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!
Just so I know what to look for, what are common signs of a blockage? I’ve only had female cats before my rusty.
He’s been peeing and pooping without any issues I think. I just don’t know what to look for.
Rusty "The Bunnyman" adopted us in 2014. Aug/Sept 2017, back left leg amputated (HSA cancer). He remained cancer free over 900 days. Cancer returned as of emergency visit on day 931. 15 days later, he gained his wings 04/18/2020 due to congestive heart failure. He will always watch over his fellow tripawds and their hoomins with Head Scritches and Sand Paper Kisses.
Most affected cats are within 1 to 10 years of age. Signs and symptoms may vary from mild to severe. Initially cats may show signs of urinary tract inflammation and discomfort, including straining to urinate, frequent urination, blood in the urine, painful urination, and inappropriate urination (urinating outside of a litter box).
These bouts can resolve in 5–7 days but recur in many cats within 6–12 months. Symptoms are profound and life threatening if complete obstruction occurs and no urine can get out of the body. Once cats become completely obstructed, they may attempt to urinate in the litter box but will produce no urine. The cat may cry, move restlessly, or hide because of discomfort, and eventually lose their appetite and become lethargic. Complete obstruction can cause death of the cat in 3–6 days. A cat with a urethral obstruction will have a large, painful bladder that is easily felt in the back half of the belly unless the bladder has ruptured.
Some risk factors have been evaluated for lower urinary tract disease in cats. Increased risk was found in cats that eat dry food, being kept indoors, nervous/fearful/aggressive behaviors, stress, and being in multi-cat household. The incidence of urinary obstructions is reportedly higher in the winter months. Bladder inflammation leading to mucous plugs (sometimes called "Feline Urologic Syndrome" or "FUS") is more common in male cats. Congenital outpouchings of the bladder ("vesicourachal diverticuli") can increase the risk of bladder infection, but they may also be a result of chronic inflammation.
https://www.acv.....ction-cats
We have a old phone set up at the litter box with a free app called presence its a video recorder. I get alerts and video recording when anyone goes to the litter box. It’s great for multi cat household we always know who is doing what. Lets hope you never need to know with Rusty!!
Holly pretty much nailed it. Andy is my third FUS kitty, Falcor was my first, Gazoo was my second. He was actually brought to my animal hospital as a euthanasia because they couldn't afford to unblock him. 7 more episodes later, Gazoo had the infamous P/U surgery that I was scared to death of. Truly amazing, he never got sick after that surgery. I was lucky though, the surgeon that went to our hospital did the surgery and he was just a first class surgeon!
Andy was the strangest blockage I have ever seen. He showed no signs. I just woke up one morning to find him in almost fetal position, body all hunched over, panting and crying. I had no idea what was wrong with him. Took him in to emergency and upon physical found his bladder huge and we were unable to express it. After Gazoo I got pretty dang good at it, even better than when I was a tech lol but Andy's bladder was not budging. Had to knock him out and catheterize him. I am glad we did not get to that point again. It takes a lot out of them and it is horribly expensive
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry
After the antibiotic shot and digilence diet wise Andy is better. He's always been such a sensitive kitty. Probably because he spent most of his life as a shelter kitty. Even though he was symptom free he is calmer and more energetic. We're just thanking our lucky stars that we caught something we didn't even know we were after. He is a special baby, one of the most loving, timid kitties I've ever seen. I know this isn't his forum, and he's a quad, but he had been such a huge advocate for Huck.
Xoxoxo
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry
So glad he is feeling better!!!
Rusty "The Bunnyman" adopted us in 2014. Aug/Sept 2017, back left leg amputated (HSA cancer). He remained cancer free over 900 days. Cancer returned as of emergency visit on day 931. 15 days later, he gained his wings 04/18/2020 due to congestive heart failure. He will always watch over his fellow tripawds and their hoomins with Head Scritches and Sand Paper Kisses.
Ditto, we are happy for Andy! And no worries about sharing your news about him with us. If he's part of your family he's part of ours too no matter how many legs he has 🙂
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thank you My little Stay Puffed marshmallow man says thank you too Have a good day!
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry
Good for your little STAY PUFF MARSHMALLOW MAN!! 🙂 🙂
Very informative posts from you and Holly. Glad you ppsted here.
And yes, once you jpin for one family member, EVERYPAWDY BEDOMES OUR FAMILY!
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!
Great to hear your Andy Panda is doing better! What a relief heh?!
My sisters cat also had a blockage which they caught just in time! She is now very diligent in checking her boys litter box. It’s a little easier for her as she only has the one cat. If she decided to go for another cat, the camera set up would be a great idea!
Chin scratches and ear rubs to all your sweet boys Jackie!
Thanks everyone, yes that camera is definitely intriguing. Feline blockage is just so scary. All my others gave me a little pre warning, Mr. Andy did not Well, one good thing is they all like Royal Canin prescription s/o diet, lol.
We have also had an interesting turn of events with the Huckmeister. I noticed little bumps around his neck area and near his ears. They are so small, but itchy as all get out. His skin and ears are perfectly clear, but you should see him when I scratch his neck. And his little stump actually looks like it is vibrating when you scratch and get one of those areas. I posted to the vet here and I guess even 2 1/2 months later he may be reacting from when he had fleas 🙁 Seeing he had 2 good ear mite treatments I was hoping for a bunch of dead ear mites to clean out but his ears are crystal clean. I really dread having to pack him up for another vet visit. He might need to get a steroid injection so that the itch goes away and the bumps can clear. It would be really nice to catch a break here. On the positive side, if that is what causes him to stop and groom so much maybe what we thought was phantom limb is not. I guess we are going to find out
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry
Oh YES he DID!!! He WORE it!! Briefly mind you, but OMC!!!
Look at that handsome devil!!! I said, let's try this.. he said " ok, whatever, you finally win Ma!" I would not have placed money on that 2 months ago, lol I had to share it with all of the people that helped me get him here on three legs Thank you so much!
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry
HUCKLEBERRY!! YOU ARE THE BEST SCARVE STYLIN' FASHIONISTA' OF ALL TIMES!!! 🙂
You are such a kitty chic magnet! The girls would give anything to nestle in your hanssome scarf with you! 🙂
Adorable photos!!! Grinning ear to ear over here! Youve come a long way Huck in a very short time! 🙂 Having incredible hoomans helps make it all possible 🙂
Love and 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!
Looks to me like he is figuring out how to get even...
Such a victory given his start in life. I just love seeing each little hop forward for the Huckster!
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
He is turning into just the biggest sweetheart. Amazes me every day. I look at that little kitten like face and he melts my heart
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry
OMC you got it on him !! Way to go Jackie and Huckleberry for letting Mom and getting pictures too!! The second shot he is saying ok Mom remove It now please
DITTO You’ve come a long way in a such a short time!!
You look very handsome in your yellow Tripawd bandanna Huckleberry👑! Purrkins has as a yellow one too!
❤️
2 Guest(s)