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Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat

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Cannot find relief for this post amputation problem! Need help!
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22 November 2015
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22 November 2015 - 5:40 pm
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Hello-

My name is Hattie and my 14/15 year old male DSH cat was diagnosed with an osteosarcoma in June of this year after a golf ball sized lump appeared on his shoulder blade almost literally overnight. He was presenting no other symptoms of being ill. The vet recommended amputation of his front right limb at the shoulder blade after doing x-rays that showed we caught it super early and it had not spread.

My cat (Jerry) had the amputation surgery a few days later. The biopsy showed it was actually not an osteosarcoma, but a chondrosarcoma (cartilage cancer). Anyway, Jerry came home with a ton of meds including Onsior. I gave him his dose and the very next day, I woke up to his blood curdling moans. We had purchased a huge cat cage to keep him safe during recovery (and away from my larger dog). He was laying inside his litterbox. Litter all over his face, he could not lift his head and he was making sounds I've never heard and animal or human make. He was in absolute pain. I put him on my lap and he gasped for air, gurgled, stopped breathing for periods, then gasped again. I rushed him back to the vet and was told after a quick exam, that he needed an immediate blood transfusion. They threw him in an oxygen chamber, he was, as my vet put it, "headed towards the light" on two occasions while they were scrambling to get a donor cat from their own clinic for the transfusion. Jerry ended up surviving and was even sitting up inside the oxygen chamber after the transfusion began. He stayed overnight and I picked him up the next day.

The vet's best assessment and after doing diagnostic tests, he told me that the Onsior I was given and gave to him, made him bleed internally via his intestines. After injections to stop bleeding, etc...Jerry was sent home with me. His recovery after the initial emergency trip back to the vet, has been very smooth. My old man kitty can jump up on top of the fridge, outrun the dogs, and run up and down stairs. His "personality" has completely changed though (for the better, IMO). He never used to really want to cuddle or be held and now I can do it for hours. He even spoons with me all night and stays put! 

SO....the issue we are having is that he consistently scratches and rips open various sites around where his incision is/was. His hair has all grown back along the incision line, but he has huge clumps of hair missing and bloody, scabby areas all around it. It got extra bad a few weeks ago, so off we went back to the vet. He said that he thinks that Jerry is having constant tingling sensation at the incision site due to nerve damage where he had to severe them, and so he itches or scratches to get relief. Around this time he also started pooping outside his litter box almost daily. Vet gave me a nurtureCalm cat collar for the pooping, and I am NOT kidding, my kitty went poop in the litter box immediately upon putting it on him. He has not had a single incidence of pooping outside of it since wearing the collar (it needs to be replaced every 30 days). For the bloody scabs and constant scratching, vet gave injection of Triamcinolone which was supposed to help for 7-12 days. It only worked for 3. Jerry totally left the scabs alone for three days, after that, he started scratching and ripping them open once again. Back to the vet and was given an RX for Prednisolone which I crush and put in his food daily. The objective is to ween him down gradually to a dose every other day as needed. Again, these pills worked for about three days and his scabs started healing up again, then boom....ripping them open once again even on the pills. 

I feel so badly for my cat. He recovered so nicely from surgery, he is taking being a three-legger like a champ. It isn't slowing him down at all. He purrs, comes to get love, grooms, and scarfs down all his food - what an appetite. I don't know what to do because these second option pills aren't working. He rips his scabs open every day. It makes me sad to know he is always itchy or tingly or in pain at the surgical site. Has anyone experienced this after surgery? What worked? Is there something safe and holistic I can try? My husband has been making him shirts to cover most of the scabs to create sort of a barrier between his nails and the scabs when he scratches them open. Should I try a cat Thundershirt? 

Any advice is appreciated. I want to bring him some relief so badly so he can live out the rest of his years cancer free and with dignity.

Thanks,

Hattie

Hugs,

Hattie and Jerry Cat (right front leg and scapula amputation due to chondrosarcoma at age 14, lived 2 1/2 years post amputation, succumbed suddenly to suspected lymphoma at age 16)

10/2001 - 10/9/2017 R.I.P ~ Love you always

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22 November 2015 - 5:54 pm
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Welcome! Your future forum posts won't require moderation.

So sorry to hear bout Jerry, but you've come to the right place for info and support. Others will surely chime in soon. In the meantime, check out the all the tri-kitty blogs.

Jerry might need some sort of protection while you figure out what's going on. Consider keeping a cone on him so he can't lick the area, or put a baby t-shirt or onesie on to protect the area. Second opinions never hurt either.

Best wishes for Jerry! Please keep us posted.

