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Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat

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My beloved cat needs amputation and I'd appreciate guidance
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Michigan


Member Since:
11 July 2016
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27 October 2018 - 5:50 pm
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Fantastic on your day! Great you got Sky moving today!!

Crap on the poop! Did you happen to see Sky poop? Any kitties or pup around? Was the box moved?

It is a habit. I believe it can be broken. More trial and error. Don't give up. What made Sky poop in the new box yesterday and what changed today. That is what you need to figure out.

The disco poop I found a long time ago a google search “poop dance giphy” who else searches for such things. 🤭We celebrate poop and pee like no others. 😁I was saving the disco one for poop in the box see I had a hunch. 😉

Glad everyone got a giggle 🤣😁

It is an emotional roller coaster for us all they are our family! (furmily)

My sister is also a breast cancer survivor it will be a year from her surgery and treatments in December. A Hassle is a tad of an understatement! 😳 Cancer brings out the fight within! You have to power thru and fight, and you did, and we do for our furmily or family! You should never take away from the strength it takes to kick cancers arse! It is brutal! Be proud!!

All are warriors, and that includes our tripawds! 🎗🎗🎗

Holly & Purrkins heart🎗

Member Since:
10 October 2018
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27 October 2018 - 9:26 pm
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I didn't see him poop and don't think anyone was around. No, box hadn't been moved. The thing is I can't hang out with him all day every day to monitor this. ATM I am spending 80-90% of my time with him. But I have to keep things afloat here and take care of the other pets too. I've been living with this problem for years. While it would be nice to solve it, it isn't at the top of my list. 😉 So in all honesty, I won't be able to do everything required to fix it. Just so many other demands in addition to helping him heal. As long as he is pooping normally, I'll be satisfied with that. I'm not aware of anything at all changing between the 2 poops. I'll try to keep on it as best I can but I am really overwhelmed. 

We are on the bed right now with my black cat and Marlowe. He is on my right side grooming. I actually noticed him wiggling his stump and hadn't seen that before. Does that indicate pain? He had buprenorphine an hour ago and not due for Gab yet. He seems happy enough. 

It's really difficult to do this all alone and also with a pup and 2  other cats who are used to having things their way too. And paying bills, keeping food on hand, etc. 

I've been through a lot in the past few years in addition to breast cancer. The loss of 7 pets to old age and the battles prior to losing them, the loss of my business, people letting me down, and more. I was strong but I'm truly worn out.  So, please understand - I want to do right by Sky and am doing my best but there is more here than meets the eye. I don't have the energy or luxury to be proud. 

Sorry if this sounds ungrateful - I've just heard the "You're so strong" mantra so much. I'm tired of it. I'm not very strong any more. It has taken a toll.

Thanks for trying!

R & S

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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27 October 2018 - 10:28 pm
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Yoir tripawd family will NEVER let you down!  We will help as best we can hold you up, even though you feel like yoir whole world is crumbling.   

Thank you...and I mean this...thank you for sharing how you are feeling.  You expressed the toll this journey, and everything leading up to this point, has taken on you straight forward.    You do NOT sound "ungrateful" at all!!   

Geez, no wonder you don't  feel "strong" right now!   You've  just lightly touched on the hurdles, stress and sadnesses you have recemtly faced BEFORE this emotionally draining joirmey!!  It  would be disingenuous  to say you feel any other way!  Anyone of those stresses alone would be enough  to overwhelm anyvody!!   Combine them all together.....yeah,  we get it!!   

Please know this.  Because of your  honesty, you have just helped a lot of people  feel less alone because they have felt like tjey  hit rock bottom during this recovery stage.  And you may not want to hear this right now, but what you just did took a lot of courage!   And BTW, you ARE courageous whether it feels like it or not!! You continue forward, no matter what!   It may not feel good....it may feel like you are "stuck in overwhelm"....it may not look "pretty".....but you ARE handling all these horrible things that are being thrown your way.  You've  clearly endured a lot and, somehow, someway, you've  gotten through the fog of those dark times. 

I'm  pretty sure I'm  rambling and making zero sense.  Guess what I'm  trying to say, grab a pint of ice cream and a spoon.  Get under the covers  and eat it all without  giving any of your pets any!! Not one bite!  

Again, thank you for sharing how you're  feeling.  We always say this is the perfect place to rage to vent, to scream, to cry with no judgement whatsoever!  We all do in some form or another!

