Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi everyone,
My name is Sara and my cat, Stormy, had her left rear leg amputated last Tuesday, 2/23/21. Stormy has been missing her left rear foot since I found her at about 1 week old, so she has been a tripawd for a while. She is turning 7 in April, and the vet was surprised at how long she was able to use her stump before it developed any problems. Recently she was getting pressure sores on the stump so the vet decided to amputate up to the high femur. Her first days of recovery were so challenging.
I'm happy to say that she has returned to walking over the weekend. I am not as happy to say that she decided it was time to lick her surgery site yesterday and had to be put in the dreaded cone of shame (e-collar). Last night she pushed the e-collar off and licked her stitches. I have contacted the vet and sent them photos to make sure the site is okay. This morning I put her in a soft collar shaped like a donut. Stormy is great at removing collars. Due to COVID, I am working from home 80% of the time and able to supervise her, but come Wednesday I will be out of the house for 8 hours and worry that she'll do some damage if she can remove the collar.
Any advice on how to keep her healing incision site out of reach?
Things I have tried so far:
1. Buy a recovery suit from Amazon (it is way too small and I need to return it).
2. Get soft collars instead of a traditional e-collar. These work but she eventually can get them off, too.
Thanks so much for your help!
Sara & Stormy
Hi Sara and Stormy, welcome! Your future posts won't need approval so post away.
Glad that the recovery has taken a turn for the better! It makes sense that her incision is bothering her, this is the time when the area starts drying up and getting itchy. How does the area look? Is it dry or does it look like something could possibly be bothering her? On rare occasions we have seen a random suture or staple being the source of irritation. If you don't see anything, check out these posts for some cat cone ideas:
The Houdini Cat Cone of Shame
Finally, a Great Surgery Cone Alternative for Cats, Too!
And be sure to hop over to our Tripawd Cats Forum Discussion for more ideas about life on three legs with cats.
Keep us posted!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi, thank you for these resources. They are awesome.
The site is dry and seems to be healing well. I have communicated with the vet along the way and sent pictures. One of her stitches came out, but it did not seem to make any difference in the closure. Her stitches are scheduled to come out on Monday.
In the last two days, she has tried to use the leg that's not there, looked at it, and been moving the muscles a lot. Worried she might have phantom limb? Is this typical?
Usually phantom limb pain comes on suddenly and the cat will jump up and try and run away from the pain....probably with some loud vocals at the same time. Fortunately it only last for less than a minute. Check out the link phantom pain.
Based on your description, it sounds like Stormy is experiencing "normal" muscle twitching that happens a lot during recovery. It's not painful and it often continues on at times. It's just muscles that are left still thinking there is a leg attached.
It can also mean Stormy is trying to scratch an itch.
And just to ensure that Stormy isn't trying to scratch an itch with a leg that is no longer there, always make sure you scratch all over for her.
Glad she's doing so well, especially this early on. Good job!
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!
Ditto what Sally says. Phantom leb pain symptoms are exactly what she described. It's probably just an itch that cannot be scratched so it can't hurt to help out!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Ditto what Sally says. Phantom leb pain symptoms are exactly what she described. It's probably just an itch that cannot be scratched so it can't hurt to help out!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Stormy is having her stitches out tomorrow. I am going to ask the vet about the following things, but would love the group's feedback. I am very worried about her recovery and want to make sure she has everything she needs to feel better.
Question 1: When Stormy walks, she tries to lift the missing leg up and this causes her to unbalance and sometimes fall over. She also meows or cries when this happens.
Question 2: The stitches look good, dry, and I can't see any problems with them. However, the site twitches sometimes. What could the twitching be?
Question 3: Stormy has been nerve pain medicine (gabapentin) and pain medicine (bupernorpherin) "as needed" but I worry she's still in pain and that the above questions are related to nerve pain. How can I TELL if she's in pain and still needs meds?
