Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Two days ago (the 13th) we adopted a 4 month old kitten from the Nevada Humane Society who had her right rear leg amputated. Her surgery had taken place just 2 days (the 11th) before we brought Izzy home, making today her 4th day post op. They sent us home with 2 doses of Buprenorphine (0.1ml) and a good weeks worth of antibiotics. Yesterday morning was the last dose of the pain meds and I feel she is really hurting today. I have also been concerned about her not peeing or pooping but she did finally pee twice during the night, both times in her little box on her own. She has not yet had a bowel movement. She is also eating and drinking well. I believe she was an owner surrender that couldn’t afford to put her down or have her leg treated. She lived with this severe injury for a while as the vet said it was an old injury that nothing could be done for. I think the owners were hoping it would take care of itself.
I am keeping Izzy in the walk in closet in my office. It’s nice and quiet in here. We are retired so no kids in the house. We do have one dog and one other cat that we are keeping away from Izzy for the time being.
I have a call into the shelter clinic to see if I can get more pain meds for her. Do these pain meds typically cause constipation? Is 4 days of pain meds enough for something like this, which is all she’s gotten so far? Her incision looks good and she isn’t bothering it. I did notice she seemed to be trembling a bit and was wondering if it’s because of the pain, getting weak, both?
Hoping those of you in the know can answer my questions and give me some advice for the days, weeks ahead. Izzy is such a sweet girl and I just want her to feel better asap!
Cindy~
Welcome to Tripawds, your future posts will not have to wait for approval.
What a pretty kitten! I love the tri color.
I haven't been through this surgery with a cat, but 4 days seems a little short for pain meds. I don't think cats need it as long as dogs, but I'm not sure. I know when my dogs tremble it is a sign of pain.
Hopefully some of our cat members will be along soon to answer your questions. I think you are on the right track calling the clinic.
Karen and Spirit Maggie
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Hi there and welcome! My kitty Jill is also a right rear amputee. She is now 23 months post amputation. Kitties do GREAT on three legs and Izzy being so young will recover so well!
That short time on buprenex does sound short. Jill was also on buprenex, but for 5 days. She stayed in the hospital on a fentanyl drip for a few days first as well. I would definitely ask for more buprenex - it's not super super strong and helps! Jill had her toe amputated first and was on the buprenex after that for 6 days - she did very well on it.
She was ok pooping, she just didnt poop as often as usual. Her first poop was about two days after surgery.
Let me know if you have any questions at all! The first week is definitely the hardest but then they start to recover so fast and its hard to keep them still!
xoxo,
Erica & Jill
Jill is a 9-year-old tuxedo kitty. She was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma in June 2012 on her toe in her right hind leg. Her leg was amputated on 12/12/12 and she completed four rounds of chemo (2 of Carbo, 2 of Doxy) in April 2013. "Like" Jill's facebook page: https://www.fac.....tty?ref=hl Proud member of the WINTER WARRIORS!!!! Her blog can be read at http://jillsjou.....ipawds.com. xoxo
Thanks ladies for your responses! I still haven't heard back from the shelter clinic which is technically closed on the weekends. Hoping someone else can still help us. I called our personal vet and they don't work weekends either. Still hoping that the shelter will get back to us as they have been super so far. I'm just kicking myself for not realizing that she would need pain meds longer than what we came home with. My heart breaks for her
. I'll let you know how we make out!
Thanks again!
Cindy~
Hello! Another kitty tripawd here. Sebastian didn't have pain meds for very long. They gave him an injection the day of the surgery that was supposed to last 3-4 days and that was all he got. After that wore off there was probably 24 hours where he was clearly in pain and I was a little worried, but the next day he was back to his usual self. It's still worth asking though.
I wouldn't worry about the lack of poo yet - Sebastian took a while! The pain meds + the meds used during surgery absolutely cause constipation. Just make sure she stays really hydrated. If she's eating well, mix some water in with wet food to get her to drink. And if she's not eating well yet, that probably explains the lack of poo.
Good luck and keep us posted,
Jenn and Sebastian
I just heard back from the shelter clinic and they are refilling her Rx for the pain med. Yay! We will head down in a bit to pick it up. She has ended up having a pretty good afternoon after a bad morning. No more of that trembling she was doing earlier either. Plus she finally went poop and in the litter box too! Oh wow, what a relief! LOL! Also for the first time she is laying on her bad side. I could tell she was getting very uncomfortable being on her good side all this time so this is a good step.
Baby steps, baby steps......
Cindy~
Online
Just catching ul. You've gotten great advice! Glad to here Izzy is feeling better! YAAAAAAAAAY!!
And its up to the professionals to supply Izzy with the proper meds...it's their expertise so please dontw feel badly. Geez, hope they never go through an amputation and their surgeon just gives them a day or two of pain meds!
Izzy is going to jave the best life with you and your lack! Thank you for showing her what love feels like and what joy is!!
