Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
Tripawds is your home to learn how to care for a three legged dog or cat, with answers about dog leg amputation, and cat amputation recovery from many years of member experiences.
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Aww. It's OK, we all do things like that at first. Make sure she rests at least twice as long as you think she needs to before she resumes normal activity. When she does start to feel good and you think she's ready, cut your normal walk/activity in half, then each day after get back to normal about 1/4 at a time. Hope that makes sense.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
will give that recovery time a try. thanks. we will rest a good bit and start slow again over the next couple of days. we had worked up to 1/2 mile walk 1-2 times daily, plus catch 2-3 times a day. but will play it by ear.
on a positive note. behavior wise, she has calmed down tremendously over the last couple of weeks. sorry for not updating. she is loving being with my husband and I as much as possible. car rides are still her favorite.
we have held off on any more service training for now. she is content with being a companion. and for now so our we. she still helps if my husband gets stuck with his wheelchair . but we will not teach her any new directions until we are more comfortable.
i am so thankful for this group. and support given
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So good to hear from you! And relieved to hear everything is going well...even though she overdid it a bit!
I love that she's enjoying being a companion and taking a slower approach to being a service dog. After you've started a journey with a tripawd, the bond that develops is a closeness that few understand. And then add the relationship you develops with Gemma as a service dog...WOW!! A whole lotta love going on over in Gemma's house!
PICTURES!!! POCTURES OF THIS SWEET PUP!!
Sending love!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle 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!
we are doing good. coming up on three month anniversary. it has been a world wind.
Gemma acts like she the missing leg is no issue what so ever.
she runs swiftly. jogs or canters often.
she hops and does not like to walk at a slow speed much.
have a silly question, the fur that is coming in where she was shaved around her amputation is coming is like a total different type of fur. it is almost wool like. super soft. a bit curly. is this normal? dark black
she is a boxer/poodle mix. the rest of her fur is soft as well, but not wool like, black with silver accents, curly when moist or wet.
is almost makes me want to shave her completely to see if it all comes in that way. we groomed her to where the length matches and other than the slightly different color. it is hardly noticeable.
Gosh! Three months already (almost)! And she's really done remarkably well on so many levels after a few bumps in the road.
I'm sooooo glad you and your husband followed your hearts and gave Gemma a cha ce at a life filled with love, happiness AND purpose!
I did not otice any real difference I. HAPPY hannahe fur when it grew back, but I do know some others have experienced color and/or texture changes. Maybe others will chime in and can give you more Insight. I'm not sure how the surgery prompts so e of these changes, but apparently it does sometimes.
Good to hear from you! Yeah, tripawds have to keep a fairly fast pace as the momentum helps with their mobility and balance.
And for her THREE MONTH AMPUVERSARY, WE NEED PICTURES!!!!! We love pictures! CONGRATULATIONS!!
Hugs to all!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle 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!
Thanks for the great update!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
will try and upload pictures soon. gotta figure it out, and get Gemma to sit still enough to take take some..;p
question. for those who have rear leg amputees. and maybe front, not sure. Gemma is getting dry skin build up on her neck, under her ear, and areas she would normally scratch with her right, no longer than hind leg.
any ideas? been brushing frequently. baths which she loves weekly. she loves when we scratch that area
GEMMA!!! Good to hear from you!
My Happy Hannah was a rear legger. She didn't have that issue though. Others may have. Like you, I made sure I "scratched" the areas she could longer reach.
I wonder if it's indicative of any other issue and just coincidental that it happens to be in an area she can't reach. Maybe it's a vitamin deficiency, or perhals an eczema of some sort?? Could the frequent bathing be drying her skin ojt? I dunno...just throwing ideas out there!
GEMMA! You sit still so we can have some pictures of you!! You are such a sweetheart!
Hugs to all!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle 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!
phollar said
will try and upload pictures soon. gotta figure it out, and get Gemma to sit still enough to take take some..;pquestion. for those who have rear leg amputees. and maybe front, not sure. Gemma is getting dry skin build up on her neck, under her ear, and areas she would normally scratch with her right, no longer than hind leg.
any ideas? been brushing frequently. baths which she loves weekly. she loves when we scratch that area
Here's a post about how to add images to forum topics.
Interesting observation about dry skin on one side only. Are there any little bumps or anything like that on that side? And is it only happening on the side where she's missing the rear leg?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Jerry, there are some small bumps under her right ear, and right jaw, this is the side she cannot reach.
also thanks for the images info. will have to try that soon
Hmmm. I would have that looked at, sounds like a skin condition of some sort to me.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
its been a crazy 10 months, Gemma had her one year anniversary with no incidents. she is incredible. and runs faster than most other dogs. loves to play fetch with us. and is very social. however we have had a food aggression issue with snacks and bones only. are there any ideas? she has growled and tried to bit me twice in the last two weeks. once over a rawhide, and once over a peanutbutter treat. help?
we dog sitting our granddog, chester a 1 yr old hound shepherd mix. for a few days. Gemma is loving it. however, she is worn out. could not even jump on to couch after a day of play.
Happy 1 year ampuversary! Did the food aggression start when Chester came to visit? That is fairly normal and might require that they be separate for feeding and treats. Otherwise, I would put the treat in her bowl - getting bitten is no fun!
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
GAMMMMMMMAAAAA!!! It is sooooooooooo good to hear from yiu!!
HAPPY ONE YEAR AMPUVERSARY!!! 🙂 🙂 You have done a stellar job of getting on with life in spite of hurdles!!
Have you tried "trading" the bone for another treat. That way you aren't grabbing her prized possession, but giving her something to replace it. A dog growls as a warning mechanism, hoping he doesn't have to upgrade to a "bite". Yeah, try the redirecting, refocusing approach. Hope that works. Just wondering why you woukd be taking away his peanut butter treat anyway??
Again, just delightful to hear from yoi!
Hugs to all!
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!
Aww welcome back! We're so glad to hear things are going pretty well as far as her recovery. Did you ever figure out what those red bumps were?
My first thought was that this could be related to 1) a pain issue or 2) Chester. Dogs will react with defensive tactics when they're in pain. What other signals is she giving you that she's pooped at the end of the day? I'd be curious to see if the food aggression stops when Chester goes home. Meanwhile I do like Sally's insight about redirecting her attention when you want to take something away. We have to do that sometimes with Wyatt Ray when he's eaten too much of a giant bone or chew treat and want to save it for another day. All it takes is a quick redirect with another valued item and he drops the food. Try it!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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