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Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat

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Day 2 at home w/cat - not drinking water
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New York, NY
Member Since:
3 December 2012
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23 December 2013 - 6:02 pm
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Sounds like great progress!  I know it's very hard to keep those kitties from jumping and moving around....it was the one time in my life I was happy I lived in a teeny tiny apartment, so I let Jill roam free while she was recovering.  I did let her jump down when she felt like it (jumping up was way harder being a back leg amputee).....trying to limit it just became too much with a cat!  You just have to get through the stitches stage and then you've got it made!

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

On The Road


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23 December 2013 - 10:19 pm
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This is definitely good news! Yeah, Tripawds are fast as lightening!

As for the water issue; I think that as long as he's on pain meds he may be less enthusiastic about it but whatever form of liquid he's drinking is good!

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

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22 December 2013
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24 December 2013 - 4:04 pm
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Good news! Samson took his first drink of water (that I've seen) about 15 minutes ago. It was the second time I held the water dish in front of him and spoke gentle encouragement that he started drinking for about a minute straight. It's a Christmas miracle!  🙂

 

We had e-mailed the hospital about it and the surgeon replied that we should look for dry/tacky gums.

 

He has spent most of the day on top of the futon, not hiding at all that I've seen. I also finally witnessed him use the litter box and he maintained his balance really well.

 

And he slept with me the whole night and morning, showing more signs of his old self.

 

He's tired now and resting, which is good. He's not getting near the normal sleep that he did pre-surgery.

 

Thanks again and Merry Christmas!

 

 

 

Livermore, CA




Member Since:
18 October 2009
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24 December 2013 - 4:14 pm
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A wonderful update!

 

Merry Christmas to all.

 

Karen

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

Member Since:
18 September 2013
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24 December 2013 - 4:17 pm
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What a wonderful update!

Drinking, sleeping, using the litter box....and snuggling!

Oh Ollie.....Christmas just got a whole lot better for your whole family :)

Hugs

Linda and Tucker

Member Since:
27 November 2013
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24 December 2013 - 6:42 pm
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YAY!!!  What great news.  Salem was so happy to not have to wear that cone anymore when I brought him home.  I let him wear little onesies and he was much more comfy.  He had worn the cone for 3 weeks while we decided what to do with his leg.  it sounds like Ollie is getting around pretty good now!  Wonderful news!!!

<3 Kendi
Mommy of furbaby Salem Bynx
came to my home in 2007
Lost his leg due to cancer
Left us Dec 2013 :(

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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24 December 2013 - 9:08 pm
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Christmas miracle indeed!!

Okay! You can EXHALE now!! I know YOU are feeling so mich better as you see Ollie doing so mich better!

Thanks for the update.....smiles goingon over here!

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!

New York, NY
Member Since:
3 December 2012
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24 December 2013 - 9:26 pm
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GREAT UPDATE!!! and wait til you see when the stitches come out!!  He'll be like a whole new kitty cat!!!  Keep the updates comin!!!

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

Member Since:
22 December 2013
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27 December 2013 - 4:01 pm
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Thanks everyone! Just to clear up some naming confusion... the cat is Samson and I am Ollie.  🙂

 

So the past two days have been good. I noticed a bit of redness along parts of his sutures on Wednesday night which gave me concern but I e-mailed photos to the vet the next day and the surgeon replied that he sees nothing to worry about. I love being able to contact the doctor by e-mail. It's so reassuring and beats taking the cat on a road trip every time I get scared.

 

Samson is sleeping more as he takes less pain killers but he has developed a frustrating desire to investigate the deepest corners of the house. Last night we found him under the basement stairs which is filthy! And then he managed to crawl into a dark corner of a small basement closet. I'd never seen him sleep there before.

 

His walking/hopping is pretty steady now. He's slow but he knows what he's doing. He can also jump up onto and off of small heights which is good for his independence. He can walk down stairs but still has trouble walking back up.

 

Oh and he wants to go outside despite the freezing temperatures and mountains of snow.

 

I am amazed by his progress so far.

 

 

 

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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27 December 2013 - 6:02 pm
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Ohhh, but "Ollie" just seemed to fit him so well!¡winker

Okay Samson, you are doing great this early in recocery! I think others will tell you tehir kitties took it slowl at first too and rested a lot.

