I'm going to inquire tomorrow morning.
In one of my first posts I tried inserting photo URLs in the step-by-step instructions thread but it didn't work. So I posted four photos of Jerry on my Flickr account. I took a really beautiful one of him yesterday sunbathing on the couch. I'll try it again (I also seem to always get logged out of this site when I go to post). Does that happen to anyone else?
Hope everyone has a purrrfect Sunday - thanks again for all the advice!
Hattie & Jerry
Hugs,
Hattie and Jerry Cat (right front leg and scapula amputation due to chondrosarcoma at age 14, lived 2 1/2 years post amputation, succumbed suddenly to suspected lymphoma at age 16)
10/2001 - 10/9/2017 R.I.P ~ Love you always
Good morning Hattie,
Perhaps you could put the tshirt back on Jerry and only have it uncovered when you are supervising. At least this way there is less of a bloody mess. Does he have the claw covers on?
Have you heard of Yunnan Baiyao (yu nan bai yao as spelt by my friend Bonnie who is a Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine)? Bonnie buys it in Chinatown and is sending me some for my first aid kit. She said it stops bleeding 60% faster than pressure. If you go to a holistic vet you could ask about it. There's some interesting information about on the internet. Here's how it was used on a chicken: http://www.natu.....honey.html
I hope you can determine the problem soon. In the meantime enjoy the massage time. Could we see the photos on your Flickr account?
Kerren and Tripawd Kitty Mona
Hugs,
Hattie and Jerry Cat (right front leg and scapula amputation due to chondrosarcoma at age 14, lived 2 1/2 years post amputation, succumbed suddenly to suspected lymphoma at age 16)
10/2001 - 10/9/2017 R.I.P ~ Love you always
More info on Yunnan Baiyo:
How Yunnan Baiyao Stops Bleeding in Pets, People
Hattie, he is gorgeous! Love those pics. So, it looks like your Flick'r settings are set to prohibit people from embedding the photo URLs. Check your settings to enable public sharing. I'm not sure where since I don't have a Flickr account but there is a way to share them that enables you to right click on photos and "select image URL". Make sense?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
kazann said
I want to sing the praises of the Farabloc blanket. I use it. Whereas the research is convincing, it was the dog "testimonials" that sold me. Dogs can't be fooled.I hope you see a change in Jerry so his skin recovers quickly.
Cheers,
Kerren and Tripawd Kitty Mona
Kerren I didn't know that, would love to hear more about your experience. If you'd ever like to write a guest blog post about it let me know. Glad it works.
(I steal Wyatt's Farabloc when I have migraines and it helps).
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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