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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my cat Snuggles had an amputation rear rghr leg in April and had a great recovery. Today he tried to get up and his left rear leg gave out.he didn't do anything that would cause it. He was wincing in pain and I took him to the ER vet to make sure it wasn't a blood clot and tomorrow we're going to use regular surgeon/vet to get a diagnosis. Is this common? And if he has no use of his rear legs what are my options . He's very healthy otherwise. I'm frightened that he broke his other femur.that's why he had his other amputation his femur shattered out of nowhere and the biopsy said it wasn't cancer. Perhaps he has another bone disease? Any advice would help or shared experience.
Snuggles mom
I do not have any experience to share just wanted to send some positive thoughts your way!
Let's not go to the worst case scenario until we get some answers. Just try anyway! Easier said then done! You did exactly what you needed to do and got him in right away! Great news no blood clot!
If for some reason Snuggles cannot use his back leg, they do make wheels for kitties with no back leg use.
I am sure someone will be able to provide more help then I can. I do know this happens in dogs sometimes and its a muscle pulled or something that can be resolved a lot of the times with rehabilitation.
We do have 2 other members here that only have use of there front legs! One is a tripawd one is a twopawd.
They both do get around without wheels. On the 2 front legs. Amazingly so!
For now lets breathe and pray we get some answers and go from there.
Please let us know what they say and we will be thinking of you and sending every positive thought your way!
HUGS!!!
Holly & Purrkins
Okay....deep breaths.......this could be sooooo many treatavle things!!
As Holly said, no jumping to worse czse scenarios, which, of course, is what we do sooooo very well around here!!
Even though you didn't "see" anything happen, there is a lot of strain on the remaining limbs during those first weeks of recovery. Things can get out of whack "seemingly" out of the vlue. Disc issues, pulled muscle, pulled groin muscle, alsorts of things.
Whatever "it"'is, you'll get it figured out and move forward with a treatment plan. Update us when you can. We're here for you and we're all cheering for ADORABLE SNUGGLES!!! 🙂 He is so darn cute! 🙂
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!
I know this is super scary, but if it's any reassurance lots of other Tripawds have gone through the same situation. Yes, mostly dogs, but that's just because we have more dog members than cats for now. Usually the cause is a sprained muscle that's resolved with rest and sometimes medication like a non-steroidal such as meloxicam.
Your vet will have some suggestions to pinpoint the cause and manage Snuggles' pain. Hang in there!
Meanwhile, try to remember that it's a ton of work to get used to life on three legs. It takes time to build up the stamina and muscles required to resume normal cat activity. Also, if he's at all overweight, even by a few ounces, that can slow down his progress. Focus on keeping him slim and Snuggles will be an awesome, fit Tripawd in no time at all.
Let us know what the vet says OK?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Ditto what everyone else has said and have had personal experience with a TwoPawd. TwoPawd was every bit as happy as a Tri/Quad:) Best wishes, huge hugs, and PyrPaws all around! Please update when you can:)
Thank you for all your support . Here is the update Snuggles did break his femur in his remaining back leg. He is having it repaired with pins tomorrow. My vet is very concerned there might be something more going and since his amputated leg was broken femur severly shattered out of nowhere. The pathology report came back without any disease but now with his remaining leg femur fractured she is worried it could be something they missed.some of kind of disease . Thank you so much for your support and we will see what happens tomorrow prayers for Snuggles
So sorry to hear this! I would have questions, as I am sure you do! Will they be doing testing on this leg?
We are sending more Pawsitive thoughts and Prayers for you & Snuggles! Update when you can!
Hugs!
Holly & Purrkins
Awww Snuggles ! What's going on with you sweet voy. Such rotten news.
Yeah, it certainly seems something was "missed", that's for sure. Hopefully theycan get to the vottom of this and get him properly treated.
Another recovery period to go through for Snuggles AND you. So aorry yiu are dealing with this, but hopefully his leg will heal quickly and this will get resolved.
You may want to ppse under ASK A VET and see if she has any insight into what this may be.
Stay connected! We are here for you and with you!
Lots of 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!
Oh no Snuggles & family, I'm so sorry to hear that! Yikes! That is so rare. I hope that this surgery fixes the issue. Please keep us posted OK? I"m very interested in following your story because a surgery on a cat's remaining rear limb is something we don't see often.
We're all sending lots of love and well-wishes for a speedy recovery.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Sorry to hear about Snuggles leg and sending best wishes your way. Our vet had the sweetest kitty with no use of his hind legs at all as her office cat. He was a cheerful, healthy and happy cat that got around just fine, including in and out of the litter box. We always enjoyed snuggles with him at our visits. He had a cart, but preferred not to use it.
Thank you for your messages. We had the surgery , not sure if his leg is healing. Its been very hard on him and I dont know what to do. I m crying all the time and he seems to have pain even with the meds. He was ok the first week after surgery. Not sure what to do😿
I am sorry Snuggles is having a hard time again!! What did they send you home with this time? How often are you giving it?
Did they test this leg when they were fixing it to see what caused this leg to break?
I would call the vet today and explain whats going on and see what they suggest! if you don't get answers get a second opinion !
Keep us posted please!!
Sending you big hugs and pawsitive thoughts we can get Snuggles feeling better!
Holly & Purrkins
I just want to send out a message of support and my best thoughts for Snuggles. I echo everything Holly said above and hope your vet can help you manage Snuggles pain better.
Lisa, Minneapolis
On October 27, 2016, nearly 6 months after amputation, and 18 months since his cancer likely started, we lost Pofi to a recurrence of Soft Tissue Sarcoma in his spine quite suddenly. His canine sister also succumbed to cancer on March 1, 2019 - we lavished her with our love in the interim, but life was never quite the same without her only real canine friend. Cliff kitty had to leave us, too, suddenly, in August 2019. Lucia kitty grieved all these losses, but helped us welcome two new Lurchers into our home and our lives, Shae and Barley.
Oh ditto x3, I'm so sorry! Is Snuggles on pain medication right now? How is he showing signs that he's stressed?
Please let your vet know what's going on and if you aren't happy with the suggestions, see another one asap. I know it's not something anyone wants to do when you're already having such a stressful time, but having another perspective can make all the difference.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Okay, you knew this wasn't voing to be easy. And on top of everything else you hand Snuggles have been through makes it thst much more stressful in every level. I know you must feel ssss discouraged.
You also know Snuggles will get past this eough recovery period. We just need to get him on some more meds maybe, as well as making sure there are no complications from the surgery itself...maybe a nerve exposure or something unusual like that. Is it possible he has done something to cause it to be more painful...or maybe he's even thrown his back out of whack.
I DITTO everyone else regarding meds and another opinion (if needed)
Is he eating, drinking, peeing, pooping?
The ADORABLE Snuggles will get through this, okay? Let us know what the Vet says.
Lots of 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!
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