Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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I am sure this situation might be too rare to see another. .
Zabby is a black lab mix. I rescued her as a puppy - in which she had Parvo. Supportive care - she pulled through. She had bilateral canine hip dysplasia, and underwent a right total hip replacement when she was 4.5 years old. Did beautifully, healed great. A month shy of being 8 years old, she underwent a left total hip replacement - which turned into this nightmare.
11 days post op from total hip replacement, the rod in her femur torqued (there were complications during the hip replacement, although surgeon thought she would be fine) and ended up with a nasty torsion femur fracture. She simply squatted to pee - and it snapped her femur. She underwent a femur fracture repair, with screws, wires, and a long plate. She was on crate rest for 12 weeks. We were 100% compliant with this. Followed every recommendation. Now - 19 weeks post op...she began to walk lame on that left leg.
Exam revealed a luxating patella - she was scheduled for surgery to repair this past Wednesday. Upon x-raying her right before wheeling her into surgery - I got the call that she had indeed re fractured her femur, the screws are moving along with the plate..hence why the patella luxated. She was not able to revise this - it would be too difficult.. and a good chance it would never heal, and continue to refracture. The decision was made to amputate.
She amputated everything. up to the hip joint. Report today is she doesn't want to eat, but did walk with a sling and urinated outside, then went right back to laying down and going back to sleep. I may get to take her home tomorrow. I am a nervous wreck. I have two other labs (mine) , and 3 golden retrievers who are visiting along with my father - as we are completing a home remodel right now.
Lucky thing is - I am an occupational therapist - so I feel confident I can make this work. I don't have a choice. Needless to say, im heart wrenched and nervous ... any advice?
Welcome Zabby, your future forum posts will not require moderation. Many links to much of the best advice from the Tripawds blogs and forums can be found in Jerry's Required Reading List . Or for immediate answers to the most common questions about amputation care and recovery, consider downloading the Tripawds e-books .
Best wishes for a speedy, complete recovery. We look forward to following your progress.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Wow, such an awful ordeal to go thru for you and your dog!!! 
After her two week recovery from amputation, I hope things really turn around for her and yourself.
Admin gave you some good links to look at...
And hooray you are an OT! 
Tracy & Maggie
Maggie was amputated for soft tissue sarcoma 10-20-09
Maggie lost her battle with kidney disease on 8-24-13
Hi, Zabby. Welcome!
One thing that we found to be invaluable when Murphy was recuperating from the THR (after the amp) was a Ruffwear harness. We had a sling after his earlier surgeries, but the harness provided a lot more support. It also helped us to keep him slowed down once he started feeling better.
It sounds like you have a much better handle on what is happening than a lot of us have had, but this is still a difficult thing to get through. Keep positive and keep us posted, please.
Murphy and his mom, Kathi
Murphy is a five year old Lab/Chessie cross. He was hit by a car on 10/29/12 and became a Tripawd on 11/24/12. On 2/5/13, he had a total hip replacement on his remaining back leg. He has absolutely no idea that he has only three legs!
UPDATE: Murphy lived his life to the fullest, right up until an aggressive bone lesion took him across the Rainbow Bridge on April 9, 2015 and he gained his membership in the April Angels. Run free, my love. You deserve it!
Oh my goodness! What an unbelievable amount of rotten luck! If you haven't pulled all your hair out already, you are an amazingly strong woman! Eve with every hair plucked from your head, you are an amazing strong woman! And that Za by is one brave determined girl!
She's a beautiful dog! Love that picture. I k LW you are proud of her beyond d words!
Now, you already know this but you need to take some deep breaths. Seriously, let's do it now......breathe in slowly and deeply...-exhales slowly. and deeply... B R E A T H E in......E X H A L E........deep breath in.......exhale slowly.....I was watching and you really did it! Great job!
It's hard to believe at this point, but once Za by recovers from this major surgery, she will probably do better than she has for a long time now that leg is God! You can expect a pretty rough two weeks or maybe going I to three....,maybe not. Right now she's so doped up I'm sure eating and walking are not on her LST of things to do! It's. of u usual at all to have. o appetite for a bit. I think k you'll be amazed at how well she adapts to three legs in a very short time.
We are here for you and understand all too well the fear ad trauma of this whole ordeal! But when her sparkle comes back....and it will....you will be ecstatic...and so will she! It just takes a little time to get there.
