Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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This is the third time today she came from the bedroom (right around the corner from where the fridge is), but couldn’t make it this time. I purposely leave her in the room during feeding and leave the door opened, or this time carry her back to the room when I felt like she needed to use the litterbox, so she can get moving around and not lay around all day. I wholeheartedly feel like her back leg aches. Her walking was SO GOOD last weekend, and I don’t know what happened since. I’m still doing 8 hrs pain meds and just tonight he had a few pain meows. I’ll be contacting the rehabs Jerry sent me that are in my area so maybe I can get better answers and exercises that we can do. I love her motivation to walk to the family room, but this last run was truly sad. She couldn’t move any more.
And I’ll be honest, this is the only reason why I questioned the rugs/mats I have cause last weekend she was walking around the vet room AMAZING (all bare floor) and the last video I posted here (where I showed her first walking into the bathroom), she was walking so awesome, more than what you all saw in the video, which was before I got the mats/rugs down. I promise I do truly take the advice of it being best for tripods, but I’m just sharing what I noticed. I could remove the rugs/mats and it could very well be the same result, her having difficulties walking.
Petunia is such a pretty little kitty. You can just see how sweet she is through the video.
Keep in mind that you know petunia best. You are there 24/7 and are able to process every little nuance far better than we can. Suggestions offered are just that… …suggestions . Recovery is certainly not a one size fits all. So yeah, go ahead and lift up the rugs and mats and see if that makes a difference. Cats can be such sensitive little creatures, especially the mature ones. Petunia has been through a lot of changes and it may simply be that the Mets or just one too many changes for this sweet girl right now.
you are doing such a good job. Be sure and give yourself some time to relax, maybe read a book. Or better yet, eat junk food in front of the tv!🤩
her mobility might not be exactly what you would want on a consistent basis, but she does seem to be able to get around some. And eating and partying seem to be getting back to normal too, so all that is good.
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'm glad you are looking into rehab & hopefully, they are not booked too far out. I'm happy to read this is the third time she was out and hopping. Only on this trip did she do this? Or do they all look the same? How does she do in the room you are recording in? Is there a difference in where she is hopping? I see what you mean from the last video you posted. The rehab specialist will better access her.
I understand why you are questioning these rugs/mats. As Sally said, pick them up and see if there is a difference. See what the pros say & recommend. In the meantime, let Petunia do what she wants at her pace and help her when needed. She is a 16.5 kitty. She has come leaps and bounds & had a lot to overcome, and she has 🏆🥇!!!! You did say earlier in this thread she has arthritis in her hips. This could be what you are seeing amplified now. She had a significant setback with her herpes. She is eating and going potty, both huge, and she is up and about. Although exhausted, thats ok. You are already getting a plan to help her further, so most excellent! You are doing everything you can do to help her & will continue. 💝
If and or when you want to replace your 1/4 tsp, get something along these lines. I use a set like these.
They decrease in tiny increments if you need to stay on the Gaba and or Miralax. It will help you dose the Miralax for Petunia.
(((Hugs))) and scratches to Petunia & Possum please
💝💝💝
Thanks Sally and Holly! I am hoping to get an appt quickly! At least something in the next few weeks. The vet did mention arthritis, but to be honest, the leg that got amputated was causing a little bit of pain prior to the bone cancer diagnostic. And I am not sure if the vet was saying she does have arthritis or that make possibly has it. So it’s hard to say. I wonder if the rehab doc could determine arthritis officially.
I am going to remove the mats just to see what happens. I want her to be able to walk on them, but I don’t know if there is no traction cause of the material and how flat they are and maybe it’s making her slip in a way? Who knows. But I wanted you all to see why I have brought up the mats in past replies cause she literally takes one or two steps and plummets. On all trips, and she took 3 yesterday.
I’m still trying to work with her to use the ramp/stairs. She does good on it but won’t initiate going up there. She walks/falls straight to a folded up blanket. But it also could be this rug.
Ahhh I see what you mean now. It can't hurt to try both with and without the mats and rugs to see what happens. She definitely doesn't want to go far, but don't panic. I know it's hard not to. As everyone said she's overcome a lot, she's a senior kitty, and she is not tiny.
There's a lot you and the therapy team can do to help her get more mobile. It won't happen overnight, but it can happen. We've seen it. It appears she's a big-boned kitty, and I'm going to bet that dropping a few extra pounds will do so much to boost her mobility. You can confirm that with the therapy team. They'll work with you in so many ways.
