Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Scorpio my rescue cat had his front leg removed on Saturday, he came home with just Metacam and no pain relief, he then after coming round a bit shot everywhere like in a frenzy up on window sills in the bath (downstairs). I went back to the vet and got some pain relief for him and he slept for hours, he is eating and drinking and apart from the dashing like a lunatic would be doing really well.
Has anyone had this in their cat after amputation of a leg, it is almost like he realises he hasn't got a front leg it twitches when he walks and he goes into panic attack and tries to get out of the house. shooting behind the soft etc faster than I have ever seen him move before.
If anyone has had this experience can you tell me if after a few days of medication this resolves itself as I am at my wits end and not sleeping, just feel for the poor little chap.
Hi there, welcome. I’m on my phone now but will be back in a bit with some pain management feedback for you, just wanted to get your post approved so others can chime in. Stay tuned....
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
many thanks for your help with this he is on Gabapentin but this was only given to him yesterday, he came home with nothing else bar Metacam
Hey Scorpio and family, welcome. I'm back now and can share some ideas with you that are featured in our Tripawd cat book, Cool Tips for Tripawd Cats:
1) Make sure he is in a safe recovery area, even if that means confining him to a room with a door that closes. Also, make sure that he cannot get underneath any low furniture or the bed. Many cats get caught in a bed's box springs so if you have to move the mattresses to the ground, that will ensure his safety.
2) Regarding the pain. I'm not a vet, but it is my understanding that if pain isn't properly controlled before, of course during, and after surgery, then a cat will experience "wind-up pain," that is hard to control even with a medication like Gabapentin. Your cat may need more, he may be experiencing phantom pain .
I would call your vet and let them know what's going on. Gabapentin works best in conjunction with a NSAID, which is what Metacam is, as well as sometimes a third one like Amantadine.
Here is an article about controlling feline amputation pain that you may want to read before calling:
Tripawd Cats Pain Management Tips and Tricks
also see
Our Best Tripawd Pain Management Tips (So Far)
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi there,
It is nice to meet you, but sorry it happened under these circumstances. Almost 2 years ago Tuxedo lost his rear leg and partial pelvis due to an injury. While not the same as a front leg amputee, Tuxedo and Scorpio seem to share after surgery dashies as I called it. When I brought Tuxedo home following his surgery, the very first thing he did was race me to the front door and onto the porch. Being disabled, I do not move really fast. Luckily for me he ended up being trapped by the cone of shame he wore and narrow pickets on a porch railing. Otherwise I am certain he would have been long gone. In Tuxedo's case, he was heavily pain medicated. So his dashes were not caused by pain. It turned out to be a sensitivity to Ketamine which was used during the surgery sedation that caused his wild dashes. Anyway, I thought I would mention it in case you have further episodes. If so, it might be worth asking your vet about that. Tuxedo was on some very strong pain medication for about a week (buprenorphine). I have read of others who had pain medication for much longer than that on here. But after all his wild dashies were out of his system and he got under the bed (bad Tuxedo!) he slept a lot for several days.
Hugs and best wishes
-Dawna, Dazzle and Tuxedo
Hello and Welcome to you and Scorpio!
We are sorry, you have to join us and were not sent home with enough meds. Good for you for advocating and getting something on board!
Purrkins is also a front leg amp he lost his leg to a soft tissue sarcoma it will be three years this June. Purrkins jumped in the window and was a crazy kitty on his first day home from the hospital he was whacked out from the hospital meds and disoriented with the new body. Purrkins did settle down within hours of being home.
Purrkins came home with Gabapentin and Buprenorphine an opioid.
I am not a vet, but I do not believe Metacam alone is enough meds after an amputation, it is NSAID we took a limb off. I am glad to hear you advocated for him and got Gaba on board that is helpful for nerve pain and that sounds like what could be happening. It also could be from the hospital meds that were used as Dawna has mentioned. Cats can get wired from some meds. It could be not enough meds on board, and he is still in pain.
Gabapentin is excellent but I can only speak for Purrkins it would not have been enough pain management for him he needed both Gabapentin and Buprenorphine.
