TRIPAWDS: Home to 22971 Members and 2152 Blogs.
HOME » NEWS » BLOGS » FORUMS » CHAT » YOUR PRIVACY » RANDOM BLOG

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.

JUMP TO FORUMS

Join The Tripawds Community

Learn how to help three legged dogs and cats in the forums below. Browse and search as a guest or register for free and get full member benefits:

Instant post approval.

Private messages to members.

Subscribe to favorite topics.

Live Chat and much more!

Please consider registering
Guest
Search
Forum Scope


Match



Forum Options



Minimum search word length is 3 characters - maximum search word length is 84 characters
Register Lost password?
sp_Feed sp_PrintTopic sp_TopicIcon-c
Royal/new tripawd advice
sp_NewTopic Add Topic
Member Since:
4 January 2017
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
1
5 January 2017 - 3:11 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Our beloved pup Royal was adopted from the humane society in march. He broke his leg in November. We tried to get the break to heal by inserting a rod and a few pins into his leg but unfortunately it's not healing right. They amputated his front right leg today. We have an amazing vet that's been helpful every step of the way. But we are completely new to this. I was directed to this forum from a BuzzFeed animals post on Facebook where other Tripawd parents reached out to show us that full recovery and a great quality of life is still possible. So today is day one. We pick him up in a little over two hours. What advice would you give my fiancée and I going into this as new tripawd parents? What helped you the most the first couple weeks? Anything you wish you would have done differently? Anything that was scary or a shock to you about the process you didn't know? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. So thankful we found this resource as it has kept me and my fiancées minds at ease the last few days after learning this would be necessary to ensure his quality of life.

Thanks!

Lauren, Mike, and Royal

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
2
5 January 2017 - 5:32 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

royalbones said
What advice would you give my fiancée and I going into this...

Start here for easy tips to navigating the vast resources this community has to offer. Do your homework, but don't get overwhelmed. Bookmark Jerry's Required Reading List for lots of helpful links or consider downloading the Tripawds e-books for fast answers to common concerns.

Others will surely chime in soon. In the meantime, use the Advanced Search above to refine your search results with specific phrases, and you're sure to find lots of helpful feedback.  You can also search all blogs here .

Most importantly, remember to Be More Dog and please keep us posted. Your future forum posts will not require moderation.

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

Member Since:
16 October 2016
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
3
5 January 2017 - 5:47 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

First of all, Royal is handsome!  Love the pictures on your blog.

I am a new TriPawd parent - Tai's rear leg was amputated almost 3 months ago.  It was an emergency situation and the biggest shock to me (besides sticker shock) was seeing her with her little shaved hip and her leg gone.  TBH it is still a little jarring.  Big HOWEVER her spirit is back, so the appearance really means nothing in the long run - it was just the biggest surprise for me.

The biggest helps to me were (honestly) this site - just knowing others who had been through it, that I could come and talk about pain and poop or whatever - and the vet's office.  Seriously, I called the vet many times with questions about her behavior, pain meds, and they always accommodated me.   I decided to just concentrate on her the first few weeks and once I made that decision the rest came together (juggling work, a pet sitter, taking extra time to be home with her). 

I don't know what I would have done differently - as difficult as it was, I don't regret my decision.  The decision is personal for everyone and I'm at peace with it.  It helps to see Tai bouncing around, wanting to play, being able to ride in the car.  Those things make it all worth it.  Is she different?  Yes, she gets tired more easily and sleeps more (she is 14 after all) but once I decided that she deserved every chance, that made all the other decisions that much easier.

I know that's not too practical but logistically I am lucky that my house is fully carpeted - you'll see advice here about laying down yoga mats and other things to keep your TriPawd from slipping - I didn't have to do that.  I did have to move things around so that she would not get hurt but that was minimal. 

The biggest adjustment is ME, revising my expectations and going with the flow.  Everyone here will tell you the first two weeks approx are the toughest and that was true for me.  Once her staples came out she started getting a bit more active and it's coming along slowly.  When I read posts and blogs here I'm reminded that all dogs are different, some will bounce back more quickly, some more slowly.  Just love and support each other and Royal and you WILL make it through this. 

Member Since:
4 January 2017
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
4
5 January 2017 - 7:01 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_EditHistory sp_QuotePost

Thank you so much for the advice!! Royal is resting at home in his dog bed. They had to insert a drain into his shoulder. My heart leapt the minute I saw him because he perked up and immediately recognized us. He is still in a lot of pain if he tries to move obviously so we're trying to keep him calm and quiet as much as possible. I guess we weren't prepared to see what the drain and the surgery incision looked like. That was a huge shock to us. Thankfully our place is completely carpeted minus the kitchen which we have area rugs with grips we will place there. He is on coding and gabapentin for pain. This is such a scary thing to see him go through. Monday they take the drain out and in 14 days with no issues the 26 staples they put in come out.

