Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Update -- Maceo is home and super active!
Within 5 minutes of arriving home, he RAN -- didn't walk -- down our hallway after escaping from the bedroom. He was running towards the kitchen for food...
He has been gorging himself on food and treats continuously for the past 2 hours. My estimate is that he's eaten around 150 calories already. Gorging is really the only appropriate word, because he's not just eating -- it's more like he's grabbing food aggressively and kind of greedily with his mouth, if that makes sense? He must be very hungry from his one day of fasting... just one day!
Here is a little video of him munching additional treats after his meal https://www.you.....C5xMM0uSIk !
He's totally awake and seems unbothered by his amputation or the incision site. He's walking around a bit and generally doesn't seem to notice or care that he's a tripawd now. We are about 48 hours post-op -- is walking by this point normal??
The most bothersome thing is his Fentanyl patch that's wrapped with a bandage around his foot. He hates having a bandaged foot and keeps trying to get it at, therefore he has to wear a cone 🙁 The bandage also smells pretty bad because there's some old stinky pee on it, because I guess in the cage they just let him pee through the grate, or something. Not a good smell in our 90 degrees-indoors heat wave today... I can tell he really wants to groom himself, and I wish he could too!
He's also touched noses with the other kitty, Charlie, who has a severe case of FOMO when he can't get into the bedroom and succeeded in bolting in. They seemed fine with each other, but we're still planning to keep them separated for at least one or two more days.
Anyway, things look great and I'm so glad we did the surgery.
Now I just have fingers crossed that all will continue to go well, and we won't see any recurrence. He's such a strong (and strong willed) kitty! I think the hospital staff were pretty relieved he was going home. I found myself apologizing to the nurses a lot, and telling them he's really sweet at home. (mostly true 
)
Thanks again for all the support, we are so happy and relieved he's home and acting like his usual bossy, food-oriented Burmese self!
What a DARLING! Oh my gosh I just got such a kick out of your video. It's wonderful to see him being so alert and hungry! What a great day to know he's home with the pack and ready to move on after such a long ordeal leading to amputation. You guys ROCK, what a great job you've done caring for him!
Maceo is HOME and kicking kitty butt. Hooorraaaay! 
Glad your other kitty isn't in any danger. I agree, yay for pet health insurance 🙂
Keep us posted. Hope you guys are getting some rest.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Wow, Maceo looks fantastic! Much better than my poor kitty, who had to be coaxed to eat.
You can try wiping him down with unscented baby wipes, or a damp washcloth to remove the old pee smell. I think they all come home like that.
Okay, I think that Maceo is related to my male Eli in the way they devour food. Dear little Mona licks her food - it takes her forever to eat.
I've heard of vets sending cats home as soon as they could. Maceo certainly is full of beans and raring to go and show off. Slow down little guy, you don't want to burst any stitches!
I hope the cone comes off soon and Maceo and we see more photos and videos.
Kerren and Tripawd Kitty Mona
First off so glad to see you got thru radiation and were able to proceed with the amp!
Maceo looks fantastic !! He ate at the hospital too?! He is already showing you he is going to be great as a Tripawd kitty! He doesn't look like a kitty who just had a amp! He is ready to return to normal cat duties;)
The video is so cute . He is inhaling the treats !! WHOO HOO .
Purrkins laid in his pee in the hospital too. He came home drenched in pee, they provided a litter box but Purrkins never moved in he just peed where he was. Warm wash cloth was all I used to get the pee smell off! Maceo will be able to clean his foot when the patch comes off!
I am hoping this is all uphill and recovery continues to goes smooth for you guys! If you run into any signs of pain after the patch comes off just call the hospital and get more prescribed! I hope the onesie works for you guys and look forward to seeing him his black celebration onesie!
Heal Well Maceo you did great buddy! Chin & ear scratches to Maceo and little brother !
Hugs
Holly & Purrkins
Holly, this one is for you!
"TRI-unfo" means "I triumph" in Spanish, which Maceo's third language, after cat and English 😀 (my husband is from Spain, so we had to do something cute to show his family). We have a great craft store about 1 block away, so it was too easy.
He continues to great and to surprise us with his professional-level eating! We have never been so proud of eating and using the bathroom
Maceo, you are stunningly handsome. Susan is very creative with the sparkly letters that look so good with your fur. That's very important for a tri-umphant tripawd kitty.
Although Susan already finds Mona beautiful, I've suggested to Mona that she dress up every now and then. Nope, she prefers to "go commando." The best I can do is drape something on her when she's sleeping. It looks like Maceo will have to represent the black contingent with costumes.
Professional eating? Maceo, you make amputation recovery look easy.
