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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I am completely amazed by this dog! She ran up and tried to jump up on me when they brought her in! I just dropped down on the ground so she wouldn't jump. Then in the lobby...barking and going crazy at the other dogs! She jumped right up in the back of the car as soon as I opened the door, I didn't even have time to stop her! So home we go, assuming she is high on morphine and will crash later. Nope! Up the steps, down the steps, on the couch, off the couch, playing with her toys and her brother like nothing ever happened! I keep stoping her from wrestling with her doggie brother! No pain meds until 10pm and then I still didn't feel like she needed them, but since she can't really tell me, I gave them. Over night was rough, at least for me. I was awake every time she moved ( she sleeps in our bed). Maybe she always move that much, but I felt like she was fidgety. Probably couldn't get comfy. But all is well, doing fantastic! Thanks everyone!
Wow! She is impressive! It sounds like her pain meds are either just right, or too right... she may be overdosed and riding the pink elephant? Maybe not. Maybe it's all that fabulous puppy energy! Try to keep her quiet, as you don't want an injury or a seroma
(although those are easily dealt with). She's gotta spend her energy on healing rather than tug 'o war...right? 
YEY!
~ Katy & Jackson
ACL tear in right hind leg 12/5/12 and scheduled ACL repair surgery 12/21/12. Pre-op xrays revealed osteosarcoma. Amputation 12/28/12. Chemo (carboplatin) started Jan 10, 2013 and ended on April 5, for a total of 5 doses. He handled carbo like a champ! No side effects. We started metronomic therapy at his third chemo and have been also doing some holistic treatments. He's a lively, playful 10 year old huskie-boarder collie and a very proud member of the Winter Warriors! Our love. Our funny little guy!
WOW that's incredible. Puppies are even more resilient and it's even harder to keep them calm so they can heal. Keep in mind that she's probably still high as a kite like Katy described, so you'll want to keep a steady dose of pain meds going so she doesn't crash too hard (which is very common). So glad to hear she is home, how wonderful.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I'm pretty sure the meds are out of her system. Morphine has a very short half life and works great, but not for very long ( I'm a nurse). I'm keeping her on her scheduled tramadol, but she only getting it every 12 hours. Keeping in mind that she is a puppy is the hard part, because she is so big! But she is truly amazing!
Oh didn't know you're a nurse. What a lucky girl to have you as a mommy!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Oh didn't know you're a nurse. What a lucky girl to have you as a mommy!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Online
Great update! So glad all ks well! Yes, a lucky dog indeed! Look forward to more pics! Bet he's already grown a foot snce last week
Yeah, dysfunctional pun intended!!:
Lots of hugs!
Sally and Hapy Hannah
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!
Ok advice needed...yesterday was day 5. I came home from work at 9 am an Trin looked exhausted. She didn't get up to greet me at all. I called the vet and told them she was lethargic. They saw her right away. She has a small collection of fluid hanging below her rib cage that is not affecting her incisions at all. He did not feel intervention was necessary at this point. All her vitals are great, no fevers, and her incisions look great. So after taking her home...she sleeps, gets up eats, drinks, pees, and go back to sleep. No playing, looks sad, and is moving slower. Is it all just catching up to her finally? I am hoping she is just using all her energy to heal and maybe a growth spurt hit at a bad time. I have noticed that as a fast growing Great Dane pup, she has days occasionally when she just sleeps. I am so worried because I have no clinical signs to tell me if something is wrong.
Hey! It sounds like little Trinity has a seroma . I hear they are more common in front amps than rear amp and made more common by dogs that are active after surgery. It's fluid build up. Yep. It doesn't have anywhere to go, so it pools somewhere. It's tough to say if her activity lead to this or if she was destined to get it regardless. In the end, it doesn't matter. It will clear on its own. Just watch for actual leakage, at which point you'll need to keep her from licking it. A T-shirt, maybe? If it starts to leak, I'd call your vet and let him/her know and then ask for how to care for it and what to watch for. I imagine a volume change, color change, smell, signs of infection, etc., are all things to watch for. More often, seromas will just go away. As for her lethargy, well, it's still new to her! Most dogs crash at some point, so this may be hers. Sure, she also may be struck with puppy-pains. It's a tough blow for her. Then add in this weird weight of fluid on her chest that's somewhat tender and throbs as she gets up/down, hops, or eats. It's a weird feeling! So on days when she's lethargic, don't panic. She's just not 100%. Let her be. If she still eats (anything, really, as we know *depression* drives us to certain foods and that's no sign of clinical, chronic symptoms!), drinks, pees, poos, and wags her tail, then it's a GOOD day. Roll with her ups and downs. Soon, it'll be nothing but UPS!
Got any pics to share? Even of her seroma ?
