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.
Join The Tripawds Community
Learn how to help three legged dogs and cats in the forums below. Browse and search as a guest or register for free and get full member benefits:
Instant post approval.
Private messages to members.
Subscribe to favorite topics.
Live Chat and much more!
Register
Log In
Members
Add Topic
Offline
Hi everyone
I’m sure there must be other owners out there that suffered severe guilt and depression after having their pets leg amputated? My beautiful cat snowflake had her front leg amputated a week ago ….she’s been struggling and in pain constant screaming fits and it’s affected me massively! She’s now on gabapentin which is helping a great deal.. however my feeling of guilt putting her through this is overwhelming…I can’t bear to see her in pain and so bewildered…..does it ever get better? Any help appreciated thank you so much
Hey there I'm so glad you decided to post. Snowflake is such a great name for a cat! I'm so sorry she had to go through amputation surgery. What was the reason for it?
So we chatted about the Gabapentin, I'm glad your vet knows what's going on. Hopefully the new adjusted dosage will help soon. Keep in touch about it with your vet OK? If her pain signals continue you might also want to consider making an appointment with an animal rehabilitation/physio therapist. They can often pinpoint the source of pain faster than general practice vets, and treat it with different methods like acupuncture. Check out how rehab therapy is helping Athena (Tripawds Foundation can pay for your first rehab visit so take advantage of the program!).
Now about the guilt. Oh my gosh yes, we've all felt it. And it feels even worse when our animal is having a hard time recovering. You are not alone. See this post: Pet Parent Sadness after Surgery.
As Snowflake starts to feel better you will too. But you can help the process by doing your best to envision a life that is much better than it is now. Because she will get there! Keep that vision in your heart and in your mind and when you start to get sad, do your best to picture the future with her being happy and strong again. Visualization is a powerful thing! And then Snowflake will pick up on your pawsitivity too, you will both feed off the good energy.
What is Snowflake's recovery area like? Are there things you can do to help her feel better, like setting up a safe snoozing spot indoors in some sunshine? Gentle massage can help too. Have you tried palpating around to see if there is any particular place where she is most painful? Many times it's the shoulders and neck area that hurts new Tripawds. It's so much work to get around on three when they are first learning.
Stay tuned for feedback from others! And Stay strong, you can do this!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thanks Jerry … she had sarcoma around the top of her front leg….amputation was the only way to try and save her. I had her in a dog crate for four days after surgery but that made her more distressed after day 3…. She’s in my living room with me …… I’m home all day with her…..I have started sleeping downstairs with her in the same room (this may be an error?) she’s such a clingy cat anyway as I rescued her 6 years ago from Dubai and flew her home with me so I’m all she knows to be honest….. if I leave her on her own she starts howling and screaming she’s much more settled with me in the same room however it’s not good for me! Broken sleep and constantly listening out for her is taking its toll that’s probably why I’m so sensitive and upset….. I’m hoping the results of the biopsy are all clear (Monday hopefully when stitches taken out) it’s good to know im not alone ! Your reply appreciated ….I know it’s a long road to recovery …. And most cats do recover very well …. This first week has been so tough! Thank again I’ll keep you update so good to talk I feel better now sharing! Your tips are really appreciated!
Aww no wonder, you are sleep deprived and exhausted! That is not uncommon though, especially during the early days. It is important to try to normalize your life with her as soon as you can but also tend to her pain control needs. It's such a fine balance but you are finding your way!
Thanks for the kind words about the community. Stay strong and know that you will have your awesome kitty back soon. That's pretty cool you brought her with you from Dubai!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hello and welcome sorry, you had to join our club,
Big Hugs! So sorry to hear Snowflake was suffering; it sounds like Snowflake was not sent home with proper or enough pain management . What was she sent home & for how long? Has she just been prescribed the gabapentin? How much and how often? Is she still showing pain signals on the gaba? If so let your vet know precisely what you are seeing; they can add another med in.
Purrkins was sent home with Buprenorphine and Gabapentin.
Purrkins meds & duration ended up being
- 14 days Gabapentin 100 mg capsule – one capsule by mouth every 8 hours
- 12 days Buprenorphine 0.3 mg 0.25 ml every 8-12 hours (Spaced the Gabapentin and Buprenorphine 1 hour apart per our instructions.)
Oh yes, we all beat ourselves up in recovery, and when they struggle or are in pain, it rips our hearts out! It's a rough road when they are not sent home with the best pain management & or duration of meds!
