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.
Join The Tripawds Community
Learn how to help three legged dogs and cats in the forums below. Browse and search as a guest or register for free and get full member benefits:
Instant post approval.
Private messages to members.
Subscribe to favorite topics.
Live Chat and much more!
Register
Log In
Members
Add Topic
Offline
Hi folks,
my 6 year old cat Saturn had his left hind leg amputated 2 weeks ago due to recurring fibrosarcoma. In general he’s doing really well, stitches came out snd cone came off Tuesday and the vet said the wound healed perfectly. He’s been acclimating the life on 3 legs, walking and running around like normal.
But I’ve noticed he is more aggressive than I’ve ever seen him since Tuesday. example: he hissed at me for the first time ever today while I was petting him, followed by a deep and loud meow. I was not touching him near his wound, but is it possible he’s still in pain from the amputation and was just agitated? The other day he also screamed when I picked him up even though I had been picking him up earlier that day and he liked it. Do others see your cats temperaments change after amputation?
Hi Scott and Saturn, welcome! Your future posts won't need to wait for approval so post away.
I'm so glad Saturn is doing pretty well overall, it's wonderful his recovery is over. You did it! Give yourself credit, amputation recovery is not easy!
As for his behavior, what you are describing sounds like some kind of pain to me. Cats are so good at hiding pain but sometimes they let it slip and show pain signals . We just published this post about Feline Pain Scales, check it out and see if any of the images look like him right now.
Meanwhile yes, it's entirely possible that even two weeks out from surgery he can be in pain. Getting used to 3 legs means the body is moving in all new ways and it's a ton of work. He may have pulled a muscle or tweaked his spine. Have you tried some gentle massage to see if there's a particular place where he's sensitive?
Here's my non-vet analysis: I highly recommend that you have him evaluated by a pain specialists just in case. Has your vet seen him yet? That is the best place to start. If your vet isn't sure or doesn't give you plan for treating his pain, consider taking Saturn to an animal rehabilitation therapist. The Tripawds Foundation can pay for your first rehab visit so please take advantage of the program!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Saturn sounds like he's mastered the art of three pretty darn fast!
The only thing I could add to Jerry's thorough feedback is maybe he has a staple still I???? I only me ruin this because his temperament changed the day the stitches were out. On ocassion we see where a rogue stitch is left in and can poke and hurt.
Hang in there. This will get figured out👌
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 Scott - glad to hear Saturn is recovering (mostly) well from the amputation. My cat had her front leg removed on Feb 19 of this year due to a fibrosarcoma. It might be that there is still some pain or nerve issue going on. When Yum Yum was first discharged she had a strong anti-inflammatory pain medication but no nerve blocker. She also had a tiny dose of kitty Valium (equivalent) as she is always very restless when recovering from anesthesia. A few days later she had an episode where she "startled" and ran under a chair. We ended up adding Gabapentin (nerve blocker) and it helped a lot. Weaned her off of it a couple weeks later and she's been great ever since. No meds needed anymore and she's her chirpy, sweet self.
I have had a spinal fusion so am familiar with the aftermath. Your nerve endings are jumpy from being messed around with. It can be painful but also can feel like an extremely strong fizzy surge through your limbs (or where the limb used to be). Very weird. I HAD to get up and MOVE around to relieve it. Nerve blocker helped tremendously. If I were a cat I probably would have hissed and spat a few times.
As Jerry says, he could have pulled a muscle or tendon while adapting to life as a Tripawd. Especially since it sounds like he was zooming around quite a bit. 🙂
Sending lots of purrs to Saturn. You'll figure it out. 
i had complete opposite as for some reason saw her cry when i picked her up and ran to vet as was told she chewed off all her nails on her other hind legs and dont know why as my guess is that they stopped the gabapentin too soon and had to put her on clavimox due to she got an infection between her paw pads as they sai her nails will grow backSo heartbreaking for you and hope things will et better.
1 Guest(s)
