Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Provided Kender's chest/abdominal x-ray is clear, she'll be having her left rear leg amputated tomorrow and coming home that evening because the vet doesn't have after hours care. She's a 14 year old cat. Here's what I have prepared so far:
Spare room is cleared out for her. For the first night and at least the next day, she'll be confined to a crate to really limit her movement with a blanket over it so she feels hidden and safe.
I have food and water. Her usual dry food as well as a couple wet foods and some tuna (no idea if she'll actually eat these.)
An open top litter box with an area cut out for easy entrance/exit and dust free litter.
The vet says she provides the soft style cone for her. I also have onesies but not sure how useful those will be with a rear leg amp.
Emergency clinic's number in my phone in case of an after hours emergency.
Am I missing anything?? Any tips/suggestions??
-Melinda
~Melinda and Tri-Kitty Angel Kender
Follow Kender's story here
They should tell you whether or not to provide food or water when she gets home depending on what time her surgery was and what time her anesthesia wore off. If I remember correctly, you had said that her surgery was first thing in the morning, so if she's coming home at the end of the business day, then she should be ok to eat and drink. If I were you, I would still provide both in small quantities so if vomiting occurs (normal side effect to anesthesia), there isn't much for her to bring up.
Make sure she has lots of comfy blankies to lay on!
Other than that, you sound prepared! She's probably going to sleep most of the first 24 hours she's home, especially if they're sending her home with a Fentanyl patch.
I'll be thinking of you tomorrow! Keep us posted on how things go please!!
<3 Amy and Steve
Right rear leg amp due to injury from unknown cause (but don't tell her she's missing her spare...yes HER!)
Read our blog here: http://stevetheprettytripawdkitty.tripawds.com/
And find Steve's new Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/stevetheprettytripawdkitty
All looks good to me! Jill's vet wanted me to use paper litter (yesterday's news it's called) you can get it at any pet store so you may want to ask about that. Please keep us posted. I'll be thinking about you. I know it's a rough day!
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
You appear to have prepared for everything physically....emotionally...yeah, it's hard to prepare!
Not spending the night at the vet's and having Kender home with you as her caregiver may be a little scary for you! I would keep that ER number written on the back of your hand and call them every hour if y o u need to!!! Hopefully she'll be well drugged.and will "sleep" through most of the first night.
I know you'll be watching her like a hawk that first night, so I wouldn't worry about putting the cone on her unless she will be out of your sight for awhile.
We'll al l be thinking of you tomorrow and sending al l sorts of pawsitive energy. Please post as so o n as you can. Stay connected t o us, especial k y the next week or so. You are not alone...we are withl here for yo u and with you!
Hugs...eat chocolate...and if you drink, double your usual amount.....if y o u don't drink, now might be a good time to start...at least for a week anyway!!!
Sally and Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle
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 ladies! The vet hadn't mentioned anything about her litter, but I had seen a couple other tri-kitty pawrents mention dust-free litter. So I scoured Amazon reviews for the best one and ordered some haha Do you know if the paper would be better than another dust free type?? I got Dr. Elsey's Precious ....(a really long name). If so, I could always pick some up on the way home after dropping her off tomorrow.
I'm going to put the blankies she's been using most lately in there with her, as well as the huge stuffed bunny she's taken a liking to lately. She won't be able to use that until I let her out of the crate in a day or two, but she'll probably be happy to have it after that 
Not a big drinker, but there's plenty of alcohol in the house if I change my mind haha Hubby is staying home from work tomorrow so that he'll be here to help with the kids (he usually works 2-10:30 pm), but the 1.5 year old is still pretty mommy-centered if I'm around. So poor Kender is gonna have to keep her cone on until the kiddos go to bed and my attention isn't so divided 
When she had her biopsy done, she started licking the stitches almost as soon as we were in the car! So I'm not gonna trust her to leave them alone if I can't be 100% focused on her. Since they don't have after hours care at my vet, I know I'll feel way better having her at home with me then fretting all night long about her! Especially since we are a family of night owls anyway.
I'm sure I'll be posting on the blog tomorrow...probably more than once, to keep me busy!
~Melinda and Tri-Kitty Angel Kender
Follow Kender's story here
Just wanted to say I have you, your family, and Kender on my mind today! I hope all goes well and she is sleeping comfortably at home tonight.
Regarding the cone - the soft ones are really not that bad to leave on 24/7. Sebastian had his on for 4 weeks, probably could have taken it off at 3 but I wanted to wait until the follow up. It didn't bother him at all and I didn't take it off of him period, I just folded it back for him when he was eating. My vet was very adamant about it.. He said that in a split second if he chewed on it there could have been 4+ inches of incision open - trust me, Kender can deal with the cone! It's sooo not worth the risk!
You will be AMAZED at how well she does with recovery. The only problem Sebastian had was with his appetite and that got better over time. Keep us posted!
We are thinking of you and Kender and hoping everything is going great! Sounds like you have all of your bases covered, especially when it comes to being strict on the cone of shame . Don't worry, you'll do fine. Keep us posted!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Still waiting to hear from the vet...trying to be patient and not freak out. It's an hour later than she said I should expect a call :/ I know that probably doesn't mean anything bad, but hard to not go there.
~Melinda and Tri-Kitty Angel Kender
Follow Kender's story here
Don't panic, breathe! You can do it!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Just heard back...all went well and she is doing great! Will be picking her up between 5:00-5:30 😀
~Melinda and Tri-Kitty Angel Kender
Follow Kender's story here
Yay!!!!!!!!!!
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
Yay!!! My phone wouldn't let me open the Tripawds site today and all I wanted to do all day was check in!!
Right rear leg amp due to injury from unknown cause (but don't tell her she's missing her spare...yes HER!)
Read our blog here: http://stevetheprettytripawdkitty.tripawds.com/
And find Steve's new Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/stevetheprettytripawdkitty
The vet talked about how totally chill she was the whole time. As soon as we got in the car she started meowing and trying to get her cone off. Within 5 mins of being home and out of the carrier, she got the cone off!! And spilled her water all over herself in the process :/ So I'm sitting with her so she can have some cone free time, but she's already tried to lick it once so it definitely has to go back on. I hope I can get it Kender-proofed :/
~Melinda and Tri-Kitty Angel Kender
Follow Kender's story here
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