Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Two days after surgery, Tabby came home Friday (3/24) afternoon. Well, almost home. For those unfamiliar with Tabby, he's formerly feral and has lived in an enclosure built for him that's located in my backyard. The enclosure's been his home for the last 8 years. Tabby's never been in my house, until Friday. So he went from being at the hospital for two nights, a frightening place for most animals, to being in another unfamiliar place.
Tabby had peed in his carrier so the poor boy had to be cleaned up before he could even settle in. On the positive side, he did move around a bit in the puppy play pen I set up for him, and seemed more interested in looking around than he was scared. He also ate a small amount of food, maybe a teaspoon. Later, he ate 15 pieces of dry food and had a couple huge drinks.
He hadn't eaten at all when he was at the hospital so I was very happy - it was a good start, I thought. Tabby was glad to lie down on a bed I made for him in a medium size dog cage that's attached to the play pen and he seemed comfortable. He got his Buprenex, and compress for the incision. The little guy was pretty beat and feel asleep - to be expected after all he'd been through.
Things seemed to be going pretty well for the first day home.
This morning he was lying in his bed and seemed lethargic. No interest in the little meatballs powdered with Fortiflora that I put the gabapentin into. Fortiflora is one of his favorite things.
At lunch, he moved off his bed, yowled one time, went back on the bed and peed quite a large amount. I'd put a pad on the bed, made to protect chairs, etc. from incontinent kids or adults. It protected the bed, but his rear leg, butt and tail still got wet. There's a large litter box in the play pen, actually meant for dogs, that has a very low side. His usual litter is in it. It's not more than 3 1/2 ft. from his bed. I put the box even closer to the cage, but he peed again in his bed tonight. This time his front legs and chest were wet. I'm not sure what to use to clean him - I know I can't get the incision wet. Is vinegar diluted in water ok if I'm extremely careful not to go near the sutures?
Tabby's eating very little on his own, less than yesterday. I began assist-feeding him today with a syringe. It seemed to jump-start him - he began eating on his own, but he only took a few bites before I had to use the syringe again. He is good about me feeding him this way. But he's got no interest even in dry food, which is something he loves. He just wants to lie down.
I've gently lifted him up a few times during the day, to encourage him to move so his muscles don't atrophy. Tabby's reluctant to move much, even though he'd already been hopping on 3 legs for over a month before the surgery.
He'd also been on buprenex for weeks before the surgery, as well as gabapentin to help control the pain from the lump on his rear leg so I don't know if the buprenex would have anything to do with his lethargy. He got his 2 shots of Buprenex, but no gaba today.
Is all of this unusual? I'm especially disturbed by him peeing in his bed. I feel like I need to check on him every hour or 2 to make sure he's not lying in pee. I've gotten maybe 6 hours of sleep the last 2 days. I don't know if I can keep this up.
My poor little guy. Maybe this was just too much for my 18 year old baby.
Tabby does have a few victories we shouldn't let pass by, okay? Tabby is eating, even if it's just a little! He's drinking! He's mobile, even if it's just a little bit! He "appears" to have his pain managed. And yes, he's peeing, even if it is all over the bed!
Some kf our great cat family will chime in, but I can tell you that peeing on the bed, or the floor , or a ywnere but their litter box does seem to halpen with a lot of cats this early in recovery! So yes, that's somewhat normal.
I know the Gaba can have a sedation like effect, but I don't know about Buprenex. And as far as not wanting to move much, rest is EXACTLY what Tabby needs right now! He's a very smart kitty!
This early on in recovery, many of us thought we had made a horrible mistake. In fact, with My Happy Hannah it too me three weeks before I could finally say I did this FOR my Happy Hannah and not TO her!
You are EXHAUSTED! Your brain is fried and you are stressed out beyond belief! And you want Tabby to be better instantly!! It IS MAJOR SURGERY! Most humans would still be in the hospital on a morphine drip! Tabby has been through a lot these last 48 hrs or so!
Again , don't know best way to clean Tabby. Our kitty members will though!
TRY to get some rest and TRY to sleep more than two hrs at a time! Even if he sleeps in his pee for a couple of hours, it won't be the worst thing in the world.
