Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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My 6 year old kitty, Hiroaki, just had his front left leg amputated Wednesday afternoon. This was a very sudden decision made based off finding osteosarcoma in his toe. Unfortunatley all of which happened while I was out of town so my husband took him to both appointments and didnt ask near as many questions as i would have liked. The vet we go to does not offer 24/7 care so we did bring him home Wednesday night. Other than the first few hours after getting home he has not seemed to sleep at all. We also can not get him to eat or drink anything at all.
I have spent the last 12 hours at least trying to look up what is normal and what isn't, which is how I found this community. After seeing so many other stories I am slightly concerned that he is not interested in food or water, even tuna water, or sleeping because he is in pain. The only medicine that was sent home with him was buprenorphine every 12 hours.
The plan is to call the vet as soon as they open in the morning but at this rate I'm not sure I'm sleeping before then. I'm so worried about my little guy :'(
Hi and welcome. I love your avatar photo, Hiroaki is adorable.
Bringing home an animal the same day is smart if there is no overnight care, so kudos to you for doing that. But as you know by now, it's also no picnic. And when an animal's pain medication isn't dialed in (not uncommon at all), it can make the recovery much harder.
It may be possible that your cat was given a 3-day injection pain medication known as Nocita, so ask your vet or look at your receipt to see if he was. In the meantime, yes, do advocate and call to let your vet know what's going on. In our interview with feline pain expert Stephen Cital, he says a non-steroidial anti-inflammatory like Onsior (aka robenacoxib) is something to advocate for, as well as benzodiazepine (aka Valium). He also says:
And what’s nice about mixing different drugs or doing polypharmacy is when you mix different drugs, some of these drugs play really nice together and they can potentiate each other so it makes them work better and we can use them at lower dosages, which is going to get rid of some of the negative side effects we would see with a big, huge dose of buprenorphine or a big, huge dose of a particular nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory.
If Hiroaki was given a huge dose of buprenorphine, it sounds like he's having those negative side effects unfortunately. Do your best to try to keep him hydrated with tempting things in his water, any moist food he will eat, etc, and talk to your vet so they can help.
Also see:
https://nutriti.....g/appetite
Oh one more link for you: our new Cool Tips for Tripawd Cats has tons of great suggestions, be sure to check it out!
Keeping his pain managed will make a huge difference so hang in there and keep us posted!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Online
Just want to welcome Hiroaki to the family.
Can only DITTO everything Jerry shared with you. Lots of wisdom in that post.
You are in the roughest part of recovery right now and it will be rough for a bit longer. As Jerry said, bringing yoir kitty home the same day of surgery is hard to see. The cat is shaking off anesthesia and, that alone, is no picnic for you or the cat!
IT DOES GET BETTER THOUGH!! Keep in mind that this is MAJOR SURGERY, as well as the kitty trying to adjust to three legs! Slow and easy for now.
Stay connected! We are here to help!
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!
Update:
It looks like during the procedure they used buprenex, with anesthesia of course, and convenia.
We finally got the call back from the vet. They suggested removing his e-collar in Hope's that he was just protesting having it on.
Removing the collar did seem to improve his mood a bit, he started moving around a bit more and coming over for more pets. However still will not eat.
We are giving him until 2pm to eat. If he hasnt by then they will give us a script for entice, I believe that's what she called it, to stimulate his appetite.
Plan for the next hour and a half, add some baby food and fresh cooked chicken breast to his buffet to try and tempt him.
He also finally went potty, although in his kitty bed but I'll take what I get and gladly buy him a new one.
To be this soon out of surgery and he's using potty (in the bed is fine)?? GREAT NEWS!!! And he's already mobile a little??? WOW!!!
Eating may take a bit longer. Kitty members will give you some tips on that.
And DEFINITELY check out the link Jerry gave to for kitties https://downloa.....-cat-tips/
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!
Hello, and Welcome, sorry you have to join us and dealing with cancer.
Purrkins is a front leg amputee he was also 6 when he lost his leg to a soft tissue sarcoma he is now 8.
We used a baby onesie instead of the cone. Instructions for what I did below.
DIY Baby Onesie/T-shirts Cone of Shame Alternative
Purrkins was on Buprenorphine every 8-12 hours for 12 days the first few days every 8 hours and Gabapentin for 14 days every 8 hours. That was after 3 days in the hospital on mega meds. I would be asking about bumping up the Buprenorphine dose to every 8 hours, and I would still ask for the gabapentin to be added. These vets do not send home enough pain management we have to advocate for them.
pain management is going to make all the difference in appetite and recovery. Jerry gave you a great link on pain management interview from Stephen Cital.