Member Since:
16 October 2016
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
5
5 January 2017 - 7:37 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

So glad Royal is home!  It is scary to see and I did nothing but worry that I was missing some clue as to how much pain she was in, what she needed to do...here is helpful info on pain indicators and more experienced members will chime in with advice for staggering pain meds.  It was a bit of a challenge because Tai hates taking meds with a dropper and didn't like the taste if I squirted it into a piece of meat or something (the Gabapentin I mean).

When I picked her up she was wearing the Cone of Shame but she wagged and perked up...it's such a relief to seem them and they recognize you!

YAY for Royal being home clap Go Royal!!

Member Since:
6 August 2016
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
6
5 January 2017 - 9:47 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Hi there,

So glad Royal is home and being pampered.  I would say that you should make sure you keep up with his medications and ensure that you are staggering the pain meds vice giving everything (all pain, antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, or whatever you have) at the same time. You want to keep on top of when he had the pain meds and when they are due and not allow him to get to the point where he's gone two or three hours past the dosage time.  I think you said you have codeine and gabapentin?  The Gaba dosage has a bigger gap than the codeine so I would try to make sure he always has some sort of pain reliever in him at all times for the first week - and if he seems like he is still in pain ask your vet for something more!  My sweet Ted had Gabapenten and Tramadol which seemed to work pretty well for him.  How did he break his leg?

Wanda

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
7
5 January 2017 - 9:56 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Okay, deep breaths! This recovery period can be a little rough. And bringing your pup home just hours after surgery can be....er...kinda "unsettling" as tney shake off the anesthesia, come off some of the strong hospital meds, etc.

Royal maybe cery restless and whiny for a couple of days...and maybe not! Every dog is different and every recovery is different!!

Most dogs here come home with Tramadol, Gabapentin, Rimadyl snd an antibiotic. If you find the combo of Codeine and Gabapentin don't work well, then you can ask a out the Tramadol I stead of the Codeine. And the mixture you have may work just fine!

The scary part was seeing how much fur they shaved!!! Seemed a little too much as far as I was concerned!!

And absolutely Royal can have a full recovery and live a great full life!!! You've gotten rid of that bum leg. It takes approximately two weeks plus to overcome the MAJOR surgery itself, and about one month for dogs to adjust to all the mobility issues.

For now, you'll want to make sure Royal jist rest and takes short potty breaks and then rests some more. Drinking, peeing are important. Some dogs are off food for a few days, some not. It may take a few days to poop due to all the pain meds etc. No jumping, no stair climbing.

You'll want to keep the pain meds consistent so the pain never has a chance to get a head start.

Just stay strong and confident around Royal and he'll feed off your good energy.

STAY CONNECTED! YOU ARE NOT ALONE!!! Let us know how we can help. We understand the first couple of weeks can be rough. We also understand how ecstatic you will be when you see Royal get all his sparkle back brighter than before!!

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!

London, UK


Member Since:
15 December 2015
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
8
6 January 2017 - 1:42 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Welcome home, Royal! You've had great input from the others. As you know from my comment on your blog post, my Meg also lost her leg after complications following a break and failed attempts to fix it surgically. Every dog is different, of course, but if my experience is anything to go by, recovery from amputation is likely to be easier and more straightforward than recovery from a break with rods, pins etc. What I'm saying is, I think (hope) you are now through the worst and can look forward to Royal's recovery, gradually rebuilding his strength and to the active, pain-free future that awaits him. Bringing him home so soon after surgery is challenging certainly, but you sound as though you are well set up. Definitely talk to your vet re adjusting the pain meds if he seems to be in pain. As the others have said, most dogs are on tramadol and a NSAI, as a minimum. 

Royal is going to be fine, okay? It's an adjustment for all three of you, but I absolutely mean it when I say that everything gets better from here. Ten months on from Meg's amputation, I look back on that day with a sense of relief, and I think you will too.

For now, he needs rest and rest and rest.

And you need a big hug. Sending one over.

Meg, Clare and Elsie Pie xxx

Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, 23 November 2023, adopted 12 January 2024.

Also Angel Tripawd Meg (aka The Megastar), who died in April 2023, aged 14, after seven glorious years on three, and Angel Staffies Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...

The Amazing Adventures of Ruby Tuesday 

My Life as a Megastar

Member Since:
14 February 2016
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
9
6 January 2017 - 2:49 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

So glad he is home!  Expect a lot of sleeping - for Royal, not for yousmiley!  It mght help to keep a log book of meds, food, water, pee and poop.  Short leashed potty breaks only - the log book helped me know when I really had to get him up, and when I could let him sleep.  Absolutely ok to bring food and water to him in bed for the first few days.  Also ok to feed him whatever he will eat (scrambled eggs seem popular).  Right now he has a lot of hospital meds in his system.  You might see a crash about day 3 - 5 as those wear off.  Do not feel bad about calling your vet - many of us had to adjust the pain meds about that time.  And always remember, there is light at the end of the tunnel.  Recovery is intense, but many dogs really perk up when the staples come out!

