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Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat

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2 days post op tripod kitty - panic attacks
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Member Since:
5 August 2016
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5 August 2016 - 9:52 pm
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Hi everyone!   Glad this community is here, sorry I am now joining it.   sad

I am 2 days post op with Tia, our cat, who had her left hind leg removed for a non-cancerous bone tumor.   Vet sent her home with a narcotic pain medicine (starts with a "b" but I don't have it handy) and some nerve pain medication for later after she is done with the pain med.  

We have been giving her the pain med, which does seem to help, but today we noticed a new behavior.   When she is sleeping, I notice she gets tremors/spasms all over her body.  More than normal "dreaming" cat asleep.   And when she wakes up, she immediately panics and tries to pull her collar off then goes into "crocodile rolls" while she tries to get her balance.   

I tried taking the collar off her during an episode to see if that was the problem, but she stayed panicked for a bit before settling down.  She really needs to wear the collar or she will worry at her stitches. 

Anyone else see this behavior in a cat?   (BTW - I have started a blog page - check out photos here:   http://tiatheca.....pawds.com/ )

Member Since:
14 February 2016
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6 August 2016 - 4:02 am
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Is she on gabapentin?  Lots of dogs take it for phantom nerve pain.  Or, since you brought her home early, it could be that the strong hospital meds are having this reaction.  You might want to call your vet, just to check in.  

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.

Los Angeles, CA
Member Since:
13 June 2013
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6 August 2016 - 7:30 am
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I don't have a cat but my girl, Shelby, would get random episodes after her amputation where she would run off across the room in fear. I suspected phantom pain ... she did eventually stop but perhaps gabapentin would help for her phantom pain ? I would ask your vet for sure! 

Hugs! 

Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.

October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014

Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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6 August 2016 - 9:33 am
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Welcome Tia and Mom. Sorry she is having these issues a dd I know it's hard to watch. Other kitty moms will chime in, but it most likely is nerves firing off, pain from the surgery and, as mentioned, the hospital meds could be wearing off. The med that starts with the "b" (I never can remember the name either), is the one used most often eith kitties.

Does this just happen when she's asleep? Eating, drinking, peeing okay?

Recovery is rough and some kitties do a lot of hiding at first. Stay connected. Help is on the way! Check out the kitty blogs a d you'll fi d a lot of help there while waiting for responses from kitty moms.

Hugs!

Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!

PS. Hopped over to Tia's blog...she's ADORABLE!

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!

Michigan


Member Since:
11 July 2016
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6 August 2016 - 9:51 am
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Hi, Sorry you are here, I can tell you our experience. While Purrkins was in the hospital he was on fentanyl patch and he had that twitch! I asked about it right away and it was that medication. Its a side effect.

I would call the vet asap and ask! Also we too were sent home with Buprenorhine and Gabapentin. We give those 1 hour apart. The Buprenoprhine we gave Purrkins every 8 hours the first two days  home . It says every 8-12 hours on it. We did the 8 then  started stretching that out each day a little. 

Purrkins was panicky too the first day. So was I ! We didn't do the cone ,we did onesies and t-shirts instead.  We also did a warm compress 3 times a day. Dampen a cloth and stick in a ziplock or whatever kind baggie. Microwave it . I did 30 sec. Test on you face first! Then applied to Purrkins for 10 minutes. He loves this! Its helped with his incision! 

Tia is a beauty!  Try stuffing pillows under the bed so she can't get under there! anything blankets etc. should work! Purrkins found his safe spot in the closet. 

Keep us posted please!

We are blogged under

http://purrkins.....ipawds.com

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5 August 2016
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6 August 2016 - 11:27 am
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Yes, she does have a prescription for the gabapentin, but the vet didn't want her taking both the gabapentin and the buprenorhine at the same time.   So we are supposed to do the buprenorhine every 6-8 hours for three days, then switch to the gabapentin.   

Its good to know these panic attacks are temporary.   She has them when she wakes up.   I think she is asleep, then gets startled awake by something and tries to get up.  Then she is off balance, so it turns into a little panicky roll-fest until she gains her feet.    We took the collar off her last night and she still had a few panic attacks, so I think the e-collar just makes them worse, but it doesn't cause them per say.   

I might give give the suit we bought for her one more try today.   It is one of these: http://vetgood......-and-cats/

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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6 August 2016 - 11:43 am
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Hi and welcome. I'm so glad you're here to share Tia's journey, every new member teaches us so much!

You've gotten some fantastic advice here. I'd say, make careful note of when these attacks happen and let your vet know all the details. Pain medication can make many animals really loopy and usually some fine tuning is all it takes to help them adjust better. Another thing that helps is trying to keep calm and not react too strongly when things like this happen. Be there for her, but keep a strong, pawsitive attitude. Animals absorb so much of our emotions, what we put out there is what we reflect back.

Does she do the same thing when she is wearing the medical suit? Interesting new product, thanks for sharing with us, we haven't seen that one.

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

Member Since:
5 August 2016
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6 August 2016 - 3:03 pm
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I did get the suit on her today.   She didn't protest much, but did the classic "freeze and flop" cat behavior that is common with Thundershirts.    

It has seemed to calm her way down.   She's not very mobile in it (due to the freeze and flop), but she also is sleeping quietly with no panic attacks upon being woken up.    The suit is a bit small, so I have ordered one size larger.   I will alternate the suit with the cone until I am sure she will get up and use the litterbox with the suit on (it has a opening in the back end so it doesn't have to be removed)

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Michigan


Member Since:
11 July 2016
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6 August 2016 - 4:17 pm
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That suit looks great! Wish I had seen that prior too. I hope it helps you both! The onesies move around a lot. I tried baby t-shirts they seem to be better . Purrkins was crazy the first day doing the flopping . I think they are just confused and drugged! Trying to figure out how to get around. I hated watching that and decided to help show him how to get around instead of watching the flopping. This worked for us. Everyone and all cats are different. Hope she is doing better and the twitching and panic stop. Like Jerry said try calming her. Pet her and talk to her like you normally did before this surgery.  It will get better each day, it has for us. Just try to stay ahead of the pain with the meds!  

Member Since:
5 August 2016
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6 August 2016 - 5:05 pm
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Thanks for all the advice and encouragement.  It really helps to know others have gone through this before!

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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7 August 2016 - 12:12 pm
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Good job maw! I'm so hoppy to hear that suit is helping. I hope you don't mind, I'm going to put that fabulous photo in our gallery, it's so helpful to know there's another solution for Tripawd kitties besides the onsies. Thanks again for sharing.

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

Member Since:
5 August 2016
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8 August 2016 - 8:51 pm
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jerry said
Good job maw! I'm so hoppy to hear that suit is helping. I hope you don't mind, I'm going to put that fabulous photo in our gallery, it's so helpful to know there's another solution for Tripawd kitties besides the onsies. Thanks again for sharing.  

I don't mind at all, glad to have found something new for folks!

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