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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Thank you so much- One day our little ones may have a meet up on the roofs. 🙂 It brought me such joy to see her do that- even with me balancing on a very flimsy side wall to get her. It was spirit. That is everything.
Do all of you feel that when cats lose a limb- they just don't feel the pain- and they don't realize a leg is necessarily gone. Im not speaking of the emotional side of it- I know that they are quite resilient unlike humans with that- Im speaking in terms of functionality.
DO they recognize it is gone? Or is their focus really on the no more pain aspect?
Please let me know your thoughts to this and to my dialogue with Dr. Kennedy.
I so value all of you.
I can only say also, you have left no stone unturned. You've gotten the pros and cons. You intellectually know the worse case scenarios.
As well as feedback from Dr Kennedy, you've gotten feedback from your family here who have irst hand knowledge of what recovery can be like, the good and the bad. Surgeons do surgery and then send the pets home. They are not there 24/7 to see the ups and downs of adjustments during recovery. The post operative care at home will DEFINITELY include some pain meds as well as the antibiotics she mentioned. Often a big hurdle for kitties, young or old, is figuring out using the litter box. Saying this simply because again, Surgeons don't go home with us after surgery and often don't have a realistic view of what recovery looks like.
I can only offer that you continue to go back and ask yourself the questions with the answers that bring you the most peace. The answers that are easier to live with (knowing there are no easy answers in all this) Push all fears aside, all timeframes aside, all worse case scenarios aside. Where do you find the most peace when you revisit the path forward you've been grappling with. In the process, continue to bring who Pittens is into the equation. The Pittens that you know better than anyone.
The answer is already within you. Be still. Listen. Silence all outside noises. Your guided Soul knows what to do. It's known all along.💖
One last bit of "advise" for Pittens. Stay off the roof you silly kitty!!! Your Mom is not as good at climbing up on roofs as you are!!
Extra 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 am not sure anyone can answer that accurately. But based solely on my experience with Tuxedo, I will try.
Tuxedo was attacked by a dog. His rear leg was almost severed, dangling by just a bit of skin. His pelvis was crushed. He had numerous smaller bites. There was fear his spinal cord had been damaged along with the pelvis. I do not like talking or thinking about how he was, but I do this to give you an idea of the amount of pain he was it. Literally he was out of his mind with it. When I caught him and put him in his carrier to go to the emergency vet he attacked me, seriously, making me need stitches myself afterwards.
Yet when he came home two days later he literally ran through the house, obviously high on some good pain meds, not seeming to realize the missing limb. Then we went through an eventful recovery. But it seemed to me no matter what happened he was just happy to be with me and out of pain. Sure there were adjustments he made. He never really seemed withdrawn though or "down" like he was mourning the loss of his leg. Occasionally he would jump and hiss when he had to try to do something a second time because he could not the first time, similar to when I might cuss if I trip over my own feet.
So while on some level I am sure they know it is gone and they are making adjustments, I think mostly what they experience is absence of pain. Remember if Pittens is doing any limping now, she is in pain. She is also likely starting to adjust her gait and actions similar to what a tripawd does.
When are we planning to have our rooftop picnic? 😎
Hugs and warmest wishes,
-Dawna, Tuxedo, Lilly, and Angel Dazzle
I want to just reach through this monitor and give you a bear hug! Seriously, my heart goes out to you. So the limb goes, and the Gabapentin is to help them with phantom limb pain. It is usually temporary and the gaba helps a great deal. Some deal more than others, its a crap shot as to if this will be an issue but one good thing is that Pittens is already on it which is highly recommended.
So once they recover and are all healed it is generally not an issue. There are a small few that have continued with low dose gabapentin, most don't. Huck was on it for about 3 weeks.
We can all share our stories of recovery, from the brilliant to the ugly but Pittens is going to do this her way. I can honestly say that before I met some of the beautiful people here, I would never have recommended amputating the leg of an 18 year old cat. Others here have proven me wrong. My oldest cat, Sylvester who was a quad paw
lived to the ripe old age of 23. He was without health issues throughout his life, but when his soul mate Minnie passed away, he was like an old married couple that just needed to follow her over the Bridge.
Please ask about medications, and try to make sure you have enough pain meds for 2-3 weeks. One of the biggest challenges I have ever had, seen, and seen others go through here is a doctor giving 3 days of medicine and thinking they are fine. I had to fight like I was an addict to get meds for Huck. It was truly awful.
I need to make dinner, but I saw your post and needed to respond. I will be back in a while. Start that list of questions (again).
Hugs,
Jackie and Huck 
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry 
Oh Sally- you made me smile .
Yes, my mother said this too-surgeons do their job and then send you home- their part is done- not because they are neglectful but their role really ends with surgery. Yes. that is what scares me with her confidence- because it is a surgeon speaking.
I will tell you this. When I first heard of amputation -I was of course shook because who hears that? But then immediately I felt lmyself becoming viciously protective guard of Pittens- and felt "no", she cannot go through this. This is not normal. I will find another way. I found no other way obviously. But reaction and process also stems from the shock of the realization of such a thing. I feel I have since grown up- I have become somewhat desensitized and even thought of her and imagined her as a Tripawd. It was imaginable.
She is very intense you know. Emotionally. Really intense feelings and complicated. Solitary. But wanting affection. She would be the kid who watches everyone else play recess and she is peeking from a wall - wanting to play with them, but not going.
Thats her. I don't know where I am going with anything. ....
Thanks Jackie. That is so meaningful. Yes, Ill do the questions
Dawna, Wow what a warrior Tuxedo is. How old was Tuxedo when this happened? Im so impressed with this story. What a campion, really. because this was also an attack.... how scary to to overcome that and have normal. wow. Thank you for sharing that also and goign there to make me get some grounding for me.
It is useful to know that it was most about an absence of pain and the missing limb was just a nuisance not an existence.
Yes a rooftop party indeed
It would be nice its there was a switch to just instantly remove the leg- without post op and risks etc.
Tuxedo was 9, a couple months short of 10. He has always had this zest for life. Which was why rather than have him put down after the attack (yes it was suggested, the attack happened right in front of me, so I saw and heard everything.) I decided to give him a chance and see if the spinal cord was going to be ok. Needless to say it was.
I realize your situation with Pittens is different. But it is obvious from your posts that you love her greatly and want to do whatever is best for her under her circumstances. So please ask questions, talk to people, however decide with your heart.
Warm hugs,
-Dawna, Tuxedo, Lilly & Angel Dazzle
Here is Pittens, aka Pittu, Pitulia, Pitti
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry
Awww very sweet photos. Thank you Jackie!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thanks Jackie!!👍
Pittens is ADORABLE!! I love the one where she's snuggling so contently.
And she clearly enjoys her "spa day" moment with her kitty buddy grooming her.😎
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!
hahaha yes! that is Lewlew- she knows no bad emotions whatsoever ever- only love its quite amazing. Pittens will allow her to do this- but Lewlew could keep going and never stop till Pittens snaps at her. But Lewlew never remembers that. and goes back to her. She loves Pittens soooooo much.
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