Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hey furriends, Raz’s meowther here. I’ve talked to the vet about this issue, and they didn’t really have much to say about it except to increase pain meds, so I figured I’d come here.
When Raz snuggles with us in the evening, she gets the occasional “shivers.” This actually started happening every once in a while before her surgery if I remember correctly. Could it be that she just gets cold? She has been generally warm, since before surgery and now, especially where her Fibrosarcoma was and he incision area. Or is it more likely from pain?
It’s been a month since her surgery already! Last night we had about 10 minutes of her feeling uncomfortable and clearly painful, and the shivering accompanied it. I feel like the incision is pretty well healed though. Is she still having significant healing internally, or could the tumor be coming back below the surface?
I should say, I have not weaned her off the gabapentin—50mg twice a day. I tried to wean her off, but she started giving me more pain signs, so I put her back on. We stopped the bupenorphine two weeks ago, but I gave her a bit of that last night, and will probably continue that.
Were going to see the holistic vet for the second time tomorrow, a week early, and I hope that some more acupuncture will help. Any insight to what could be causing the pain or other things that help with pain management /shivering would be great! Thanks!
Online
So glad you posted here! The kitty contingent will be in with insight shortly.
This is a link to Raz's blog for more info
https://tripawd.....d-cuddles/
I spoke with Jen yesterday on the Helpline. The only thing I want to add is Raz is doing great otherwise! Eating, drinking, pooping, peeing, alert, engaged, etc. As jappens quite often jere, the Bet gave her cery scary "statisrics" on Raz's type of crap disease. So every hiccup is frightening.
Dis you see any change now tjat you added the bupa back in?
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’ve talked to the vet about this issue, and they didn’t really have much to say about it except to increase pain meds, so I figured I’d come here.
Did they want you to increase the Gabapentin?
I'm glad to see you are seeing the holistic Vet tomorrow.
10 minutes of her feeling uncomfortable and clearly painful,
Can you explain the pain more? What is she showing you exactly? What are the pain signals ?
How often is this happening? How long does it last?
Shivering can be a pain symptom. It can be anxiety; it could be a medical reason. I can't imagine Raz being that cold to shiver in the house. That's just my opinion.
Did the buprenorphine help?
What was her bloodwork like before the amp? Ok?
Acupuncture will help with pain & many other conditions.
The holistic Vet will be able to feel and know more what's going on. The more details they have, the better if this happens tonight take a video for them.
It could be so many things and NOTHING to do with the C easy to jump on that train we get it!
I think it is fantastic you have the holistic vet on board. Purrkins went for acupuncture after surgery to help heal and get off his pain meds without pain. He continues to go every 2 months for Chiro and acupuncture. It has made all the difference for Purrkins on three I can't speak highly enough about it. I know you will see a difference in Raz.
((HUGS))
Holly & Purrkins
Agree with the other words of wisdom already given. This could be soooooo many things and tomorrow I'm going to guess that your vet will have some good insight once she examines Razz. I'm so glad to see that life is good otherwise.
Please let us know what the vet thinks is going on. It's a mystery to us but hopefully you will get some answers tomorrow.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
First of all, THANK YOU SALLY! You rock, and the two times I’ve spoken with you have set me at ease significantly. Thank you for listening and for your wisdom.
I haven’t changed the gabapentin, but it’s something I’ll ask tomorrow. The buprenorphone seems to help...I only just got home though, and no one is around to moniter her during the day. (When she was in the first couple weeks of recovery I hooked up an old iPhone as a kitty moniter! 😂) But it certainly helped her sleep peacefully last night!
The pain signals I’ve learned to read are squinty/closed eyes, faster breathing, loud motor purrs (as opposed to her normal deeper purrs), and the shivering. When she settles down to cuddle, they present themselves for a couple minutes on and off, it’s not usually constant. Low appetite seems to be a solid indicator too (obvious, I know). Tonight she’s not eating well.
Her bloodwork before the surgery was fine (which is why they couldn’t figure out what was wrong with her). But that was back at the end of March. I’m not pursuing C treatment outside of holistic medicine and pain management , so even though it want to know exactly what is going on with her, I feel like I can’t justify the cost of were not going to treat it more than we already are. Any insight on that? Should I do the xrays and blood work anyways?
Thank you all again for your kindness and wisdom. It has been an enormous comfort in this season!
Cassie (meowther)
Raz (tripawd princess)
Kho (monkeybutt prince)
I found this newer pain scale for cats that will be helpful for you if you haven't seen it. Hopefully, this works.
"BEAP" Pain Scale for Cats
https://purrkin......Cats_.pdf
How to Tell if your Cat is in Pain
https://purrkin.....n-Pain.pdf
I understand you do not want to pursue further treatments. To x-ray or not is different for us all. However, there may be a point that you want to do the x-rays because there are palliative care options available when you get to that stage to help Raz. I would ask the holistic Vet today to listen to Raz and have them give you their input and thoughts on what they feel is best at this time if it were me depeding on what the holistic Vet advised of course, I would do both to set my mind ease and to move forward to know how I was moving forward. Does Raz need more comfort measures, or is it something else causing her discomfort that can be treated and to know how. This is not me, so what works for you and Raz may be different we support you either way. I'm sure Sally and Jerry will chime in with their thoughts on that.
Please let us know how the appointment goes and what the Holistic Vet suggests.
Hugs & scratches to Raz
Holly & Purrkins❤️
Keeping fingers, toes, paws, and tails crossed for you I am really hoping that maybe Raz has just been doing too much too soon. She may have tweaked something learning how to navigate her new body and I am really hoping that's all it is. She is doing so well but shes only 1 month post op and using muscle groups that she is not used to using this way.
