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Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat

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Fuzz is Home!- And a Terror!
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Member Since:
3 August 2019
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21 September 2019 - 2:28 pm
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Got home with Fuzz around 1 pm.. got him settled in his temporary recovery room ( my converted and thoroughly cleaned laundry room that I spent hours prepping yesterday for his return) and gave him some moist food which he devoured.. was able to then crush his first of 2 anti-inflammatory pills and he gobbled it right up in the food.  He has a voracious appetite.  Then the agitated I am not taking this confinement Fuzz came out.. He managed to escape twice from the room all within  first 45 minutes of being home including darting into dining room where I was able to get him and then second time darted right out and down flight of steps to basement. He also proceeded to dig and scratch and stand on hind legs looking for way out of barrier in room (there is no door on laundry room- was using a 4 foot sheet of plywood)   3 legs is NOT going to stop him getting around!  I of course was a wreck with him running around and down steps.  I looked his incision over and called technician who checked us out who said "wow he was so laid back here"  well at home he knows he has his favorite spots and being confined is not his thing!  She suggested bumping up time of his next dose of gabapentin and I went back to drawing board after putting him back in his carrier for temporary safe keeping.  So 45 minutes later I cleaned up the back separate part of master bathroom and transferred all the belongings that I spent so much time making nice and convenient in laundry room to a much smaller space.  There is a 2 door secure zone to get in and out of so he can't escape from second part of bathroom.  I went in and he again devoured more food and gave him a dose of gabapentin in food (gobbled up) and tried the ice pack that they said I could try ( most cats don't like and he wasn't fond as he would not relax enough with me to keep it on)  after he ate some more food and even climbed over me to get to the empty can he went and laid on his self heat pad I got him and cleaned his paw and face for awhile and then drifted into nap.  As soon as I stood up to exit, he was up and trying to follow me out to leave too!   This is going to be a verrrry long 14 days of confinement!  I checked his incision again and after his great escapes and stair running they still look good- no bleeding/seepingetc.  I am so happy to see that getting around is NOT ever going to be an issue for him.. nor right now is his appetite a problem.  He goes back on 10/4 for his post op check up and gets his staples removed.  His biopsy report is to be back and I will know more within 5-7 days.  For his post op they have him on a fentanyl patch that I will remove on Wednesday ( under a bandage on his neck), he will get .5 cc of the gabapentin every 8 hours  for 7 days ( although they had me bump him to .75 to take edge off being home and his escapades), he had 2 anti inflammatory pills he took one today and last one I will give him tomorrow at 1 pm and that is it.  If there are issues I am to call anytime (24 hour operation) for assistance or advice.  The one final relief I had was he pooped in their litterbox this morning and then since he has been in his new recovery room he has peed once in his litterbox.  I am exhausted!!!  I thank you all for the information and if anyone has words of advice for a cat unhappy and a master escape artist on 3 legs from confinement I would appreciate it!

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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21 September 2019 - 2:55 pm
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if anyone has words of advice for a cat unhappy and a master escape artist on 3 legs from confinement I would appreciate it!

Oh my gosh I'm sorry I couldn't help but giggle at his escape antics! icon_lol I know it's making you crazy, and worried too, but this is a pretty good sign that he is so energetic, eating and eliminating. Does he seem agitated or upset at all? Or just frustrated that he is being confined? If agitated, and he keeps escaping, you may want to request a mild sedative to keep him mellow until stitches come out. 

Most new Tripawds who are energetic like this when they first come home will crash in a few days. Not in a bad way, just in an exhausted way, it's like their bodies catch up with their brains. Until then though it sounds like Fuzz is going to keep you on your toes!

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
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Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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21 September 2019 - 8:47 pm
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FUZZ, you are an Olympian escape artist!! You are showing  your hoomans hace already mastered three legs just fine!