And YAAAAAAAAAY FOR POOP!!! 
Keep us posted and, when you can, we'd love to see more pictures!!
Hugs to all!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle 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 Cindy and Izzy, welcome! I'm glad you were able to get in touch with the clinic. Yeah, pain medication for pets after major surgery is something that we all are having a learning curve with, but you'll get there. I hope the additional refill and continued meds help her feel better soon. Be sure to check out our TriKitty Bloggers to learn about their experiences. Also, you can feel free to PM any of their pawrents with questions (just look for their names here in the Forums and click on the "PM" button to message them).
Keep us posted. I hope tomorrow is much better!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Yay for poop! And yay for the extra buprenex! As Jerry said definitely check out the blogs if you get a chance. I have a ton of pics and videos through Jill's recovery. It's really amazing how fast kitty's bounce back. I thought she would take weeks learning to use the litter box again and she used it right away. Now I can't even remember her being on four legs!
keep us posted!!
Jill is a 9-year-old tuxedo kitty. She was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma in June 2012 on her toe in her right hind leg. Her leg was amputated on 12/12/12 and she completed four rounds of chemo (2 of Carbo, 2 of Doxy) in April 2013. "Like" Jill's facebook page: https://www.fac.....tty?ref=hl Proud member of the WINTER WARRIORS!!!! Her blog can be read at http://jillsjou.....ipawds.com. xoxo
Hi Cindy,
Oh, what a pretty little kitty!! She looks so much like my older girl Molly!
You have already been given awesome advice here by everyone, so I don't have much to add except I absolutely know from my years of working at my veterinary hospital, that cats do so much better than dogs with amputation mobility-wise....and trust me, I have seen many cat amps done from a very young age, from all kinds of terrible accidents and abuse......they have all gone on to live happy, adventurous, and much loved lives.
You are right though, baby steps, many baby steps.....
Best wishes with sweet Izzy, and keep us updated on her,
Bonnie & Angel Polly
Good morning everyone. What a difference a day makes. My husband was first into my office where we have been keeping her. Actually she's set up in the walk in closet in this room. He found her out of the closet and walking around the office! He was able to hold her for a bit too. She just had another walk about and then I noted a pinkish spot on her bed and then I could see where some clear bloodly discharge coming from one spot of her stitches!!!! Ack! I don't know if this is from her activity or from her working at the stitches. I never saw her doing that at all and have not been using the cone with her. I really think it's been from her new mobility. The clinic said to watch more for a puss type discharge. Does this qualify?
Cindy~
ADDED: I wish I knew how to post a pic here. Last night before going back to the clinic I took a pick of a pinkish bump by her stitches to have the vet look at that they told me it was okay. She actuslly came home with this bump. Upon closer inspection of where this fluid is coming from that bump isn't there anymore and I think this is where it came from. The fluid is coming from the stitch right next to the bump. Thoughts? I will be calling the clinic but I have to leave a message on weekends and takes forever to hear back.
I'm glad Izzy is doing better and that you were able to get some extra pain meds for her.
I don't have experience with a Tripawd kitty...my Leland was a 108lb Dobie boy but it's not unusual to have some pinkish colored drainage. As long as there's not a foul smell with it Izzy should be ok. Just keep an eye on it and if it seems excessive contact the clinic.
I'll be keeping Izzy in my thoughts for a good recovery period!
Sahana and her Angel Leland
November 17, 2009 - June 30, 2014
May you finally be healthy and running free at the Rainbow Bridge. Until we meet again my sweet boy!
The clinic called and they want us to come back in with Izzy and have her check out. Every time she stands up it really drains. But it's pinkish clear and no bad smell so hopefully everything is still okay with her. Darn. I'll post an update when we get back home.
Turns out the bump I questioned them about last night is/was a seroma and the vet thinks once she started getting up and about this morning it ruptured and started leaking. The vet isn't worried about it and says as long as it's pinkish and clear it fine. So really didn't need to take her in but glad we did. The vet thinks she looks great. Not giving her any pain meds tonight as she's doing really well on that front. We will see how she is in the morning and go from there. You sure never know how each day is going to go!!!
Cindy~
Glad to hear! Sounds like she is doing just great. Jill had a big ole belly full of fluid. I was told that unless it felt really warm or if anything started to leak and smelled to be concerned, but definitely better safe than sorry!
Keep up the great work Mom and Izzy!
Oh, if you want to post pics, you can post them on a site like photobucket and just post the link into your post.
Jill is a 9-year-old tuxedo kitty. She was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma in June 2012 on her toe in her right hind leg. Her leg was amputated on 12/12/12 and she completed four rounds of chemo (2 of Carbo, 2 of Doxy) in April 2013. "Like" Jill's facebook page: https://www.fac.....tty?ref=hl Proud member of the WINTER WARRIORS!!!! Her blog can be read at http://jillsjou.....ipawds.com. xoxo
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