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Complications and owner satisfaction associated with limb amputation in cats: 59 cases (2007-2017)
John R Wagner1, Dana M DeSandre-Robinson2,3, George E Moore4
1Department of Surgery, Long Island Veterinary Specialists, 163 S Service Rd, Plainview, NY, 11803, USA. JWagner@livs.org.
Insights
Most cat owners reported high satisfaction after limb amputation due to injury or disease. Despite complications, many would choose the procedure again for their pets.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Surgical Outcomes
- Animal Health
Background:
- Limb amputation is a procedure for cats with severe injuries or diseases.
- Understanding outcomes is crucial for veterinary guidance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate signalment, complications, recovery, owner satisfaction, and expectations in cats undergoing limb amputation.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of medical records from 3 specialty hospitals (2007-2017).
- Owner surveys were completed by 59 cat owners.
Main Results:
- Neoplasia and traumatic injury were the most common reasons for amputation.
- Over half of cats (57.6%) experienced postoperative complications, mostly minor.
- Owner satisfaction was high, with 84.7% willing to repeat the procedure.
Conclusions:
- Cat owners generally report positive satisfaction with limb amputation outcomes.
- Findings can assist veterinarians in counseling owners about this surgical option.
Background:
Limb amputation may be recommended in domestic cats following a severe injury or disease. The purpose of the study was to report the signalment, the complications, recovery outcome, owner satisfaction and expectations of domestic cats following limb amputation.
Results:
Medical records of 3 specialty hospitals were reviewed for cats that received a single limb amputation in a 10 year period (2007-2017). These cat owners were contacted, and 59 owners completed surveys, comprising the study population. The most common reasons for limb amputation were neoplasia (54.2%, 32/59), traumatic injury (40.7%, 24/59), bone or joint infection (3.4%, 2/59), and thromboembolism (1.7%, 1/59). Thirty-four cats (57.6%) had postoperative complications. Of the fifty-nine surveys, 52.5% reported minor complications and 5.1% reported major complications. There were no differences in postoperative complication rates for thoracic versus pelvic limb amputations. All owners reported either excellent (77.9%, 46/59), good (20.3% 12/59), or fair (1.7%, 1/59) satisfaction with the procedure. Based on their previous experiences, 84.7% (50/59) of owners would elect limb amputation if medically warranted for another pet. The remaining 15.3% of owners who would not elect limb amputation again had experienced death of their pet with a median survival time of 183 days.
Conclusion:
Owners reported a positive satisfaction when considering complications, recovery outcome, and expectations. This study can be used by veterinarians to guide cat owners in the decision making process of limb amputation.
