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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Hello everyone,
This is my first post to the forum, and a very trying time for me and my family. Our beloved pet German Shepherd Dog, Koko, is in surgery right at this moment losing his left front leg.
Koko is a real trooper, but he's been through a lot the last few months. We found a large painful mass in his shoulder in December, and decided to have it removed. The mass removal was last Tuesday, January 3rd, and turned out to be much more complicated and delicate than anyone originally thought, with a tremendous amount of blood loss and nerve damage. During the operation, he almost died, but somehow battled back from the edge. The mass turned out to be a very large osteochondroma, but it was removed completely and cleanly.
Over the last week, he has had no feeling in, and no use of, his left front leg. He's been dragging it around behind him as he tries to recover. Today's followup appointment revealed that the circulation was just too compromised, and some of the tissue was going necrotic. We made the decision that amputation was best for him.
Please keep him (and us) in your thoughts over the next 24 hours. I know in my heart this is the right thing to do, and I know he will be alright after he's recovered, but that doesn't make it any easier for us right now.
I'm so glad I found this forum.
Best Wishes, all.
Awww we are so glad you found us. Koko is a lucky boy to have such a great parent, thank you for giving him such awesome care. I'm sorry you're faced with amputation but as you can see, dogs can do great on three legs. And being the parents of a German Shepherd myself, I'm a little biased but I think they do GREAT on three legs! You should check out Wyatt Ray and his buddies the Oaktown Pack (all rear-legged Tripawds) for some inspawration.
It sounds like this cancer may be removed completely with the amputation?
By the way, Koko is joining the Tripawds Nation on the same day that Awesome Astro is. He's in great company!
Keep us posted, we'll be waiting for an update. And if you want to chat, I'm in the Tripawds Chat Room for a bit.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi and welcome! I, too, have a kid in surgery right now. The waiting is the worst part. Sending lots of positive thoughts and warm wishes that Koko will have a smooth surgery and an easy recovery! Hang in there!!
cheers,
Kat and Astro
Hello and welcome to the best online pup and kitty support in the world 😊
So sorry for everything you and your brave Koko is going through right now, surgery complication surely can be scary, but thankfully he came through it all. And I have to mention that although I am a dedicated Lab Retriever lover and a mom to many of them over the years, I grew up with several German Shepherds in my life and they are a very special breed to me as well.
As far as amputation surgery, it is definitely scary as well, but I know Koko will do fine, it will take a little time to heal, but he will be up and around before you know it. Our pups and kitties are so resilient when it comes to major surgeries like this, it affects us way more than it does them.
Keeping you and Koko in my thoughts and prayers, please let us know how he is doing when you can 💙🐾
Bonnie, Angel Polly, Pearl, and Zuzu 🐾
janeothejungle said
Hi and welcome! I, too, have a kid in surgery right now. The waiting is the worst part. Sending lots of positive thoughts and warm wishes that Koko will have a smooth surgery and an easy recovery! Hang in there!!cheers,
Kat and Astro
Hi Kat and Astro, I am keeping you both in my thoughts and prayers as well for Astro's surgery today 🐾💜
Sending prayers and healing thoughts to all that are having surgery today! Hoping by now you've both gotten good updates!
Thank you so much everyone for your well wishes.
Koko is out of surgery now, and looking very good. We just got back from seeing him! He's going to be held for observation overnight, but we get to bring him home tomorrow morning.
I'll keep everyone updated on how he progresses through his recovery.
Yay, so happy to see Koko did well with his surgery, I know you were happy to visit with him tonight 😊
Definitely keep us updated on him, and if you need any info for bringing him home and dealing with him being a Tripawd, there is a ton of info here, so check back here with us. There are many things you should do to make your boy safe, and comfortable with his "new normal". 🐾💜
Looking forward to learning more about your boy 👍🐾
Bonnie, Angel Polly, and girls 🐾
Koko is home with us now, and up and about. He goes through periods of crying and distress, which is heartbreaking, but probably to be expected. He's on a combination of a fentanyl patch, tramadol, and trazodone so I hope he settles down a bit and gets some rest here in the next few hours.
He is being an amazingly strong trooper through all of this. It's so good to see him active. I know the pain is temporary, and I'm very optimistic now. We know this was absolutely the right thing to do.
Best wishes to everyone, and all of our tripods!
Welcome and welcome home Koko!!! The first few days might be a bit rough. The drugs tend to make them a little anxious and nutty (thus the whining and pacing). It sounds like he has some good pain management drugs but those side effects are something else. Shelby would pace and whine. It's like they see things that aren't there. And they don't understand. 🙁
But rest will be your friend and keep him as still as possible. Only potty breaks for now. The more he rests (and you too) the better!!! Shelby was anxious the first couple of days and then she made a den for herself in my tiny bathroom and recovered on her terms. They think they can take on the world when they first come home and it is up to us to keep them calm and in-active!
Best wishes ... you are doing great!!!
Alison with Spirit Shelby in her heart (and little Jasper too)
Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.
October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014
Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife
Bravo! 
So hoppy to hear he's home. I hope you have a relaxing and mellow weekend together. If you need anything at all just holler OK?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Glad to hear he is home! What an ordeal, with two major surgeries in two weeks! We are all thinking about you, and here if you have any questions or just want to share thoughts.
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.
Hello. So glad KoKo is home now. I know this is all a big shock, but if the leg was already not of much use to him, he will probably adapt to life as a Tripawd relatively easily.
I do want to make one suggestion about pain meds - perhaps ask your surgeon, especially if it seems like you cannot stay "ahead" of the pain, about whether Gabapentin might be appropriate. You mentioned the nerve damage from tumor removal and Gabapentin is so effective when there has been serious nerve trauma.
Sending many good thoughts for his recovery.
Lisa, Minneapolis
On October 27, 2016, nearly 6 months after amputation, and 18 months since his cancer likely started, we lost Pofi to a recurrence of Soft Tissue Sarcoma in his spine quite suddenly. His canine sister also succumbed to cancer on March 1, 2019 - we lavished her with our love in the interim, but life was never quite the same without her only real canine friend. Cliff kitty had to leave us, too, suddenly, in August 2019. Lucia kitty grieved all these losses, but helped us welcome two new Lurchers into our home and our lives, Shae and Barley.
Gosh! Just catching up in the Champion KoKo! He certainly hit the Puppy Lottery with you as is human! 🙂
Soooo, a little @ate but no less sincere: WELCOME HOME KOKO!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Stay connected and let us know if you have any questions. You've already gotten good feedback. Recovery is rough and fullmof ups and downs. But the ups will soon take over and KoKo will get on with living life to the fullest! 🙂
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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