Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Discovery had her right hind leg amputated in October 2023. She had a rough recovery at first but is doing super great now. One thing we are dealing with is hot spots. She never had this issue prior to surgery, but since she's had 3. The first was on her right temple, and we figured she was rubbing on something to scratch since she didn't have her back leg to scratch with. She had an antibiotic injection and it healed in a few weeks. Second time she had one on her remaining back leg, this followed an incident where a poop got stuck to her and her in clumsy efforts to dislodge it she ended up with poop all over her back end. I cleaned her up but she ended up over grooming one spot to the point that licked all the hair off and had about a nickel sized sore spot. Again with the antibiotic injection and it healed in a few weeks.
Her belly was shaved for her 6 month ultrasound and she had some skin irritation. Now, she's licked the irritated spots into full on hots spots, one is very small and the other about the size of a pea and she'll lick it until it bleeds. In an effort to keep her from licking we have tried a surgical recover suit; that wont work because she acts as if she can't walk and will just lay down and cry. We've tried belly bands (male dog diapers) but because of her missing back leg she just slips out of them. Topical antiseptic or hydrocortisone would probably work if she didn't immediately lick it off. I really don't want to put a cone on her, she was pretty traumatized by being in a cone after surgery and I can't bear to put her though that again if its not absolutely necessary.
I'm looking at this product: Miracle Care Liquid Bandage Spray. It sounds like it protects the wound but also has a bitter taste to discourage licking. Does anyone have any experience with this product or have anything to recommend for Hot Spots on cats? I'll take her back to the vet for another antibiotic injection if needed, but don't think its good for her to have these so frequently.
Aww poor Discovery! So has she been looked at to try to figure out the reason why she's getting hot spots like this? Meanwhile yeah, if the recovery suit freaks her out, did you try a short inflatable cone like this?
As for the liquid bandage product. Well, I brought it home for our Nellie, and my neighbor, who is an RVT, laughed and said "Good luck." My musher friend who has had over 30 dogs in the last 15 years felt the same way. I tried it anyways and it didn't do diddly.
Here is a product that I am testing now on Nellie, this might help reduce Discovery's urge to scratch:
Her vet just thinks she has sensitive skin, no other specific cause. So far the liquid bandage isn't working at all so far. We used an inflatable cone like that after surgery, but are hesitant to try again. That's the one that she popped about a week after surgery when she freaked out and ripped it off her head. That's when had to go back to the vet and they kept her for a week to get her pain under control. I'm scared to put something like that on her since she was so traumatized.
Ohhhh OK I can see why you're hesitant to try it.
Unfortunately the cone of shame is the best thing, as much as it sucks for the animal. I'm wondering if asking your vet for a sedative like Gabapentin, just for a week or so, to allow it to heal, might be the answer?
Meanwhile I would investigate that sensitive skin issue further, maybe a dermatological visit with a specialist? Or a diet change? Skin is an organ and when the body's not happy our skin is one of the first places to show us that something isn't right.
Your right, I'm going to press the issue with the vet a little more. Its cant be coincidence that in 13 years she's never had a hot spot and now has had 3 in 5 months. That liquid bandage did nothing, but THIS seems to be helping. She's still licking but it must be controlling the discomfort because she's not licking to the point of making it bleed, and it seems like its getting a little better. I also got a roll of Tubluar Stockinettes and this seems to work better for her than a surgical suit for some reason, I kind of made little halter top for her and she was able to move around but not try and take it off. I got her one of those soft cones that look like a flower, we'll try that tonight and see if she can tolerate it.
Way to advocate for her! Yes, you really want to find out the cause. Skin issues are the #1 reason for vet visits, and I can understand why a vet would be exhausted when asking to search for a cause. If you get a sense that yours is, ask for a dermatologist referral. They're out there, and can hopefully come up with a reason.
Glad you found those products. Not sure why the links disappeared, that's weird! Can you re-share? Would love to see them. Oh and a picture of her wearing the flower cone, I love those!
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