The discoloring of the fur is probably a mixture of blood, maybe betadine or another surgical scrub. Don't worry about it for now, but, did the vet send home with you some soaked gauze pads with novalsan? What pain med and antibiotics did he send home with you?
Has he eaten? Urinated and/or stool yet? Was his stool production near normal at the clinic?
Cuddles is a sweetie, and it's so nice she is curious and keeping him company, that will help him greatly as he gets accustomed to his new home and new siblings!
Tripod ~ Just an Update ~ Dec 16, 2008
Re: Tripod ~ Updated with Pictures 08-09-08
Yeah ! Tambrey - bless you for not letting him be out in the wild suffering anymore. I love the pic of him chirpping and saved it.
And I love that Cuddles (we also had a Cuddles) is comforting him.
It will be interesting to see how he adapts as he gets better. I thought you said the amputation was only to be to the knee, but I guess they had to go further up. I imagine a cat with their wonderful agility and sense of balance can learn to compensate and walk on 3 legs pretty fast. Of course he has a lot of healing to do yet. He will soon learn what a lucky cat he is to having such wonderful humans and cat buddies to live with.
And I love that Cuddles (we also had a Cuddles) is comforting him.
It will be interesting to see how he adapts as he gets better. I thought you said the amputation was only to be to the knee, but I guess they had to go further up. I imagine a cat with their wonderful agility and sense of balance can learn to compensate and walk on 3 legs pretty fast. Of course he has a lot of healing to do yet. He will soon learn what a lucky cat he is to having such wonderful humans and cat buddies to live with.
Re: Tripod ~ Updated with Pictures 08-09-08
Today was another amazing day....he has been up in the bathroom window watching out at the trees....he has been up and about and even did figure 8's between my legs, As soon as I walk into the bathroom he is UP and about!!
Yes, he has had a "normal" bowel movements and urination, so that is all working fine....and at the vet they were of a normal consistency as well...
Appetite is humongous!! He is eating dry kibble as well as some canned A/D and I got some Whiskas fishy stuff in pouches that I put his medicine in because I am NOT going to even try to get the dropper into his mouth...I do NOT want to argue with him AT ALL...he eats it up just fine when I mix it in...
And he is filling out nicely....I do not feel ribs and spine as much as I did a week ago...his eyes are brighter and he just has ALOT more stamina and get up and go...he is learning to hop about quite well and gaining strength in his right leg....
Since they knew he was coming home Saturday, they tried him Friday afternoon with no pain meds to see how well he would fare, and did not send any home...I was not too happy about that, but figured if he acts like he needs some, I would call and go in and get some...but you know....the way he has been rolling over and moving about, I do not think it is bothering him enough at this point to give him pain meds....
He is on Clavamox for another week....
They did not send anything home to clean with....he said to just use warm water to cleanse the area with and nothing else....I DO have a bottle of sterile water from when I had my own foot surgery, so I am using that...of course, it is not sterile after opening it, but it is better than tap water or even taking and filling a bottle of distilled water at the store....and I used gauze pads so as not to have fuzzies from a wash cloth or towels and I can throw them away afterwards...it looks really good today...
I knew I should have left a written note for hubby to take in, with all I wanted him to remember to ask about....but I will just stop in myself tomorrow and get cleansing pads and pain meds if I feel he needs them.....
But as I said.,...to see him laying in the window, and knowing he got there himself....by jumping to the toilet then the windowsill, he cannot be hurting too badly....
he is VERY relaxed and purrry and I would think if he were in any much pain, his skin and body would not be as relaxed as he is?!
Yes, he has had a "normal" bowel movements and urination, so that is all working fine....and at the vet they were of a normal consistency as well...
Appetite is humongous!! He is eating dry kibble as well as some canned A/D and I got some Whiskas fishy stuff in pouches that I put his medicine in because I am NOT going to even try to get the dropper into his mouth...I do NOT want to argue with him AT ALL...he eats it up just fine when I mix it in...
And he is filling out nicely....I do not feel ribs and spine as much as I did a week ago...his eyes are brighter and he just has ALOT more stamina and get up and go...he is learning to hop about quite well and gaining strength in his right leg....
Since they knew he was coming home Saturday, they tried him Friday afternoon with no pain meds to see how well he would fare, and did not send any home...I was not too happy about that, but figured if he acts like he needs some, I would call and go in and get some...but you know....the way he has been rolling over and moving about, I do not think it is bothering him enough at this point to give him pain meds....
He is on Clavamox for another week....
They did not send anything home to clean with....he said to just use warm water to cleanse the area with and nothing else....I DO have a bottle of sterile water from when I had my own foot surgery, so I am using that...of course, it is not sterile after opening it, but it is better than tap water or even taking and filling a bottle of distilled water at the store....and I used gauze pads so as not to have fuzzies from a wash cloth or towels and I can throw them away afterwards...it looks really good today...
I knew I should have left a written note for hubby to take in, with all I wanted him to remember to ask about....but I will just stop in myself tomorrow and get cleansing pads and pain meds if I feel he needs them.....
But as I said.,...to see him laying in the window, and knowing he got there himself....by jumping to the toilet then the windowsill, he cannot be hurting too badly....
he is VERY relaxed and purrry and I would think if he were in any much pain, his skin and body would not be as relaxed as he is?!
