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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Hello,
Firstly, I am new to this forum but have been using this site as a resource for the past couple of months while agonizing over the decision to have our cat Samson's right back leg amputated due to a malignant tumour on the hock. Hello and thank you for this resource!
So we did indeed opt for surgery which took place last Thursday. We picked him up yesterday around 4 in the afternoon. For the most part things are going relatively well... some ups, some downs. He's been mostly in hiding under a futon today after being much more social yesterday. Makes giving him his meds a fuss for sure.
However, what concerns me is his complete lack of interest in drinking water. I have yet to witness him drinking out of any of the vessels we've provided and have been with him almost 24/7. He is urinating but I'm not sure if that's a result of fluids already in his system from the hospitalization.
He's also resting but not sleeping much. Side effect of the pain killers?
Of course I'll be contacting the vet tomorrow to give an update but in the meantime is this normal and is there anything I can do to encourage things? He did show some interest in a bit of baby food which has some water in it so that's good but it's obviously not enough. And I'll try some tuna water tonight to see if that works.
Thanks!
Hi there!! Welcome to the "club"! My cat Salem had his front leg amped. I was lucky he was really good at eating and drinking, however... the vet had warned me that after all the fluids they had given him it was very possible he wouldn't drink right a way or as much as usual. Perhaps this is the case? You said you just brought him home correct?
<3 Kendi and Guardian Salem
<3 Kendi
Mommy of furbaby Salem Bynx
came to my home in 2007
Lost his leg due to cancer
Left us Dec 2013 :(
Hi there and welcome, we're so glad you joined us! Sorry to hear about your kitty's leg. He sounds like he's doing pretty good overall, that's terrific! The symptoms you are describing "sound" normal when it comes to pain medication and post-op side effects but yes, do check in with your vet. Why not give the tuna water a try now to see if that works?
I will be the first to admit I don't know much about feline amputation surgery side effects but thanks to the great feline members here I'm certain we'll have some excellent ideas coming your way. In the meantime you may want to check out this excellent post from Fang's Momma, about what it's like to go through recovery:
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi Ollie! Sorry yo had to find us, but glad you did!
We have several "cat amoutee experts" on herewho will all chi e n-
I CAN tell you' from a "dog erspective", my Happy Hannah would NOT touch er water. The first day or so I wasn't too concerned, butthen had t start "tricking" ner to get ner to drink. i did keep water right beside her so she wouldn't have to get up. Of course, tried the chicken broth, etc. bt to no avail. Fi alky, K would pt a scoop of vanilla ice cream in her water and stir it up...that worked pretty darn good! I had to evenntualy switch to chocolate as she tired of the vanilla! It seems as though it was at least a week before she started drinking "regular" water on her own!
As far as being restless and not sleepi g well, yeah, that's very normal this early in recovery. I thinks others will tell you their kitties hid a lot at first too!
Hang in there, o,ay! Yo are doing a great job! We are all here for you.....right by yor side!
Hugs!
Sally and Happy Hannah
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!
Thanks for the welcome everyone!
The tuna water was a success. He only drank a little bit but he was interested immediately. I only waited because I didn't want to push too many different things on him at once.
Yes, I've read Chantal's post about recovery expectations and I'm trying to take everything in stride. Shortly after I made my initial post Samson came out and ate some dry food for only the second time so far. He seems to have a healthy appetite for cat treats though!
Thanks again, you've all been very reassuring. I will of course post updates as we progress.
GREAT NEWS!! Way to go Ollie!! AND Mom!
Yeah, recovery is notpicnic but, as you can already see, it sure has ups and downs!,
Ollie's sparkle will be back before you know it!
Zthaks for tak g the ti e to update us and we look forward to more!
CONGRATULATIO S OLLIE!!
Sally and Happy Hannah
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 to you and Samson! My Jill (also a kitty!) had her right back leg also amputated. She just celebrated her one year ampuversary on 12/12! What type of tumor did Samson have? Jill had osteosarcoma (bone cancer).
