Tripawds Three Legged Dog & Cat Forum Archives
Tripawds is your home to learn how to care for a three legged dog or cat. Explore 17+ years of forum archives for stories and answers to questions about dog leg amputation, and cat amputation recovery. Enjoy fresh discussion and connect with members in the new Tripawds Support Circle.
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10:54 am
19 November 2020
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Hi Everyone,
Our Tripawd's name is Lou (Officially Lieutenant Dan). We adopted him about a year and a half ago. He already had his amputation for his left hind leg. We don't know what happened, when the Humane Society received him it was too badly broken to recover. He's been a hyper and happy dog since adopting him!
In the past few months, we noticed his right hind leg, the knee was going in and out of place. After trying shots and ruling out other causes, we have decided to have surgery to deepen the knee socket to keep it in place before it becomes worse over time. It is still a grade 2, out of 4, currently. The concern is, this is his only hind leg that is having surgery. If anyone can give advice on this topic we would greatly appreciate it! The specialist wants to keep weight off of it for the first week especially. We've been reading up on how to help him go to the bathroom, towels under his stomach, leaning support, we have a harness to help hold him up. I could do all the research in the world and I am still nervous about this transition. Luckily I will be able to stay home with him during this transition. They are going to keep him all day of the surgery, and we will be picking him up the next day.
Thank you tripaw community!!
1:34 pm
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Helpline Hosts
18 October 2009
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Hello and welcome to the fourms.
Surgery on a remaining leg is always a worry for us Tripawd parents, but many have gone though it and survived!
Here are several posts on remaining limb surgery:
Articles on Remaining Limb Surgery
My quad-Pug Obie had patella/cruciate surgery on both of his knees, about 2 years apart. In his case the patella had pulled is knee so far out of alignment the CCL tore so he had to have that repaired as well. Obviously recovery is easier with 3 remaining legs!
Obie wore his RuffWear WebMaster harness most of the time after each surgery (I took it off at night). He is pretty low to the ground but I found I could support him with a leash attached to the harness. This was especially important when he had his left knee repaired as he will only pee if he can lift his right leg! I ended up levitating his back end with the harness/leash combination until he could put weight on the repaired leg.
I think in each surgery it took about a week for him to start toe touching- but again he still has his 'spare' leg.
When is the surgery scheduled?
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Maggie's Story Amputation and Chemo
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2:49 pm
19 November 2020
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Thanks krun15! Reading the articles now. Hearing others have gone through this helps! The surgery will be this Monday - TMinus 4 days
I am definitely going to rely on the harness/leash for support in moving him. That is my main worry, just getting him in and out to go to the bathroom, and him feeling comfortable enough to use the bathroom. I've never had a dog have to go through a leg surgery before, and just want him to be as comfortable as possible.
4:21 pm
Moderators
Helpline Hosts
18 October 2009
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Another thought to help get him around:
Instead of a towel you might try making a DIY sling out of a cloth shopping bag. That way you have the harness to help the front end and a sling to help the back end.
I had another quad-Pug who would sometimes lose the use of her back legs so I invested in a <a href="