Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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New tripawd Mom in need of some help and advice. 175lb Great Dane had front leg amputated yesterday,came home from the vet today. Issue keeps bleeding any time he puts any pressure on or near incision. I know Im supposed to get him up and take him out to bathroom but anytime we try he just collapses on floor and wont stand on back legs at all. Help want to do the rite thing but sorta worried.
Thank You
Amber Lizzi
Hugs! Â First of all is the incision actually bleeding or is it like a fluid mixed with blood? Â A good way to tell is take a white tissue and blot if it's serous fluid mixed with blood it'll be more watered down than straight blood. Â If it is blood a call to your vet is in order. Â It does take more time for the big guys to find their sea legs and have mobility. Â A lot of people use a sling of sorts to help them. Â Even a towel under them will help you but for your big boy it'd probably be a two person job to make things easier! Â Put it under him with each person holding an end. Â Do you have someone who could help? Â I so wish I could be there to help you I know these first few days are so hard! Â Others will pop in I'm sure with more support and ideas for you! Â Keeping you and your boy in my thoughts!
Hi Amber Lizzi,
Thanks for your patience in getting your post approved, I apologize for the delay. I hope you don't mind I deleted your second duplicate post, I'm guessing you just weren't sure why your first post wasn't approved yet. My bad!
How is your pup doing today? What is his name?
It's not at all unusual for a dog to behave the way yours is so soon after surgery. Try to put yourself in his paws. It's a BIG surgery for an even bigger boy! And he's hopped up on painkillers I'm sure (at least I hope he is!), so he's having a challenge getting his balance. That's pretty typical. Also common is the seroma that Linda described (click on link for info). As long as the fluid is more watery than bloody, that's just the body discharging excess fluid from the missing limb (remember, it has to go somewhere).Â
If you're concerned about his size, rest assured we've had many dogs of the same weight so you're not alone.
One way to help your dog get up is with a temporary grocery bag sling. See if that helps. But don't worry. If you can get him to at least urinate at least once within 12 hours he is probably on the right track. Let your vet know what is happening though, just to keep them in the loop.
Welcome to the community! If you want to talk remember the Tripawds Helpline is available OK? Keep us posted.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
We're all here for you, okay? These first couple of weeks can be really rough!!
Big dogs, fromt leggers, hopped up on pain meds...yep, that pretty much equals collapsing when trying to get them up! And for whatever it's worth, some Bets keep ig pups at their Clinic an extra day or two until they get their sea legs going a little better. So what you are seeing is what would be foing on behind the scenes if he was still at the Vet. Most of us though just want our pups home as soon as possible, even if it means caring for them during these challenging first several days until they get a bit more steady in their feet.
And yes, hopefully he's pretty well doped up on hospital meds still in his system, as well as Tramadol, Rimadyl, Gabapentin and an antibiotic. Some even come home with a pain patch.
Sometimes the first day or two, it's okay to just line his bed with pee pads and, if he will, just let him pee in ved. I knkw that's ot pleasant, but sometimes it's what we need to do until they get their balance.
Some dogs don't feel like eating much, just try and get enough yummy food in him to coat his tummy from the pain meds. Pooping may take several days too. Drinking and peeing are important though.
A d yes indeedy, weve had very large Great Danes handle three legs just fine! EURYDICE is a beautiful example of that! Another large Mastiff, TAZZIE, was also a front legger who mastered three legs just fine.
SLOOOOOW AND EASY for now. We KNOW it's hard ro be patient,sooooo hard!! It took me three weeks before I coukd finally say I did this FOR my Happy Hannah and not TO her!! 🙂
STAY CONNECTED!!! YOU ARE NOT ALONE!! And don't hesitate to call the TRIPAWDS HELPLINE. Update us when you can. And TRY and get a few minutes sleep here and there!
Lots of 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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