Cat Amputation and Prosthetic

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Three-legged cats are just as lovable as their four-legged counterparts. The only difference is the added care these cats need to maintain a good quality of life. Three-legged cats happen due to amputation. Sometimes, this procedure is a must if you want to save the life of your kitty. Veterinarians recommend amputation in cancer and trauma cases. The procedure is generally the last resort and considered after all other options get exhausted. The surgery is a simple procedure.

Different ways

The veterinarian can amputate the leg of the cat by many different ways. The chosen surgical procedure depends on the limb and the damage to it. When it comes to front leg amputation of the cat, the procedure involves removing the complete limb and also the shoulder blade. Such a procedure leaves the kitty with a well-padded amputation site. Since the leg is completely removed, there is also ease of movement after the operation. When it comes to hind legs, two principal methods are used. The first method results in a small stump left middle of the way via the femur. Some owners prefer it as the cat's rump appears normal and offers the cat padding. An alternative procedure is to remove the complete leg at the hip joint and is done when the thigh is severely damaged, or there is a disease in the affected part.

Two days of trauma cases

In a few trauma cases, especially when it comes to car accidents, the veterinarian may need to treat more damage before performing the surgery. In most cases, the veterinarian will conduct many blood tests to ensure that the cat is not susceptible to complications during surgery. The real work starts after the amputation surgery gets completed. It is good that cats take less time to adjust to an amputated leg than humans. As a cat owner, expect your feline to spend about two days at the veterinary hospital. The veterinarian will give your kitty back fitted with an Elizabethan collar. The collar is also known as "cone of shame". The purpose of the collar is to stop the kitty from irritating its surgery site. The cat will be sent home with painkillers so that it manages postoperative pain. The veterinarian, in a few cases, may prescribe antibiotics so that the chance of infection be minimized. The medicines will also control the existing infection.

Post surgery, try to keep the kitty off from any uneven or slippery surface until it figures out a way to walk steadily using three legs. For amputee cats, stairs are a problem area. The cat must visit the veterinarian to have the sutures removed a few days post-surgery. This period is an excellent time to query the veterinarian and making sure that no complications will develop.