Oh, as far as the stump twitching ....yeah...fairly normal.   Even months later, you'll find twitching  as though they are trying to scratch.   That's  always a good time to give them a good head to toe scratch...especially  the ears.

When you can, we would love to hear about  your pets who are part of your heart, even though they are at the Bridge now.  I know any one loss is almost unbearable....to have so many, heartbreaking  beyond words. One thing for sure, you have some beautiful  Guardian Angels watching over you💖💖💖

And remember the Tripawd  Helpline  1 844 TRIPAWD for an extra dose of support of the ice cream doesn't  work😎

Love and 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!

Member Since:
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27 October 2018 - 10:41 pm
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I can't even begin to reply right now, Sally, but thank you so much! I was afraid I was going too far being honest. 

I am definitely going to get that ice cream right now and bring it back to bed. And wipe the tears from my eyes. 

Thank you!!!!

Rebecca

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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27 October 2018 - 11:00 pm
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HAHAH!  You can never go "too far" with this group!!  Not even close!!

And you do not need to reply,  okay?  You DO need to get that ice cream, pr whatever junk food you have on hand. ..have a really good cry...one that you cry so hard snot comes out of your nose!!!!  Ohhh myyy....that was quite crude!   Sorry!   Just don't  sob in your ice cream!!

Get some rest dear friend❤❤❤❤❤   

With  love from your "Never let you down friends" who are always by your side....whether you want us to be or not!!!

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!

On The Road


Member Since:
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28 October 2018 - 11:08 am
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I agree, your honesty is what adds to the magic of the community. It's refreshing and it's needed, because this is not an easy journey, especially when you're going through it on your own (Sally can definitely say a lot about that). It's OK to admit that you don't feel strong, that's totally understandable. Just know that based on what we see as outsiders, you are doing a spectacular job staying on top of everything that needs to be done. Be proud of that, and lean on us when you need to, that's why we are here.

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

Michigan


Member Since:
11 July 2016
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28 October 2018 - 3:24 pm
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We understand Rebecca we understand 100%
I was hoping to help and the poop being normal is all the matters YES.
We do understand all of the above, and we know you are doing fantastic by Sky and how much you love Sky and your other furmily. This journey is extremely emotional & exhausting, unlike anything we all have had to go thru we get it! It will return to a new normal!!

The twitch is normal the brain is still sending signals to the leg, and that could settle down, and it may continue for life. IF it becomes more and, Sky reacts then it is different, and that is what the Gabapentin is for phantom limb pain (nerve pain)

If ever in doubt call Dr. Louise ok.

I do hope today is a better day for you and Sky the furmily!

heartheartheart

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10 October 2018
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29 October 2018 - 12:46 am
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Thank you all for not writing me off. My life has been tumultuous the past decade - prior to that it was pretty cool. I have to pick my battles. 

And FWIW here is an illustration of why I'm not going to make a goal of getting Sky to use the box: I came home from running errands and gave him some food. He went to one of the boxes and peed a lot. Then got out of the box and pooped on the floor right in front of me. It was like he decided he needed to go and did it where he was.  However, a few minutes later he went to one of the boxes and pooped more into it ( same box he peed in). There was no apparent reason for the poop in front of me. It was just like he didn't realize he needed to do it when he was in the box and when the urge struck he went with it.  OK.

Dr. Louise and I text all the time. I have her ear/finger whenever I need her.  She sent me a photo tonight of a 2 week old kitten she is temporarily fostering for a friend and bottle feeding every 3 hours. She has a HUGE heart!!

Sky is dong better. We are doing the chicken trail a few times a day but he is very comfy in the fur bed in the office. He has moved away from the space heater.. that's a good thing. I did order one of those cat cave beds today - the wool ball with a hole in it. I think he will love it!   

I still get chills when I look at his bare body and missing leg. 

But the important thing is he is still here and gives me eye smiles. heart

Thanks everyone!!!

Rebecca & Sky

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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29 October 2018 - 10:05 am
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Eye smiles???  Love that description!😀

Using chicken trails.....a great idea!

I think the amount of fur the Vet shaved bothered me more than the incision.  Once the fur grows back though and Sky's mobility becomes more fluid and "normal", you'll forget he ever had a "spare" leg!