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.

Member Since:
4 January 2017
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
10
6 January 2017 - 4:26 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Thanks for all the input! We are definitely keeping up to date with all these posts to make sure we do everything we can. He broke his leg the best we can figure because he jumped off the couch and landed on it wrong freaking out because of a early morning thunderstorm. He has a lot of issues with PTSD from his former home down south he came to us with scars on the back of his neck where a choke collar was (the skin grew over it) he was also heartworm positive at one point. He hates sirens and loud noises. My fiancée and I both blame ourselves because we should have been there to comfort him when the thunderstorm started (7 Am on a November morning in MN is odd I know). Our vet says it's not as uncommon as it sounds and he has seen dogs jump and land and break their legs. He is already so much more himself than he has been in weeks. He has a healthy appetite (t bone steak flavored alpo wet food is a favorite so we're spoiling him as much as possible in the coming weeks) and even got up to go to his water bowl. He was able to walk himself outside without much help from mom or dad!! We are so proud of our pup. Thank you all for the advice and support it is REALLY helpful. We go back in Monday so we will closely monitor his pain levels through the weekend to see where we're at. The drain isn't draining as much today too which is another good sign. He's already giving us kisses and wanting to snuggle again!!

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
11
6 January 2017 - 6:51 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

That's really cool Royal is doing so well, yay! And your vet is right, jumping off furniture and breaking a leg beyond repair is a common reason why members join. Don't blame yourself 'cause I know Royal isn't. All of us learn so much when we start this journey. We learn, we move forward, just like our animals do. 

He's such a lucky dog to have you for humans. Stay warm this weekend and let us know how it goes.

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
12
7 January 2017 - 12:03 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Gosh, it sounds like Royal is REALLY doing well! Eating, srinking, wagging, kissing...ALL GOOD!!

As Christine said, he my have a bit of a crash in a couple of days, so doe be concerned.

Isn't spoiling a tripawd fun? We just can't help ourselves!!

You're doing great!

Hugs!

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!

Member Since:
4 January 2017
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
13
7 January 2017 - 11:40 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

His two feline companions have been keeping him company. We lay down towels while we are immediately next to him and let him sun bathe on our bed. It's hovering right around zero here so he's not missing much outdoors time right now anyway thankfully. He actually "plays" with the younger of the two cats and they will playfully chase each other (no hissing or growling, the cat will actually purr and lick Royal). He is still doing well. I've read about how many people choose a harness after a tripawd surgery over a collar and leash so he doesn't get the leash tangled in his legs, thoughts on this? Also thoughts on any long term care for his joints? I've read a lot lately about how they can develop joint problems because of the extra wear and tear put on the other three legs. Has anyone with a young dog done the supplement thing? Not sure if this would be right for Royal or not. Will ask our vet Monday too. Two days left til the drain comes out! Fluid pocket has definitely gone way down today which is great. No whining or panting or any other indicators he's in pain. We spaced out his codine and gabapentin thanks to the advice here to make sure something is always in his system. I was eating dinner last night and he perked up wagged his tail and started begging just like he used to before his surgery! He is already so much more like himself. So happy this blog exists it's helped us sleep a little better at night at least

Sunny California
Member Since:
23 February 2010
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
14
7 January 2017 - 11:59 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Yay Royal! Sounds like he's doing great!  Thanks for the updates, it's comforting to see his progress!

Member Since:
14 February 2016
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
15
7 January 2017 - 12:07 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

We are big fans of the Ruffwear Webmaster Plus harness - you can see pictures in the gear blog.  My dogs were (and Gator now is) on Dasaquin and fish oil supplements.  Talk to your vet - my vet normally starts large dogs on these supplements about age 6, but as a tripawd, and with everything he has been through, perhaps earlier makes sense for Royal.  

So glad he is doing so well!  And begging is great!  We also have a cat who thinks he's a dog.  He used to play with Otis all of the time.  The cat was devastated when the dogs died.  Gator won't play with him, but they have started sleeping together.  It is wonderful how animals can bond with one another and provide real comfort to one another.

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.

Forum Timezone: America/Denver
Most Users Ever Online: 946
Currently Online:
Guest(s) 207
Currently Browsing this Page:
1 Guest(s)
Member Stats:
Guest Posters: 1268
Members: 17733
Moderators: 6
Admins: 3
Forum Stats:
Groups: 4
Forums: 24
Topics: 18610
Posts: 256803
Administrators: admin, jerry, Tripawds
Tripawds is brought to you by Tripawds.
HOME » NEWS » BLOGS » FORUMS » CHAT » YOUR PRIVACY » RANDOM BLOG