Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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My greyhound Charlie had an external compound fracture last Saturday. After x-rays and biopsy there was a spot further down his leg that was suspicious of bone cancer. With the strong possibility of cancer and complexity of the break, we opted to have it amputated. He is having his rear left leg amputated this afternoon. They will be doing a biopsy on the spot and we should have an idea what we are dealing with post op in a few days.
I've a few questions for those who have gone through this -
- Our house is a split, you have to go either upstairs or down to get in/out of the house. How much trouble is it going to be to get him (with support) up and down the stairs? Would it be more in his best interest for him to remain at my parents house for a week or so until he get used to the situation?
- Our house pretty much has all wood flooring or tile. He does slip on the floor (which is part of how we are in this predicament to begin with). Is there something we could put on the floors that would not ruin them to help with his traction ? Or something recommended to put on his paws?
- Can someone recommend a harness that will help me to support his rear area to get him up and down the stairs? He is a grey, so he has a large chest and a lot of his weight towards the front.
- For anyone whose gone through this, especially with a grey, how long post op did it take your pup to get back to his daily routine?
Welcome and best wishes for Charlie's speedy recovery!
Rear leegers will have a more difficult time going upstairs, while front-leg Tripawds can have a harder time going down. The vast majority of all of them, however, will get the hang of it and be flying up and down before you know it – not that you necessarily want that. If the steps are carpeted, consider adding some non-slip step treads. A harness will also certainly allow you to help provide assistance as needed. Check the Tripawds Gear blog for plenty of reviews and recommendations.
The best thing you can do to help is do some proper rehab and conditioning once Charlie is all healed up to improve core strength and build muscle mass. consider consulting with a certified rehab vet/tech for a professional evaluation, treatment recommendations and exercises you can do at home to keep Rayna fit and strong. Visit a CCRP or CCRT and the Tripawds Foundation will even pay for your first visit from the Maggie Moo Fund for Tripawd Rehab!
While you wait for comments from others, use the Advanced Search above to refine your forum search results with specific phrases, and you're sure to find lots of helpful feedback. You can also search all blogs here . Or, consider downloading the Tripawds e-books for fast answers to common concerns and feel free to call the toll-free Tripawds Helpline anytime!
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
Sorry your sweet Grey is going through this. Good call though to get that bum leg gone!!
Yes, you definitely want non-slip scatter rugs for traction or cheap yoga mats on the hardwoods!
This is just my 2¢, but IF your Grey is familiar with your parents' home and IF he's perfectly comfortable there and you can be with him, that may be a good option for the first several days plus. It may be hard for him to wear a harness right now until the incision heals.
Most pups come home with Tramadol, Gabapentin, Rimadyl and an a antibiotic. The hospital meds are jn his system for a couple of days and, after that is when tweaking the pain meds can be a bit of trial and error. The first several nights can be pretty rough a dgood going into the first week.
Charlie may not poop for a few days and may not have much of an appetite. Drinking and peeing are important though.
Ge erally...not always...but generally you'll start to see some sparkle come back around two weeks. It took me THREE weeks before I coukd say I did this FOR my Happy Hannah and not TO her!! Once the sparkle does start ro come back, it usually represents a good turning point that daily routines are coming back slowly but surely.
Just potty breaks and rest, rest, rest for the first two weeks. Slooooow and easy.
Okay, update us when surgery is done! A d yes, we have some wonderful Greys who have rocked three legs effortlessly! Check out
Oh My Nixon link
STAY CONNECTED!!! WE'RE HERE WITH YOU AND FOR 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!
Hello and welcome, although I'm sorry you had to find us. An external break? How scary!
I hope the surgery goes well- please keep us posted on that!
I also live in a split level house. My current rear amp Tripawd is a little pug mix who lost her right rear leg after being hit by a car at 7 months old. Elly flies up and down the stairs, she has not had a problem since I adopted her at 10 months old. My first rear amp was a pug named Maggie who lost her left rear leg to mast cell cancer. Pre amp she did OK going up and down stairs but she was always a bit hesitant going up- she always hugged the wall. Post amp she could never go up more than 3 or 4 stairs. At the time I lived in a single story house although she spent a lot of time at my parent's split level house (now my house!). She got carried up the stairs when there were more than three, but she would go down by herself.