Can't  wait to hear how he handles his new cozy bed.😎   He's  certainly  veing treated like the King that he is!!  And don't  forget to give  yourself the Royal treatment too .....ice cream 🍨🍧🍨  and  rest💤💤💤

Love and 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!

Member Since:
10 October 2018
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29 October 2018 - 11:01 am
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I've also heard them called "eye love". It's a slow blink looking straight at you. How they convey love and connection heart

The shaving is bad because you see all the folds and missing parts, in addition to stitches. And because of the diarrhea incidents he is shaved down even more now.  Also Dr. Louise said his fur will grow back more slowly because of the prednisolone. 

And I DO believe in the power of ice cream! It was my coping strategy when my husband died. Still trying to lose those pounds. But then more poopicon_png happened. Guess ice cream is here to stay.. and the subsequent pounds. 

Woke up at 6am to find him lying at the top of the stairs by the gate - that meant he had to make his way down the hall. That was good. I fed him then and he ate well.  Then I went back to bed for a few hours. Ahhh sleep.. yes the other magic cure.

Time for meds shortly. Slowly but surely cutting down on them. Hoping soon it will just be Gabapentin for his back and maybe not even Prednisolone if his IBD turns out to be pain-associated with his leg instead. But that is TBD. 

Thanks, Sally, for being here for me!!

Rebecca & Sky 

Member Since:
10 October 2018
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29 October 2018 - 4:01 pm
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Sky seems low energy today. We did the chicken trail and he ate a bit of food but no pee or poo that I know of. I brought him into my bed and gave him a lot of head scratches and love. He is snuggled up against me now with faux fur throw around the rest of him. But he seems tired. 

Any of you encounter this? 

Marlowe cleaned his front paws for him. Very sweet. Sky liked it. 

Should I be concerned?

Rebecca & Sky

On The Road


Member Since:
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29 October 2018 - 4:14 pm
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Hi Rebecca! 

My guess is that he is tired from the little workouts. His body is just getting used to the new gait, and it can be exhausting learning how to walk again. I would cut back on the number of times you go out on the chicken trail and see if that helps. 

For now, if he hasn't peed or pooped, is that out of the ordinary for him? Is he still within the range of how many movements he did before surgery? 

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

Florida
Member Since:
23 February 2017
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29 October 2018 - 4:19 pm
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Hi Rebecca, I just wanted to pop in here to voice my support.

I'm not nearly as eloquent as the ladies here are, and my situation with my tripawd Jet is different in that I got him well after his amp, but I'll help where I can.

Regarding the stump wiggle, ya that's typical - Jet still does it almost daily, after almost 4 years.

It took about 5 weeks for his fur to grow back. Hopefully when it has grown back for Sky, things will be back to normal (just with one less leg).

And yes, slow-blinks are the best! (sorry non-cat owners)

Hang in there!

Brad

Member Since:
10 October 2018
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29 October 2018 - 4:28 pm
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Thanks, Jerry and Brad!  

Yes, it's abnormal for recent elimination frequency.  Normally he eats/drinks then pees/poops. Nothing by mid-afternoon hasn't happened since he started normal poops a few days ago. 

I can believe he is tired from those walks. It's a lot of work. And we must not forget he is 13. Poor guy - it's a lot to deal with at this point. Breaks my heart. 

We are still curled up on my bed. Marlowe is lying right next to him on the other side. He's comfortable. I don't want to move. 

If nothing happens in the next couple hours, I think I'll let my vet know and see what she says. 

Thanks for your input!!!

R & S

Michigan


Member Since:
11 July 2016
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29 October 2018 - 4:52 pm
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I would not worry about Sky being tired. It takes a few months to get all the new body figured out. Purrkins had bouts of energy and then rested. Sky is still on the meds or did you stop the bup? Has he ever had urinary problems in the past? As in blockage uti etc.?

You know Sky best if you think something is off call or text the vet but what you are describing so far I am not concerned. Not peeing in 24 hours in a male cat I'm concerned.

Wow, Brad, that is amazing it took Purrkins almost 6 months I shall hope for 6 weeks for Sky. Saxton Purrkin's brother fur grows really fast. Maybe that's a tuxedo trait... Just like in humans our animals all differ on the fur growth. 

Happy National Cat Day to all the kitties!

We call them love blinks;)
Hugs,
Holly & Purrkinsheart

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