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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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Binx Day Zero. He's probably fine. I'm not.
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3 January 2020
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3 January 2020 - 12:49 am
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Hello all.  My handsome little man (black shorthair, about 12 y/o) went in for surgery today to amputate his rear left leg due to vaccine-site sarcoma.  Last call from the doc after surgery said everything went well, and he should get to come home tomorrow.  Meanwhile I'm at home on a roller-coaster of emotions.  I've mostly made it through the crippling guilt and heartache, but emotions are still pretty raw.  I live alone, so not having him here with me makes everything that much worse.

I've been doing as much research as I can to get ready for him to come home, and have prepared the kitchen as best as I can for him to recover in.  He doesn't do well being confined (we discovered that with prior surgeries), so hopefully he doesn't try his normal escape shenanigans this time.  I'm just feeling a bit overwhelmed, and very much unprepared.  Logically I know everything will be fine, but my dumb monkey brain is still kind of freaking out. smiley13

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3 January 2020 - 11:02 am
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Shae, you've come to the right place. We are so glad you posted. 

Amputation is always harder on us than them. We get so bogged down with our emotions that we forget how amputation isn't doing something to our beloved animal, it's giving them the gift of being pain free and happy again. I'm going to bet that when Binx is recovered you'll see how much of a positive impact it will have on his personality and mobility.

You sound so well prepared and that's terrific! Also, I'm guessing that you've dabbled in mindfulness based on your monkey brain comment? If so, practicing deep breathing and meditation will be especially helpful right now so try to find that calm inside you. I know you can do it!

Meanwhile don't forget that you should talk to your vet about getting the vaccine company to pay for surgery costs. Here is a Blog Post about VAS, there are several links in the post with more information on VAS. And a complete post about how to get your vet to submit reports, "Vaccine Associated Sarcoma - Fibrosarcoma, Osteosarcoma, Chondrosarcoma"

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

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Virginia



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3 January 2020 - 11:21 am
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YOU ARE NOT ALONE NOW!  YOU HAVE A WHOLE COMMUNITY  RIGHT BY UOUR SIDE to help you navigate  through recovery and to celebrate  as Binx gets all his sparkle back!!

We have some of the most knowledgeable  kotty memebers kn rhe planet who will also chime jn snd help yoj woth specific  tips.

Jerry's given you great help and words of wisdom.  Here's another link to help you with virtually everything you need to know about tripawd kitties.

https://downloa.....pawd-cats/

YAY for surgery being done!!  He's got some great pain meds jn hom ao resting cery comfortably.  You need to get a good night sleep tonight too!  Getting to thos point is exhausting  physically  and mentally.  So take care of you!!

We'll be watching  for your update, okay!  We'be got your back!

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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3 January 2020 - 11:52 am
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Hi Binx and family,

My kitty Mona had her amputation June 2014 and it saved her life. I never felt guilty but was more devasted that a vaccine was administered to save her from diseases yet it gave her cancer. I imagine that vets feel some guilt when this happens. 

My initial concern was that Mona made it through the amputation. She did and the vet clinic fell in love with her. I won't say that the recovery was smooth but we managed. I suggest having friends come over to spend time with you and even give you a break.

You say that Binx doesn't like to be confined. I would suggest however to set up a little den with a blanket as a bed in the kitchen. It could be a small table with a blanket over it or even a box on its side. Cats like the cosiness of a den when they don't feel well. Mona chose to sleep under a shelf in a closet in a spare room. Yes, Mona escaped a few times but she quickly collapsed from exhaustion so I could catch her.

Jerry and Sally gave you great links with some resource information. Your emotions will change when Binx comes home because you'll be happy to see him and your energy will go into nursing and pampering him.

Let us know if you have any questions. Also don't be afraid to contact the vet if you have any concerns.