As Jerry has posted the wind-up pain is harder to get on top of. This is not your fault, and I am so sorry you both are going thru this! I would call the vet and let them know if this is still happening. I do not know what your instructions were on Gaba Purrkins instructions were every 8 hours along with his Buprenorphine which we gave an hour apart. Purrkins was on Gabapentin for 14 days and Buprenorphine for 10 days. Scorpio's med doses may need to be adjusted. Your vet would need to instruct you on frequency if it needs to be tweaked or if you need something more on board. Do not be afraid to call the vets that is what we pay them for. We hope to hear Scorpio is feeling better.
Hugs,
Holly & Purrkins❤️
Thank you all for your support it is very welcome at this time. It is hard to know if something is normal or not having not been through this before.
I am going to go back to the vet or try and get him on the phone.
Many thanks and I wish you all well with your lovely furry friends/family.
Glennis xxxx
Yay! Let us know how things go OK?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Well update on Scorpio
the vet gave us something to put under his tongue as pain relief but since he has done that I would say that he has had no more spooks shooting around the room etc, completely the opposite, he is just laying there sleeping, I give him his food and he eats and drinks but wont walk to the bowl and wont walk around at all.
He does however get up in the night to use the litter tray.
I really don't know what is going on, I have stopped the one under his tongue this morning and just going to give him the original pain killer today and see what happens later on. I am just hoping that this hasn't led him to get depressed I mean do they sleep a lot when they are depressed? Or it might be that the last days have been so traumatic for him that he needs the sleep...
Hi there!
I'm so glad you found us ❤️ He definitely needs sleep. Lots and lots of rest. I'm not a doctor but this is major surgery and he's probably sore from all that running around. The medication under his tongue will help him! Might make him sleepy first few days but that's ok. Sounds like buprenofren, great medicine!
Hang in there!
Jackie and Huck ❤️
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry 
I’m so glad you were able to get additional medication. If you are concerned call your vet, don’t be afraid to do that ok? But for now it does sound like the medication is doing what it needs to do, allowing him to rest.
He is eating drinking and using the box, which are all GREAT signs of a normal recovery. Yes it’s hard to see him so sleepy but rest is medicinal. Try to put your self in his paws, recovery is hard work.
Stick to the medication schedule your vet prescribed until you get their ok to change it. Otherwise you could end up in the wind up pain situation again. Your goal is to stay ahead of the pain, not let it go up and down.
Hang in there, things do get better! Keep us posted.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
ok thank you.
I will keep him on the first meds and then once he starts to move around then reduce it but obviously not before I speak to the vet.
Thank you once again, you have been a great help
No problem at all. Buprenofren made Huck very sleepy at first but it also helped keep him calm and pain free. After the first couple of days he wasnt nearly as sleepy. Want to say so much more but at work. Will check in as I'm able.
Jackie and Huck ❤️
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry
As everyone has already mentioned, that is what you want. You want Scorpio to sleep and not bolt around! We had restricted activity for 14 days. As Jerry said if you are concerned & feel uneasy never hesitate to call your vet ok.
Purrkins slept a lot he got up to eat & go potty the first few days the meds make them sleep, and it does sound like you got sent home with Buprenorphine. An excellent drug with Gaba. Purrkins had both we were to give those drugs an hour apart fyi. Our Buprenorphine instructions were every 8-12 hours and Gabapentin every 8 hours.
Please do not reduce the meds without speaking to the Vet or you will end up right where you were - Scorpio in pain. Humans are in the hospital on morphine and not moving in the hospital cats or dogs should be no different on heavy duty pain meds resting. We cut a limb, bones muscle and nerves.
He is not depressed but medicated as he should be. We understand how scary this is! BREATHE and know REST is BEST he is exhausted from the surgery and all the bolting around and was in (pain). Again if your uneasy call your Vet, but it does sound like he is doing what he should be. Bring the food and water to him when he wakes to entice him to eat. Eating drinking using the litter box and sleeping is what you want if you get a nervous call the vet and post here ok! That is what the site is for you are never alone.
Hang in there and stay close to Scorpio - rest when he does if you can.
Big hugs!
Holly & Purrkins❤️❤️❤️
As you can see, you are in the best place possible for EXCELLENT kitty support!!!
Jist ro reiterate, this is MAJOR surger and his pain must be managed. Sleep and rest are great tools for healing! You have about two weeks (could be more, could be less) of recovery time thst is no picnic, that`s for sure. His sparkle will come back before you know it and all this will be behind you!
Just want to add my welcome. Let us know how he is doing when uou can.
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!
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