Sending you big hugs and pawsitive thoughts,
Jackie and Huckster
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry 
Let us know how today goes.
even though it want to know exactly what is going on with her, I feel like I can’t justify the cost of were not going to treat it more than we already are. Any insight on that? Should I do the xrays and blood work anyways?
The problem is, you can't know what's going on without the diagnostics. So, if you do the diagnostics, at least you will know what you are dealing with, and then you can decide how you want to pursue any issues that may arise. Palliative / holistic care is a treatment too, so don't beat yourself up if you are not going the conventional route.
We opted out of x-raying Jerry on a regular basis, but we knew how the cancer would most likely play out. His situation was textbook osteosarcoma. For an animal with an uncertain diagnosis I would likely take a different route and do the diagnostics. Every case is different.
Whatever you decide we will support you 100%.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Checking in on you.and Raz. Update when you can.
Jist wamt to add that we all understand finances, or lack thereof, okay?. Sure, we would like to do every test and every treatment possible, but the reality is, we all have to work within the confines of spreading every dollar out as far as we can. We all have to make decisions based on our own specifics that are individual to each of us and pick and choose what we are able to do and not do.
Your love for Raz comes shiny through. You have already done more for her than many would have done for their furbabies.
Hoping you got some good feedback today and maybe the extra dose of Buba is helping.
Hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
PS. Sorry for the OOPS of calling you Jen earlier🤣
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!
Watching for your update also... and sending more hugs❤
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry
We went to the holistic vet for the acupuncture yesterday afternoon, and when we went Raz was really hot to the touch--her ears, back, and shaved area. The doctor was able to get needles in her back, her rear foot, and in the side of a front leg. Immediately after the acupuncture her body temp seemed to go down significantly! They checked her temperature after, and she had a slight fever of 103.6. I got a call this morning that she may have a slight infection, so I'll be starting her on an antibiotic tonight.
She still didn't have much of an appetite last night. It looked like both kitties ate yesterday morning, but her evening appetite has been down three nights in a row now. I tried the normal canned food we do (last night was Tiki Cat tuna and crab), the pouch puree she loves, and the Hills Prescription A/D food. Nothing seemed to interest her for more than a taste. This morning she didn't seem keen on eating either. She is alert, active, and pooping.
We do have a new concern now, too. My roommate was snuggling with her last night and noticed a strange fatty section under her left front leg (same side as the original C). There does seem to be more fatty tissue on that side of her, under her armpit. I'm now concerned that it's a liposarcoma or a hemangiosarcoma. I'll keep an eye on it this weekend and try calling on Monday.
Raz's cheery moments and cuddle times are continuing to remind me to live in the moment. But as someone who has always struggled to plan ahead with things, it's really hard to think of the possibilities. I will, however, try to be more "cat!"
Raz is such a patient kitty and has a terrific attitude! You do too, this is a lot to cope with and you are Being More Cat for sure.
I've read that acupuncture can cause some tiredness and lack of appetite for a couple of days (I believe it's called a 'healing crisis). She does sound like she is doing well otherwise. Is there anything in her food like medication that could make her avoid it?
As for the fatty tissue, I'm wondering if it could be a seroma maybe? If it's squishy and watery it sure could be. Just thinking out loud.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thanks so much for taking g time to update. The fact that her skin seemed to cool down after the acupuncture was quite interesting and, a good sign.
While I'm sorry she may have an infection, , that could also explain her lack of appetite and maybe even the shivering. When people have a temperature , often chills/shivering accompany thr fever.
You ARE doing a good job of being more RazzleDazzle! I love that one of the great life lessons she is teaching you is to let go of "control" and LIVE IN THE NOW!!! We learn pretty quickly on this journey to enjoy the todays and not waste time worrying about the tomorrows.
Hoping rhe acupuncture, the antibiotics and the additional Bupa will help. her feel better. And yeah, the fluid pocket could indeed be a seroma or a little infection pocket of some sort.
Keep on dazzling us Razz! We're all cheering for you! Be sure and share some of that yummy food with Monkeybutt😎
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!
Just a quick update here...I'll do a blog post in a little bit too.
We had our third vet appointment yesterday. ER on Tuesday, acupuncture on Thursday, and our regular vet yesterday. With her appetite down and temperature up, our doctor wanted to see her. She ended up having a temp of 104.5 yesterday. They gave her an antibiotic shot, buprenex, and oncior. I got some small empty pill capsules, so I'm putting most of her medicine in the empty capsule so we only have to do one pill pocket. She's not a huge fan, but she'll take it with no problems. She slept with me all night, and she's been pretty sleepy today too. She DID drink her bone broth and ate a little bit of puree. Her poop was a little bit looser last night.
The "stitches" that are under the skin, for the muscles, seem to be growing...stitches don't do that. The vet thinks it's back. 🙁
I'm one of the teachers who is supposed to go on a school trip to DC this weekend, early Friday morning to late Monday night. All my roommates are going out of town too. I have a former roommate who would be able to house sit, but she works 3-11 all weekend which would be fine, but she picks up A LOT of double shifts. I'm seriously considering staying home. I feel silly asking to stay home from a work trip to take care of a cat, but timing is really bad. If it keeps progressing like it is, I'm sensing a really bad weekend/early week next week.
My current goal is to keep her comfortable and continue spoiling her and enjoying each moment.
You don't have to tell them why you can't go. You can tell them whatever you want. Lots of people don't understand and honestly it's none of their business. Don't mean to sound harsh but I've been there too. If your heart is telling you to stay, you might need to listen to it.
I'm so sorry she's not feeling well and I pray this isn't the cancer coming back so soon.
Sending you and your furbabies lots of hugs and love. I hope she turns around and feels better❤
Hugs,
Jackie and Huck ❤🤗
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry
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