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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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Injuries on remaining limbs
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Member Since:
2 October 2016
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17 July 2017 - 12:31 am
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Just looking for general advice/experiences with injuries in the paws that correspond to those that have been amputated...if that makes sense? So if your pet has had a front leg amputated, and injured the remaining front leg...or had a rear leg amputated and injured the remaining rear leg....

My cat, Harry, is a front leg amputee who has just had a toe taken off of his remaining front leg. We're in early days recovery from this latest operation so I'm looking for as much info as I can get. He seems to be handing it very well. It's 3.5 days since his surgery and he wants to walk around like usual - with his foot fully bandaged. He is still on bupenorphine and I imagine that is making him feel much better than he otherwise would. 

I am significantly restricting his movement, keeping him in his cage most of the day and closely supervising him when he's out so he doesn't walk to far or do any jumping down onto the foot with the missing toe...because I'm really worried that the incision wont heal properly if he walks on it...but he doesn't have a choice about walking on it if he walks because it's the only one he has on the front! 

The vet said that his bandages could come off 3-5 days post surgery, but I'm worried that that's the rule for an animal with two feet to share the weight..if that makes sense?? He will be putting all of his body weight directly on his incision without any padding if I take it off...What would you do/have you done? The bandage seems to be driving him nuts. He's been shaking his paw constantly in irritation (I hope just irritation anyway). 

Also, tomorrow is his final day of bupenorphine so he's going to be hurting a bit more (still on metacam)...I want to prevent that...but then I also think that it will be more of a natural deterrant to walking if his paw's not ready. 

All thoughts and experiences welcome!

Durham, NC
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16 September 2015
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17 July 2017 - 5:23 am
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Hi there!

So glad your kitty seems to be doing well, minus the toe! I don't have experience with injuring to the remaining front limb (Izzy is a front legger tripawd) ... at least not that I know of! I'm sure Izzy has aches and pains in her remaining front leg, after all, she's coming up on 14, but she hides it well.

She did have knee surgery on one of her back legs and now has a tumor of the foot of that same back leg that we keep bandaged. I can tell you that when Izzy is having trouble with any of her legs, I use a sling to help her along. Pretty sure most cats wouldn't tolerate that, however!

I understand your concern about jumping around on a fresh wound. I'm sure the vet wants to bandage off in 3-5 days so air and help the healing process along. Skin knits itself together pretty quickly, if that makes you feel any better. I fell down the stairs and busted my chin open ... and got my stitches out 5 days later on the doctor's advice. I'm sure the vet will leave the stitches in longer - roughly 10 days is traditional - but you might loosely bandage/use a sock or bootie until stitches are out. I imagine they would be verrrrrry interesting to your cat. 

Did the vet say anything about an e-collar? Maybe cats aren't as persistent as dogs with licking and chewing things that annoy them! lol

Anyway, sorry I'm not more help and good luck!!

Momma to the world's most beautiful American Bulldog, Izzy!! Lost her front leg to OSA 9/18/15. Diagnosed w MCT in June 2016. Celebrated her 1 year ampuversary with knee surgery on 9/18/16! MCT recurrence in Dec 2016. Happy & hungry til nearly 14, earning her wings on 7/31/17.

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17 July 2017 - 4:08 pm
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inkpot said
Just looking for general advice/experiences with injuries in the paws that correspond to those that have been amputated...

Have you searched the Tripawds Blogs yet? You'll find various posts about remaining limb injuries. While some pertain primarily to dogs, many members have shared their experiences and the tips are still relative. Here's just one from the Tripawds news blog that includes links to others.

Remaining Limb Surgery Recovery for Tripawds

You can also search all blogs here .

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

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20 July 2017 - 3:04 pm
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Hey how is Harry doing today? I hope things are good!

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

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