TRIPAWDS: Home to 22974 Members and 2152 Blogs.
HOME » NEWS » BLOGS » FORUMS » CHAT » YOUR PRIVACY » RANDOM BLOG

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.

JUMP TO FORUMS

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!

Please consider registering
Guest
Search
Forum Scope


Match



Forum Options



Minimum search word length is 3 characters - maximum search word length is 84 characters
Register Lost password?
sp_Feed sp_PrintTopic sp_TopicIcon-c
How to help kitten with irregular walking pattern?
sp_NewTopic Add Topic

Member Since:
10 December 2019
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
1
11 December 2019 - 4:29 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_EditHistory sp_QuotePost

Hello. I am a vet tech and I am reaching out to anyone who has had a cat with a hind limb amputated.

Nala was brought into our office at 3 weeks old as a stray. She had a deformed hind limb. She was able to walk around , but her knee could not fully extend. This caused an irregular walking pattern. As a young kitten she did very well. However, as she got older the leg the inability to extend became a problem as she had to squat while walking. Diagnostic Imaging confirmed her patella was completely displaced. She also suffered from hip dysplasia in the same leg. Due to the inability to extend her leg, the tendons had contacted, and muscles atrophied. After consulting with an orthopedic surgeon and several veterinarians, it was determined amputation was best.

Surgery was performed at 5 months of age. Following recovery, which went great. She continued to walk in the same manner as she had previously, in squat position, and with a sideways stride. I remained patient that in time she would begin to walk and run in the same manner as many other 3 legged cats. We are nearly 2 months post recovery and she continues to walk and run in the same manner. I am concerned that she will cause muscle, bone, and joint irregularities with her other good leg if this continues life long. Not to mention the pressure sores that may develop from "thumping" on her "stump".

I am seeking advice from anyone who may have an idea, or previous experience with this. I have been trying to help her change her walking by having her walk through a narrow shute. This forces her to walk and run in the typical 3 legged manner. I am continuing this physical therapy.

Initially I felt due to her being used to the walking pattern that she walked that way from habit. I know this it a different situation, as many amputee cats had normal walking patterns prior to surgery, so adapting is quite different. 

Any advice is appreciated. 

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
2
11 December 2019 - 10:51 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_EditHistory sp_QuotePost

Hi Adam, thanks for joining. Your future posts won't require approval so post away.

Congratulations on adopting Nala! She's a lucky kitty.

I'm not a Trikitty parent, but I've talked to a lot of orthopedic vets and rehabilitation therapists over the years. What they have told me is that the younger an animal is when they lose a leg, the more challenges they will face when it comes to developing motor skills and a normal gait pattern. Ironic, considering that personality-wise, they bounce back so quickly! But this happens because they haven't had the advantages of time to learn a normal gait pattern and proprioception (awareness of one's body in space) the way that an older amputee animal has learned. Does that make sense?

Has Nala been evaluated by an animal rehabilitation therapist? These folks can figure out why she is crab-walking and show you ways that can help her develop a normal gait pattern. I do love your idea of using the chute! You'll have to share some pics and video with us.

Being in the vet field, I'm sure you have great contacts you can reach out to but if you'd like help finding a practitioner just let us know. The best part is that the Tripawds Foundation may pay for her first rehab visit ! That's how strongly we feel that it can help make a huge difference in any Tripawd's life.

Stay tuned for more feedback from the community!

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
3
11 December 2019 - 3:38 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Yes indeedy, Nala sure did win the Kitty Lottery by having you as her hooman!

Could you video her walk and post it here?  We have such great tripawd kotty hoomans  who have pretty much seen it all.

Also, you mentioned "stump".  How much of a "stump" was left, or none at all?  Sometimes if some  pf rhe leg is left, they will still try to use it.  

Jerry gave you great insight into younger animals not developing  proper motor skills.  A rehab Spec will help tremendously. 

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!

Forum Timezone: America/Denver
Most Users Ever Online: 946
Currently Online:
Guest(s) 239
Currently Browsing this Page:
1 Guest(s)
Member Stats:
Guest Posters: 1268
Members: 17735
Moderators: 6
Admins: 3
Forum Stats:
Groups: 4
Forums: 24
Topics: 18610
Posts: 256809
Administrators: admin, jerry, Tripawds
Tripawds is brought to you by Tripawds.
HOME » NEWS » BLOGS » FORUMS » CHAT » YOUR PRIVACY » RANDOM BLOG