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

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Virginia



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22 November 2015 - 7:12 pm
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You are a wonderful advocate for your precious Jerry! WOW! You have really been through the ringer! So glad Merry decided to must take a glimpse of "the light" and come on back to you!

I have zero insight to offer and I hope some of our kitty "experts" like Kerren/Mona can help! Stand by!

Hang on! I know this is frustrating.and you want this to be "fixed" asap!! You've certainly come to the right place for tons of first hand experience chock full of solutions for "unique" issues like your Jerry's.

Hugs to you and Jerry!

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!

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Livermore, CA


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22 November 2015 - 7:37 pm
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I don't have cats, but have you talked to your vet about trying gabapentin?  It is an antiseizure med that is also used for pain relief and often used for phantom limb pain.  Maybe it would help Jerry's sympoms abate long enough for the scabs to heal.

I used gaba for my quad pug Tani for a couple years to help with her arthritis.  I didn't see any adverse symptoms from her taking it for so long.  One thing- Tani was only 15 pounds so we couldn't find gaba in small enough pills for her. I had it compounded at a vet pharmacy for Tani.

Another thing to try- and is probably much harder with cats- is to massage the muscles in the surrounding area- his neck and shoulders.

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

 

              Maggie's Story                  Amputation and Chemo

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22 November 2015 - 9:55 pm
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Hi Hattie, I'm so sorry your cat Jerry is having problems with his scar area. It sounds like he's doing so well otherwise that this must be very frustrating. This did not happen to my cat Mona but she did go a bit crazy from the pain meds she was on after the amputation.

You may know that there are few pain killers available for cats due to the way they metabolize drugs. From what I read Onsior is fairly new. It's so unfortunate the Jerry had such a vicious side-effect. Thank goodness he was saved!

My cat Mona never had to wear a cone and she never scratched at the surgery site except when the drainage dried on her skin. I would sooth the area with a damp cloth and alternated warm and cool. This may give Jerry some relief but I don't think it's a long term solution. I think a covering as you are suggesting is a good idea. Some people have used baby onesies as they fit well on cats (I think they cut off the legs).

Ultimately you need a solution and therefore need to know what the problem is. Is it an allergy? Is it nerves or phantom pain ? Karen suggested Gabapentin which inhibits neuropathic pain. Since your vet thinks its pain from nerves this may help. Before going this route you might want to research this drug for cats and see if there's another alternative. I think my cat only felt phantom pain only a couple of times where she'd be sleeping, let out a scream and leap up and run but she did not scratch the incision site. 

Is there an integrative vet who practises holistic/alternative vet medicine in your community? If so, you may find some answers there.

You may want to post your question to the "Ask a Vet" forum where a vet named Pam may be able to help: http://tripawds.....ask-a-vet/

I'm curious, was Jerry's scapula also amputated with the leg? Good luck and let us know how Jerry is doing.

Kerren and Tripawd Kitty Mona

p.s. As Karen suggested massage is really good for cats too. I use 3 fingers rather than my whole hand and Mona loves it. Check out youtube for some tips.

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23 November 2015 - 4:52 am
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Hi all,

Thank you for the nice welcomes and replies. Jerry WAS initially given a cone directly after surgery and it took all of three second to get out of it. I'd come down in the mornings after he was back from the vet a second time, and it would be laying across the cage and he'd be licking away at the site.

I do currently keep a modified t-shirt on him almost all the time and have pretty much since the cone fiasco. He was not a fan at first, but has given up the fight and leaves it on. I tried a thicker sweater once and he wiggled his way out of that somehow. I am assuming that the Thundershirt for cats is similar to the one for dogs, which I have for my big Boxer baby during storms. I may buy one today and see if the snug fit comforts him and blocks the area so all his scabs can heal (they are not little - huge areas of missing fur and bloody scabs).

I'm going to research the medication a few of you have suggested and also most likely post my inquiries to the vet thread. I really appreciate the suggestions and help. This diagnosis really threw me for a loop (as I'm sure it does for all). Being that he is so old (family member found him as a stray, emaciated kitty in 2001) I really hope he is going to break all kinds of records and live for years to come. He is just the greatest and I love him so much!

Have a great Monday 🙂

Hattie & Jerry

Hugs,

Hattie and Jerry Cat (right front leg and scapula amputation due to chondrosarcoma at age 14, lived 2 1/2 years post amputation, succumbed suddenly to suspected lymphoma at age 16)

10/2001 - 10/9/2017 R.I.P ~ Love you always

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Norene, TN
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23 November 2015 - 9:19 am
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Howdy and welcome!!!

I don't have any kitty-expawrience, but would love to see a picture of your sweet Jerry!

pam

Harmony became a Tripawd on 10/21/14 (MCT). She left us way too soon on 11/1/14.

