Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hello, hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful!
Stella's surgery is Tuesday the 28th, and she comes home Wednesday the 29th. I wanted to check in and see what we're missing for her homecoming...
We've laid down rugs and yoga mats where we can... my dad helped us with a simple ramp for the outside steps, and we're practicing using that when we go in and out so it's not another new thing next week. We cleared the living room of extra furniture (coffee table, spare chair) which might have been an obstacle course. We have extra dog beds around, her special soft gator toy (which she uses as a pillow), and we're ready to set up the air mattress (for us) if she doesn't want to come to the bedroom (same floor, so no stairs). We have some stinky wet food for pills.
Mel will drop her off Tuesday, but we both will pick her up so one can drive and the other stabilize for the ride as needed.
We'll probably wait to order the harness until she's home, but she's already used to one so hoping that will be a minor adjustment.
I'm applying for special credit to allow a year for payment interest free, hoping that will help with my husband suddenly unemployed (but me making too much to qualify for assistance programs).
What are we missing? I'm trying to be as prepared as possible. Thank you!!!
Wow, great job! It appears that you have left no stone unturned
I'm not sure that you could be any more prepared than you are! My only suggestion to you would be to make sure you have a sufficient amount of pain meds to go home with. My vet only gave Huckleberry a few days at a time and i don't think the rollercoaster did him any justice. Hopefully they will send you home with a couple of weeks worth. Wishing you the best, stay in touch!
Hugs
Jackie
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry 
Online
EXCELLENT JOB!!! STELLA IS VERY LUCKY TO HAVE SUCH GREAT CARING HUMANS 🙂 You've certainly covered allnyour bases.
Good idea to hold off on thr harness for awhile. If you need tonuse a towel as a sling for support, that'll do in a jam. My Happy Hannah basically froze when I tried ro help her with the towe. Just play it by ear. Your Stella may not need help at all!
When younpick her up, don't even draw any attention to the incision. Just look straight knto her druggy eyes and tell her what a good firl she is! She'll be so glad to head home!! It was just myself and my little dog Bodie when we went ronpick Happy Hannahnup for the hour ride hiome. She was crying and yelping and allmover thenplace (125 lb Bull Mastiff)! It was a loooong ride home!! As it turned out, the poor thing needed to pee so badly! I didn't dare stop as I woukd never be avle ro get her baxk in the car by myself! Definitely have Mel with you!
Some dogs are pretty wired for the first couple of nights...very whiney and very reerless. Some dogs are fairly zonked out and don't get their semlegs for a couple of days. It is MAJOR surgery!
The Vet will send you home with Tramadol, Rimadyl, an antibiotic and Gabapentin. Some come home with a pain patch. As Jackie mentioned, you'll want a good supply. Getti g the pain managed can be a bit tricky, especially o ce the hospital meds wear off around day two or three.
And stock up on CHOCOLATE!!! It helps reducw stress! 🙂
Stsy connected and let us know if you have ANY questions!! And keep us updated, okay?
Hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
l
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!
Wow you have done some fantastic preparations! Be sure to check out the Tripawds Pre-Surgery Shopping List for other ideas.
Keep in mind that one of the best things you can do for her is to continue on with normal living arrangements. We know many people with split-level homes will sleep on the floor with their dogs during recovery, but as another German Shepherd household, I know that keeping our sleeping arrangements the same went a long way during Jerry and Wyatt's recoveries. But whatever breed, vets have also told us that normalizing routines like this are part of the process.
We will be thinking of you and Stella so keep us posted in "Treatment and Recovery" OK?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hey there 🌺
You've got it all pretty much covered, well done!
If Stella is a front legger you probably could use a t-shirt to protect the incision, if she's a back legger others used boxers, and the tail goes through the fly.
My girl used tshirts with a soft harness on top until stitches came out.
We'll be thinking about you Tuesday, please update us when you can!
Sending you a big hug and tons of cuddles 😘😘😘🐮💫✨🌟🌹
Eurydice 77kg/170lb Great Dane limping end of April 2016, amputation (right front leg/osteosarcoma) 4 May 2016 6 courses of carboplatin followed by metronomic therapy, lung mets found 30 Nov 2016. 3 courses of doxorubicin, PET scan 26 Jan 2017 showed more mets so stopped chemo. Holistic route April 2017. Lung X-ray 5 May 2017 showed several tennis ball size mets, started cortisone and diuretics. Miss Cow earned her XXL silver wings 12 June 2017, 13 months and 1 week after amputation and 6 1/2 months after lung mets, she was the goofiest dawg ever and is now happily flying from cloud to cloud woof woofing away :-)
Thanks! Stella is trying out her t shirt now... It's an old favorite of mine that is soft and worn out... and has a bunch of cowgirls on it. Thought the sweet and though image couldn't hurt! She's worn fleece before, and seems fine in the shirt.
