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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Ditto all of the above, tri-fuzz is an inspiration in a big way! His antics and updates make me smile everytime. 😁
When all that lovely "fuzz" grows back no one will ever know the difference. Fuzz obviously doesnt think theres one! I can just picture him zooming around!
Thank you both for the smile ❤
Hugs,
Bev & Moe cat
Hugs ❤ Bev, nurse Moe cat, Autumn's Angel Roane & Angel dog Gypsy 🐾
My sweet soulmate Roane was diagnosed with osteo in June of 2019. Had a rear leg amp on July 2nd & crossed the rainbow bridge to be with her sister Gypsy on the first day of Autumn Sept 23 2019.
Fuzz is adorable. I enjoyed reading this thread - my cat was 14 when he was diagnosed with chondrosarcoma and needed front leg and scapula removed. His recovery included a few hurdles, but before long he was running up and down stairs and jumping up on the fridge in really no time at all. Losing the leg did not hinder him in any way. I am so glad to see you are experiencing something similar. Go Fuzz 🙂
Hugs,
Hattie and Jerry Cat (right front leg and scapula amputation due to chondrosarcoma at age 14, lived 2 1/2 years post amputation, succumbed suddenly to suspected lymphoma at age 16)
10/2001 - 10/9/2017 R.I.P ~ Love you always
3 Week and 2 Day Update: Fuzz is literally back to himself months before this stupid cancer diagnosis and ultimate amputation. These were from this morning.. jumping up and attempting to walk the banister... There is literally no stopping him in his recovery. He has been so amazing and has rebounded to himself in such a very short time. He runs, plays, jumps, greets you at the door, has a never ending appetite, and typically acts like a dog- just like he was before! Here are some new photos from this morning, he was checking out the plant I just hung up on the hook, from above of course..
Looking good!!! Hey did you send you send your calendar pic? We need more tri kitties! These would make a great pic!!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Wow! He looks great 
I have a quad that likes to walk on the banister occasionally and even with 4 I have heart failure, lol. Fuzz is loving life again, and you are right... his recovery has been amazingly speedy. I am so happy for you!
Hard really to totally remember Huck's "time" when he was fully recovered because he was feral, so he had no "everyday" life to compare to as he roamed the house and learned stairs and such.
Those pictures are gorgeous!
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry 
jerry said
Looking good!!! Hey did you send you send your calendar pic? We need more tri kitties! These would make a great pic!!
I must have overlooked this calendar thing... how and where do I submit photos of Tri-Fuzz for consideration? I will snoop around on the site and see if I can figure it out...
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry
Fuzz really had had a spectacular recovery! I think being so loved and receiving such good csre was a main ingredient for success!
These pictures are so darn cute! Yes, Fuzz must be in the calendar!!!
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 tried a submission for calendar but sadly I don't think pictures are big enough resolution wise and since they from my phone and I am not a computer genius there does not appear to be a way to make them bigger or suitable.. Fuzz and I thank you for calendar consideration... he will be a star in my eyes regardless!
Been off for a few days.. and I think recovery has maybe caught up with Fuzz... that or he is having phantom pain /pain from too much too soon. He is suddenly not acting himself and hiding.. he hisses when my lab/his best friend is near him and tonight he laid in my lap purring and then alternating crying out and acting like he couldn't get comfortable laying.. I am actually concerned he has hurt himself although when I picked him up earlier he did not cry or hiss.. he is now hiding and must have a super secret place because I have searched all 3 levels of my house and cannot find him... I have still been giving him gabapentin .5 per day except he has missed his dose today for hiding and not coming out for food.. I ask for positive thoughts and love for him.. of course I am stressed not knowing what is happening and fearing the worst! He had done so well so fast and now he is clearly what I would guess in pain or some type of discomfort...I was away for a very long 2 days of work and fear something happened while I was gone... I am going to go make another sweep of house and try to find glowing eyes with flashlight.. I really would like to get some gabapentin to him and can't leave it out in food because other 2 cats would gobble it up! Sooo frustrated and was hoping my super high stress over past couple months was finally subsiding... NOPE!!!!!!
I'm sorry to hear Fuzz has had a setback. It's really hard to manage cats and their activity level since they seem so agile and we don't put them on a leash.
I encouraged Mona to use boxes as steps to dismount from heights such as couches and my high bed. Before she used the boxes she had a few face plants. I've always discouraged my cats from going up on counters and tables so I had no problems there. I remember that Purrkins cat would climb up on top of the kitchen cupboards so she had lots of stairs set up in her house.
A month after Mona's amputation she had a chiropractic appointment which seemed to help her alignment and I learned how to give her massages. I'm sure Fuzz would benefit from some rehab work.
I hope you find Fuzz soon. I understand how scary it is when a cat disappears. Mona disappeared outside a few days after her surgery and I didn't find her for over 24 hours.