Lack of sleep goes with the territory, and we always suggest resting when they do. I stayed with Purrkins in a spare room all thru recovery and slept on the floor beside him. He is a clingy kitty too:)
You both will get thru this stronger and closer than ever. Things will get better, and you will get into your new normal!
Hang in there and take some deep breaths; eat a hunk of chocolate & try to get some rest when Snowflake does ok.
Fingers and paws crossed for the pathology report!
Sending Big Hugs!
Holly & Purrkins💝💝💝
Hi there
I have her on buprenophine 0.2mg every 8 hours and gabapentin 25mg every 8 hours at the moment ….. I will speak to the vet Monday to see if we can continue both as if I am late for any reason with her meds (albeit very rarely) she’s in pain immediately….still early days I know! I have moved the crate today and put the living room back to how it was to normalise things as much as possible… she always comes upstairs to sleep on the end of the bed usually but of course I can’t let her do that at the moment as climbing the stairs isn’t an option at the moment ….. I’ll update once I have been to the vets thanks all so much! Tracey
Hi Tracey,
Glad to hear Snowflake is on both meds. The gabapentin is a low dose. If Snowflake is not comfy, ask about increasing that. Yes, early days, but she should be comfortable with the correct dosage and timing. I set the alarm & had notes on the meds being sleep deprived. It helps to have reminders.
We will watch for your update!
Scratches to Snowflake, please!
Hugs, Holly & Purrkins 💝💝💝
Thanks Holly…. Hi to Perkins
she’s a bit brighter today and a bit more settled ….. vets in the morning for stitches to come out and yes….I will definitely update …hoping for all clear on biopsy! Sending love T x
Excellent to hear Snowflake is brighter and more settled today! It's a good day for you to rest with her, ok? Yaaay for stitches out tomorrow!
We are keeping our fingers and paws crossed for clean margins!
Thanks for the update!
Hugs & smooch to Snowflake, please!
Holly & Purrkins💝💝💝
Oooh big day tomorrow! Celebrate that huge milestone, you guys are doing fantastic. So glad to know she is even better.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hey everyone ….quick update …stitches are out but results delayed unfortunately…. Little bit better today but slowly slowly still on meds but we say hi!
I will post a picture just figuring out how to do it on my phone ! Sending love to all Tracey and snowflake x
Yaay, for stitches out, you will see more sparkle coming back now!
Sorry, the results were delayed; keep thinking pawsitive thoughts ok.🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
This is how adding images to the Forums works.
- Upload pics to a photo sharing site like imgur.com or your own Tripawds blog (https://tripawd...../supporter) Pictures and video have to be hosted (live) somewhere other than in the forums.
- Once the photo is uploaded somewhere, right click and copy the Image URL or just copy the image if you’re on a phone.
- Return to your Tripawds Forum post and paste the image URL (or the image itself) in your post. It should automatically appear.
Thanks for the update!
We are sending love and hugs back to you both!
Holly & Purrkins 💝💝💝
Hey congrats on that big milestone! Did everything else check out ok? A little bit better is definitely progress!
Let us know if you'd like help with images. Happy to assist and can't wait to see them.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi everyone my snowflake had her front leg amputation three weeks today…. Shes ok but still in some distress…tried to cover her poop with her missing limb… it out of sorts with constant licking of her blanket unto the point of it is soaking…. The only meds she is on is gabapentin which helps massively I have tried cutting her down on this slightly but the crying and seeming bewildered behaviour starts again. I know early days but I too am struggling with “will it ever get better”? I’m hanging on in there ! I don’t think she is in pain but seems very “weird” for want of a better word. This site has helped me such a lot …it there a point where I need to think about letting her go? Will she ever get over the amputation? Do some cats just not cope? Thank you x
Hi there
results not good unfortunately…the cancer has spread but not sure to what extent….I have refused steroids or chemo …. Three weeks today her front leg was amputated and she’s just on gabapentin now….. she’s not right…over eating …licking her blankets obsessively and just seems very “weird” for want if a better expression…the vet has said give her another week and see if she settles …. She’s eating drinking using her tray but seems bewildered and stressed . I have tried to cut the gabapentin down as per the vets advice to see if that helps her get back to her old playful self but she gets more distressed without it. She’s sleeps most of the time due to the gabapentin….. it’s no quality of life unfortunately and I have a difficult few weeks ahead ..I just don’t think she will have that quality of life that she deserves. I’m sure other people have been through this but when do I make the call? Is it to early to say? As I said she’s not in pain that I can tell and is moving about well….. when she does wake up … so difficult ! Thanks for your support as always T and snowflake
1 Guest(s)