And... My Dad found us an extra rug so that will fill in the gap we needed to cover... and a friend just texted me that she has an elevated bowl set she will give me! It's great to have community support, online from you, and from the people close by.
We bought the elevated bowl set, but most of the time Murphy at laying down with us hand-feeding him! 
You will discover that Tripawds get very spoiled! lol
We used the t-shirt for Murphy, at least for a few days, to keep his incision clean. He didn't really bother with it. We didn't use a harness for Murphy until he was healed, but the Web Master Ruffwear harness is the best! The handle on the back of it was invaluable for helping him in & out of the car when we'd go to the vet or anywhere else. He usually took his meds with peanut butter. He was very finicky when he came home - I ended up cooking some rice and pouring chicken broth over it, then I added some chunks of chicken to it.
The first 2 weeks or so are the hardest, but things usually are so much better after that.
Donna
Donna, Glenn & Murphy
Murphy had his right front leg amputated due to histiocytic sarcoma at 7 years old. He survived 4 years, 2 months & 1 week, only to be taken by hemangiosarcoma at 11 1/2 years 6/12/17
Read about Murphy's Life on Three Legs
Thinking about you and Stella 💕 and sending lots of pawsitive energy to your baby girl 🎀
Please let us know how she is feeling after surgery, we are all here for you both!
Sending you a big hug and lots of cuddles 😘😘😘🐮✨💫🌟🌹
Eurydice 77kg/170lb Great Dane limping end of April 2016, amputation (right front leg/osteosarcoma) 4 May 2016 6 courses of carboplatin followed by metronomic therapy, lung mets found 30 Nov 2016. 3 courses of doxorubicin, PET scan 26 Jan 2017 showed more mets so stopped chemo. Holistic route April 2017. Lung X-ray 5 May 2017 showed several tennis ball size mets, started cortisone and diuretics. Miss Cow earned her XXL silver wings 12 June 2017, 13 months and 1 week after amputation and 6 1/2 months after lung mets, she was the goofiest dawg ever and is now happily flying from cloud to cloud woof woofing away :-)
Yes, thinking about you and wishing you the best! Will keep checking in ❤❤
Big hugs❤
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry
Hello! The surgery went well, and we're anxious to bring her home! The vet asked us to come later today so they can monitor her for most of the day and make sure her pain meds are working.
I appreciate all the feedback and support! We are guessing it will be a challenging week ahead as her body heals. The weekend before the surgery wasn't great - it was clear her pain meds weren't being as effective. So, I'm hoping removal of the main source of pain will be an overall improvement! We just need to get over the hump of recovery.
Our other dog Loki was a wreck last night without her home... very clingy and quiet, not at all his usual rambunctious self. (Maybe he was picking up on our feelings too.) It will be good to have her home, although I know he'll think she smells strange, and will be confused by her energy level.
WONDERFUL news 😆
I am thrilled to hear Stella's surgery is over and done with 👍🏽
Now, onto recovery and a happy, happy life on 3🐾🐾🐾
We are all here if you have any questions!
Sendjng you a big hug and cuddles and raising a toast to gorgeous Stella's smooth recovery 🥂
😘😘🐮💫✨🌟🌹
Eurydice 77kg/170lb Great Dane limping end of April 2016, amputation (right front leg/osteosarcoma) 4 May 2016 6 courses of carboplatin followed by metronomic therapy, lung mets found 30 Nov 2016. 3 courses of doxorubicin, PET scan 26 Jan 2017 showed more mets so stopped chemo. Holistic route April 2017. Lung X-ray 5 May 2017 showed several tennis ball size mets, started cortisone and diuretics. Miss Cow earned her XXL silver wings 12 June 2017, 13 months and 1 week after amputation and 6 1/2 months after lung mets, she was the goofiest dawg ever and is now happily flying from cloud to cloud woof woofing away :-)
So glad to hear the good news! She will be happy, dopey, and groggy most likely with the good drugs still in her system. I am so glad the surgery went well! Soon you will have her back at home, please keep in touch with any questions or concerns 
Jackie
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry
YAAAAAAAAAY FOR STELLA!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
Absolutely stay connected!! We are here for you! You'll still jave some rough nights and days, but they don't last forever! And even with the pain of major surgery, some say their dogs are in less pain than before the surgery! So maybe Stella will be one of those!
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!
That's terrific! It's always a relief to get that surgery behind you.
Yep, our pets sure do pick up on our feelings. Staying strong and optimistic will keep the pack in good form as you go through recovery. Not all animals have a hard time so prepare for the worst, hope for the best and soon this will be behind you.
Now that you've graduated from this forum you can start a new topic in Treatment and Recovery. See you there!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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