As far as traction - really important for Tripawds. We don't have hardwood but have lots of tile. I use throw rugs for Elly and she usually goes from rug island to island getting around. She does OK walking on the tile but she has slipped when she goes faster. I don't have full rug coverage because I have to watch trip hazards for my dad. I tried traction socks when my quad-pug Tani had slipping issues and they did not work for her. Neither Maggie nor Elly will allow anything on their feet.
Many of us here use the Ruffwear WebMaster harness, even for the rear amps. Elly has a long body and a big chest (for her size) and I find it supports her just fine- although as I said I don't need to help her on the stairs. An advantage of being a rear amp is that you can use a harness right away- sometimes the front amps have to wait until the incision is healed. When my quad pug Tani was having issues with strokes I used a Webmaster to help guide her front and a Ginger Lead to hold up her back.
You can try the shopping bag DIY sling to help him on the stairs now if the vet does not give you one. You will probably find that after he is healed the stairs are not a problem. Be sure they have traction though. I have stair treads taped down on our tile stair run.
The worst of the recovery is generally the first two week. It can be bumpy so don't get discouraged! Stay positive for Charlie and show him that everything is just fine.
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Keeping you and Charlie in our thoughts. My Fallon, also a greyhound, had her front left leg amputated in mid October due to osteosarcoma. A limp led to an xray, which led to the diagnosis. So it's been 118 days and she is doing OUTSTANDING. She has one chemotherapy left, next week, then we get more xrays to see what next steps might be.
Fallon's surgeon restricted her from going up/downstairs until her stitches were out, so we stayed downstairs with her. We got her a harness on Etsy called "greyhound assistance harness" which worked well for us. It looks like she's got a suitcase handle when she is wearing it. Prior to her surgery we used it to help her up and down the stairs as we were afraid her leg would break after seeing the xray. Profits go back to the artist's greyhound group. We don't use it anymore as Fallon wants to do everything herself, and she is very competent at it. We did take advantage of Tripawds reimbursement for the rehab consult, and continued going, as Fallon seems to like it--plus we like having a doc with a different point of view see her.
We're all carpeted here, so have no suggestions about slippery floors, although when you have time to search the forums I bet the issue has arisen before.
We'll be watching for updates and sending positive energy.
Dawn and Fallon
(and Paul and Maggie)
Fallon 8/28/06--9/6/18. My Heart.
Fallon's left front leg was amputated due to osteosarcoma on 10/11/17.
Nothing But Love in Her Heart - dawn3g.tripawds.com
Thanks everyone for your support and suggestions.
I saw him last night post-op and this morning. He's doing well, seems a little depressed this morning though. They said they would be getting him up to walk today - so hopefully that goes well.
I ordered the web master plus harness. Should be able to keep it on him since it was a rear amputation. Also got some non-slip socks on order.
I have some of those foam puzzle play mats coming - figure I'll lay them across the living room for him and it'll be easier to walk on since they are soft.
YAAAAAAAAAY!!! SURGERY IS DONE!! 🙂 GRRREAT NEWS!!! 🙂 🙂
Charlie isn't "depressed", he's just very doped up on some goodnpain meds and shaking off the anesthesia at the same time!
When you do go pick him up to come home, maintain a confident and upbeat attitude. He'll feed off your energy.
You've done a good job of preparing for his homecoming. If he's never worn booties before, he may not take to them right away. He may adjust to the non-slip mats easier. You know your Charlie best and you'll know what works for him.
Love the avatar picture. What's Charlie's buddy's name?
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!
Thanks for the surgery update- it must feel good to have that behind you!
Do you know when he is coming home yet?
Karen
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
I spoke with the doctor about an hour ago - they think the earliest he will be going home now would be Friday depending on how he is able to handle himself with walking.
They are putting him on a plasma drip as his protein levels have dropped. His other back leg has extreme edema and for the most part his whole backside (near the incision and crotch area) is very red and swollen. They have also started physical therapy with him today.
