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Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat

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Harry the Cat - Just Diagnosed (Hi)
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Virginia



Member Since:
22 February 2013
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10 October 2016 - 2:32 pm
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PS...Harry is looking great in the video!! He's a very handsome boy! 🙂

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!


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10 October 2016 - 3:29 pm
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To be on the safe side I would put the cone on and put the wrap around his rear claws. You'll be able to assess how he's doing after the first four hours. I remember someone's cat was able to get his front leg up through the neck of the onesie.

I can't comment on the length of time for the medication because Mona was on buprenorphine which may have been for about 5 or 6 days then the metacam until the stitches came out (10 days maybe?). Your vet will advise you and you'd want to find out how to wean him off the gabapentin.

Sounds like Harry is doing well with the healing. For a break you might want to sit with him at a window and even play with some toys. As he feels better he may want more stimulation. I'd put kibbles under cups for Mona and she would just whack them hard to get at the kibble.

Kerren and Tripawd Kitty Mona

Member Since:
2 October 2016
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10 October 2016 - 3:53 pm
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I like the kibble under cups idea. Harry just wants to sleep. Which makes me feel like he is perhaps overmedicated :/ He's lying in his cage, looking out at me through half closed eyes right now. He looks sad, but I realize that is probably me projecting and he's just sleepy. 

I was wondering about the gabapentin. Harry's prescription is for five days every 8 hours. Nothing about weaning off and no extra capsuls, but I did read the tripawds article about potential dangers in stopping suddenly and that has me worried way-confused

I've left a message for the vet because they're closed today and I didn't think it emergency enough to call the on-call person, but I only have enough to last until Wednesday at the prescribed rate. 

Member Since:
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11 October 2016 - 7:51 pm
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Hello again

Just wanted to update and send eternal thanks. It was really tough to leave Harry home today but also good, I think, to learn that he will be okay without my hovering. I left him with his cone on and his right hind leg wrapped in vet wrap. I was super preoccupied all morning and came home to medicate and check up at lunch. He had, of course, wriggled out of the vet wrap...but didn't seem to have shown any interest in his stitches at least. . . I'm going to keep trying this, though, because he is becoming more active and I'm justs waiting for him to notice those itchy bits any day now. 

I spoke to the vet who said to finish off his 5 day gabapentin prescription as planned, tomorrow, to see how he does without Tramadol as of now and to give him another day or so of Metacam. It seems bizarre to me that he'll be off painkillers less than a week after major surgery, but I guess i need to trust the professionals and at least see how Harry seems. He is still sleeping loads, BUT he pooped twice today! I was just starting to worry. And both times right in the litter box. I'm so pleased my boy is so fastidious. He was clearly confused about what to do with it after, though, and I immediately covered it for him and took it away....I figure this will do for now. At least while we're sharing a room 😛 I was extra thankful for the lillies my parents sent, today. Better than any air freshener... He also tried to make an escape into the rest of the apartment, and did this weird thing he often does where he pulls his blanket out of his carrier, both of which seem like upticks in mood to me. 

Huraah!

Virginia



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11 October 2016 - 8:12 pm
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YAAAAAAAAAY FOR UPTICKS IN MOOD!! You REALLY are seeing some signs of returning to normal behavior...and it's still early!

I know some cats don't seem to need heavy pain meds after abput five daysish...obviously,some need them a bit longer. Just monitor Harry for the next day or so and see if he seems in pain. I have a hunch that he'll do must fine!

Glad you are feeling a bit more relaxed now. Give yourself some credit for weathering the nardest part! 🙂

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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11 October 2016 - 8:29 pm
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Harry's doing great! And so are you!

It's lovely that your parents sent you some lilies. Please make sure Harry isn't around the lilies unsupervised because most lilies are poisonous to cats and you don't want him snacking on them.

Harry'll will be back to "normal" soon. Give him some scratches for me.

Kerren and Tripawd Kitty Mona

Member Since:
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11 October 2016 - 8:42 pm
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Thanks guys! Yup, I'm aware of the lily hazard. They're up high and not in the room when I'm not around (I make my Mum put many of her pretty flowers on the deck when we come to stay because Harry does love to chew on plants).

I can't wait for normalcy! Did anyone else notice that the shaved part of their tripods felt warmer than the hairy part? I don't think it's "hot" and feel like it must just be that hair is cooler than skin, but figured I'd check. He's not red or anything. . 

