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 Everyone. I'm still learning how to work my way through the forums. I have a question. My cat had his left rear leg removed yesterday, and I picked him up from the vet hospital today. He was out of his collar before we even got out of the parking lot. I could use some ideas about alternatives I can get my hands on quickly. I did download and read the e-book offered here, but some other ideas would be great. Thank you.
Hi there! Welcome to the club nopawdy wants to join!
Here's a couple of resources that may give you some ideas:
Finally, a Great Surgery Cone Alternative for Cats, Too!
The Houdini Cat Cone of Shame
P.S. Thanks for downloading the Cool Tips for Tripawd Cats book! Hope you found it useful. You probably saw the DIY baby onesie ideas in there so see if you can rig something up in the meantime. Also keep in mind that when an animal is constantly trying to get at their stitches, it could mean they are in pain. What pain medication is your cat on?
Oh and why the amputation?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Excellent, thanks. The vet mentioned this, and I tried it, and he got out of the cone, again. But I see I need to use some longer ties and criss-cross. Thank you.
Oh, and, part of the problem is that everything is out of stock. A lot of the soft cones, like the ones mentioned on your pages, are out of stock.
Hello and welcome,
From one houdini rear legged amputee cat owner to another, if your fur baby was able to get out of the plastic cone that easily, he will likely do the exact same with the soft cones too. For the short period of time he will need one, it probably is not worth the time and/expense of trying to locate other types if not available locally, especially at this time of year when getting things through the mail is slower.
Tuxedo, my 14 year old cat found all sorts of creative ways of getting out of soft collars and when he was not out of them, he had rendered them non functional by doing things such as flipping them around backwards wearing it like a cape (the soft canvas cone) or loosening them and climbing his front legs through it and wearing the soft donut pillow type like a hula skirt before just stepping out of it.y solution was similar to the houdini one Jerry referenced, except I just tied it to Tuxedo's collar at several locations.
I hope your baby's recovery goes smoothly. What is his name? Do you have any pictures to share?
Best wishes,
-Dawna, Tuxedo, Lilly, and Angel Dazzle
Human baby onesie!
This is the only thing that my 12-yr-old cat could not escape and that prevented her from getting to her stitches. Here is a link to the vid that I used as a guide -
Note: I cut the arm hole to make it easier for my cat's remaining rear leg to move. Also, my cat was not NEARLY as calm when I put the onesie on her.
Hope this helps!
LOL. I tried your Houdini method last night and Osho was out of it within 2 minutes. Today, we picked up a color and I have a harness I think will be small enough to fit. I'm going to have to get creative! So far, I haven't seen him licking, though I did find his fentanyl patch laying on the ground, so managed to get that off.
Huckleberry was a feral kitty and I couldn't get an e collar on him. We left the hospital with it but it was off before we were home. We did end up making a couple more trips to the vet, a few more staples, antibiotics, and we spent as much time as we could taking shifts keeping him company and supervised.
Front leg amputees seem to do well with onesies with the front leg sewed, not sure if you could try something for the rear. Problem I see is potty time.
We did use compresses on the site to help keep him comfy. As they heal the staples/ sutures get itchy and uncomfortable.
You can certainly try to use a cloth tie woven into the ecollar, but you need to make sure you can get three fingers comfortably between his neck and the collar. Will probably need to raise his bowls too. I know, stressful.
I wish you luck in this stressful time. Cats are so different than dogs but they are so resilient. One day at a time for now❤
Stay tuned in, keep medicating on a regular schedule and hopefully he won't be inclined to mess with them too much. Lots of cats do ok. Some use 2 ecollars, a soft one and a hard one outside of it. I hope some of this helps.
Jackie and Huckleberry
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry 
Alison said
Human baby onesie!
Alison thank you for the video, we hadn't seen it before.
Feel free to start an all new topic so we can learn about your Trikitty!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thank you for your advice. I know you all know how stressful this is. Working full-time and trying to take care of Osho, plus I have a sick dog who takes up all my time. But Osho and I have a special bond. I just want to spend more time with him. I have him in a dog pen which is big enough for me to sit in with him, but I can't lie down and cuddle, and I'm not sure I want to put him in my lap and disturb whatever comfortable position he has found.
This is great, thank you! I have his surgical suit arriving today and my friend will come over and alter it for Osho. Videos are helpful!!
Just you being there with him right now I know is a comfort for him : ) As Huck recovered, we actually did start to cuddle a bit. I had him in a big dog kennel and I would lie on the floor on the outside of the kennel and spend time with him. The surgical suit is a great idea, I totally forgot about that one. It was not around when Huck was recovering!
Hang in there, you are doing a great job! It will be a bit of a rollercoaster for the next couple of weeks but it WILL get easier!
I remember not wanting to move Huck around in fear of him not being comfortable. You watch, Osho will come cuddle on your lap all on his own as he heals
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry
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