Baby food meat and gravy only Gerbers turkey and gravy, chicken & gravy, ham & gravy are all ones to try. I have no experience with Entyce it is an appetite stimulant it is new now being used off-label for kitties. I have read good things about it.
As you know not eating or drinking anything can be dangerous quickly in cats! if you don't get Hiroaki to eat I would want them to see him and make sure he is not dehydrated. Can you syringe feed him?
The Easy Way to Syringe Feed Tripawd Cats
Yes, take the potty wherever it is.
What is your litter box set up like is it a low lipped box? We cut Purrkins out for easier access and the first few days I assisted him in and out of the box. Hang in there eating and drinking most important if you cant get food in him take him in. Things will get better first few days are the hardest!
Pawsitive thoughts and prayers Hiroaki eats for you.
Keep us updated, please.
Hugs,
Holly & Purrkins❤️
Oh yay that you talked to your vet. Let us know how the Entyce works, it's supposed to be good stuff. I wouldn't wait much longer to get it from your vet as it's Friday and you may have trouble getting it over the weekend. Always good to have it on hand just in case.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Another update. I had to go back to work today, still didnt get much sleep in hopes I would catch my boy sneaking some food. I did not. So as of 3 am still no food that we know of. This is not giving me much hope for entyce. The first about hour after getting it he also kept gagging occasionally but never actually got sick.
He did however get up multiple times for water, progress right?
I texted my husband about an hour ago asking if he had eaten, he said he hasnt seen any yet. He did say that Hiroaki was sleeping and he would try baby food when he wakes up since the poor baby hasnt really slept since coming home.
The pain of being at work, my husband is third shift and has fallen asleep.
Our vet is open today until 4 so I'm hoping I can call and wake up the husband that way if we still cant get Hiroaki to eat we can call the vet.
I also noticed last night that his third lids were showing a lot. I am hoping this is just due to a combination of being a bit dehydrated and extremely exhausted.
Quick update: refusing baby food as well. My husband called the vet and was told they think it may be an adverse reaction to the anesthesia and want him in for bloodwork. Appointment is in 1 hour.... so hard to be at work right now:'(
I'm sorry Hiroaki needs to go In, but I do believe that is the best place for him right now, he likely needs fluids too. It will make a world of difference for him.
Let us know when you hear, please.
Hugs,
Holly & Purrkins
https://www.cat.....is-showing
Purrkins third eyelid was showing the day I brought him home. I called the vet, and they told me not to be concerned if it was not back in/ in fours hours we had a concern. Purrkins did go back in.
I agree with you on exhaustion, dehydration, pain meds/anesthesia and pain all can be causing it.
I am relieved he is being seen today!! They can help Hiroaki feel better. I know it's dishearting for you & hard to be at work!
Pawsitive thoughts are with you!
I'm also glad to hear your vet will see him, that's great news. Keep us posted OK? We hope he gets to start feeling better today!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Finally got word from the husband!
Blood tests all came back "fine," I cant wait to get home and actually see the numbers for myself. I may not be far into school but I am going for vet tech and know what most of them mean so far.
They gave my baby a hump back of fluid, steroid, pain killers, and anti nausea meds.
After hearing that he gagged after the entyce they said to not give him anymore, only got 1 dose so no real judge on if it works.
Instructed that if he still does not eat with the fluids and meds by tomorrow they will need to put in a feeding tube. I would hate to put him through more surgeries but if it makes him better I'll do what needs done.
In regard to the third lid, the vet agrees it is most likely dehydration but did say if it does not go back in after his hump is gone to let them know immediately.
Fingers crossed he was just dehydrated and that made him not want to/willing to eat.
It's been about 5 hours since he got his fluids and meds and the seems to be no change. They gave him until 1pm tomorrow to eat or else feeding tube. 😢
I'm sorry I was hoping the fluids and pain meds would be all he needed.
Did you try putting your finger in the baby food and dabbing his nose with the baby food? Instinct he will lick his nose and that might be all he needs to get him started eating.
Have you tried fishy foods like Tuna and Salmon? Wet foods anything smelly worked for us to stimulate the senses. Chicken and Herring. Do the same dab a tiny amount on his nose. See what he does. I had assorted foods for Purrkins. You can warm the food too.
If no go on any of the above I would try syringe feeding him today if you have syringes? I'm concerned with the catching up factor now it will be 3days tomorrow. I don't see choices.
Hiroaki eat for Mom please!
Will continue sending pawsitive thoughts for you both! Keep us posted please.
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