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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Hi, we have a cat who also had his rear leg amputated 2 days ago. We have him in a crate with a bed, little bowl of water and a small litter box filled with Yesterdays News litter. He is totally zonked right now on pain medication. The problem is since we've put him in the crate he doesn't want to sleep in his bed, he's sleeping in his litter box! I'm scared of getting his sutures dirty and infected. Anyone has any ideas what we can do? Thanks.
Hi Harley and family, welcome. We are sorry about the amputation. What was the reason? Tell us more about him, how old/young is he?
I'm not a cat expert so I'm going to defer to our wonderful Trikitty for some additional insight. Until then if you can tell us more by answering these questions that would help them help you better?
What pain medication is he on? And what dosages? I would let your vet know that he is so zonked he can't move around or get up. Have you called the clinic? He shouldn't be doing a ton of moving around but at least able to stand and hopefully urinate. Can he do that?
How is his appetite? Is he drinking water?
Does the litter box have low sides? Could it be that the sides are too high and your cat can get in but not out? What happens when you try to remove him from the box? Does he go back there?
I know I have more questions than answers, sorry!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Huck slept in his litter box for a couple of days. It's a weird comfort thing. I finally rearranged his bedding to his suiting and he came out once he started using his box.
Give it a little time.
❤
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry 
Hi Harley and mom,
How are things going?
Jackie and Huck 
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry
Hi all,
Harley has been fighting cancer that the vet first thought was a skin infection that wasn't healing very well on the foot of his right hind leg. After a while it got larger and started bleeding, the vet excised the lesion and sent it for a biopsy. It was Squamous Cell Carcinoma. He didn't think he got all of it so we went to a Veterinary University hospital and had a round of radiation. Several months later a lump started appearing again along with a bleeding scab. This time x rays showed there was bone invasion. There was no choice but to amputate. We are awaiting the biopsy report.
It is 3 days post amputation. He is on gabapentin, bupernorphine and took his last pill of Onsior. Oh, he's found a new place to sleep, the hallway closet. However, keeping the recovery collar - donut is impossible, he manages to stick his paws under the tab and pull it off. He manages to pull every cone off also. Not sure what to do except watch him 24/7. Any suggestions?
Harley's mom
There is a donut kind of collar that some have had to use along with traditional collar to keep it on. You can also try putting the collar on with a regular cat collar that is loose enough to get three fingers under but snug enough for them to not be able to slip out of.
We had one person that duct taped the whole collar so that they couldn't rip the sides open🤣🤣
On a more serious note, cats and collars are a tough job. I hope some of this helps.
Jackie and Huck❤
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry
paws120 said
There is a donut kind of collar that some have had to use along with traditional collar to keep it on. You can also try putting the collar on with a regular cat collar that is loose enough to get three fingers under but snug enough for them to not be able to slip out of.We had one person that duct taped the whole collar so that they couldn't rip the sides open🤣🤣
On a more serious note, cats and collars are a tough job. I hope some of this helps.
Jackie and Huck❤
You know, I've thought about using duct tape myself! 
Harley's mom
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