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 everyone! I am new here and so happy to have found such a great site and great group of people! I feel I will be able to help a lot come the near future but am definitely in need of some now!
Dog mom to a 3.5 yr old, 70lb male Belgian Malinois, Selik aka Seli (Sell-EEE) 🙂 My husband and I rescued him 2 years ago in San Bernardino, CA from a high volume shelter. He was VERY fearful and very hard for them to catch, but loved us and bonded to us quickly. Very dominant but a sweetheart. We've put a lot of time into bringing out his inner sunshine and peeling his scaredy pants off! We can tell he was definitely abused/hit and also has quite a bit of Schutzhund training in him that we worked with. No ear tattoo. He has come a long long ways! Terrified of crinkling water bottles in the beginning, and now a favorite of his! Impeccable obedience now, but still working on his attachment to us; still has a bit of separation anxiety at times but not destructive, and hardly barks ever.
Vet visits have been the usual for regular health maintenance and haven't been an issue but he does need sedation for xrays ect.
As for his hobbies; Frisbee is life. We play it several times a day with a soft kong frisbee.
So to get to the main topic for the time being; and I'll explain his amputation story soon!
He is a VERY scared/fearful dog at vets now with his injury and pain level. He has to be sedated for xrays etc. He got a really bad comminuted spiral fracture in his rear left leg with a lot of bruising/tissue damage. It was traumatic watching/hearing and seeing him in so much pain. We of course wanted to save his leg so he had reconstructive ortho surgery with a titanium rod; was on lots of sedatives daily/weekly and watched like a hawk to ensure it'd heal because, Malinois are VERY high energy and constantly moving. It has been a task but we were doing great. Well I went to do his PT stretching and his leg felt limp. As I stretched it out, I felt pieces moving. UGH. X-rays showed the rod had snapped. We had the option to attempt the repair, which still had a high risk, or amputate. It was such a hard time deciding but after a day or 2 browsing this site and researching and taking into account his high energy level we decided to go with amputation.
We had to be in room and help calm him/hold him down for his Catheter insert and he was still a bit crazy until he got knocked out... literally as if he's fighting for his life to escape 🙁 It broke our hearts. Surgery went well last night and doctor said he was doing great today BUT he is still very scared and no one can get too close to him without sedating him a bit to check him out. (also this is the best vet/pet hospital I've ever been to and I can't say enough good about the techs/vets! and He's been good with them taking sutures out etc).
So my question is... has anyone delt with a fearful, high energy rescue who needed an amputation? We've come so far and he's now back to square one and then some, and is missing a back leg 🙁 They xrayed his hips and all is great! He is in great health and very lean/muscular. I'm just so scared he's gonna hurt himself or be scared of us even! 🙁 Malinois are extremely intelligent too so I'm just worried sick he's gonna go crazy. I haven't picked him up yet, but will be going in 2 hrs to get him. Any advice would be so helpful!!! Thanks so much everyone!
Oooohh... just wait until Jerry, Wyatt and Codie Rae hear we have a new Maligator member... 
We're sorry to hear about Sellee's trouble, but you've come to the best place for support! Start here if you ever need help navigating the many resources available.
Wyatt is a very anxious dog, and tends to dart about like a junkie on any heavy duty sedatives. But hopefully you can work with your vets to prescribe the perfect sedation to maintain throughout recovery. Keep in mind, this is temporary and you just need to get through this difficult time.
Some members have found it helpful to leave their dogs with some clothes they have worn—so they have something with your smell on it. Another recommendation is not to visit him in the hospital. He will only be excited to see you, then more agitated when you leave.
Others will surely chime in soon. Be sure to bookmark Jerry's Required Reading List for lots of helpful links or consider downloading the Tripawds e-books for fast answers to common concerns.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery, and 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
Many of us moved our mattresses onto the floor so that we could sleep with our dogs during recovery. My bedroom was on the second floor, so the mattress, Otis, Tess and I all moved to the first floor. The first two weeks are hard, but just stay near him. Put his favorite bed right next to your mattress, and try to bring your laptop, TV, whatever you are working on right in there so you can stay together. Gentle pets, talking to him, light massage (not on his incision yet, although once he recovered Otis loved having his incision rubbed). Get some mind games - Kongs, treats hidden under Dixie cups, etc. He probably won't feel up to it right away, but it will help you keep him occupied during recovery. I also used lavender and peppermint aromatherapy in the room where we were sleeping. You also might find yourselves hand feeding him, or hand carrying his water. It's normal, many of us did it, but should also reinforce your bond.