Remember to take deep breaths.
Kerren and Tripawd Kitty Mona
Has that little hiding Houdini shown his cute self yet??
TRY not to stress. I know, easier said than done. Fuzz has most likely tweaked something. As Kerren said, a chiropractor visit or a visit with a Rehab Specialist can be cery helpful in identifying the issue. Of course, Fuzz has to come out of hiding first. As hard as this is for you, at least he's resting somewhere and not overdoing it.
Sending lots of pawsitive energy and extra healing higs
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!
I did find him.. he was out sleeping on his self warming mat in great room at 330 am when I went out to check.. I believe he has been stepped on and "freaks" out when anything (human or animal) gets near him.. that was observation I made.. he quickly postures and hisses if dog or another cat or even myself comes quickly around him.. I do know the other day I stepped on his tail.. he had a very bad habit up until 2 days ago of getting under and being under your feet constantly so I am thinking this is all psychological to being stepped on and maybe it hurting.. he ate for me and even jumped up on me while I laid on couch.. he was not yowling but his seemingly normal purr. we came upstairs and he ate and when my other cat came running by him he hissed and postured while eating. I am hoping this settles down and he learns the new normal of being involved but not getting stepped on or hurt by full legged and more agile/quick animals and people around him. I am going to up the gabapentin for a few days in case their is some increased discomfort. He shows no pain or discomfort or hissing when I pick him up or pet down his back or legs. Here's hoping for the best in upcoming days!
That sounds like a good idea. Awww Fuzz, ya can't be right in front of feet... human or animal, dude! I have that exact same problem here with all 4 of our companions, Huck included.
Bo likes to wait right at the bottom of the stairs... right in front of where you are walking ... so watch it if you have a basket of clothes in your hands! Oscar walks right in front of you and goes side to side meowing at ya when you are in the kitchen and its meal time, or treat time (he thinks it's always treat time)
Andy is not too awful bad except for when you are trying to go to the bathroom... then all bets are off!
And last but not least (I cringe when I think of this) Huckleberry also likes to follow you into the kitchen when he knows its time for a meal. One time I did have something in my hands and I was not watching the floor... probably talking to my husband... when all of a sudden my right leg moved forward with Huck at the front of my ankle!!! He punted like a furry grey football!!! I wanted to die!!! Thank goodness he did not get hurt... just scared. And no matter what they still love to hang at my ankles... although Huck is a little more careful now.
That stuff does happen sometimes. It is inevitable... unfortunately. I hope Fuzz didn't tweak anything, but it sounds like he might have OR maybe he did a little too much and is simply sore from some maneuver... sounds the same as tweaking, ok.
Fuzz is still in the early stages of this new life. And I KNOW how hard it is to keep cats quiet.. it's a lot harder than dogs and they are quite pig-headed when they want to be. It is even harder when multiple floors are involved.
As well as he has done, maybe you should try to set him up for one of those chiropractic appointments that Kerren mentioned. I WISH I could do that for Huckleberry, but when fearful he becomes quite the formerly feral handful. Purrkins also does that and they both seem to have done really well with it. Purrkins has also had acupuncture with great success.
Upping up the dose sounds like a great idea for a few days. Just watch him and see how he does. If he continues to act defensive and protective of himself then I would definitely get in touch with his vet to see if they can find the source of pain.
Breathe mama.. you found him, thank goodness! Cats have the most amazing hiding spots. Huck has done some serious hiding over the last couple of years... Oscar does too. Matter of fact I accidentally found one of Oscars hiding places and I was shocked! I have a long dresser in my bedroom and the wood is very low to the ground. Oscar has always been slender and agile. I was upstairs getting ready for work and as I closed my closet door, I looked over to find Oscar crawling under the dresser. I can barely get my hands under there but there he was. He slithered like a snake until he was totally disappeared under it... I wish I could have gotten it on video... amazing.
Keeping fingers, toes, paws, and tails crossed that this is just a little tweak and nothing more. Hopefully Fuzz will be back to being Fuzz here very soon. Sending you a big fat hug!!!
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry
Fuzz - great news that he's wanting your love and attention. I think cats love to be underfoot for even more attention.
Jackie - that's so funny about Oscar! I had a cat named Rocky who did the same thing. One night I noticed, when undressing in front of the dresser, suddenly a paw came out and pulled in a sock! When I felt under the dresser, not only was there Rocky but a number of single socks that had gone missing. 
Phew, Fuzz is safe and likely needs more recovery time. I think it took a year for Mona to fully adapt and develop into her life as a tripawd. I remember someone here wrote that their cat lost a leg and gained a new personality. Mona became more confident and now seems to enjoy car rides and she loves all the attention at the vet clinic.
Kerren and Tripawd Kitty Mona
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