Kerren and Tripawd Kitty Mona

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3 January 2020 - 12:12 pm
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Thanks for the support. 🙂  I'm doing a lot better this morning.  It's still too quiet at home, but not for much longer.  Morning report from the doctor says he did really well overnight and is eating some, but he's still kind of wobbly, so they're going to keep an eye on him to make sure it's not just the lovely pain meds.  He might have to stay one more night, but I'll get another update this evening.

I'm trying to be proactive in the meantime.  He's used to going outside, so I've been researching catios and even started drawing up plans to build one off my back porch.  I should have a nice enclosure ready for him by the time he's more steady on his legs and the weather improves.

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3 January 2020 - 12:49 pm
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Hello, how good that you feel better, take care of yourself and think that it is the best for your kitten, I understand how difficult it is to think about the whole panorama and try to have everything ready and without complications for them.   In our experience, the first surgery that our cat Tuchy had, we would have liked him to stay a couple more days to recover better and begin to heal in the hospital. I hope your baby will recover soon. my best wishes!!

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4 January 2020 - 7:17 pm
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And now we're home, and all is (mostly) right in the world.  I ended up buying him a new bed so he could have somewhere soft to lay under the table, close to his food and box.  I bought a roasting pan from the Dollar Store and folded down the long side so he could easily get in and out.  He is interested in neither, lol.  He ignored the pan with the newspaper litter that his doctor recommended and kept looking for his old box (which I had simply set out of the way), so I finally gave him his box with the clay litter.  He's still wobbly, which resulted in him sitting in his poop, so we had a quick bath.  Now he's curled up in the pile of blankets, sleeping comfortably.  I've pulled in a couple couch cushions and have formed a nest on the floor next to him.  A friend brought me dinner and kept me company for a bit, but now it's shows on the laptop for me and more napping for him until it's time for his next medicine.

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Virginia



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4 January 2020 - 8:01 pm
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WELCOME HOME HANDSOME!!!   It tickled me hearing how he preferred his old lotter box and made sure you knew it!  

And YAY for poopiconpoopicon!  Sometimes  because  of all the meds it takes a few for poopicon to happen!  And the fact that he's mobile, even though wobbly, is a good sign!

Now, as the hospital meds wear off, he may not feel like throw a pawty fot awhile, so slow and easy and a lot of patience.  TRY and catch up on some sleep yourself.   It exhausting physically  snd mentally getting  to this point.

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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4 January 2020 - 8:44 pm
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Binx is doing great! My Mona did not like the newspaper litter that vets like. She chose to pee in inappropriate places (including my desk drawer icon_lol) until I brought back the clay litter. Just like Binx!! 

You are doing a great job caring for Binx.

Kerren and Tripawd Kitty Mona

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5 January 2020 - 12:25 pm
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Thanks for the great update! Please keep us posted.

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

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6 January 2020 - 11:20 pm
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Hey just curious how Binx is doing. I hope things are good!

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

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7 January 2020 - 9:32 am
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He's doing pretty well!  He made a jailbreak this morning, but got caught when he pushed my UPSTAIRS door open at 4am. *sigh* Like, I'm proud of him for making it up, but come on dude!  You're supposed to be resting! He was all cuddles and purrs when I carried him back to jail though. <3 Fortifications have been made, haha.  He's moving around much easier, and is able to get in and out of the litter box better, but the sides are only about an inch high.  The only concern now is that he hasn't pooped in a couple days.  His appetite only really came back this morning, so neither I nor the place where he had his surgery are super concerned, but he may be constipated, in which case it's back to his regular doctor.  If there's no poop when I go home to check on him at lunch, I'm going to call his doctor. He's peeing regularly, though, so there's that, at least.

Otherwise it's all purrs and attempted cuddles (laps are still hard to navigate, even when they're on the floor), or curled up and sleeping.  I slept on the floor with him for a few hours Sunday night on my couch cushions, and he curled up right at my side.  He's such a momma's boy. :3 <3

Update:  We have poop!  The things we get excited about. XD

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