Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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My cat had her hind leg amputated a week ago. She has been on Buprenorphine. For the last 5 nights she wakes up several times a night and has these episodes of crying out, the high pitch sound when cats fight, then she thrashes briefly and then sometimes moans a little and that's it. These are quick episodes and then she calms down and usually eats something. The vet has never heard of anything like this. She put a Fentanyl patch on her yesterday to see if this changes the behaviors. Has anyone ever experienced this or know of someone who has? I am praying this does not happen again tonight, it has been really hard to watch.
Hi there and welcome. Your future posts won't require approval so post away.
I'm sorry to hear about your cat's situation. Unfortunately this isn't all that uncommon with new Tripawd cats or dogs, we see it happen more often than we would like. Usually it's because of inadequate pain management that needs to be better adjusted to her unique physiology.
We are not vets but it is my understanding that what you are describing is not a side effect of Buprenorphine. Usually these types of pain signals are because of phantom leg pain , and when it happens it IS scary! There are still many vets out there who have not experienced or know how to deal with this type of pain. But the good news is that there are ways to advocate for and help your kitty.
Has she been on any other pain medications other than Buprenorphine, like possibly Gabapentin? If not, she needs to be. It is the Go-To pharmaceutical of choice for nerve pain. Please ask your vet for a prescription and if they clear her medical background for it (most pets can take it), get her started right away, like today. The Fentanyl patch may only make things worse because it doesn't address nerve pain (it addresses a whole other type of pain pathway), and it may make her behavior really sedate and wonky. It will last 72 hours and after that if she isn't on anything it's likely the phantom pain will return.
Our book, Cool Tips for Tripawd Cats , has tons of recovery tips like this, I encourage you to check it out.
For now, please advocate for the Gabapentin right away. And since pain control isn't just a one and done thing, you may also want to look into dry needling acupuncture to help with the nerve pain. Here are some videos and information for you to check out. Please keep us posted:
Yes, Acupuncture for a Tripawd Cat’s Pain Can Help
Is Your Amputee Cat in Pain? Here’s How to Tell
Best (and Worst) Pet Amputation Pain Drugs
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Jerry,
Thank you so much for your reply. It is so refreshing to read this and the whole time saying "yes!" You hit the nail on the head! Last night confirmed it is 100% not overall pain related but nerve pain. She had a big outburst before bed, ripping her cone off her head and thrashing around and then all night these mini one's that lasted 5-10 seconds. I know she's frustrated with being kept in one room away from her sisters. I walked out of the room this morning and she had a fit. My primary vet called to check in yesterday and also suggested Gabapentin. I am calling the doctor this morning to ask about it. Thank you so much!!! It has been a LONG week watching her go through this. Other than that she is doing so well.
Jerry,
I know I replied to you awhile ago but I can't thank you enough for your feedback. Just got back from the vet and she is now on Gabapentin. Already gave her her first dose. I did read somewhere people saying their cats foam at the mouth when given? Because she did do that. Fingers crossed this takes care of it.
Just catching up on your recovery....er...."adventures " with your sweet kitty!
So glad Jerry with her infinite wisdom was able to point you in the right direction. Qnd good for you for advocating for the Gabapentin to stop that phantom limb pain. Hopefully you'll start to see results soon.
Is it in liquid form or a pill? Guessing either way the taste would be enough to cause some mouth foam. Others will have to chime in on that.
Keep is posted and so glad you got the reassurance you needed from Jerry so quickly. Recovery doesn't last furever...it just seems like ot sometimes.
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!
Hey there you are so welcome! How is she doing now? Has the Gabapentin kicked in yet?
I haven't heard anything about cats foaming at the mouth after Gabapentin, so I looked it up and apparently it's a very common cat reaction to the icky taste of any medication. Only rarely does it ever indicate an allergy to a medication. Is she OK now?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hello & Welcome,
What is your kitties name & reason for the amp?
You have been given excellent advice already! So glad you posted & got gabapentin added & in already.
