Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Lucky is a 3 month old male kitten who has 3 regular legs / paws but his back left leg has no paw and just dangles. I've been discussing amputation with my vet . I bought the Cool Tips for Tripawd Cats and have read it 2-3 times. My dilemma is - what questions do I need to ask my vet concerning pre- , post- surgery, recovery and rehabilitation. Advice desired and needed!!! Thanks in advance. - Lucky's Mom
Barb, Doug, Lucky, Luna, Aurora, Rascal, Smokey & Ebby
Hi Lucky and family! I'm so glad you checked out our Trikitty handbook. I have to make this quick for now but here's a post that can help:
Top 10 Questions to Ask Vet Before Amputation Surgery for Dogs and Cats (Part 1)
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hello & Welcome to you and Lucky!
We are sorry, you have to join us. Lucky is the purrfect name for your little kitty!
I bought the Cool Tips for Tripawd Cats and have read it 2-3 times. My dilemma is – what questions do I need to ask my vet concerning pre- , post- surgery, recovery and rehabilitation.
Glad you purchased the Cool Tips for Tripawd Cats ; all of these questions and answers in the book to make it easier to access and find the answers. I can help you locate them.
You can also print the questions to take along with the vet.
Pg 35 - CHAPTER 3: Is Your Vet Qualified?
pg 38 - Questions to Ask Your Vet About Amputation Surgery and Care
pg 40 - CHAPTER 4 - You Set the Tone for Surgery Recovery
pg 49 - Pre-Amputation Questions to Ask your Vet
pg 95 - Post-Amputation Feline Fitness Tips
pg 110 -Important Veterinary Questions
pg 111- Proceeding with surgery?
pg 112- Assessing the Surgeon /After Surgery
If you still have questions, please don't hesitate to ask ok!
Hugs and scratches to Lucky!
Holly & Purrkins💝💝💝
OMC Holly you are pawesome! Thank you so much for the quick directions to the book sections, what a great idea! I need to remember next time someone mentions they have the book.
Lucky and mom, please let us know how we can help. The fact that Lucky is so young may post a few additional challenges to her mobility once his leg is off. Young animals who lose a leg (say less than a year old) haven't developed the motor skills and coordination necessary for good mobility. It's nothing that Lucky can't overcome -- especially with some guidance of an animal rehabilitation therapist (remember, the Tripawds Foundation can pay for your first rehab visit !) -- but just something to remember if you feel like he's having a slow recovery.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Yes, Lucky won the Kitty Lottery with you!!
Just wamt to say welcome and we look forward to following lucky's journey of happiness!
And ditto.....Holly is awesome and veyond!!!
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!
Jerry, Lucky is not using his stump at all. He hops along quite well. Runs and chases his sisters who are 2 months older than him as well as chases and attacks our 3 adult cats. All this considering what kind of mobility issues might there be???
I’m having trouble getting my husband on board with removing the stump. Two vets at our clinic both feel it should come off especially since he isn’t using it. The one (who would be his surgeon) feels that it is painful because there isn’t anything protecting the stump and most likely is having nerve pain. The other is concerned with possible infection if he injures it. Twice in the last week he has hurt it. Once his sister bit it in play and the second I’m not sure what happened. He cried and rolled all over the floor, tried to pull it into his body, tried walking in front two legs. Both times it lasted a half an hour each. He is very active and nothing stops him. The surgeon feels he would adapt quite well since he is only using the 3 legs now. I’m sure he would have to adjust to balance again.
Any other thoughts folks????
Barb, Doug, Lucky, Luna, Aurora, Rascal, Smokey & Ebby
Just a little more history on Lucky - when my husband brought him home from the farm where he picks up milk, Lucky had a severe eye infection. We took him to an eye specialist in Buffalo and went through 6 weeks of drops, protruding eye and then a ruptured eye. A month ago he had surgery to remove the eye. He is a real fighter!!! Love him to pieces!! My husband just feels something bad is going to happen if we amputate. 
Barb, Doug, Lucky, Luna, Aurora, Rascal, Smokey & Ebby
You guys are so awesome to your animals. Clearly your husband loves him too. What are his specific concerns about amputating, other than general anxiety about it? Perhaps if he writes down his concerns (anesthesia? recovery worries?) and talks to your vets, he can feel better about it.
Lucky is what we call an Honorary Tripawd. He's already getting around without it, but hauling that bum leg around sounds concerning if you have two vets telling you to amputate. Cats are so agile and nimble, it's probably taking Lucky a lot of extra energy to move around with something that serves no purpose at this point.
As far as the potential mobility issues....here's something funny, but when I wrote it I forgot that we are talking about a cat! They are so much more adept at maneuvering around than dogs are (sssh, don't tell the canines!), and it makes sense that Lucky is doing so well. A dog at that age would likely still have mobility challenges that could create bad habits over time, like a crooked gait, slanted sit, things that can cause misalignment and chronic pain over time. Cats at six months old are probably a very different story, so scratch what I said. I'll have to get clear on that next time I speak with an animal rehab specialist.
Oh maybe you can show this to your husband? It's our interview with a rehab vet who raised a Tripawd kitten into old age:
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I just realized that I am very late to the party on this & you have likely already made your decision, but I wanted to let you know that my cat Hiccup had his left hind leg removed at 3 months old & has had no mobility issues whatsoever. In fact, he's faster on 3 legs than my other cats are on all 4! He's now 16 months old and he jumps, climbs, & runs with abandon. Like Lucky, he was born with a missing paw. He apparently broke the leg while playing, which is when his original owners surrendered him to a shelter as they could not afford treatment. Hiccup was pulled from the shelter by an amazing rescue agency who raised the funds to amputate his leg - lucky boy! I did not know him during the time of his surgery, but his foster mom says that he recovered quickly & adapted to 3 legs easily. Hopefully your family was able to come to a decision regarding Lucky's surgery, but if not perhaps knowing that a kitten with a similar situation has thrived post-surgery will help you with your choice.
Thank you for sharing. We have decided to amputate but are now waiting for a second opinion on the surgery by an actual orthopedic surgeon instead of one of the vets at our clinic. Our appointment is next Thursday the 12th. I will post our final decision after that appointment.
Barb & Lucky
Barb, Doug, Lucky, Luna, Aurora, Rascal, Smokey & Ebby
Oh awesome job getting the ortho vet opinion! That will be so helpful and give you confidence no matter what path you take. Can't wait to hear what the outcome is.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Yeah, getting that opinion from a specialist who deals with these "amputation things" all the time....good move!!.👍
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!
A second opinion from a specialist is a great idea! Hiccup's foster mom consulted an orthopedic surgeon as well before making the decision to amputate. She says that she felt much more confident about proceeding with the amputation after speaking with a specialist. Whatever your decision turns out to be, it will be the right one for Lucky. It is very clear how much you love him & how much time, effort, & thought is going in to helping him. He is an aptly named cat!
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