Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hello all!
Amelia and I are back for some of your amazing advice!
She is doing much better with pain management from the phantom limb and using litter boxes. Over the past 24 hours, I am noticing her stools are very small and dry even though her water intake and food is all wet. She is also straining in the litter box. Urine is fine.
I will take any of your tried and true suggestions!
She is now 2 months post-op. Rear hemipelvectomy and 13 y/o. She is in remission and we were told there was zero chance of this happening. We regressed alot after the first month post op, so we are doing a slow comeback now, but she is ambulating again in her own room. She has a few different surfaces she is going on and off of and she is using two different litter boxes and potty pads successfully. Which is a far way from a couple weeks ago when her phantom pain started!
Thank you all for all your help then!
Amanda and Amelia 
Hi Amanda and Amelia, I'm so glad to hear that she is bouncing back and the pain is under control, that's wonderful! She's really come a long way. Bravo to both of you for staying steady and pawsitive.
As for the constipation, is the frequency at which she is going normal timing? Or is she going less?
Since she is already pretty hydrated, you can try adding pumpkin pulp to her food, just a teeny bit, a teaspoon maybe. That usually helps. Any fiber-rich foods that she doesn't mind eating can do the trick, try adding olive oil or a teeny bit of bran flakes to her food, and you can try bribing her with more liquids, like letting her lap up some tuna water during the day. See if that helps and stay tuned for feedback from other Trikitty members.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi!
Thank you for the quick reply!
Yes, frequency seems to be normal! I will try these suggestions! I had read them, but wanted to make sure they were vetted by the people I trust!
Tuna water is a great idea!!!
I will stay tuned for more ideas as well!
GREAT observations and likely the reason she has been having litter box issues. We always rule out medical problems first if she is peeing or pooping outside the box. If it's only one, that is your clue. Constipation is painful.
Purrkins brother has suffered from constipation issues for years. Thankfully we manage with Miralax and a drug called cisapride motility drug. We only feed Saxton wet food, and I do syringe extra water. It can happen.
I don't know if Amelia has had problems before surgery pooping?
You can safely add Miralax to her wet food 1/4 tsp A.M and P.M OK. This is vet-approved and what my first step would be. I don't want to see this turn into an emergency. Is she vomiting when straining?
For some cats, you can add fiber to the diet, but it can cause the opposite effect in some kitties. The poops can get too large to pass with fiber.
The Miralax will not; it will produce softer stools for Amelia that should pass easier.
Do you know the fiber content in her food it should be listed? Did you recently change her diet after surgery?
I would discuss this with your vet. But in the meantime, Miralax is over the counter; it is safe to use in cats. You can add it to her wet food or syringe it to her. It needs water to be most effective, so add some water if you add to her wet food. It is odorless and tasteless. Hopefully, that's all she needs, and you can continue to give that. Be faithful for best results and give it a few days to see the results. If she would get too soft of poop, dial back the dosage.
Here is to softer, easier poops in the litter box.
Hugs and scratches to Amelia
Holly & Purrkins💝💝💝
Hi Holly and Purrkins,
Thank you for the detailed response! I have an email into the vet as well, and I will ask about the Miralax, that is a great suggestion. I haven't seen her vomit with straining. Just straining. I didn't ever notice an issue before surgery, but we had a cascade of small errors right after surgery that looking back I can see how we are here now.
I think the initial overuse/misuse postop -- then the quick onset of phantom limb pain-- led to some slight dehydration and that was when we had the steep regression.
I love the idea of miralax making it softer to pass! I am already adding extra water to her wet food. We did change food post surgery. She was eating Nulo dry but as her pain increased from the cancer she was struggling to eat. I was making her food which she was eating but just before surgery and now she still will only eat terrible food (Fancy Feast) I can't get her back to anything else. I keep buying better quality wet food but with no luck.
Glad to hear Amelia is not puking and straining! That's a sure sign your getting into trouble!
Any wet food is better than the best of dry in cats, ok.
We toss all our beliefs out when we have a kitty who won't eat or is fussy, Don't sweat the fancy feast if she loves and eats it GREAT. Check the fiber content difference to what you were feeding; it MIGHT shed some light on if she does better with a bit of fiber or less. Either way, Miralax is an answer and much better than lactulose that needs a script. She won't mind or even notice the Miralax.