When you bring her home it will be a balancing act getting the meds straight to keep her out of pain but. of so loopy she doesn't know her name! She will probably be very u comfortable, restless and whining. Sleep now!
Make sure you have scatter rugs if you have hardwoods so she won't slip. Of course, stairs are out of the question for awhile. You will see ups and downs the first couple of weeks but the UPS will soon be the. form!
So sorry you have to go through this but so glad you four d us!! YOU ARE OT ALONE!
Please come back to us tomorrow and keep us updated! Please! We care and we want to help in anyway possible!
YOU ARE A WONDERFUL MOM AND YOU TWO HAVE A GREAT BOND! And you won't believe this, but it will even be deeper than before!
Oh yeah, when you pick her up, don't even look at the surgery site...she could care less about that....she just wants to see you happy to see her and loving and kissing that beautiful mug of hers!
Don't forget the breathing exercises and eat lots of chocolate and ice cream!
Look forward to your updates!
Surrounding you with hugs from the tripawd community.....and that's a lot of hugs!
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!
Zabby and Family, welcome. I'm so sorry this is all happening right now, I can't imagine what a challenge it is for all of you, especially in the middle of a home remodel! Yikes!
The good news is, you're never alone here. Believe it or not many members have become Tripawds because of plates and pins that wouldn't heal, or broke. Just search through this topic and you'll find lots of hope once you see how well they did after recovery.
I think your biggest challenge is going to be keeping her calm so she can recuperate. If you can create a safe space for her to recuperate and get some R&R, that will do a lot for her well-being. And oh the best part is, the recovery from amputation surgery is MUCH easier than recovery for anything like a FHO or THO. You're practically an expert now, you will see how much easier things are this time around and be amazed.
We're glad you found us. Be strong, hang in there and know that we are here to help. Keep us posted!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Good Morning Everyone - First, Thank you for all of your helpful tips and support. It's so nice to know there is a community of those who understand completely!
Zabby came home yesterday in the afternoon. We have been drowned out of her constant whimpering - which I hear is due to dysphoria from her Fentanyl Patch. Her Fentanyl patch is in her left ear, and can be removed tomorrow (Sunday) Morning.
I know that in her recovery - there will be up's and down's and that the most difficult of times will be in the first days and weeks. I would like to highlight a few good things that have happened in less than 24 hours of being home . .
- Zabby ate 1/4 cup of dry food (with a spoonful of moist) two times yesterday ! (She would not eat at the Vet - Hence why they wanted to get her home, thinking she would do better and start eating). This morning - She ate 1/2 cup of dry food with a spoonful of moist! We are happy she is taking in nutrition.
- She wouldn't drink any water yesterday - or take an ice cube. However this morning - she gulped down a good bowl of water.
- She PEED ! She didn't pee for us at all once coming home yesterday. However this morning - she did. Taking her outside is honestly a two man job right now to ensure her safety. I hope this gets easier.
- She's a picking dog who doesn't like to take medicine. But she got all of her medicine down yesterday and this morning !
**I have had to hand feed her, and I know they don't encourage this. But I think until the Fentanyl Patch comes off, and she isn't has gorked out - I will. Unless someone else has a good recommendation??
Being a therapist myself - I have scheduled an appointment with a Veterinarian who specializes in therapy. She will be seeing them the day after her stitches come out. This is to establish the best therapy program for her. They have the water treadmill and all that fun stuff. I am hoping to get her into therapy, and learn what they do - so I can do it myself 
QUESTION: Is there an easier way to get her in and out to the bathroom? We have a sling but doesn't provide the best support - therefore we are using a towel and two people. She seems pretty good - just needs help with the thresh-hold step in / out of the house. I just want to play it 110% safe while her incision is healing.
Unfortunately I do not have a water treadmill, or pool.
Thank you for the recommendation of the Ruff Wear Webmaster Harness. I will be ordering this online today.
Thank you so much everyone,
Zabby & Her Mom (Lauren)
Lauren
Sorry to hear of all that you are going through. I remember someone posting that they had used the cloth shopping bags with handles and cutting out the corners or more and using as a sling. Probably would be good to use for front and back to keep Zabby as stable as possible with two people handling her. Good luck and hope your recoup goes as smooth as possible.
YAY for peeing"
YAY for drinking!
YAY for eating!
YAY for Zabby
YAY for Lauren!
