Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi everyone!
Maceo Cat is generally doing AMAZINGLY well post amp. He is about 4 weeks post-op right now, and couldn't be better -- walking, talking (lots of talking), jogging, jumping, eating (lots of eating), ripping into treats bags in the middle of the night, and all his usual things.
Except for one thing... lately, he has been extending his neck in what is known as "orthopneic posture" throughout the day.
He extends his head and neck forward, as if he is about to cough, but doesn't actually cough or breathe differently. It seems to happen suddenly: he'll get really still, then do the posture for some seconds (up to 10-20 seconds), then snap out of it and go back to what he was doing.
He'll also very occasionally make a little meow and/or jump up at random -- not his usual demanding or asking for something type of meow (which he also does a lot), which is a big, intentional meow.
My questions are:
- has anyone seen this before post op?
- could this be related to his forelimb amputation?
- or is this more of a sign of respiratory distress?
Most stuff you read about the extended neck posture is all about respiratory issues -- asthma, coughing and the like. But he is not exhibiting any clear signs of respiratory trouble.
Is this something anyone else has seen?
First of all, SO GLAD MACEO IS DOING REALLY WELL!!! It's always good to hear how happy our furbabies can be once they get past the recovery!
I have no answers on the "stretching" as I think you've thought of any possibilities that came to my mind too.
The only other "possibility" I would add is possibly a tummy/digestive upset? Really a stretch, vut maybe trying to do a big burb or something like that? Acid reflux?
Others will chime in. Overall, it's a really good update! 🙂
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!
Thank you so much for the reply! I also thought it could be acid reflux, since I'd read about that too, but he seems to be doing fine on his eating and digesting. Or... maybe he is eating too much???
We have a holistic vet visit for tomorrow so I'll ask about it then, but very curious to know if any other tripawd kitties had something similar.
Hi Susan glad to hear Maceo is doing so good! He went right into being a natural tripawd kitty.
I had to put those childproof locks on all my kitchen cupboards & bathroom cupboards when the boys were kittens they used to try helping their selves to anything & everything !
Try a food puzzle out with treats let them have fun trying to get those out at night 😉 NO plastic bag to get into.
Can you get a video of this "orthopneic posture”? I never heard of that term before, what your describing to me sounds like respiratory, what a asthmatic cat would? You can post it so we can see what it looks like.
Most importantly so you have a video to show your Vet what is happening! Is he making the sounds during this or is that a separate thing?
We did not experience anything like what your describing.
Glad to see you see the Holistic Vet tomorrow , I would of said make a appointment just to be safe with cats they are masters at disguising things. This may not be anything but I would err on the side of caution to find out & rest easier, TRY getting a video so they can clearly see in case he doesn’t have a episode while he is there.
Please let us know what they say will send pawsitive thoughts for Maceo eating too much or anything that isn’t a big deal!
Hugs!
Holly & Purrkins
Oh what a happy day when a new Tripawd kitty is causing a ruckus at 3 am again! That's wonderful.
I can't recall anyone mentioning this either, but yeah, acid reflux comes to mind, and as for the small yelps, that could certainly be a sign of the nerves muscles working out kinks. If you can take a video of the posture (never heard that term either), that would be helpful for the vet visit. For now I wouldn't worry too much if he doesn't seem distressed and it's not a repeated thing throughout the day.
Let us know what the vets say OK?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi Maceo and Mum
ditto what Holly and Purrkins said.... hope all went well and you got positive news from the vet?!
chin scratches and cuddles
Sloppy kisses from Stewie👅🐾
& all the very best from his adoring pack,
Petra, Paul, & his feline siblings, Mr. Spike, Chester Molester & Miss Lily 🐾🐾🐾❤️.
http://stewie20.....pawds.com/
Remember...“live in the moment!“
The holistic vet didn't have a clear idea of what it could be, but also said that if it were a respiratory thing (or something from lung mets), that it would be obvious from other symptoms -- your usually kitty lethargy when they don't feel good, plus obviously labored breathing and that sort of thing.
He doesn't have any of those symptoms, but I have noticed that his body is pretty 'hard' or tense for being Maceo, with a naturally dense but chewy physical texture.
The vet said she noticed the hardness too. She said he has tension, like he is bracing.
I've also noticed that the next extending thing seems to happen right after he gets a wave of twitches and ripples throughout the amp site. So, I'm thinking all of this could be related to nerve and muscle issues.
We are 4 weeks post-op now (the time flies!!!), so I'm wondering if this is normal this far out. It doesn't seem to affect his activity levels generally, but he is grouchier at night when the twitching seems to flare up.
He's getting acupuncture at the holistic vet, and tolerates it well, so I'm hoping that will help his nerves.
Poor guy! Withstanding so much, and yet still waking up with a hunger for life every day (and also a hunger for food!).
Here he is, being gooey during Thursday's acupuncture session:
Awww, what a sweet face. He's so patient with those needles poking into his body.
I took Mona for a chiropractic session at about 1 month after her amputation. After the session I'd see Mona start walking, stop and then a ripple would roll down her body and she'd start walking again. It's like she stopped to adjust her body before continuing to move.
I also learned some massage and stretching techniques for Mona. Mona loves to be touched, massaged, stretched, etc so it's really easy and fun. I also apply heat.
I hope you can find something to relieve Macao of the tension. At least it doesn't affect his hunger for food and life. He's a trooper.
Hugs,
Kerren and Tripawd Kitty Mona
Let's see now, Maceo is "gooey" and he has a "chewy texture"....LOL 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 Add HANDSOME to that kist!! 🙂
I'm aure you a@ready do this vut try a lot of gentle massage and stretching. If you could get to aknow Rehab Vett, that would probably be helpful too.
I know we have cideo on here of how romdo massage...it may just be for dogs though. I would think it would still apply. Try searching massage ..or massage for cats.
Hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie!
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 believe acupuncture will Indeed help Maceo with the tension, nerves all of it! Massage at home would be great as everyone has suggested! I hope he enjoyed his session! You will notice a lot of changes, we did! I don’t think 4 weeks is far out LOL but do believe this will help !!
It has done wonders for Purrkins we started acupuncture 12 days after his amp. We are fortunate our Holistic Vet does both acupuncture and Chiro, he checks Purrkins alignment before acupuncture & adjusts if needed. Purrkins still has a twitch and I believe it is just the way it will be, it doesn't bother him.
Oh Maceo your gooey, and adorable keep it up buddy!
I think you will feel a big difference with each session!!
Yeowww banana lookout!
Hugs, Holly & Purrkins
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