Scratches for the cats,
Kerren and Tripawd Kitty Mona
LOVE IT Susan!! PURRFECT celebration onesie for triumphing Maceo he looks great in the black and the jewels/ sparkles. The yellow makes his eyes stand out too;)
Hope the onesie worked out for you it sure looks like it did;)
He looks great & Ditto Kerren what amputation? Way to do Maeco!! Keep it up buddy!!
I think for Maceo he was relieved to get rid of that lump & clearly is hopping on no problem!
Hugs!
Extra Bonito Flakes for Maeco
Holly & Purrkins
OOOOMMMMMCCCCC!!!!!! LOOOOOVE THIS UPDATE AND LOOOOOVE THIS VIDEO!!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
You asked if Maceo's behavior was "normal". Nope, not "normal"......waaaay more than that!!! 🙂 maceo is waaaay ahead of the curve!!! 🙂 Now, Maceo may have a bit of a crash when the patch comes off. Then again, Maceo probably won't have a crash at all based on this video!!!
TRI-UNFO times a million!!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂 Love that photo! 🙂
Keep these great updates coming! Huge grin plastered across my face!
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!
Hi everyone,
Thank you for all the support and cheers! We're 2.5 weeks post op, and Maceo could not be happier or bossier. We saw the medical oncologist yesterday about starting chemo, and she is still doing some inquiries about clinical trials before making a recommendation to us.
In the meantime, she made a great point that Maceo right now is the most cancer-free that he's been in a long time! This is completely true of course, because the entire tumor has been excised by an expert surgeon (multiple doctors told us that no other surgeon would have been able to get margins on this massive, ill-placed tumor -- but Dr. Farese has miracle hands), and plus the radiation.
He is currently snoring loudly next to my laptop, but only after he ate his breakfast and part of his brother's breakfast, snuggled all morning, and meowed to demand his morning outdoor walk. He is such a happy, healthy guy! He even tolerates his twice daily medicinal mushroom syringe fairly well.
He's also getting to be quite round again, and very active -- so we've started him on Cosequin, to supplement his joints and help with his arthritis, which is unfortunately in his remaining arm. We were using Adequan before, but since it's an injection, we've decided to stay away.
Maceo's dad and I even went away and left the kitties with a sitter for the weekend -- the first grownups-only trip in many, many months! We definitely missed the kitties, and couldn't wait to see them, even though it was only 2 days!
Anyway, from here on out it's just a slow wait for the fur to grow back, and lots of anti cancer supplements of course. We are going to give this our best! But regardless, we're all headed for the same place -- it's just a question of when and how -- and so we're grateful right now for this moment and every moment we get to have with him.
Some photos to enjoy our adorable, "big personality" guy (the vets always say it like it's a bad thing!)!
Maceo channels Steve Jobs in his understated turtleneck:
After much loud demanding, Maceo goes for a walk in our not-nice city backyard. His old harness still fits just fine!
The walk inevitably ends with a good lay-down in his favorite zone for patrolling other cats / trespassers.
Being cute!
We are going to give this our best! But regardless, we're all headed for the same place -- it's just a question of when and how -- and so we're grateful right now for this moment and every moment we get to have with him.
Yes! I agree and you have a lot to be grateful for!!
I read this quote somewhere -
“It’s all about the journey, never about the outcome “
Because none of us get out alive!
Maceo looks fantastic so glad you guys had such a skilled surgeon with miracle hands indeed, who was able to get margins period! That was a miracle in itself!! You guys were not even sure you would get to the amp & did you have much to celebrate!
I’m glad to see his harness still works too!
Keep it up Maceo your a Tripawd Hero who just hopped right into being a tripawd like it was nothing !! WHOO HOO !!
I love the Steve Jobs turtle neck!! 
Maeco wore his clothes so well!!😻
Extra Bonito Flakes to Maeco & Charlie!
Hugs
Holly & Purrkins ❤️
I am so glad to read Maceo's surgery was a success...he is certainly a brave and beautiful boy....hooray for you too for giving him this chance and having faith in him...I hope he recovers swiftly
lots of love
You just made my day with this update, what great news! There's nothing better than seeing Maceo and your whole family getting back to a sense of routine. Congratulations and thank you so much for taking time to add photos too, he's got such a BIG pawsonality!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
He is a big guy to go with that big personality. Of course he's doing great - he has a yard to patrol... Things to do, strange cats to deal with...
I will think cancer-free, positive thoughts for your Big Black Beauty.
Kerren and Mini Black Beauty Mona
Thank you everyone, so much. Also, I just read Jerry's story for the first time, and what an inspiration! We've loved being a part of this community and hopefully can contribute back lots more.
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