And yes , the patch could be making him a bit....hmmmm...euphoric., as well as maybe disoriented and not really aware of his surroundings.   And maybe not.  Every cat reacts differently  tompain meds.   As Jerry and though, he may hace a bit of a crash in a day or two, which is perfectly normal.  It sounds like your Vet has a good  plan in place.

Hopefully  you can get some rest soon!  

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!

Member Since:
1 October 2017
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22 September 2019 - 9:11 am
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Ohhh goodness, lol. I am sorry, I giggled too (after knowing he didn't hurt himself) he sure is happy to be home! I was going to ask if you had a room with a door earlier, but you had worked so hard on the other room that I did not have the heart to suggest it. 

David and I did spend a lot of time in Huckleberry's room, taking turns as we were able to stay with him and keep him comfortable. Sometimes I would just lay on the bed and he eventually started to come and cuddle with me. 

Anesthesia and hospital meds effect all of us differently. Same thing with pain meds. I am also pretty confident that he will run out of steam and chill out. I am so glad he is eating! 

You did the right thing switching rooms! I know how hard you have worked, and you have done your best to make sure Fuzz will make a wonderful recovery. Don't let all this crazy activity throw you off, I am sure he will chill once the excitement of being home and without that awful painful leg kicks in!

Sending hugs,

Jackie and Huck sp_hearticon2

Hugs,

Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry

Huckleberry's Blog

Member Since:
3 August 2019
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22 September 2019 - 11:14 am
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Fuzz has crashed.  After all that he is now just content to rest not on his bed but a rug I placed back in corner behind toilet.  He continues to eat for me and I just gave him the last of his anti-inflammatory pills. Now he will continue on the 3x day gabapentin ( 2 more doses today) and the fentanyl patch that comes off Wednesday.  His incision still looks good. barely puffy and no redness or seeping of any kind.  He does not like ice pack so that is out for him unless it changes in few days. I haven't forced it after yesterday.  His appetite is still there I am giving him small amounts of the moist food (camouflauge the meds) and then more until he stops eating multiple times per day.  I also gave him a couple dehydrated fish treats and he loved those!  so I am trying to rest when he is.  I pop in and check on him and just sit there in a very tiny area so he knows I am there for a few minutes at a time.. but that hard tile floor even with rugs andpee pads is hard on me all cramped up.. lol.. He is still using litter box- pooped for me at midnight feeding and meds ( semi solid then a bit runny like pudding which I attribute to all these meds/anesthesia)  he is also peeing in litter box as he was on iv fluids so he has lots coming out and just peed when he got up to eat and take his pill 15 minutes ago.  I have a small low rise litter box that he is a bit to big for but we make do ( pooped mostly outside/down side but mom cleaned up)  I have not seen him drink water but then even before all of this I really never did- which is why I always push moist juicy foods. He hasn't eaten any of the dry food I have out for him either. He is leaving his incision alone.  Yeahh! I did find a cat christmas t shirt I could use in a pinch and I have the collar they gave me, hopefully neither are needed.  I am off tomorrow to be with him all day then back to work. I am going to adjust his 3x day gabapentin so I can give before I leave, afterwork then later in night.. will be close give or take to the 8 hour spread.. he is content to rest and be quiet now so I am trying not to bother him with exception of giving him love and checking on him periodically. 

Member Since:
1 October 2017
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22 September 2019 - 12:28 pm
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I think they get a lot of comfort and a feeling of safety in those small places.  

Fuzz was showing you how happy he was to be home and now he's chilling,  YAY!!

I did the same thing with Huck's medication to keep him on even intervals.  I think that's really important for pain relief.  

Sending you guys hugs,  I'm so glad things have calmed down❤

Hugs,

Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry

Huckleberry's Blog

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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22 September 2019 - 7:43 pm
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Eating, pooping, peeing, resting.....so much further along than many cats at this early point in recovery.

You are doing a stellar job of being his caregiver and tending to him.   

Thanks for the update.  It's  a good one.

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!

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