Not sure if you could set up a little pen INSIDE his OUTDOOR enclosure and he could be jn there for a couple of hours tomorrow. It may help him to be in his "home" and it woukd give you a little break from hoovering!
HANG IN THERE!! This is the hardest part for several more days. Be sure and celebrate the little improvements though...because they are HUGE! 🙂
Lots of hugs.....and don t forget to eat CHOCOLATE! 🙂
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!
First I'm glad to hear Tabby is home !
Even if he is in the house right now.
Ditto Sally ! You have had many victories. Tabby is 18 he made it thru MAJOR surgery, low BP, low red Blood count! He is a hero!
He is home and eating and drinking and peeing ! ALL HUGE victories!
I know you are too tired to see the good right now but you have a lot of victories! If at all possible try to rest when Tabby is resting.
That is the best advice I can give you. You are no good to Tabby with no sleep! You have to take care of yourself too. You are mentally and physically exhausted to say the least! We understand!
This is still so early in recovery! The hospital meds have just worn off and he is still on his meds! It is going to get better!
Im glad to hear you know how to Syringe Tabby food another HUGE! Good for you! I would keep that up if he is not eating. Keep coaxing him to eat on his own, using the fortiflora & different foods.
Purrkins did not eat like normal but he ate and drank and that is ok.
That is normal too!
Bup and Gaba can make Tabby lethargic and tired. Purrkins slept a lot! That is the best thing for Tabby right now.
How often are you giving the Bup? What are your instructions every 8-12 hours? The Gaba is he to be off of that already ?
For the peeing , Purrkins never used a box or moved in the hospital he just peed where he was at. When I brought him home he was urnine soaked. I just used a warm wash cloth everywhere but the incision . You could use warm water or pet wipes. I would be afraid to use the vinegar? Thats just me.
The warm wash cloth worked on Purrkins. He did not smell like pee after I wiped him all down.
The litter box could still be too high for Tabby right now have you tried setting him in the box after eating or drinking? Setting him in periodically ?
We got Purrkins the low sided dog litter pan too. It was still too high for him to get into without me assisting him.
We ended up cutting the opening down further with a dremel tool. It did do the trick for Purrkins. He was able to get in and out of it without face planting.
If Tabby continues peeing where he lays, I would call the vet just to be safe. But I do think its just mobility right now. Try assisting putting him in the box and see what happens. I know it seems he should be adjusted to 3 legs already but having the leg gone/major surgery it is different for him . It is going to take time for him to adjust!
You could carry Tabby out to his outdoor enclosure , just let him smell the fresh air and let him see he is home. That might make a huge difference to him? I am not sure about letting him out there alone. That would depend on what the Vet said of course.
Stay connected we are here and will do our best to help your guys thru! Tabby will get this figured out in his Tabby time!
HUGS! Chin scratches to sweet Tabby!
Holly & Purrkins
Tabbbbby is home, TAAAAAABBBBY IS HOME, TAAAAAAAABBBBBBBBYYYYYYY IS HOOOOOMMMMEEEE!!!!
First of all that is fantastic! Obviously those super smart vets said Tabby is showing us all how it's done! And ditto what Sally says!
Positives: Home, resting well, eating a tiny bit, drinking, and PEEING which is crucial!!! And inside without lots and lots of protesting. Mmmmmnnnnn, maybe INSIDE is Tabby's new domain?!? And Tabby is on good meds:) AND MOST OBVIOUSLY is loved beyond words! So, pretty much, TABBY RULES!
Concerns: Tabby doing things on Tabby time. But, you know, cats are fairly self contained and try to conserve their energy for the important things...like naps. And more naps. And sleeping in the sunspot. Or the keyboard. Or your lap when you have to pee.
Maybe the aneasthesia is slowly wearing off and clearing his system as it does for dogs? It is not at all unusual for cats to pee while they are sleeping if somewhat sedated. Maybe place pee pads ( although the cover sounds divine) under Tabby in his carrier and tape them down everywhere else so he doesn't slip on them? We duct taped them to the yoga mats through the entire area and then put a few binkies in spots. Maybe just put his litter on one extra large pad somewhere near rather than have ANY litter box right now? That way he can think of it as his bathroom area BUT does not have to worry about even a slight bump...