Re: Tripod ~ Updated with Pictures 08-09-08
NO jumping, the least amount of exercise the first week post-op, the better. You can't risk opening up of the wound due to stretched skin and muscle during jumping. And, too much activity WILL cause pain to occur.
Did they send an e-collar home with you? Those sutures are going to start itching, and you do NOT want him licking, chewing at that area.
It sounds like he's doing well, but you still have to monitor for signs of pain and ensure he doesn't start licking or chewing at the area and the sutures and restrict activity.
Did they send an e-collar home with you? Those sutures are going to start itching, and you do NOT want him licking, chewing at that area.
It sounds like he's doing well, but you still have to monitor for signs of pain and ensure he doesn't start licking or chewing at the area and the sutures and restrict activity.
..........Traci
Re: Tripod ~ Updated with Pictures 08-09-08
no e-collar, but if he starts to bother at the area, we will put one on him then....again, at this time, he is not even paying attention to it, so I am not confining him to one....
He even did start to clean and bathe himself this afternoon.....
He even did start to clean and bathe himself this afternoon.....
Re: Tripod ~ Updated with Pictures 08-09-08
Tambrey- how's Tripod? Any new pics and what's he been up to?
Re: Tripod ~ Updated with Pictures 08-09-08
I was wishing I had the camera this morning.....he was rubbing his head all over my hand...."flopping" against me like cats tend to do....and we have a remote control mouse that I took in there and he has been curious about that....pawing at it when it moves and at one point he picked it up with his mouth.....
I will get some this weekend!
I will get some this weekend!
Re: Tripod ~ Updated with Pictures 08-09-08
Is Tripod still in the bathroom? (Usually it is us gals that have to be in there a long time 
) When are you going to let him out to the rest of the house and kitties?
) When are you going to let him out to the rest of the house and kitties?Re: Tripod ~ Updated with Pictures 08-09-08
yes...he is still in the bathroom...HIS choice....we have inadvertently left the door open a few times, to go back up and find him still laying on his bedding....
I doubt I will even attempt to let him in the main house until he is completely healed and comfortable getting around....I will bring one or two of the other cats out to meet him in the bathroom/entry hall/upstairs hall area....but for now, will just let him sort of rule the halls and stairs and get used to getting around with his 3 legs.....
He is beginning to want to play some....we got some mice and I tied 2 together by the tail so he can grab them with his mouth easier....but I noticed when I am dangling them or dragging them across the floor, it is the stump that moves towards them...same when he reaches for my hand to grab at it when he is on his belly playing....
The only issue we have is water.....he does NOT like the tap water, so we have gotten him bottled water, but I think he still thinks it is tap water, so is refusing to drink from the dish, even though I have cleaned and cleaned it to get any "odors" of the tap water out of it...so we got a rabbit feeding bottle thinking he might drink from that...so far not....so I have resorted to adding water to his kibble and when I put canned food in, I add water....his skin is not showing signs of dehydration, he is urinating, but I worry that he is not just drinking water....so until he is drinking water, I want him kept separate as well, top keep an eye on that intake/output....
Anyways....as promised.....here are some pictures, taken just a while ago!!
I doubt I will even attempt to let him in the main house until he is completely healed and comfortable getting around....I will bring one or two of the other cats out to meet him in the bathroom/entry hall/upstairs hall area....but for now, will just let him sort of rule the halls and stairs and get used to getting around with his 3 legs.....
He is beginning to want to play some....we got some mice and I tied 2 together by the tail so he can grab them with his mouth easier....but I noticed when I am dangling them or dragging them across the floor, it is the stump that moves towards them...same when he reaches for my hand to grab at it when he is on his belly playing....
The only issue we have is water.....he does NOT like the tap water, so we have gotten him bottled water, but I think he still thinks it is tap water, so is refusing to drink from the dish, even though I have cleaned and cleaned it to get any "odors" of the tap water out of it...so we got a rabbit feeding bottle thinking he might drink from that...so far not....so I have resorted to adding water to his kibble and when I put canned food in, I add water....his skin is not showing signs of dehydration, he is urinating, but I worry that he is not just drinking water....so until he is drinking water, I want him kept separate as well, top keep an eye on that intake/output....
Anyways....as promised.....here are some pictures, taken just a while ago!!
OMG he is so cute! I just love him and his looks of love for you.
Makes you wonder about his past... like - was he someones pet and they abandoned him or was he always wild. He seems so tame now. It's like he knows you rescued him and he is grateful. Sometimes I think Angel is like that...that she knows I saved her.
Tripod is a total doll and I hope you keep posting pics. My fav is the first one.
PS- re water - I did that with Honey to soften her dry food as she got older..mixed with water - but I truly think that helped her to stay slimmer and healthier with her bad hips. She had so much heart and tried to be a lil pup well into age 14.
Makes you wonder about his past... like - was he someones pet and they abandoned him or was he always wild. He seems so tame now. It's like he knows you rescued him and he is grateful. Sometimes I think Angel is like that...that she knows I saved her.
Tripod is a total doll and I hope you keep posting pics. My fav is the first one.
PS- re water - I did that with Honey to soften her dry food as she got older..mixed with water - but I truly think that helped her to stay slimmer and healthier with her bad hips. She had so much heart and tried to be a lil pup well into age 14.