~ Katy & Jackson
ACL tear in right hind leg 12/5/12 and scheduled ACL repair surgery 12/21/12. Pre-op xrays revealed osteosarcoma. Amputation 12/28/12. Chemo (carboplatin) started Jan 10, 2013 and ended on April 5, for a total of 5 doses. He handled carbo like a champ! No side effects. We started metronomic therapy at his third chemo and have been also doing some holistic treatments. He's a lively, playful 10 year old huskie-boarder collie and a very proud member of the Winter Warriors! Our love. Our funny little guy!
Her vet saw the seroma . He isn't concerned. He said she would probably have gotten regardless of her activity because surgery took 3 hours and she is so muscular that he had to do a lot if manipulating her muscles. I don't think it will leak because it isn't near her incision at all. You can't really see it unless she is walking and then it jiggles. He said to massage her with the hose or shower head, but it's too cool here for the hose and I am not about to try to put her in the tub! She seems better today, not 100%, but better. Thanks for the reassurance! I only have Internet access on my phone, making it hard to post pics, but I can tell anyone who would like to, how to find me on Facebook. I put lots of photos there!
Crashes are totally normal, try not to worry. I'm glad that you took her to the vet for the reassurance. It does sound like she is just now feeling the effects of activity on thee legs. Do your best to keep her from overdoing it and she should recover just fine.
Hang in there with your phone/Internet access here on Tripawds; Admin is working hard to get us a new mobile theme going on that will make it easy to post via the phone. Feel free to shout out your FB page by including the link in your Profile (just click on your Avatar and you'll see a tab for including URLs & info like this). Once you include the FB link the FB logo will appear every time you post.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Awwwwww, sorry sweet Trinity s feeling a little blah! Major surgery...and then add puppyhood on top of tht...poor pup!
Can't add anyting else to what Katy and Jerry have said. Just kowwe're allher for you and cheering Trinity on to better days soon! The ups are great, and then...BAM..the down for a few days...then a possible repeat over the next week or so. Buv boy oh boy, when recovery takes place al this will fade from yur memory and you can really enjoy the bliss of Trinity enjoying life
Keep us posted! And make sure you get some rest too!
Sally and Happy Hannah
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!
So what is everyone's opinion on depression? The vet says she isn't depressed because "dogs don't look in the mirror and say poor me." But she still is sleeping a lot and appetite is decreased some, she just looks sad, tail tucked a lot. Keep in mind she did not have a functional leg to begin with, so she is used to getting around on 3 legs already. We are 8 almost 9 days post op! I just want my happy puppy back!
I know you are sick and tired of hearing' "It's still early in recovery from ajor surgery", but it is! Thi k if this happy happened to a human.....they would still be in tne hospital recovering.
Okay now, let's go through a check list...
Peeing okay?
Poopi g okay?
Drinking okay?
Did vet take temperature!? Any blood work?
How do Trinity's gum s look?
Eating enough to keep her strngth up? Maybe not? Have you tried all the "goodies"...the boiled chicken, hamburger, cheese, good ole' dry milk bo es, etc.?
Does he appear to be in pai ? Restless...any whining...holding his body stiffly...ears pinned back...shaking.
The lethrgy could go either way.....not e ough pain meds.....or too uch pain meds. He sou ded like, if I recall, the vet had him on a very low dose.
Any evidence of nausea?
At three weeks I was still wondering, "What have I done TO my dog!" Finallygoing i to the fourth week I was seeing more and ore of her sparkle start to come back...slowly but surely!
IF the vet has checked out everything thoroughly, no temperature, no sprains or pulled muscles, etc, (she did go gung-ho at first if I recall), then you are just dealing with a day or two up...then four or five down....three or four days up, then two or three down ...then mostly up!
Has your vet suggested doing tramadol three ti es a day just for a day lr so to see if pain is the problem? Or, conversely, cutting it back a touch to see if that's the problem!! Nothings very easy in the beginning, is it?
Please keep usposted on uour sweet Trinity! I k ow to say not to worry isfutile...HOWEVER...don't worry okay? Trinity had his leg removed because of a deformity, not a horrible disease which i dicates even ore he'd just deali g with the recovery process!
Now, how about you? Are you eating lots of chocolate ice cream? It does wonders to soothe the soul!!
You are doi g a great job! Trinity is going to start having a turn around here in a day or two. How bout a "pick-me-up" by having so eone drop by with lots aof energy and trets! Realy, that has worked so well arou d her
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!
Sorry stupid keboard just disappears n this tavlet any time it wats! Grrrrrrrrrr!
Just want to say that so etimes a little external stimulation can help...or maybe a drive through a Burgee King.....a a short trip to somewhere that gives himdifferent scents to explore.
Now go eat that chocolate!
Sally and Happy Hannah
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!
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