Also, there is a spray you can dab on cats who have peed on themselves. I would be careful just to keep him dry at this point. Definitely do not use vinegar. The smell coupled with Tabby not eating would likely make him a bit more nauseous. Vinegar masks and is too strong even diluted.
That Tabby wants to eat is wonderful. He may just be off what he usually eats? So if you are syringe feeding could you put his meds in the mix? He really, really needs his pain meds and will not want to move at all without them. But seniors can also be more impacted by the pain meds so there is that balance. I once syringe fed every four hours for three weeks. It is EXHAUSTING BUT my cat eventually did eat all on his own. Tabby will, too, I promise. He is just recovering on his own Tabby Time after lots and lots of new adventures.
You have to give yourself a HUGE pat on the back for being there for Tabby and keeping up with all these new adventures! Good for you!!! In a few weeks, you will be amazed that you have made it through: but, you will, as will Tabby! And we at TriPawd Nation are here with you , learning from Tabby and you, and admiring you both. Hang in there! YOU AND TABBY HAVE THIS IN THE BAG!
Huge hugs, best wishes, and PyrPaws all around.
charliebear said
Maybe just put his litter on one extra large pad somewhere near rather than have ANY litter box right now? That way he can think of it as his bathroom area BUT does not have to worry about even a slight bump...
Great idea Momma Bear👏🏻
Tabby is home and the real healing begins! Challenges are normal. For some its medications, for others it may be use of litter box. I think the worst is infection so its most important to keep the incision clean.
You got a lot of great advice. Although my Mona did not pee on herself I did use a warm, damp facecloth to clean around the incision and she loved that. She was a front leg amputee and would start cleaning her face with a rear leg. So I helped her a but by wiping down her whole body with the cloth.
One thing I learned about the buprenex is that the directions were 3-4 times a day. I chose 3 times but now I think 4 times would have been better to keep ahead of the pain.
By the way my litter experience with Mona was a disaster!! She would pee everywhere else except the litter box. Did you change to a new litter by chance? I changed Mona's to Yesterday's News as advised and then finally changed it back to her old dirty litter (lumps cleaned out of course) and she used it!
I hope you can get some sleep. You are doing great and it does get better.
Hugs,
Kerren and Tripawd Kitty Mona
i am not a kitty expert (though I did grow up with a cat called Tabby), so will leave specific advice to our stupendous and fabulous Kitty Team, who, as you have already seen, are truly stupendous and fabulous. I just wanted to cheer you on and to say that I do understand the exhaustion and the 'I don't know if I can keep this up.' This is the hardest part; it will pass. You are doing a phenomenal job. Hang in there. Things will get easier. Soon. As the others have said there are positives. Tabby's eating and peeing and resting, just exactly as he needs to. He is on the road to recovery. Please take care of yourself as well, as far you can, and get some rest.
Sending a big hug,
Meg, Clare and Elsie Pie xxx
Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, 23 November 2023, adopted 12 January 2024.
Also Angel Tripawd Meg (aka The Megastar), who died in April 2023, aged 14, after seven glorious years on three, and Angel Staffies Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...
I'm so glad Tabby is home! These tough days will be behind you pretty soon and you'll be amazed at how well he's doing.
Please don't use anything but warm water on a compress to clean him. I wouldn't use anything without asking your vet. If you can't reach them today, most pet stores have wound cleaners like Vetericyn. Vinegar seems like it would sting.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
My Marley had a front leg amputation Tuesday morning and just finally started eating yesterday. He's still not eating a ton, but its a start. It could be the pain medication that is messing with Tabbys appetite. I will say all of the sudden yesterday things finally started to change for the better. I feel like the first 3-5 days are the worst and I was quite honestly a complete mess. I'm sure medication for cats and dogs are different, but I would think that it can make most pets feel super out of sorts. Hang in there, just love on your fur baby and know that it will get better 
And YAY for Tabby being 18!!! I have a kitty who is 17 and I just lost my other kitty who I had for 20 years! He had a cancerous tumor in his bladder that was too far along, not to mention other problems. So I am happy for you and Tabby that you were able to remove the source that needed to be.
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