So glad Zab by is home and moving about safely! I don't have much to offer as far as a better way to help her move around. The arrival of the harness. any help greatly as well as the hospital meds wearing off.
I think you'll see her appetite pick up too once the patch is off. My personal philosophy---"do whatever it takes"---if hand feeding gets a food in nre, do it! Now's a good time to try some extra yummy stuff too---maybe some boiled chicken breasts, turkey, hamburger, etc. to help regain nre strength.. For me, in situations like this, there's no such thing as spoiling. My Happy Hannah would NOT drink water for several days and I was trying everything...broth..etc. It wasn't til I put as opp of ice cream in her water that she started drinking on her own! At least it was organic:-)
You seem to have a pretty good grasp on the ups and Dow s to expect----it's still hard though watch I g her go through this recovery process. I slept on the floor by Hannah's side for weeks as. rights seemed to be when she who pred the most and was the. oste restless. She just couldn't go up the stairs to get in the bed with me.....nor could I lift her at 115lbs. Glad there are two of you to snare the "tasks" involved in this ordeal!
I'm certainly of a therapists, but I know some here started the PT too soon after stitches were out and had to back off for awhile. Guess it depends on I dividual.
Y.OK are doing such a great job! A calm energy and positive attitude are so important!
Would love some. ore photos of your beautiful girl! Love to look at pictures!
If you look under "Eating Healthy" you'll see a post with some pictures bragging because my Happy Hannah lost THREE OUNCES!! ! Someone pegged her our "plus size model"! Yeah, we brag about anything around here....and for me....a y excuse to it up her photo:-)
Look forward to more updates AND photos!
Se ding you the best,
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!
Welcome.
Having been through a rear amputation and recently a pretty major knee surgery (on different pugs) I can definitely say that recovery from the amp for Maggie was way faster and easier than recovery from knee surgery. And Maggie took her time with her amp recovery! Maggie was a rear amp too, she was walking the day of surgery and never really needed any help walking. She didn't get far at first, but she steadily gained strength. Mag was quite a slug the first few weeks so I didn't have to worry about her over doing it.
The first couple weeks can be rough, but you have been through big surgeries before and sound well prepared. Keep us posted on Zabby's progress.
Karen
Oh my gosh ! You hav certainly had a bumpy road lately! I'm glad to hear that Zabby is eating and peeing now that she's home amd how lucky she is to have a Mom that knows how to handle things.
Zabby seems to be able to take things as they come and knows you will do your best to keep her happy.
Will be watching for updates . Take care of yourself too!
Luanne and Shooter
Spirit Shooter was a Miniature Australian Shepherd who was diagnosed with a MCT and had a LF amp 1/28/13 at 13-1/2 years old.
Shooter crossed the Bridge on 8/28/13, his 7 month ampuversary and two weeks from his 14th birthday.
Good Evening Tripawd Family ,
Zabby has had quite the vocal day of moaning and crying. We decided to remove the Fentanyl patch 12 hours earlier than planned. We will be giving her the nightly pain medication along with a little Ace, in hopes she can finally rest. Her dysphoria has certainly kept her up moaning and whimpering since I picked her up in my SUV yesterday afternoon.
Anyone know how long the dysphoria ends after removing the fentanyl patch? I know the drug takes 12 hours to leave the system??
I ordered a Ruff Wear Webmaster Harness today. I could barely find a size (L) in stock!
Anywho - attached are some pictures of Zabby in her first 24 hours home.
Zabby said
I ordered a Ruff Wear Webmaster Harness today. I could barely find a size (L) in stock!
Please let us know where you found it so we can inform others.
We should have all sizes of the Ruff Wear Web Master back in the Tripawds Gear Shop in a couple more weeks.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi Jerry !
I was able to order a size L/XL from Eastern Mountain Sports website !
Lauren
Lauren,
Zabby is looking good. Glad you could find the community to help you out. Feel free to stop by the chat if you want a bunch of us always hang out at night
Hugs
Michelle & Sassy
Sassy is a proud member of the Winter Warriors. Live long, & strong Winter Warriors.
sassysugarbear.tripawds.com
07/26/2006 - Sassy earned her wings 08/20/2013
05/04/2006 - Bosch, Sassy's pal, earned his wings 03/29/19 fought cancer for 4 months.
"You aren't doing it TO her, you are doing it FOR her. Give her a chance at life."
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