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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Hi Milo!! Those drugs are making them do crazy things, that for sure. But he will be better soon. My head is still spinning too. Its a big thing, crazy thing when you think about it. But our dogs are all worth it!
The fentanyl patch are removed, it left the skin red because it was so glue in, I had to pull, poor Novak. Now, I hope he will be pain free with the other meds he's on and wont need another fentanyl patch.
Hope your Milo will have a quick and easy recovery, will follow you and Ruby to make sure the 2 of them are doing ok.
Pawesome pics! Thanks for sharing.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
One thing to kind of remember is the hospital drugs are being weaned out of their systems. Sometimes around day 3 or 4 they can be a little more sore. That's why it's super smart to keep their activity level down to rest, potty and eating and sleeping these first few days. That way if they do have a bit of a crash it's not aggravated by too much activity early on. If you're letting Novack do the stairs use his harness to really support his back end. And only if it's like a couple of steps not a lot of steps. If you've got a lot of steps I'd carry him. Sounds like Novak is super sensitive to the anesthesia so hopefully his throwing up will get better shortly. We kept Maxs harness on him all day long but then when we knew he was probably done with potty for the night we'd take it off and give him a rubdown especially along his back and remaining back leg. Novack is doing so well just try to relax because if you panic so will he because he's taking his cues from you. If you are calm and act like this is all normal he'll do the same. You're doing great give yourself a huge pat on the back!
Hugs!
Linda, Riley & Spirits Mighty Max & Ollie
Wow! Novak looks like he is doing grrrreat! And the photos of the surgery are interesting as well. We help our tripawds up the stairs with the harness but let them walk up with their front end and just assist at the rear end. It takes a little practice but you will get the hang of it in no time. I find that using the harness distributes the pressure better than trying to lift using your arms under his belly. I don't know how many stairs you have or how steep they are but going down should not be a huge problem for a rear leg amp. He might be able do it on his own now that the surgery drugs are out of his system or you can just walk beside him holding onto the harness in case he tanks. Unless he is loopy from pain killers still? You guys are off to a great start! Here's hoping recovery will be smooth and painless for you both!
Every dog is different but generally it can take a couple weeks or so for initial recovery, during which time his activity should be really limited, and then up to a couple of months to really adjust to life on three. But he is so fit and strong to begin with I would not be surprised if he finds his "new normal" sooner rather than later.
As to leaving him alone--do you have a crate? Or a room you can close off so he doesn't have full run of the house? I guess it really depends on what you think your dogs do when you are gone. It looks like you live somewhere where there is not a ton of external stimuli? I know our dogs just sleep most of the time when we are gone but then there is always the mail delivery and kids skate boarding by on the street that gets them going. I can tell because the rug by the front door is always askew if the mail or a package got delivered while we were gone. Also, if you think he will mess with his incision while you are gone then you should consider investing in a cone if you do not already have one. You don't want to have to restitch the incision!
You should be able to leave the harness on most of the time but there probably is not much need to leave it on at night as he gets into his regular potty routine. Just keep an eye out for hair loss or pressure sores starting.
Novak knows what is comfortable for him at this point so I wouldn't really worry too much about how he lays unless you think the sternal position means he is in pain or otherwise uncomfortable. Sometimes I have seen my dogs lay like that when they don't feel good with an upset stomach or are on drugs that make them loopy.
I know this is a new journey that has been really stressful so far. But you guys are doing awesome and I just bet in a couple weeks you will be thinking WTH was I so worried about! And how lucky are you that you have a pool! That will be great rehab for Novak 
Hope this helps a little!
xoxo,
Codie Rae and the Oaktown Pack
Woohoo! Tripawds Rule!
Regulator of the Oaktown Pack, Sheriff of the Oaktown Pawsse, Founding member and President of the Tripawd Girldogs With 2 Names ROCK Club, and ... Tripawd Girldog Extraordinaire!
3 days post op, Novak is doing great peeing and potty all by himself.
His position is strange, Im not sure when he is peeing or just standing there LOL
In that video, he goes to the same spot his use to mark. After we are going in the place where he does #2, wanted to see if he wanted to go, but nope... but when I saw the video, I was like, wow, he look like he's heeling with me LOLOL what a cutie pie, even at 3 legs, he want to heel! He went for the pool door today, all happy, waiting... im like no Novak, no pool today! I think he would jump, he's too crazy.
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Today, we opened up Novak's knee. WOW can't believe Novak was still running and happy with that knee, poor puppy!! 🙁 it was so cool for me to see the damage and to see that I really had make the BEST decision ever for him. I wish I did it before, but Novak is a tough dog and he didnt really show signs of pain(to my knowledge). I did video part of it and took pictures and if someone want to see, tell me, I dont want to post those, they can be a bit disgusting.
I made pawprints with the paw, I will incorporate in a future tattoo, I have nice ones.
Novak is starting to get crazy, even if Im holding the harness, to day, he was jumping, like he use too when we got outside to play. I will have to train him to stop jumping, go down stairs and not jump the whole set of stairs, etc... that dog is very energytic...ouf!
I loooooove Novak's drive, but when he has to rest, its a bit harder. When Im in bed with him, or he's in his cage, he can settle fine and rest, but when its time to go outside to potty, he want to play. I caught him on camera wanting to jump(he does this happy dance since a puppy) to play. And at the same time, I did film the stairs up and down, funny to see the way he goes up, the back leg is doing 2 by 2 step. We can also see the way he does #1 and #2 with no problem.
