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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Hi
My sweet 15 yo cat Lynx developed a fibrosarcoma just 10 days ago (at least that's when I saw it. He had gotten a clean bill of health at the vet just 3 weeks earlier.). He had a biopsy a week ago yesterday, ultrasound today (clean) and will be getting an amputation of right front limb tomorrow. I've been on another thread on Tripawds getting excellent advice. Jerry suggested that I post here also. Lynx has never been sick before and there will be good margins on his surgery as tumor is down near his "wrist" so hoping for a full recovery. Have somewhat prepared the guest room for him. He has never had to take meds before so will deal with that. He has a 15 yo sister Leah who has hissed at him since the cancer. Am waiting for the Feliway multicat diffuser to arrive; hopefully will help with that.
Any senior cat parents out there with amputated limb?
Becky and Lynx
Boston, MA
Hi Becky,
I added links to your post here and to the last thread you had started for reference (they link to each other).
Good thoughts for an easy and successful surgery tomorrow. I'll be looking for an update.
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
We will all be thinking about you and Lynx tomorrow.
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
I hope the surgery goes well. I suggest having a hiding place for Lynx when he's recovering - one that is easy to access him. My cat slept in a closet under a shelf, others slept in a crate that they covered with a blanket, another person put a blanket over a coffee table, you could even turn a big box in it's side. What you don't want is having Lynx hiding somewhere where you can't reach him, such as under a bed.
Have the vet or vet tech review the meds and how to administer them to Lynx. My vet sent Mona home with wet kitten food and she loved it. The advantage of wet food is that you don't have to worry about water intake as much as you do with dry food.
Mona didn't wear a collar or a onesie - she preferred to go nude and promised not to touch the stitches. I would put a warm damp cloth over the incision and she enjoyed that.
Check it with us when he comes home.
Kerren and Tripawd Kitty Mona
We are thinking of you and Lynx today!
Sending pawsitive energy for a surgery!
Hugs!
Holly & Purrkins 
Thank you all! (For some reason, I was not notified of the new posts on this thread so just saw them now - as I said, I'm technologically challenged lol.). Lynx's surgery went well yesterday and I am picking him up today at 11am EST. They gave him a long-acting antibiotic for 14 days so I don't have to tangle with that. I have mostly prepared the room and have a sewed t-shirt all ready in case that's necessary. I like the idea of a crate or box with blanket too.
Will keep you posted! (I'll be home for days so will have plenty of time to post/follow)
Becky and Tripawd Lynx
Great news, surgery went well and Lynx gets to come home. I was watching for a update on you guys.
You will still have to tangle with pain meds unless they use a patch. Let us know if you have issues will try to help you thru.
Great on the t-shirt, you will know if he needs it couple hours after he is home . Hopefully he wont but it is great to have it ready!
Today will be scary , it was for me anyway the first hour was tough but then I got over it for Purrkins sake.
Be prepared for the incision, have you looked at pictures?
Lynx will have to relearn walking and getting around. He might flop he might just get up and go. He might do both .
As for not getting notified on your posts, Jerry or someone else might be able to help further, Im thinking its in your settings? Ill have to look at mine , I thought there was a box to check ,will let you know, If I see it and can help further.
You do great this is was all new to me too, for alot of us! We learn as we go no big deal!
Hugs
Holly & Purrkins
I think I can help walk you thru LOL go to your profile picture at the top of the page.
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Hope that helps best I can do
YAAAAAAAAAY!! Surgery is done!!! Lynx will be so glad to be home!!
Yeah, recovery can be a bit rough for awhile so stay connected! As you already know, the first hand knowledge from our cat community cannot be found anywhere else! It's invaluable!
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!