We didn't have any challenges with drinking water - but she did when she had her toe amputated (thats where the primary tumor was, so her toe was amputated first) because she had a cone on. Does Samson have a cone on? If so, that might be the problem - I wound up having to give Jill water from a teacup because she couldnt drink from her water bowl with the cone on:
http://i1289.ph.....93F52D.jpg
What pain meds is Samson on? Jill did rest a LOT while on the pain meds, she didnt really want to do much at all. Please visit her blog and if you go back to the very beginning you can see tons of pics and videos about the recovery of a rear leg kitty amputee 
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
Yay! Tuna water does it again!!!
A big shout out to our kitty members for adding their insight, it's so valuable!
Samson keep it up, we're rooting for ya.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Yay! Tuna water does it again!!!
A big shout out to our kitty members for adding their insight, it's so valuable!
Samson keep it up, we're rooting for ya.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi rica55,
I have actually read some of your blog already. I watched the one year ampuversary video and it made me smile to see Jill hop around! I was also reassured to see that her surgery incision looked a lot like Samson's. It gave me a sense of normalcy. Thank you! And congratulations on one year!
Samson is on Tramadol twice daily for 4 days. I've only been giving it to him once daily though because he is very resistant to pilling. It's a struggle and I'm concerned about aggravating the sutures while I hold him in place. It also causes him to hypersalivate. He seems to be doing ok on this dose.
As well he is on Metacam once daily for ten days, which is easier to administer.
And unfortunately he developed eye ulcers while in the hospital so he has a cream for that, 3 times daily for 2 weeks.
He's still spending most of his time under the futon but closer to the edge now so I can pet him which he likes, rolls on his back, stretches, etc. And he gets vocal if I'm not lying beside him. So he seems to be in good spirits, just scared of being exposed. Can't say I blame him as he usually gets medicated when he does venture out.
Hi there. I am just catching up on posts - and see we have another cat here. you have landed on a great site. My cat Deva had a front leg amputated (bone cancer). We are 12 days on and things are improving SO MUCH! The first few days Deva was not interested in eating or drinking at alll. Also, I could not give tablets, so I crushed the pill and mixed it with a little bit of Nutrigel (which tastes yummy to a cat) and rubbed it on her gums. This worked a treat!
Welcome to the tripwards community and best of luck over the next few days. The first week is definitely the most intense, and things are much better after that.
Deva the wondercat is a newish blog - but it seems like you have found the two I would most recommend - Fangs Blog and Jill the tripawd kitty.
Merry Christmas!
Treacy and Deva
Hi Treacy,
Thanks for the welcome, advice and encouragement!
Forgot to mention that he's not wearing a cone. He hasn't shown any interest in his sutures so we're holding off on the cone unless we feel it's necessary.
No cone? Wow what a great patient!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I was at work today while my girlfriend (co-parent) looked after Samson. It was nice to see some improvement when I got home.
He really wanted to leave his recovery room so we let him walk around the main floor a bit. His balance is getting pretty good. Even if he can't quite hop he can at least stand. We're trying our best not to let him jump onto and off things. I think that is frustrating him a bit. We put him on the bed and he was very affectionate, flopping around like he normally does. It's interesting how much quicker his movements appear to be with only three legs.
He ate more variety of food today but still doesn't want straight water. He's urinating though and even passed a bowel movement this morning which I was told not to expect yet. He can get himself in and out of the litter box which is a small blessing.
He's also getting more of his personality back. But like I said, he gets frustrated easy and goes back into hiding.
So far so good.
Yes indeedy, so far soo good! And it's only going to get better! It is!!
Love that enjoyed getting getting cozy on tne bed and flopping around a bit. Yet another sign that Ollie's personality is coming back...slowly but surely!
That leg had to be hurting him some. Even through the discomfort and adjustment to surgery, I bet he can tell that the particular pain caused by the tumor is gone.
Glad he's able to "get his bidness" done in the litter box.....win/win for everybody!
I know how good it is to have Ollie home for the holidays. Best Christmas present ever!!
Surrounding you with continued healing and hugs to all!
Sally and Happy Hannah
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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