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 Zoey is a Boxer/pit mix, 8yrs old and 63 lbs. She will become a tripawd one week from today due to a mast cell tumor in the joint of her front right leg. We have stairs everywhere in our house as well as the front, back and side entrances. She and our other dog are used to sleeping in our room at night (on the 2nd floor). Also the stairs to our 2nd. floor are not carpeted. Can anyone who has stairs, particularly non-carpeted, tell me what to expect as to the difficulty she may have going up and down and how long it might take her to try stairs? I plan to sleep downstairs w/her the first several nights but she will be so hurt if she can't go upstairs after a few days.
Hi Zoey and family, welcome. Sorry you had to join our club but we'll try to make the transition as easy as pawsible. And a big Hoppy Ampuversary! Congrats on getting over that first week, it's a major accomplishment.
Stairs are indeed a big deal, especially uncarpeted ones, and especially for front-leg Tripawds who have a harder time going down stairs than up. How many stairs do you have at each level? If just one or two or three that's not a big deal but if more than that, I'd recommend that she wear a Webmaster harness so you can help guide her down stairs during the first few months.
Another thing to consider: what was her stamina/fitness level like before amputation? If she was in good shape before the surgery she should be able to handle them quite well. The danger happens when she runs downstairs on the uncarpeted ones. For those I recommend looking into something like these stair treads:
http://gear.tri.....oor-decal/
Hope this helps. Stay tuned for more feedback from others.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Welcome Zoey and pack.
I'm sorry you are dealing with mast cell cancer- my first pug Maggie lost her left rear leg to a MCT. She lived almost 4 years after her amp although her prognosis was 6 to 9 months. Her story and info on her amp are in her blog if you are interested, the links are in my signature below.
So- just to be clear, Zoey is having her amp next week, right?
As Jerry said, traction is huge for tripawds, especially new ones. I recently adopted my second tripawd, a little pug mix who is also a rear amp. She does fine on the stairs, although we are in a split level so the longest run is 8 steps. I wasn't sure she would be able to go up stairs as Maggie never could. Elly is much younger at 15 months than Maggie was at 7.5 years old. I would guess that Zoey is big enough that she will be able to do stairs, but I would be very careful until the stitches come out. Elly also can navigate our tile floors OK, but we have carpet stair treads on the tile stairs.
All dogs are different in their recovery- you will have to see how quickly Zoey adapts to three. You might have to stay downstairs a few more nights, but I bet with the right traction she will be 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
Otis is bigger than Zoey, and just did the stairs for the first time this weekend (almost 2 months post-amp). We have all been sleeping on the first floor, and he really didn't mind not being able to go up. Now, he self regulates really well and goes up when he wants but other times does not. Our stairs are carpeted. By the way, he could do 2 stairs into the house as soon as he got home.
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.
Yes Zoey's surgery is this coming Tuesday. Re: the steps to our 2nd floor where the bedrooms are - we have 8 then a landing, then 5 more - all uncarpeted. We have steps literally everywhere. She is in good health fortunately, other than the tumor in her leg, and is very muscular. I'm glad she is not in pain - she runs like the wind outside and jumps up and down for a treat, jumps on the bed which makes it so difficult to have her leg amputated. We would never know anything was wrong. I looked at the harnesses which may be helpful. We will discuss it with our doctor. We are also looking at stair treads or a carpet runner. Thanks so much for the help. I'm sure I will have many more questions.
I'm glad she is not in pain - she runs like the wind outside and jumps up and down for a treat, jumps on the bed which makes it so difficult to have her leg amputated. We would never know anything was wrong.
Maggie didn't have any pain either, it was hard to come to grips with the fact that amputation was the solution to a lump in her knee.
Know that you are giving Zoey a chance at more quality time with you. It is very likely that left alone the tumor would eventually ulcerate and cause a painful wound that would probably never heal.
I'll be thinking about you on Tuesday- keep us posted on her progress.
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
Thank you so much. I will do so. I know I need to focus on the fact that this will hopefully extend her life instead of feeling so guilty but it's difficult to do. I appreciate the support.
Geez...just catching up!
You've gotten great advice.
Yeah, this is really hard for any of us to wrap our head around. And in your case, no visible limping makes it seem even more drastic. But as you read from Karen's post, it will only get worse and then a multitude of issues could become involved.
Zoey is fullmof spunk and WANTS the chance to have her lofe extended with more time for loving and spoiling! And that is nothing to feel guilty about!. To NOT give her this chance...yeah...maybe a little guilt then might seep in.
It is major sjrgery and recovery is no picnic. So stay connected, okay? You are not alone!
Sending lots of (((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
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 telling it like it is - she does want more time for loving and spoiling and that is something we can certainly do. We will get through this but I know it will be a challenge.
Zoey's surgery went as well as can be expected. We brought her home around 5pm. She is pretty out of it and is whimpering some. She looks so pitiful. She hasn't tried to stand. I guess all this is normal but would appreciate any input on what to expect during the first few days.
First few days will be tough. She probably has an antibiotic, a patch, Rimadyl and Tramadol? She will likely rest most of the time, but when the hospital meds clear out of her system, you might sense more pain. Be sure to call your vet if she seems in pain - you may need to adjust meds. Short leashed potty breaks only at first. Might be a couple of days before you see #2. Make sure she drinks enough (at times, I carried the water bowl to Otis). I kept a log so I knew when to give meds and when I really had to get him outside to pee. Lots of treats involved in encouraging him to go outside. Remember that it will get better - don't let yourself get overwhelmed. It really really will get better fairly quickly. If you have questions, feel free to post. This community is great and is here to help you.
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.
YAY!! Surgery is over nad Zoey is home!!!
And you brought her home the same day...WOW! Just be prepared for a rough really rough night...or not! Every dog is different! But generally when dogs come the first night you are seeing them coming out of the anesthesia feeling pretty confused a d loopy with lots of whining. My Happy Hannah spent the first. night at the vet and she still came home very whining and restless for several days!
A lot of dogs don't stand until they are well out of the anesthesia. Don't try to rush it. It .may be at least u til tomorrow before she even .akes an attempt to stand. If you have some plastic you can put under her bedding it may help in case she has an "accident".
She probably won't eat a thing but it is important to give her the meds with food when the vet told you to give them. It is important that she drinks water though. Not too much concern right now as she has lots of fluids in her.
For nkw, just rest and potty, nothing else.
Stay connected! We are right here by your side! The next couple of days aren't going to be fun. In fact, she may nkt feel like a pawty for about two weeks...more or less!
Hugs and .ore 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!
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