"We miss you so much; our love, our heart, our Harmony."

- Pam, Ron and Melody, Meesha, Doublestuff and Mariah Carey

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23 November 2015 - 3:41 pm
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I would give the gabapentin since it is probably nerve pain/tingling.  It is easy to have your vet mix the capsules with PetTinic or other liquid or it can be compounded for cats.

Pam

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Michigan
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23 November 2015 - 9:10 pm
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Wow, what a time you've had!

Well, the nerve pain has been touched on (hehehe)

Here's some other thoughts - could it be a reaction to the sutures?  I know that that has been an issue in the past for some.

   -  what about ingrown hair?  or the hair itching as it's growing back in & that's just a big circle issue (growing in, itching, scratching, growing in again)

   -  could it be just a behavioral thing?  like ocd?  or biting your nails?

Donna

Donna, Glenn & Murphy 

Murphy had his right front leg amputated due to histiocytic sarcoma at 7 years old. He survived 4 years, 2 months & 1 week, only to be taken by hemangiosarcoma at 11 1/2 years 6/12/17  
Read about Murphy's Life on Three Legs

Donna.png

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24 November 2015 - 5:39 am
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Hi again,

Woke up to a bloody t-shirt and peeked underneath and sure enough...he must have scratched the scab off all night. Going to ask the vet for the gabapentin this morning - so many of you suggested it. I'm wondering why he didn't try this first? Kind of nervous about what he will say. He's a VERY good vet. He's the one in our town that everyone else sends their "I can't figure this out" cases to. But I am concerned that he didn't tell me about this drug or try it first?

When I first started bringing Jerry in for the bloody scabs issue, he attributed it to the sutures bothering him. But shouldn't they have disintegrated by now? It's almost December! He had the surgery at the end of June! I don't know...

I quickly signed up for Flickr, so hopefully this will work. A few pics of Jerry pre op, and post op. Thanks again for your suggestions and help!

*edited to say inserting photos URLs didn't work, so here is a link to my flickr account*

https://www.fli.....906719709/

 

Hattie & Jerry

Hugs,

Hattie and Jerry Cat (right front leg and scapula amputation due to chondrosarcoma at age 14, lived 2 1/2 years post amputation, succumbed suddenly to suspected lymphoma at age 16)

10/2001 - 10/9/2017 R.I.P ~ Love you always

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Michigan
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24 November 2015 - 8:35 am
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Awe, what a beautiful cat!

Some sutures can take several months to completely dissolve, so it's still possible.

Donna, Glenn & Murphy 

Murphy had his right front leg amputated due to histiocytic sarcoma at 7 years old. He survived 4 years, 2 months & 1 week, only to be taken by hemangiosarcoma at 11 1/2 years 6/12/17  
Read about Murphy's Life on Three Legs

Donna.png

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24 November 2015 - 2:43 pm
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Ohhh he is gorgeous! Thank you for sharing. If you want to post pics directly in your posts here are instructions.

Try not to be too hard on your vet. I think when it comes to Gaba it's been more used with dogs than cats. Just a guess but based on what I've seen here more dogs than cats get it for some reason, probably just not enough information out there for vets to quickly locate it when looking for a good remedy. Let us know what he says OK?

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

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Norene, TN
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24 November 2015 - 2:45 pm
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Beautiful!!!!!

Harmony became a Tripawd on 10/21/14 (MCT). She left us way too soon on 11/1/14.

"We miss you so much; our love, our heart, our Harmony."

- Pam, Ron and Melody, Meesha, Doublestuff and Mariah Carey

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22 November 2015
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26 November 2015 - 7:06 am
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Thanks, all!

Jerry had his first dose of Gabapentin this morning, so I truly hope he will finally get some relief from the pain/tingling he is feeling at the amputation site. When I finally got a hold of the vet yesterday, he suggested the med before I even had a chance to ask about it. Keeping my fingers and toes crossed that this does the trick and he has no adverse effects!

Happy Thanksgiving,

Hattie & Jerry

Hugs,

Hattie and Jerry Cat (right front leg and scapula amputation due to chondrosarcoma at age 14, lived 2 1/2 years post amputation, succumbed suddenly to suspected lymphoma at age 16)

10/2001 - 10/9/2017 R.I.P ~ Love you always

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On The Road


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26 November 2015 - 11:22 am
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Hattie that is fantastic! Glad to hear Jerry is on his way to some relief. Remember it can take a bit of time, at least a few doses, so be patient and hang in there.

You might also want to check out this Farabloc blanket, many dogs have found relief with it and I'm sure that if Jerry sleeps in the same bed/spots all the time, he probably would too.

http://gear.tri.....-farabloc/

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

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