Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
Tripawds is your home to learn how to care for a three legged dog or cat, with answers about dog leg amputation, and cat amputation recovery from many years of member experiences.
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Hi
My beautiful girl has just had her hind paw amputated ( three days ago.) She is in good spirits and eating lots, sleeping comfortably near me and has run a little. She hasn't really gone to the toilet much though that worries me. Would she let me know if she was uncomfortable? I found her on the streets of Istanbul a few years ago. She was missing her front paw. The decision to amputate now was a hard one and made in close collaboration with her vets who said they had never met such an amazing spirit and that we should try amputation first rather than putting her to sleep. As I said post-op her spirits are good and she is acting quite normally apart from difficulties moving. I feel very stressed though watching her struggle to stand up. I just feel a bit lost and was wondering if anyone else had a similar story.
Welcome and best wishes for your girl! Your future forum posts will not require moderation. If she is just missing her paw(s) have you discussed the option of prosthetics with you vet? If not, consider contacting Orthopets.
While you wait for comments from others, use the Advanced Search above to refine your forum search results with specific phrases, and you're sure to find lots of helpful feedback. You can also search all blogs here , and feel free to call the toll-free Tripawds Helpline anytime!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hello and Welcome,
What is your beautiful girls name? How old is she?
I’m sorry to hear she had to have her paw amputated was she in a accident or was this from disease? Whichever the case I am glad you were able to choose her life over the paw! Is she on pain medication now? Going poop may take a little while on pain meds. They can constipate. Is she drinking & peeing? Signs of pain to watch for are
Is Your Dog or Cat in Pain? Here’s How to Know the Signs
Pain Signs in Cats and Dogs: Learn the Symptoms
How to tell if your cat is in pain
Being in good spirits and eating are great signs! Our cat Purrkins had his front leg/scapula amputated from a soft tissue sarcoma.
We have a member that just joined recently they have a kitty with two front legs.
This is Tommy’s blog
http://evenmore.....ipawds.com
We have another member who is a tripawd but only uses her front legs her they are working on trying to get her up on 3 legs.
Her name is Feta
http://cheeseca.....pawds.com/
So your girl has one paw in front and one paw in back? Just the paw was amputated.?
As the Admin has mentioned maybe a prosthetics can be used.? Did the Vet discuss options for your kitty?
Sorry for all the questions, we look forward to hearing more about your beautiful girl!
Holly & Purrkins
Good for you for giving this sweet kitty a chance at a great life!
Probably, most of what you're seeing now is just the rough part of the "normal" recovery. It IS major surgery (whether she is missing a paw or not). She's sore and it hurts. And then there's the mobility issue of trying to adapt to three (almost three) legs while on drugs!!
Not pooping for several days is normal. The drugs can delay that. Even not eating very well for a few days is normal. But you do want to make sure she pees and drinks!
When I was a little girl, we had an old "stray" show yp with half of her front leg gone and a part of one of her rear legs gone. They were almost completely healed when she showed up all skinny and ragged. She was somewhat feral, but came to our porch every night and was fed. My Dad built a little "cat house" for her. There was really no impression left on me as far as how she got along as I was just a kid. I just remember that she acted like a normal cat and eventually let us all pet her. She would hang around us when we went outside to play and, as I recall, lived a "normal life" with us for several years. I do recall she was able to jump with no problem as she would jump up on the outside kitchen window sill to let us know she was ready for her supper!
So yes, I think your kitty will work things out. It just may take a little bit of time and patience on her part...and yours.
As usual, Holly has given great links to check out.
STAY CONNECTED and update when you 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!
hi thank you for your responses..three weeks on she is doing great. Running and jumping, eating, using the litter box. It is as if she has always had two paws. I am so proud of her 🙂
Great, Great news
🎉🎊🎉
Running , jumping eating and the litter box!!!! YAAAAY
Yaaaaay for 2 paws!🐾 Yaaay for Mom saving her & taking the chance❣️
Thanks for update!!
Hugs,
Holly & Purrkins
Ohhh what a hero! We must hear more! Do you have photos? Here's a post about adding images to the Forums. If you'd like help just let me know. She sounds like an amazing, inspawrational kitty!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
YAAAAAAAAAY FOR KITTY!! Wonderful update! You every right to be proud of her...And yourself too!! 🙂 Good job!
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!
What an amazing story!! 
Way to go Kitty!! Enjoy every day you get with her!
Hugs to you!
xox
Hi everyone
thank you so much for your support. She is one month on and doing so well. she is even climbing stairs which I wish she wouldn't. She really is so happy and lively right now. it is amazing how many people told me to put her to sleep because another amputation would be wrong and yet all i have now is animal with such a desire to live and eat and explore. Such an important life lesson for me to believe in my own instincts and give every living creature the chance they deserve.
I am not sure if this link will work but here is a little video of her
https://drive.g.....0NUMGw2enc
love to all my fellow amputee parents
“Such an important life lesson for me to believe in my own instincts”
Yes this journey teaches us a lot of important life lessons!
ALWAYS follow your instincts in life!! Those are never wrong! What is your kitties name?
The video worked for me!! WOW WOW & WOW she does fantastic!!!! She is one happy beautiful girl!!
As for the steps? If you can't block them off somehow with a gate and that would have to be a double high, triple high gate and then its still possible she jumps it! We had a 3 high gate here to stop one kitty from going somewhere and yep they scaled it! 4 legs scaled it and really Purrkins with 3 legs I have no doubt would scale a gate! Determination and will as your seeing does not stop with less legs;)
If miss kitty does ok let her be! If not that’s when we have to be really creative! Kitties and blocking off places is a HUGE CHALLENGE!!
Thanks for the update ! You were absolutely right KUDOS to you and Miss kitty! You both are super heroes!!
Hugs & Love!
Chin & ear scratches to miss kitty!
Holly & Purrkins
oh Purrkins--thank you for your support..you are right... those mad kitties will find a way if they want. I made a fence out of a portable washing line to block my door and she doesn't seem to jump that so I think a small deterrent will probably work.
Her name is actually Three Paw. The reason is because I met her by some bins in Istanbul when i lived there. She lived on the same street where i was and i used to pass her every day waiting by the bins. She was already missing a paw then so I kind of called her that from the beginning. Then when she decided to move in ( which was a long and elaborate courtship as Three Paw very much liked her freedom on the street but also with time found she fancied a soft bed, cuddles and regular food) her name had already stuck. I know the Turks on the street where she lived called her Melek as well which means angel in Turkish.
they are all angels though, aren't they
BRAVO!!! I am thrilled to see Three Paw doing so well. I can't believe she's barely one month out, she looks so bright-eyed and bouncy! Thank you for the video. Would it be OK for me to feature Three Paw in our Tripawd Tuesday spotlight? We always love to share happy "TriKitty" success stories!
Your vets are remarkable, and I love that you got some insight into the importance of going with your gut feeling. Good job! This whole journey really changes your outlook on animals and "quality of life" doesn't it? I know it did for us and it always warms our heart to see others learn from these angels on earth.
So I'm curious, what country do you live in now? How did Three Paw adapt when you moved?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
threepaw said
they are all angels though, aren't they
YES! Oh yes ,say yes please!! Three paw Melek has to be a Tripawd/Bipawd Tuesday !
WOW!!!! LOOK AT HER GO!!! MUST HAVE MORE VIDEO!!!
Lpve hearing about Three Paw Melek!
So glad you were her Earth Angel!
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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