And feel free to post here about anything at all. The collective wisdom here is pretty amazing.
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.
Hi and welcome! Seli is so lucky to have you - it can be so difficult to find the right match for dogs with his background and I love to hear that you welcomed him in.
My dog is also fearful and distrustful of people. She lived on the street for a while and was hit, and is quick to become suspicious and protect herself. We had a few tough interactions right after her surgery, first on the way home when I was holding her and accidentally put pressure on her incision and then when I had to remove her bandage or pick her up. I felt so terrible - she would look at me as if I had betrayed her. I had to keep reminding myself that I did this for her, not to her.
What worked well for me was to let her figure things out for herself, like how to stand up or pee or curl up in a ball. Having my hands near her to try to protect her during those moments wasn't helpful and I could sense that she was focused on whether I was going to touch her incision or do something else she didn't like. I also tried to keep my mood and voice very calm/even so she would feed off of my stress levels.
Like OtisandTess, I would also suggest tricks that don't require any physical activity, once he's feeling more active in a week or so. I still hide treats under cups and play the shell game with Jack to entertain her - that's a great one. If he doesn't know 'touch' or 'watch', those are fun to teach.
Oh, Seli is so lucky to have found you! I live in the Pasadena area and know the shelters in San Bernardino County are super high kill. You are awesome! My guy isn't fearful, but I would suggest making a safe area for your guy. Is he crate trained? I set up an x pen for Clyde so he would have a safe space (I was worried about him playing with his doggy siblings and he didn't fit in his crate with his cone of shame ). So maybe a quiet space where he can feel safe - with the drugs he'll be on, he may be spacey as well. Everyone's recommendations about mind stimulating games are great ideas to keep him mentally stimulated.
Good luck and keep us posted!
Ditto that Seli is SO lucky to have found you!
We've come so far and he's now back to square one and then some
I wasn't sure if you meant behaviourally/psychologically or in terms of his physical recovery? If you meant the former, then I just wanted to reassure you, that I am certain that's not the case. My dog Meg was extremely troubled when I rescued her, and both when she fractured her elbow, (about two years later, repaired with pins, plates, wire etc.) and when she had a total elbow replacement (three years after that), she regressed very badly while in hospital, became extremely aggressive and fearful and difficult for staff to handle (it was like dealing with a wild animal, quite literally). With the TER, she ended up spending a great deal of time in hospital, unfortunately, and she did come round and learn to trust the people taking care of her.
You have clearly done such great work with Seli, and that doesn't just get wiped out now. He may have a temporary regression, but the relationship you have built is still there and will actually only grow and strengthen as you care for him.
In terms of recovery, I'd just add that compared to the reconstructive surgery Seli has already had, if my experience is anything to go by, recovery from amputation is likely to be very much easier. Every dog is different of course, but whereas with implants etc., you are constantly terrified they will damage them, with amputation the leg has gone, and whilst obviously there is an adjustment period and you need to protect the incision etc., for us it was nothing compared to after Meg's previous surgeries. I think you will be surprised.
Stay connected. We're here for you!
All best,
Meg and Clare (and Elsie Pie) xxx
Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, 23 November 2023, adopted 12 January 2024.
Also Angel Tripawd Meg (aka The Megastar), who died in April 2023, aged 14, after seven glorious years on three, and Angel Staffies Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...
Is Seli home now? How is he doing?
As far as setbacks are you worried for his recovery period or longer term? Was Seli hit by a car?
My current Tripawd is a little pug/beagle mix who lost her right rear leg after being hit by a car at 7 months old. I adopted her at 10 months old, she will be two at the end of December.
Obviously she is much smaller than Seli but she does share many similar behaviors. She is really smart and very active, however she has not yet shed her scaredy pants! She is skittish and very shy around people and other dogs, although she has greatly improved with lots and lots of classes and practice. Her daily activities include at least one walk, at least one meal out of a food puzzle toy, strength and balance exercises and obedience practice. She bonded with me quickly but barked at my dad every morning for three weeks after she move here! It took two months before he could touch her although they are pals now.
I can share some of what we do and I look forward to hearing how you guys got Seli more comfortable after adoption.
For now I hope he is doing OK after surgery.
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
How is he (and how are you doing)?
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.
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