Esteban is hanging out next to me, helping with this blog post. By helping, I mean nudging the laptop screen and walking on the keyboard!
His incision looks great! He’s on day 9 post op, and he’s definitely looking as good as Steve looked at this point. His skin is closing or is closed. The warmth I felt is gone. He shows very little signs of feeling irritated by the sutures, and I’d be hard pressed to believe he’s in any pain. He really never stops purring!
Zissou earned her way out of her e-collar when she dunked it almost completely in the water bowl, then dragged it through a fresh poo in the litter box. I thought about that series of events happening in reverse order. Since the swelling in her tail was completely gone, the incision was closed and clean, and she could pretty much reach around the e-collar anyways, I made the executive decision to remove it.
Ooh! Someone just stepped down from the couch and wandered off! He did it just like all the front leg amp pawrents said he would! He leaned way down until his front leg was close to the ground, then took a gentle jump down! He took a lap around the kitchen, jumped up onto the mini cat tree in the window, gently jump/stepped down, and is back on the couch with me again! It all happened too quick for me to get photos or video. He’s getting around like a pro!! And he’s gone again!
Both kitties have a recheck appointment with the humane society vet next Monday. She thinks that Esteban will be staying to go up for adoption. He was already doing so well before I took him. I think they only sent him with me because it’s easier for fosters to medicate than for the shelter staff to do it. Really, the only thing he needs from me is to put weight on him and improve his coat. He’s so scraggly and skinny. He’s got this Tripawd thing down!! If he doesn’t do well on the adoption floor, I can take him back and he can be adopted from our home. Zissou definitely needs some socialization, so she’ll be staying.
My sister’s family is fostering a Tripawd Golden Retriever mix out in Natick, MA! My sister’s sister in law is a veterinarian and a volunteer at a shelter in Sudbury, MA. I got a text last night that they were fostering a Tripawd! I don’t know why or for how long, but my sister knew that I’d be proud!
It’s great to hear both Esteban and Zissou are doing so well. Although your home isn’t a forever home they have benefited greatly from the time with you and will be ready for a new home making it easier to be adopted. It may be sad for you to see them go, perhaps you will be hired for kitty sitting if needed…
It’s fascinating how the front leg amputees develop a similar dismount technique. Obviously it’s totally natural for them. This is the value of sharing our experiences on this website. Otherwise it could feel a bit lonely.
Kerren and Mona
Wheeee! Glad to hear everyone is doing so well. Kudos to you and your sister for fostering. It is so great to have experienced fosters for tripawds. Thats how we ended up with 3 in our pack 🙂 And to provide Zissou the time and space to become well socialized is awesome as well. Its our fondest hope and dream to be able to foster again someday.
xoxo,
Martha and the OP