Purrkins was on both Gaba and buprenorphine in recovery.
- 14 days Gabapentin 100 mg capsule 1 capsule by mouth every 8 hours
- 12 days Buprenorphine 0.3 mg every 8-12 hours
Our instructions were to give the Gaba & buprenorphine one hour apart, not together.
Is your gabapentin a capsule? We opened the capsule, put it in a little bowl, added a little bit of tuna water(water from the can of tuna), just enough to make the powder slurry, and slurp it up in the syringe to syringe the gaba to Purrkins.
The tuna water will mask the bitter taste. The bitter or nasty taste is what makes cats foam at the mouth.
Hope to hear you both have a better evening!
Hugs
Holly & Purrkins
💝💝💝
Thank you sooooo much for these great tips Holly! I need to bookmark this info, it's very helpful.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thank you all for your replies! The Gaba is liquid form and every time I have given it to her she foams at the mouth. I think the pill form sounds a lot better. Not sure how much is actually getting in there. She foams so much when giving it to her.
Jerry, I don't think it has kicked in yet because she had a couple of fits last night but not a major one like the previous nights so that is a positive. I'm wondering how long she will have to take this?
Holly, reason for the amputation was a sarcoma. They believe a rabies vaccine related sarcoma, very frustrating! Which means she got this shot 5 1/2 years ago. My vet does not use that kind of rabies vaccine.
You can try the tuna juice with the liquid Gaba to see if that helps. The same idea as above add a little tuna water to the Gaba liquid dose you are going to give. Measure your amount put in a little bowl, add tuna water and slurp it back in the syringe. Just be careful not to aspirate her. It will be more runny than you used to. We have to mask that bitter, nasty part!
The other idea is if you have empty gel capsules and can pill her - add the liquid into an empty capsule. I personally never have luck pilling our cats and always syringe meds, but some do! So whatever works for you and your cat & that means trial and error figuring it out sometimes.
They do make Gaba compounded flavored, but you need it now, so that's not helpful.
She will need to be on the meds consistently & getting the dosage in for it to become effective. Unfortunately, we are chasing pain which takes a little longer for the meds to catch up. It will when you can get the full dosage in & the timing dialed in. How often is it prescribed every 8 hours?
So sorry about the vas! We do vaccines to protect our animals, and this happens too often—frustrating YES and then some.
Hang in there. Once you get the meds dialed in, things will get better.
Hugs
Holly & Purrkins💝💝💝
Holly,
She is prescribed to take it every 8-12 hours 2x3 times a day. I actually just looked and it is flavored. She just hates it! So would I:)
I hope things get better because this is by far the hardest thing I've ever had to go through!
Drats! I'm sorry. I'd still try the tuna juice and or the gel capsule; see if that helps you both get the meds in and NOT foam/froth! I would stay at every 8 hours!
I hope things get better because this is by far the hardest thing I've ever had to go through!
YES! WE ALL UNDERSTAND THIS STATEMENT & Are on the other side. It will, we promise!
Big hugs
Holly & Purrkins💝💝💝
nixonmathis18 said
Jerry, I don't think it has kicked in yet because she had a couple of fits last night but not a major one like the previous nights so that is a positive. I'm wondering how long she will have to take this?Holly, reason for the amputation was a sarcoma. They believe a rabies vaccine related sarcoma, very frustrating! Which means she got this shot 5 1/2 years ago. My vet does not use that kind of rabies vaccine.
To add to Holly's excellent insight, I would just say that YES, things do get better! Promise! And that she most likely won't need the meds beyond recovery. In some cases it's helpful but obviously if it's not working for you or her, there are other ways to manage her pain IF she has any lingering once recovery is officially over. But let's not go there yet. Day by day is the best way to take things!
Sorry to hear the reason for her amputation was a vaccine associated sarcoma. Be sure to check out this topic if you haven't seen it yet:
Vaccine Associated Sarcoma - Fibrosarcoma, Osteosarcoma, Chondrosarcoma
I hope today was better for both of you! 
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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