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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paws120 said
Good morning!Sorry, I hit the hay shortly after my last post. I get up early in the morning, lol. Thank you Holly for posting Huckleberry's link! He is a right rear amp and I admit in the beginning until he learned his new balance I had to wipe a little poo off of him, but it did not take him long at all (within a week) to get the cat box down to a science. I use a large cat box now with a little bit of a shorter opening in front. Huck likes to lean on one of the sides a bit to do his business. The short opening helps him to hop in easier and the taller walls give him balance. He has zero problems at all! In the beginning I used smaller boxes for litter, very short set it in the corner of his crate and that helped a lot. I went through several to try and get it right, but he figured it out pretty quickly.
Huck was in a big dog crate for his recovery. He was also feral
The crate was set in our spare bedroom, and I was so grateful for Holly and the advise to take the bed off of the frame. I started out by trying to put blankets, comforters, pillows, everything I could find to stuff under the bed, but Huckleberry nosed his way right in like a mouse in a maze
I finally flipped the bed and took the frame off. Placed the mattress on the floor which also helped Huck because now he could not hide to heal, and the bed was short enough so that when I let him out to stretch he could not hurt himself. I got a small set of pet stairs and he used that to get on the bed in the beginning. It worked out really well. It also gave him access to the top of the dog crate which was up against the bed, so I put a big comforter on the top of the crate and he liked to lay there and nap. I played music for him too, and I think that helped a lot.
I have a little bench in front of my bed, and now Huck roams the house freely. He uses the bench every day to get up on the big bed, and he has no mobility problems at all. He even gets to the top of the cat tree to observe all the activity in the house. Our cat tree is placed against our couch, the highest side butts right up to it so that if he has any problems at all, he would have a soft landing.
I hope some of this gives you ideas as you are getting your house ready for Pablo to come home and recover. I know we all sound very sure of ourselves now, but trust me I personally was a mess going through my journey with Huckleberry. His story is in the forums somewhere here, I will try to find it and post the link for you.
Thank you for the info! SO helpful I was concerned how he’d balance trying to use the litter! I have 1 set of pet stairs but when my dad is healed enough he’s going to make more for Pablo 🙂 (thankfully my dad is very handy he works in cabinetry and used to work in a glass shop so he makes a lot of my stuff for me he even still goes back to that window shop and his old boss lets him make my tank lids! It also saves money since he can help me make things like tank filters and lids, he even helped me with the sewing machine (I don’t know how to use it I only hand sew) pablo some kennel liners and blankets!).I don’t mind if I have to clean him, he’s used to having his bum cleaned with baby wipes (he’s chunky so he has trouble cleaning sometimes) and sometimes he miss judges his size and accidentally misses the litter box. I’ll forsure keep the tips in mind and thank you again:)
Purrkins said
We did not have this concern obviously:) I did have to wipe pee off but had no incision to worry about there. Our instructions were to not to put the washcloth directly on the incision and to keep the incision dry. Basically, we were to leave it alone and check it under his onesie, but this was for a front leg. I switched the onesie out twice a day. We did the compresses as instructed. When they get healing the incisions gets itchy, and I used the washcloth directly around the incision then. All instructions seem to vary so ask your vet too & listen to what worked for others. We just followed our discharge instructions.Good point to bring up Jackie Purrkins does the same he uses the walls to balance himself pooping, and Purrkins has always stood up on the edge of the box to poop, and he still does this with his one leg 😉 It's a site to see & he has it mastered!
Thank you on Purrkins youtube he is the star I only take the shots and videos. Glad to hear happy tears and Pablo will also amaze you. It is emotional, and I still tear up when I see how far Purrkins has come. Happy & proud tears. Purrkins is the biggest sweetheart he still has a kitty purrsonality and is my velcro kitty;)
Great on the Instagram account we will check it out! We never set one up.
Here is Jackie's forum post when she first joined.
Holly & Purrkins ❤️
Yes I will definitely be asking a lot of questions haha:) your boys eyes are beautiful by the way! My dad and I love them he’s such a handsome kitty!
thank you both for checking out the Instagram:) I will also be updating it as I get updates/as things happen:)
I am so glad we are able to help you. Your love for your furbabies is so strong and if anybody has appreciation for that, we all do here!
I will def check out your Instagram, looking forward to seeing it!
Be back later as i have opportunities, just got to the office.
Hugs,
Jackie and Huck ❤️
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry
I found you and I love your pictures, so precious! I have a snoring big ole yellow lab/pittie mix that can almost outsnore my husband
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry
Thanks, Natalia Purrkins has beautiful soulful eyes!
I will tell Purrkins you and your Dad love him he has new fans😍 He such a special kitty. We couldn't love him more! We hit the lottery on our boys! I know we all feel the same way on this site. We would do anything for them!
Great your dad can make the steps that's a huge help!
I did look at your Instagram account this morning and I can look but can't comment since I don't have an account. I have it bookmarked and will check back. Great job embedding these in, Don't get us started on the photobucket issues. We call it fubucket;)
Fantastic on the brochures they both (Instagram acct.) will help many in the future! I didn't see this video this morning:) OMC nope can't say we can come close here expect for a human Mark;) It's cuter coming from Pablo;) What a sweetheart!
Do they mention an approximate time for surgery tomorrow?
Purrkins said
Thanks, Natalia Purrkins has beautiful soulful eyes!I will tell Purrkins you and your Dad love him he has new fans😍 He such a special kitty. We couldn't love him more! We hit the lottery on our boys! I know we all feel the same way on this site. We would do anything for them!
Great your dad can make the steps that's a huge help!
I did look at your Instagram account this morning and I can look but can't comment since I don't have an account. I have it bookmarked and will check back. Great job embedding these in, Don't get us started on the photobucket issues. We call it fubucket;)
Fantastic on the brochures they both (Instagram acct.) will help many in the future! I didn't see this video this morning:) OMC nope can't say we can come close here expect for a human Mark;) It's cuter coming from Pablo;) What a sweetheart!
Do they mention an approximate time for surgery tomorrow?
Yes he certainly does they’re a gorgeous colour! Definitely give him some love from us! Ugh yes photobucket haha can be such a pain. Yes I’m hoping the account can help someone in the future even if it’s iust 1 person. I don’t think so but, I’ve had 4 pets spayed/neutered by him and the appointment was always in the morning(not sure if it would be the same though because the vet can do spay/neuter here)
Awww he is sooo dang cute! Thanks for sharing, I'm so happy you posted the images here and are sharing his recovery with even more people.
I know that for my own big ol' pup the surgery was 2.5 hours or thereabouts. I'm not entirely sure how long for kitties. Anypawdy care to chime in?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
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I will give extra love from you both. 😻😻
Purrkins surgery took one hour. They took his arm and scapula. His cancer was on his wrist. I was fortunate to have a vet student call before he went into surgery and afterward it was a huge relief to get that call!
I had to refresh my page chimed in;)
Purrkins said
I will give extra love from you both. 😻😻Purrkins surgery took one hour. They took his arm and scapula. His cancer was on his wrist. I was fortunate to have a vet student call before he went into surgery and afterward it was a huge relief to get that call!
I had to refresh my page chimed in;)
1 hour isn’t too bad:) that’s how long my dad said it took when I got surgery before. That’s also about how long his surgery took(not including prep though)
Purrkins said
No not bad considering. I'm sure they will call with an update when he is in recovery! Enough surgeries for you all!We are keeping Pablo in our prayers! We will check several times tomorrow so know you are not alone we are all here cheering Pablo on!!
Yes the vet said he would call with an update in the afternoon or evening:) thank you it means a lot!
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