I'm going to go back there after work hopefully with my other dog Sirius (45 lbs border collie/lab/mutt mix) who isn't taking the separation very well either. We got Sirius a little over a year ago (mainly to shut me up about getting another dog) to keep Charlie company (separation anxiety) during the day while we are at work. He basically became Charlies therapy dog, though after this whole incident and not being together since Friday, Sirius doesn't know what to do with himself and won't eat. I think it goes both ways now lol
Fingers crossed he is able to turn things around quickly and come home Friday - but no plans to bring him home until I am sure he will be comfortable and semi-functional.
I gotta say, this whole thing was so unexpected and the vet bills are so very painful. Going forward my dogs are going to be on pet insurance. The irony is that I have looked at it a few time in the past and passed on it. Somehow we will figure out how to manage it - boxed mac and cheese for days!
I'll y'all the updated as things progress
We hear you about the bills. Between the surgery and the chemo, it takes a lot of $$$$. We also put our other dog Maggie on pet insurance a couple of weeks ago. No way we can weather something like this again. I checked into some of the financial support resources listed in various places but nothing really applied--either out of date program info, no longer exists or are taking new clients, or osteosarcoma is a restriction.
Hoping for Charlie's return home Friday so he and Sirius can be together--that is so sweet. Fallon made amazing gains once she was at home. Still all kinds of positive energy coming to you and yours.
Dawn and Fallon
(and Paul and Maggie)
Fallon 8/28/06--9/6/18. My Heart.
Fallon's left front leg was amputated due to osteosarcoma on 10/11/17.
Nothing But Love in Her Heart - dawn3g.tripawds.com
Sounds like Charlie is in really good hands and being well monitored. The swelling you descirbe is not all that unusual and will subside.
Qould @ove to see photos of Sirius as he gets to see Charlie. May do them both good! Charlie may be a little too dopey to want to want much to do with Sirius though! Hope that's not the case. Sounds like it would hurt his feelings!
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!
rebelcows said
Going forward my dogs are going to be on pet insurance.
Insurance is a must! We learned the hard way with Jerry, so Wyatt has had insurance from day one – and used it many times!
You'll find various posts about pet insurance in the Tripawds News blog and and informative pet insurance e-books and podcasts in the Downloads blog .
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Quick update -
All of his remaining legs have swelled to almost double the size. Is this unusual? The vet is thinking of putting him on a different steroid, but there may be some side effects so I am a little wary. He is also not eating so they have put him on an appetite stimulant. I think I may try to bring some boiled chicken down there tonight and entice him to eat. The peanut butter last night was like smelling salt - got his attention -, but he still didn't eat it.
He is still having trouble getting up, but I was told he took a few steps this morning. Its looking like he will not be returning home until the weekend at this point.
My other dog Sirius is still depressed. We weren't able to bring him for a visit last night because there was too much going on there. Hopefully tonight he will.
I'm sorry he is having some challenges.
I have heard of limbs swelling after surgery, but not necessarily all three at once. It seems that I read here somewhere that Grey's have some specific sensitivities to meds? I know with my Pugs that certain anesthesia meds can cause problems.
Why is he getting a steroid? What other meds is he on?
I'm guessing he is quite skinny and the fluid the body produces after a major surgery like this has to go somewhere. How does the incision look?
My second Pug Tani was quite mopey when my parents kept her for a few days when I brought Maggie home from surgery. Dogs are so used to their routines! In our case Tani had NEVER spent a day without another pug around. Tried distracting her with toys, food and walks, but she didn't get back to normal until they were together again. No harm done in the long run.
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Not giving Vet advice and not a Bet, but some crazy swelling does happen sometimes. My Happy Hannah had a seroma and some swelling around her remaining rear leg (if I recall). Others will have ro chime in who had more swelling episodes similarto what Charlie is experiencing. All THREE legs swollen, right? Plus being immobile as the fluid that used to go to his leg is trying to be absorbed, doesn't help either.
Is the Surgeon saying this is within the parameters of what they are used to seeing? Is the steroid they are suggesting Prednisone?
Not having an appetite is not unusual. Not being mobile yet is not unusual either at this point. Although Charlie did take some steps this morning so that is a real good sign!!! 🙂 YAY!!!
Yes, try some warmed chicken, even a grilled cheese....anything yummy you can think of!
Cheering for you Charlie! We want you HOME and so does Sirius!
Higs
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!
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