Wheeee! He's so bright and alert, truly bouncing back like it's not a problem at all!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I know, right?? My boyfriend and I are so amaze by all that! We can't believe it! We are very lucky that Novak is doing so great and that he doesn't have any side effect from the meds. We are reading the other post and we feel very very grateful that Novak is doing great so fast and hoping that it will continue like that. Last night, I turned my back for 2 sec and he jumped on my bed!!! My bed is high, first my heart skip a beat, but then, for him, it was so easy! YAY, he will be able to jump in with me and cuddle eventually, when I will let him, cause now, he is still in kennel rest for another week! Tonight, I will leave him alone for the first time for about 3 h, but I will put him in his crate with the cone. He never touched his incision, but I wont dare try to leave him unattended with no cone. LOL Im so scare...I dont want to mess anything up. Anyway, he doesnt mind the cone... Just for water that sucks a bit...I dont know if he's able to drink, in the kennel with the cone.
LOVING THESE VIDEOS!!! Novak is such an amazing doggy and soooo good looking! 🙂
He's doing incredibly well!
And give yourself a big pat on the back!! You are doing an excellent job of caring for Novak!!
As far as jumping in the bed, do you have any pallets, or anything like that, you could stagger like a small deck of stairs so he could easily get up on the bed now? I love that he's so ddetermined to get back to "his" bed that he went ahead and jumped up for his cuddles all by himself!!!
Again, great job...both of you!
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!
Ohhh that Novak! Yes I agree, some stairs leading up to the bed are a good safety precaution, now and always really, especially if your bed is tall. That crazy boy will try to do it and will be able to of course, but repeatedly doing it could lead to long term joint stress. Better to be safe I say.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
OMG OMG OMG Guess what Novak did today?? Mister Novak escaped from his kennel. Yep...but the thing is, it was the trial soft crate! I use that crate since his surgery in the house and I leave the top open for more aeration, he's use to that crate and he's confortable, he sleep and he's good in it. Today, I was working a small shift of 3h, so I left him with his cone(in case) and my boyfriend was not home, but when he came back, Novak was loose in the house!!! The crate was still close and still up, no water spill, nothing, so he jumped by the top!!!! I dont know how he manage to do this and with his cone on as well! I was so scared when my boyfriend told me, I checked him, everything seem ok, but man, he could have hurt himself so bad! I wanted to use the xpen for longer absence, but no way, he will jump the xpen as well. And for the soft crate, I dont want to leave him in anymore, even with the top close, imagine if he roll over in it and cant get out, he can be injured. The crate has a metal frame, but he could easily tip it. I dont have a vari kennel or metal crate. So I think I will leave him free in the house, with bedroom close so he cant jump in the bed and stair close as well. Anyway, he sleep when we are not here, I videotaped them all day once, and they dont do anything, just sleep.
Im gonna have nightmares over this LOL That boy will get injured before his time!!! He cannot lose another leg, so Novak, please be careful!
That wild boy! What a bounce he has to be able to get out of there. He needs a SuperDog cape because he sure has super powers!
I'm glad we caught you in the chat last night. How's he doing today?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
So another heart attack tonight! I was working from 3 to 9pm, left him with my boyfriend. My boyfriend went out for maybe 30 min and when he came back, Novak had opened his incision a bit. He thinks the staple maybe was caught in the carpet or something, anyway, we dont know how this happen. He had his cone on, so... He called me at work, I said to bring him to me. It was nothing serious, we remove 4 staples that were ripped and put new ones. Novak didnt say a thing doing that without any anesthesic. He's such a good boy. The vet said the everything was perfect, the incision, there a bit of swallowing still, but I will continue the massage and icepack. She said that he was doing better that she would expect! Was very surprise LOLOL He stayed with me at work at the reception for about 1h and everybody was in love with him. It was cool to explain his story and show that he was a happy dog. My boyfriend then put him in the kennel, but when he came back Novak had panted so much, everything was wet...then I remember, when he was a puppy, I never was able to let in a cage, I trained him for 1 month and he was panting and braking and chewing on the bars, so then, I was in a aprtment and decided to try him loose in the house and everything was fine. He never chew or bark, didnt have anxiety. I recorded him several time and he was ok. Strange, that in trial, he doesnt have a problem with the cage, I can leave him there and he wont say a word and in the house as well, when im there, even going to the basement, hes ok, but when we leave the house, its another story.
So... 1 week to go..we will put him in my office where i sleep with him on the floor on the mattress, he cant get hurt there, there only the mattress. He's not alone often anyway, my boyfriend work night shift, he sleep all day while Im at work and he's on vacation this saturday for 2 weeks and after, I have 1 week myself. Im sure he wont be happy to be in that room alone when we are not here, but, what the H, we do what we have to do for his safety.
And now, I have to train my boyfriend! He brought me Novak without his harness, said he jumped in the truck by himself! I was what????? So I will tell him a list of what to do and not do LOLOL poor guy, Im a control freak.
But, after all this....Novak is doing amazing!!!! The way he goes in the stairs right now is like he was on 4 legs, he wants so bad to run and play, to jump... Everyday, he make me prouder! Love him so much!
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