You are doing a GREAT job being there for her! Stay pawsitive and optimistic, she will feel it. We are cheering you on!
If you can get her on video hopping and making the painful meow, that would also help. It would be most helpful for rehab folks to see.
Thanks for shooting this one. As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words.
I was hoping Jerry or Sally would answer if they would diagnose arthritis. I don't know.
Let us know when you are booked. And please let us know how it goes minus the mats in the hall if there is any difference for Petunia.
(((HUGS)))) & smooch to the kitties please
💝💝💝
I was hoping Jerry or Sally would answer if they would diagnose arthritis.Missed that……... Thanks Holly
My experience with the home visit Rehab Specialiast for my Tripawd dog Frankie was that she was capable of identifying whether arthritis was present or not
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’ll be honest, the meows mostly are when she is in the couch or bed repositioning herself. Obviously the cushions are just that … cushions, so I’m sure trying to get to with one back leg can be uncomfortable. Until she strengthens it more.
She has been doing better walking without the mats/rugs. The back room floors might be a little slippery, but that is where I plan to put that 8x8 rug I’m gonna get tomorrow. I do want her to be on rugs for most time, but if she is doing better without it on most floors, I want to take the time to strengthen her back leg muscles and her walking ability first, and then I think she’ll do better on the rugs/mats after that! At least let’s hope! Poor girl LOVES her treats and she won’t even walk 3 steps to get said treats. Makes me sad. I think losing weight and just practicing walking is all we can do right now. I feed her 1/2 5.5oz can of Blue Wilderness Chicken wet food twice a day, and have been since 2019, so not sure how she can lose weight. I actually think she gained weight since switching to wet food, but at the same time, she went from a big house to apartments and a small house, so not a lot of moving to use of stairs as there was in the past. Plus she obviously sleeps more.
Ok on the meows.
I'm delighted to hear that it helped to pick those mats up. And Yay for the 8 X 8 rug tomorrow.
Brilliant, you know how many calories Petunia is eating in a day. Is that the 219 calories a can Blue Wilderness? They have a couple of Chicken recipes, or are you feeding the mature? Most cats need to be at 180 calories or less to lose weight. Start there. Stay there for 2 weeks and adjust further if needed. Everything that goes in ie treats, count!! Keep track. Do you have a way to weigh the cats? Very important to keep an eye on weight when starting any weight loss, really all the time in cats.
The Mature chicken recipe is 176 cal a can. Have you tried the mature? That would be easy, and she could still have a few treats. Going to wet food usually causes them to lose weight, but the composition of the food is likely different. Plus, as you said, she is resting more. They don't show the carb content of this food. Our vet says under 5% carbs on any food for cats.
If you don't want to switch to mature food, I 100% understand; you would just cut back the amount you are feeding now.
Here is a excellent website on cats and weight loss. Implementing a Safe Weight Loss Program
Im shocked she gained being a hyper-t kitty. Thats one less worry; you are not trying to keep weight on her—thats where I am with Purrkins right now. I weigh every 3 days to watch the weight loss or gain.
See what advice you get from the rehab & go from there.
Hugs and scratches to the kitties please
💝💝💝
Omg, I didn’t realize that there is a difference between mature and adult cat canned food!!! I will do the switch on my next autoship!
I switched to this brand at the end of 2018 because of the good ingredients and low carb content. Possum was diagnosed with diabetes and after a lot of research, I found this food to be the best. Cost is more (double the price than of Fancy Feast wet food, which isn’t good for cats - but great once-in-a-great while when you just need your cat to eat), but it paid off cause she went into remission after a year being on insulin shots! The extra cost is worth than buying $300 bottles of insulin multiple times a year!
Petunia was just diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, a week before her amputation. In April, before her dental surgery, she was at the high end of normal range. She was actually 11lbs prior to her dental surgery in May, and lost a pound because of the hyperthyroidism. But it was caught quickly.
Possum lost the most weight cause I didn’t bring her in until 6 months after I noticed a huge change in weight … I just thought it was because she was getting old cause she was still eating a lot and had high energy. I wish I knew all these symptoms a long time ago. It’s just crazy cause Tuni was always the skinny one, and Possum was always the chubby one during their middle years (8-14), but lost a lost from being diabetic… gained a lot, then lost a lot cause of hyperthyroidism.
Wanted to share one of many favorite videos I have of P&P! My sister was watching them 2 years ago and this sound was popular, and the video matched the sound so perfectly with the beat! And it was so fun seeing them tag teaming trying to get this fly … they usually ignore one another! 😂
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