In other silver lining-y news, I won a draw at my vet for $200 worth of free high quality pet food today! So, providing I can get Harry to eat it, I'll have some help with his weight loss 🙂

Virginia



Member Since:
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11 October 2016 - 9:38 pm
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That's wonderful that you won that gift certificate!! Goodness knows youve made quite an "investment" in the hospital's bottom line!

Can't give you any scientific feedback about the warmth of the shsved area. My guess is that fur insulates and keeps the skin cool (or warmer in the Winter). Sooo, I woukd "guess" the warmth is simply because the fur is not there to insulate. The fact that everything looks normal is a plis too. No worries.

And it was lovely that your Mom se t the Lillies! Wonderful gesture!

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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11 October 2016 - 9:39 pm
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OK, does life get any better than a kitty on the mend, beautiful flowers and $200 in free food?! YAAAY! You both won the lotto, it's time to breathe and enjoy the rewards, you've earned it.

As for the shaved part...well that makes a lot of sense that it would feel warmer, since fur acts as insulation against hot and cold exterior temperatures. Seems pretty normal to me.

Fantastic report, now relax and enjoy!

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

Michigan

Member Since:
11 July 2016
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12 October 2016 - 3:29 am
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Sooo Glad to hear all went great yesterday! Yeah for poop too! 

You both are well on your way to a new normal ! smiley Keep us posted please

Hugs to you both heart

Member Since:
2 October 2016
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12 October 2016 - 7:15 pm
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big-grin I'm just feeling so relieved and so lucky and, like someone else posted earlier, so thankful for time with my boy. And continuingly thankful for this place.

It's still worrying being at work. Vet wrap on the foot is officially of no use for determined Harry. I actually think fussing around to get today's off (which I put on tighter) is responsible for his shirt collar getting stretched out to the point that his front leg was pulled out of it today. I hope anyway. Although he still had the cone on just in case. The vet said t-shirts are fine, so I may go shopping for some higher necked options 😛 I still don't know what to do about that back leg though...except hope he doesn't think to use it. .........maybe I should put a draw string in the bottom of one of his shirts...........................Tomorrow is going to be very snowy and I may not have time to get home and back to work at lunch to check on him. 

I continue to see little improvements. He's covering his own business in the litter box already, using those core muscles, which is probably good on multiple levels. I'm thinking I should have had them do a tummy tuck while he was under. He's got one saggy belly! 

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Bless. 

Virginia



Member Since:
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12 October 2016 - 7:28 pm
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Ij Harry! You are so cute! And Harry, your tummy is just fine!

Wish I had some solutions abput keeping Harry from scratching his stitches. Inwpuld think a tee shirt would work, or a "onesie".

So glad he's mastered his litter box so auickly. He's a very smart boy!

SNOW!! Brrr.....where do you live?

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!

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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12 October 2016 - 7:31 pm
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Thanks for the pawesome update~ 🙂

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

Member Since:
2 October 2016
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12 October 2016 - 9:16 pm
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He is clever! We're in northern British Columbia. It's been snowing since the first week in October. Ridiculously. I'm not from here, originally and, while I like a snowy winter I would prefer to have Fall first...and not have to deal with the stupid killer cold that will be along before long! Oh well. 

I wonder if a longer shirt might be enough to deter the back leg too...maybe. He's got a Christmas sweater on now:P 

Michigan

Member Since:
11 July 2016
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12 October 2016 - 10:27 pm
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Another great day for you guys! He's doing great! Yes ,we learn a lot during this process don't we. Life lessons.

Purrkin's woke me up tonight he thinks he is starving, so I thought I would see if you updated today.

Hi sweet Harry, your so handsome he looks good and alert not stoned!

We tried both the onesie first and t-shirts later, for the same reason, onesie stretches out so much even in one days use.

Couple things are maybe the size not sure what size you got. I went smaller when I ordered the next set of t-shirts and that seemed to help .The t-shirt seemed less stretchy then the onesie.  No strings ! I would not take the chance on any string he's out of the vet wrap, Im sure the strings would be a toy, I would be terrified he would ingest it. You don't want to take that chance. 

The store seemed really high in price to me on onesies and t-shirts . I ordered on amazon they were really cheap for sets. Just a thought , even a thrift store . 

Stay warm!

Hugs to you both!

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