Amelia is likely not a big drinker on wet food, and that's normal. I'm sure you do already, but I will post it just in case have fresh water available at all times. We have water bowls in different locations in the house and a water fountain to encourage drinking in both cats! And as Jerry said add some tuna water to see if she will readily drink that for you. We do tuna water, bone broth, and cat milk for extra hydration.
hugs,
Holly & Purrkins💝💝💝
MIRALAX...(palm on forehead!). Thank you for that one Holly! Had I looked at the Cool Tips for Tripawd Cats book I would have seen that 😉
Great input and I'm glad you're checking with Amelia's vet too. Let us know what they say.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Just want to join in on cheering for sweet Amelia! Is it too weird to cheer for softer, bigger 💩💩 ?? 🤣
So glad she is continuing to get her sparkle back😎
And Holly.....not enough words to say how grateful we are for you sharing your vast kitty knowledge. The difference you and Purrkins have made in this community...priceless💖
Extra ear scritches to Amelia
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!
We are checking in where you able to get the Miralax started?
I'm hoping to hear we have more normal-looking poops and no more hard balls? Which should fix the litter box avoidance.
Hugs and scratches to Amelia, please.
Holly & Purrkins💝💝💝
Oh man!!
So, we are having a week!! I have to say, if you all give Vet reviews, y'all need to give Dr. Parshley all the love.
I gave Amelia 1/4 tsp miralax monday evening and again Tuesday morning-- I made certain to dilute in water etc. She only had the one sort of formed, super small stool, on Tuesday afternoon, so I called the Cancer center in a panic because her regular vet couldn't see her until the first week of April. I had also taken her in the previous week because I had noticed blood on the pee pad and Dr. Parshley didn't see any clinical signs of UTI but she took a urine sample and that did come back positive.
So Wednesday Amelia went to the vet for both antibiotic and a check up. I haven't given her ANY miralax since Tuesday morning and she is still having diarrhea. Poor girl. She was definitely constipated and Dr. Parshley said to stop the miralax. I just this morning was able to get her to eat some pumpkin so I am hoping that helps slow things down. At this point there is no desire to use the litter box, but her poor GI system is a mess.
So Im hoping the pumpkin helps, and we are 48 hours out from the antibiotic and she seems to be urinating more normally. She is drinking a ton and does have an appetite. Pain seems good.
I just am having so much anxiety myself, that I made a terrible decision for her in going through with the amputation. The first three-four weeks post surgery were AMAZING and now we are just having hurdle after hurdle. She is such a sweet girl.
Thank you for checking in!
So glad you got in to see the vet. I'm not surprised on litter box avoidance it is challenging when we have two kinds of pain associated with going in the box. Excellent job for getting Amelia in. Your on this ok!
This will take more time and patience. I would add some cat attract litter on top of your current litter to see if that will help her get back in the box.
I'm sorry, did she have the poops before you started the antibiotic? A lot of times they play havoc on the gi too. You can add probiotics in to help with the poops also.
This is exactly what you posted a hurdle you will find a new normal. ok hang onto that. We all understand the anxiety on this journey. It is normal to feel this way right now. What choice did you have amputation or pts, right? Let Ameilia be in pain or try to help her. We all chose to help our animals. We do this for them, not to them all from a place of love.
We are here to help in any way we can ok. Even just to listen! hang in there
(((Big hugs ))))
Holly & Purrkins💝💝💝
I not sure if you have seen this post on Litter Box Tips with ideas and what other members have tried. You can see our litter set up in there as well. Our updated version is on page 3. Disregard if you have.
Litter Box Tips for Tripawds - Member Tips
Hugs! Holly & Purrkins 💝💝💝
Just went to send some pawsitive energy to you and Amelia.
Glad she's drinking lots a d peeing better!! Great job!
Of course,check with your Vet, but maybe eliminate the pumpkin.for now. It's such a crazy thing how itworks for constipation AND for diarrhea. So just thou taking every out of the equation could help pinpoint whatever. And as Holly said, the antibiotics can mess with the bowels too.
As Holly has said....and you did the right thing by giving her a chance at more quality time!! Amelia would want that!!! Its hard to remember when there are "hurdles". So we'll l remind you, okay?👌
(((((((((((((((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!
FWIW, I 1000% agree with Sally on holding off on the pumpkin & consulting with your vet.
We don't know the exact cause of constipation right now. Even crazier, a constipated cat can get diarrhea. It seeps around the balls. This has happened to Purrkins brother too. I'm not saying that's what's happening, just a heads up.
Keep an eye out as you have been doing.
Keep us posted when you can.
Hugs!💝💝💝
You are doing GREAT, don't be so hard on yourself, things happen and you have a GREAT vet to help make it better for Amelia!
if you all give Vet reviews, y’all need to give Dr. Parshley all the love.
Yes! Members are encouraged to share their experiences in Veterinary Specialists Referrals🙂
One thing you might want to ask your vet about is edible clay. It works wonders on the runs for cats and dogs. But again talk to your vet first to make sure it's OK.
Keep us posted and stay pawsitive, you've got this!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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