Don't know what to tell you about his desire to go to different places. Others can chim e in on tjat. Maybe he just wants to make sure he jas a hiding place in for when it's ti e for him to go back to the vets!

Soooooo glad hes making progess. I know this is such a rough time but it sounds like he's well on the way to a full recoveryclap

Look forward to more good news AND pictures!!

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!

Member Since:
22 December 2013
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26
31 December 2013 - 10:33 am
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Not much to update as things are still going relatively well. We made an appointment to have the sutures taken out this Thursday so looking forward to that. Poor Samson is going to be scared on the drive to the vet though!

 

I'd say my only concern at this point is that Samson likes to hide most of the day, either on a chair in the corner of the basement or in the upstairs bedroom closet. It's just a slight concern though as I'm sure this is normal. He's still less than 2 weeks out of surgery and I think we got excited to see so much early progress that things seem to be going slow now.

 

I will try to get organized and post some pictures soon. I want to capture some video of his "hop"!

 

Happy New Year everyone!!

 

 

 

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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31 December 2013 - 10:48 am
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Great to hear from you and to know things are still progressing well...slowly but surely!

You have all the major hurdles covered...eating,pooping, peeing, drinking, adjusting mobility wise! YAAAAAAY!

And YES, it is still early in recovery soyou are still seeing ups and downs and plateaus...all "normal" recovery. His sparkle will continue to return!

Jill and others can chime in on "kitty hiding". I'm assuming you are still having to give Samson pills?? Could it be he's trying to hide to avoid that?

Can't wait to see those videos! Having him home to start the New Year....-WOW! Enjoy the bliss!

Hugs to sweet Samson!

Saly 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!

New York, NY
Member Since:
3 December 2012
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28
31 December 2013 - 1:21 pm
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yay! So glad to hear things are going well!

Well...Jill is a very abnormal cat, she did not hide, she wanted to be on top of me, she was scared if I left her side....but again, I say she's totally strange...she has been a very clingy cat since I got her at the age of 8 weeks...

BUT I will tell you two things:

One- I did notice a HUGE difference when she got her sutures out.  She felt much more herself.  Played more, felt more comfortable moving around.

Two- I'm a member of another group that has some tripawd kitties and almost ALL of the members express concern that their cats hide after coming home from amputation.  Many of them get quite distressed over this, but it's definitely a common theme I've seen amongst the group.  I haven't heard of any cats not changing this habit eventually, although, there have been one or two that have taken close to 1-2 months not hiding.  I would suggest just giving him some time.  He probably also realizes when he does come out he's going to get pilled (another thing Jill has no problem with...again, totally strange cat)...I would hide too if you were going to stick pills down my throat ;)

Keep us posted!!! I hope the recovery continues to go well!!

xoxo,

Erica & Tripawd Kitty Jill

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

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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31 December 2013 - 2:57 pm
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I'm glad to hear things are relatively boring right now. I'm not a vet but I would agree that the hiding is a normal post-op behavior for cats. There are lots of ups and downs on this recovery ride and it sounds like you're at one of those "down" times but I'm going to be things will pick up when those stitches come out. Good luck at the appointment.

We can't wait to see some pics and videos, it will sure help others who are going through this. Thanks so much!

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

Member Since:
22 December 2013
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30
2 January 2014 - 3:45 pm
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Hello!

 

So today was suture removal day and the 2 week ampuversary of the surgery. Samson did well at the vet, was vocal in the car but not scared sounding like when we took him in for the operation. And once at the hospital he was, as the technician put it, "a chill cat."

 

Everything looked good, including his eyes which you may recall had superficial ulcers on them because he wouldn't blink for the first few days. So now that he's off the eye gel there are no more meds to give him. I agree that this probably has something to do with his hiding. He didn't mind taking his meds at first but he grew less cooperative each day.

 

I also think he likes the quiet when hiding. We are not a super noisy household but there's usually music or the TV on. That might bother him a bit. He's always been skittish around loud noises. He does come out and sleep with us at night which is a good sign.

 

OK, and finally a few pictures. None without sutures for now... he's hiding of course.  🙂  Please ignore the general clutter, you don't really plan for these kinds of photos.

 

Oh, and I don't think I mentioned that he had a small lump removed from his chest at the same time. We noticed it about a week before surgery and it was decided to remove it while he was under anesthesia.

 

Samson's Recovery

 

 

 

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