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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Remember, being a Tripawd is a lot of work for newbies. Her body is telling her to slow down and rest, which is totally medicinal and normal. Stay strong, her sparkle will return soon.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
ok..... thanks jerry.... I was feeling good yesterday and today feels hard. I just pray this resolves. Its so painful to see her walk and then fall...literally fall down because she doesnt know how to lay down yet . and then when she is laying down seeing her wanting to adjust her posture but not able to...almost like this is requiring core muscles from her.
Also freaking out about how to bring her to me when she wants to come but cant so falls fown the closest she is.
Handling her even feels overwhelming...but she is somehow being patient or excessively beat up.
If memory serves, around day 3-4 is when Tuxedo stopped roaming and holed up under my bed (it was blocked off honestly... Do not use boxes). Like others have said, the pain meds are winding down about this time. So the stress of the surgery and effort to move around is becoming more real now that they are not so high on meds. Pittens is still healing and is likely slowing down in her motions, and learning how to do things. This means deliberate focused effort, not fast racing to avoid worrying about balance.
As to pet stairs, Tuxedo has two different sets, one for the couch and one for the bed, which he now uses to keep Lilly from dive bombing him from them. One is a soft set which has some give to it, to lessen the impact going down. These stairs are very light, so if they move any, just use some carpet tape underneath.
The other is a combination hard ramp/step with each step being very wide and slightly sloping. I especially liked that each step on this model was very wide, so that he could easily turn around if he changed his mind about getting up on the furniture (or if Lilly is waiting to pounce on him) https://smile.a.....B003SZS5JW
Please note, I might complain about Lilly attacking Tuxedo but he loves Lilly and vice versa. However she is just a bit under 2 years old and plays very rough. She never wins their "fights" because Tuxedo is 2x her size and will just sit on her when he is through.
I believe both of these are in stock at Amazon.
Hugs,
-Dawna, Tuxedo, Lilly, and Angel Dazzle
gosh. I am nervous. Do they always get through this and make it out to normal for themselves? happy?
thank you so much for those stairs!
I have smiles reading the relationship between your two 
This really is a normal process, for what you are going through. In general, cats do amazingly well transitioning into tripawd status. Pittens is just a few days post op, and this is major surgery. Given her age I think she is rocking recovery so far 🙂
I hope you 2 had a restful, uneventful evening.
Hugs,
Jackie and Huck
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry 
Thanks jackie for all of your support! It has bufferred me tremendously. We had a good night thankfully.
Thanks jackie for all of your support! It has bufferred me tremendously. We had a good night thankfully.
Hi everyone,
we are doing well so far. I brought Lewlew and Figgie in to see Pittens and it went ok. No hissing or anything. This can definitelt change. Im kind of safe proofing the house . Im looking for a gate for the outside so no more roof hopping for Pittens....a gate for the stairs...when I cant monitor her going down them or up....and a gate for the door...so I can leave the room of the door we are in open.
Oh wow that's wonderful! What a good vibe among the feline family, that's awesome.
Have you seen Catios? I think maybe all of your cats may enjoy one:
https://gear.tr.....ag/catios/
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I have! They wouldnt like it unfortunately. They like chasing the falling leaves and catching them and finding new creatures......they are nature freaks lol!!!!
Wow!!! They got to visit, that's fantastic!!! I'm so happy it went well❤
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry
yes it went ok! but it was very brief! I think there will be issues when its extended time.
Do you think they see her missing that leg?
I'm not sure if a gate will be effective unless it's very high. On the day after her amputation Mona jumped up to a 3 foot window sill.
I found another homemade solution for a 4-foot high gate. https://pethelp.....y-no-tools
Mona's brother from another mother, Eli hates a closed door and does not want to be left out of anything. I'd let him in the room with Mona and he'd stand guard over her while she slept in the closet and he'd sleep close to her on the bed at night. When he'd finally get bored he'd ask to leave the room. Although they aren't the best of friends they are protective of each other and Eli doesn't care about Mona's 3 legs - they are still family. I understand it's not like this for all cats so some people use the pheromone diffuser. I don't believe cats "see" a missing leg but they pick up medical smells and different behaviours.
oh goodness Mona is somrthing else! hahahahaha
Thank youuu!
Tomorrow I start warm therapy for her . Today would be day 3 and the last day of cold therapy.
could a heating pad be used on low?
I would not at all use a heating pad. She could get burned. Worse is she could get burned before you realize it!
Get a facecloth, run hot water over it. Wring it really well and shake it a little so it's not too hot. Wrap that in a small handtowel and gently place that on her incision.
That should do the trick😉
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry
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