Really super happy he's home with you now! Yay! Here's to pawgress! Let us know if anything comes up, and just how he's doing. We're cheering you on from Tripawds HQ!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thanks everyone. It certainly has been a rough 4 hours. I didn't know what to expect about walking. When I picked him up, the tech assured me he had already been walking and was able to use the litter box which was in his kennel. She said cats adapt remarkably well to amputation. I was amazed. Well when I got home, Lynx was agitated (which is not his style usually). I opened the door to his carrier and he immediately flopped toward the stairway in the hallway, which has a gate on it. He was totally freaked out. I put him in the BR and shut the door and spent the next 3 hours calming him down. He kept looking at the door trying to figure out how he'd get away. He hasn't eaten I'd say since about Tuesday night. Food smells good to him but he doesn't eat it. He has not drunk any water since he's been home. He was on iv pain meds until I picked him up so maybe he got fluid with it? He cannot navigate himself at all, so I doubt if the tech had actually observed him. He just flops over on himself. Then he just lays there because he doesn't know how to move. He tried the litter box and I had to lift him in and he couldn't get out (he didn't use it.) He seems to do okay on the mattress on the floor., He just flops himself around in different position. The only time he seems relaxed is when I'm petting him. And I've been petting him for hours now. I just gave him the buprenorphine at his gumline (was easy). He is more relaxed at the moment. They gave me 3 days of bup for him, does that seem about right? Btw, they sent him home with a cone on his head and I took it off within 30 mins. Right now, he is not paying attention to his incision at all. He didn't want to the tshirt either. i'm thinking his sister might want to lick it once she makes peace with him.
For anyone who had a flopper, how many days did it take for him to move himself? Is there any way I can help?
This sounds just like Purrkins! It will get better!!! Noone can prepare you for the first day home! Ever cat is different.
When I let Purrkins out of the carrier he flopped frantically just like what you saying and seeing!
Your doing great calming him! I personally couldn't stand watching him flop and just decided to help him. Sorta guide him. I would let him get up , then just stay close to help him , I even showed him how to place his front leg and would let go so he could see ok this works. (hope that makes some sense) Everyone does things different , just sharing what worked in our case.
I Had to go look at my notes on the flopping, it was Day 4 when he started getting a hop.
I had to put him in the litter box and hold him up, stable him ,he even peed when i held him. We cut the litter box way down and that helped Purrkins be able to go in and out by himself that was day 3.
Great job on getting him his meds,we were sent home with the same amount 3 days and again every cat is different , we had to get 3 more days . Purrkins was on Gabapentin 14 days and the Buprenorphin total 12 days.
We started the Gaba every 8 hours and then started stretching it very slowly and watched how he did. You dont want to chase the pain and stay ahead of it.
That doesn't mean Lynx will need that long you will just have to watch him and trust me you will know if he is in pain!
Purrkins growled and hissed at me and wouldn't let me near him. NOT PURRKINS. You know Lynx best!
If Lynx is not bothering his stitches fantastic if he starts to , try your t-shirt or cone whatever one you think he will tolerate better.
Keep trying to entice him with his food and water hold the bowls see if that helps.
Your doing great day one was the hard it will get better !
Big hugs !
I should of stated Purrkins was not average kitty in recovery. Alot of cats do fine on meds they are sent home with from what I read.
We were not that fortunate.
I just called his surgeon when we saw he was in pain and not ready to be off the meds. It was no problem getting more , the surgeon agreed he needed more days.
Just like humans, animals , no two alike on pain scales and surgeries. We just have to go with what we see. Lynx is your guide!
Wow thanks Holly. That is good to know that it was similar and about guiding him and about the litter box. I can try to guide him. He puts his front foot down and then flops over like his foot is not strong enough. So I wasn't sure how to help that. I thought his leg had to become stronger or he had to balance himself more. Maybe I can find a video about how to help 3 legged cats walk lol. The litter box side is about 3-4 inches high. Did you cut down one side to be say 1 inch? He is actually sleeping now, I even left the room and came back and he is still sleeping/resting. Unfortunately I will have to wake him up at midnight to give him the next dose.
Did Purrkins sleep through the night on the first night? I am going to have to keep his door shut because he tries to fit his head through the gate (at least earlier). Btw, that was good advice about padding the floor since he is falling on his face everywhere 🙁
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