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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My mom and I run HART-(Helping Animals Reach Tomorrow) and we unchain/rescue dogs.. On 3/2/13 we came across a GSD that was on a 40 lbs logging chain and his right rear leg was about 4 times as big as his other leg... His ankle was the size of a grape fruit! He had been shot! He broke off of his chain and the owner found him and saw that he had been shot and put him back on the chain!! And he had been back on the chain while in so much pain.. for a week before we found him! We got him surrendered and he is the sweetest dog... We took him to the vet and and his femur and knee cap is shattered, and the vet said that amputation was necessary! But he wanted him on at least 10 days of antibiotics before surgery because he had a severe infection... So, his surgery is tomorrow and we don't know what to expect! We have rescued many dogs but this is our first one that will need amputation. When we took him back to the vet (Monday) his swelling but just to show how swollen his leg was... He lost 6 pounds of fluid from his leg!! And he's already 30 lbs underweight! He weighs 66 lbs. He also has heartworms and severe hip dysplasia in both hips... After surgery he will be started on joint supplement and we will work on getting him healthier for heart worm treatment. Any advice is greatly appreciated!!
Here is the link to his FB page...
https://www.fac.....488?ref=hl
Here is the link to our rescue's FB page
https://www.fac.....ow?fref=ts
In both of these links you can see pictures of him and his X-rays...
Here is his X-ray
When we walked around the back of the house.. this is what we saw...
And one more.. This shows how skinny he is...
Thank you!
Welcome. And thank you for helping out a dog in need. Your future posts will not require moderation.
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
Thank you hugapitbull! Yay! By the way.. I love the name... I have two Pit Bulls and they are so sweet. 
Oh Diesel's story breaks my heart, I am just so grateful there are people like you in this world to help these angels get away from the hands of terrible people! Thank you for joining us.
Our own Tripawds Spokesdog Wyatt Ray , a German Shepherd too, also lost his leg at the hands of an inhumane horrible person. He and Diesel have a lot in common.
66 pounds is so undernourished for a GSD but I know that with your help he will get to be the big strong boy he can be. THANK YOU!
Please let us know how things go tomorrow and how we can help make recovery easier OK? Keep us posted.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
GRRRRRR, I have not nice things to say about his former owners. But, YOU, on the other hand: THANK YOU! Isn't it amazing that he's still the sweetest dog? He's gonna feel 10000x better after that leg is gone! The piece of advice I'd give in this particular case, is to load him up with healthy, whole protein after the Sx. He's got a lot of weight to rebuild and there's some serious atrophy going on. Boiled chicken for him! PLEASE keep us posted on his progress. We'll be thinking of him - post when he's out of Sx and how it went and when he gets to come home.
Many thanks for your huge, kind heart.
~ Katy
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!
Bless you for your kindness and generosity. You've come to the right place for good information.
You'll need rugs if you don't have carpeted floors.
You'll be surprised how quickly he will adapt to 3 legs, but this case may take longer because of the other issues.
There's a link above the forums that says Jerry's Required Reading List . It's full of info you'll find helpful.
Katy is right about the lean protein to help rebuild his strength.
Liberty (Libby) was diagnosed with OSA on 1-22-13. Right front amputation on 1-31-13. No IV Chemo. Metronomic Therapy started 2-19-13 along with supplements and some home cooking. Lungs clear until 1-06-14. She's still her happy, hoppy, bossy self. Living the dog life to the fullest and a proud Winter Warrior. :) RIP my Libby 4-21-03 to 3-19-14
Diesel should do fine. The Oaktown Pack has three rear leg Tripawds in the house at the moment. One, Austin Ray has hip problems and still gets around OK. He just has to limit his activity so he does not over do things. We fostered Wyatt Ray before he joined the leadership at Tripawds. I first saw Wyatt two days after his surgery and that crazy boy was bouncing around and playing with another dog as if nothing had happened. Wyatt was only about eight months old at the time, so that helped in his recovery.
Codie Rae will likely check in on this one as the leader of the OP. CR lost her leg to getting a wire wrapped around it that made it impossible to save the leg. She was about eight months old and is now seven and a half years old, coming up on her seventh ampuversary and still going strong. With good nutrition and exercise they can do very well after losing a leg.
Let us know how it goes.
Ralph
Thank you all so much for all of your support! And thank you all so much for helping Wyatt.. and bringing him into your home... Diesel went through surgery yesterday and it took 5 and a half hours!! But, he recovered quickly and is doing amazing!! He stayed at the vet's office last night because the vet wanted to keep him in case he needed IV pain medication.. But, he came home today and is walking around like nothing happened! He even goes up and down the stairs without a problem! The only bad thing is that he is wearing the "cone of shame " 🙁
Just like a German Shepherd! They are so resilient!
Careful on the stairs, many a stitch has been popped when the new Tripawd was tackling them too soon. Excess activity can also lead to fluid buildup (a seroma ), which isn't dangerous but could require a trip to the vet for draining.
Give Diesel a big hug from us!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Just now seeing this and man does it break my heart to hear stories like this. I just recently adopted a tripawd lab and his amputation was from neglect as well. It is very heartbreaking to think of all they have been through.
How is Diesel doing now. I see the surgery was over a week ago. I'd love an update on him.
Im just seeing your story about sweet Diesel. There is a special place in hell for people that abuse animals. I cant even wrap my head around how cruel people can be. Then there are angels like you, who protect and unconditionally love animals. Im so sorry that Diesel had to endure everything he is going through. With you by his side he can overcome his rough start in life, and live a fulfilled and happy life.
Glad to see he is doing so well after the surgery. With each passing day he will get stronger and stronger. I hope he is putting some weight back on. Please keep us update on how he is doing.
michele and cadence
“Dogs are our link to paradise. They don't know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring--it was peace.” ― Milan Kundera
How's he doing? How are you doing? Wishing you all a great recovery!
~ Katy
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!
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