Question 4: She has been very tired and sleeping extra. She still gets up to eat and walk around about once or twice a day, but is otherwise content to sleep in bed all day. Is this normal for day 12 after surgery?
Thanks!
Sara & Stormy
Stormu is such a beautiful girl! Very sweet picture.
The kitty experts will chime in, but I'll throw out a few things that may apply.
▪︎ It "generalky" takes about two weeks to recover from the MAJOR surgery itself. It "generally" takes about one mo th to adjust to the new gait, learning how to use muscles, difficulty, tec. At this point taking some stumbles and while adjusting g to three is to be expected. These will lessen in time.
▪︎Guessing the the meow when she tumbles is "probably " some frustration and/or she. might be la di g on her stump which is still tender right now.
▪︎Ttwitching at the incision will probably subside some too once the stitches are out. She may actually show a bit more "perkiness" once those pesky stitches are out.
▪︎Earing, drinking, pottying, sleeping comfortably does't seem like she's experiencing any bad pain. Resting is good. Adjusting to three at first can be very tiring.
All the above in the FWIW column. You're doing a great job! And just remember, recovery doesn't last furever!!!
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!
Hi Sarah and Stormy,
You ask great questions and have been given excellent advice already.
stormykitten said
Stormy is having her stitches out tomorrow. I am going to ask the vet about the following things, but would love the group's feedback. I am very worried about her recovery and want to make sure she has everything she needs to feel better.Question 1: When Stormy walks, she tries to lift the missing leg up and this causes her to unbalance and sometimes fall over. She also meows or cries when this happens.
Yay for the itchy stitches to go!
I would video this so you can show your vet. First off, I'm not a vet & Purrkins is a front leg amp.! I agree with Sally faceplants or tipping over is common as they learn their new body, but with vocalization, it sounds like she is having some nerve pain.
Question 2: The stitches look good, dry, and I can't see any problems with them. However, the site twitches sometimes. What could the twitching be?
Twitching alone without reactivity is normal and can be ongoing.
No reactivity means no vocalization, attacking the missing limb, biting, licking, the missing limb, backward walking in rear leggers. If there is any of those, it is nerve pain or phantom limb pain; the gabapentin would need to be adjusted dosage/frequency to help Stormy.
Question 3: Stormy has been nerve pain medicine (gabapentin) and pain medicine (bupernorpherin) "as needed" but I worry she's still in pain and that the above questions are related to nerve pain. How can I TELL if she's in pain and still needs meds?
How was the buprenorphine prescribed? How often have you been giving it?
I don't care for as-needed instructions, just saying we had major surgery it is needed. We always want to stay ahead of the pain and not try chasing it.
What is the Gaba regimen? Depending on dosage and timing, I'm sure they can tweak the Gaba - I would ask today.
Purrkins was every 8 hours.
Hit any pain signals
link for even more information on what to watch for. From your questions and concerns, you do know what to watch for. I know cats are masters at hiding pain, but your observations tell me you are on this.
Question 4: She has been very tired and sleeping extra. She still gets up to eat and walk around about once or twice a day, but is otherwise content to sleep in bed all day. Is this normal for day 12 after surgery?
this may be the gabapentin; it does cause some sedation at first. Sleeping is healing, but please do bring up your concerns to the vet.
We need to remember you are watching Stormy more in recovery, possibly right? Do you know how much she was sleeping before?
Did Stormy have presurgery bloodwork, and all was ok?
Good to hear she is up eating and moving, going to litter, ok?
Try to think about it in human terms. How would we feel 12 days after an amputation? It puts things in perspective more.
Purrkins was on the same Gaba for 14 days and buprenorphine for 12 days. Then he went to acupuncture to help get off his pain meds. Purrkins had little bouts of energy and rested both. On day 14, Purrkins got his stitches out and was free to be a cat again.
Purrkins was 6 when he had his amp.
Let us know what the vet says.
Scratches to your beautiful Stormy, please.
Hugs, Holly & Purrkins💝💝💝
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