Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi! One of Steve's friends, who has 4 legs but has Cerebellar Hypoplasia, was looking for some advice from Steve's 3 legged friends!
I was talking to Margaret's mom the other day (I pet sit Margaret and her sisters) and mom asked me if I was worried about Steve slipping around on the hardwood floors in the new apartment we're moving to. I told her no because Steve does pretty well on our linoleum floors and we'll be putting area rugs down on the hardwood floors. Mom mentioned to me that Margaret, who has CH and long hair with fuzzy paws like Steve, often slips on the linoleum and hardwood floors. She asked me if I knew of anything she could do in the areas where rugs are not possible. I told her I didn't but I knew some people who might!
SO! Any ideas for Steve's friend Margaret?
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
http://gear.tri.....ion-socks/
Above is a link that may help get you started until others chime in. Margaret is lucky to jave an "Auntie" like you! Hugs to sweet Steve and all!
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!
I know some people use yoga mats. I used exercise mats & yoga mats for Purrkins front leg amp in recovery and until we could get some rugs!
Purrkins did pretty good but he did slip and slide on the wood floor so we got rugs, he races on the rugs no problems! She could just put rug runners down where the kitty will go. Or yoga mats. Kitties are smart they will use whatever route works best for them.
Ditto Sally Margaret is lucky to have you and her Mom! Let us know what she uses and what works.
Holly & Purrkins
Tuxedo, a rear leg amputee has no problems zooming around on bare hardwood floors and relatively slick ceramic tile. At first I put throw rugs down anticipating issues but later discarded them. Turns out the rugs themselves became the issues. My cats, both the three legged and the four legged one would run and jump on the rugs, riding them as they skimmed across the floor, think bobsled type of thing, until they piled all of the rugs up against the far wall. Humorous now, a bit upsetting at the time. So depending on how fast Margaret moves, it would probably be wise to anchor the rugs because even rubber backed rugs "will" slide when a fast moving cat pounces on them.
If rug bobsledding is not likely, then I would definitely look into yoga mats or those rubber foam puzzle flooring blocks (made for kids) as those can be easily cut to fit in just about any exposed area of flooring. (example kid's foam tiles) While not cat related, I put down some trimmed foam blocks in my kitchen because I love to cook and find standing for a couple hours at a time to be tiring on the back and feet. So there might be some other benefits too.
You can also get somewhat custom shapes and sizes of rugs at places like Pottery Barn (and Ikea has lots of sizes too!). Our other, non-tripawd kitty also has CH, although his is really mild. He definitely appreciates rugs and anything else (like the bed or couches) where he can get traction . Since his is mild, it's not a big deal, but we are also getting more rugs for the remaining floor surfaces.
So here's one: I have yet to see a member here try this but I'm super curious if it can work in the long term:
DIY Tripawd Cat Traction Socks for Slippery Floors
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thanks for all of the input! Margaret's mom is going to try (and is excited to try) the traction socks. She REALLY appreciates everyone's input! I'd put a picture of Margaret in here, but I forget how to include pictures. I'll try to remember to put one in my next blog post.
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
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