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Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat

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6 days post amp - how long before your pet could be left alone?
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Member Since:
24 May 2018
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24 May 2018 - 5:09 pm
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Hello Tripawd community,

My greyhound Charlie had his left front leg amputated last Friday. He had been limping for about a month and after many trips to the vet and being put on medication that wasn't helping, we had the vet do x-rays last Wednesday and he confirmed the osteosarcoma diagnosis. We saw our vet oncologist Thursday, who did lung x-rays which did not show any spread of the cancer, and Charlie had surgery Friday morning. Everything happened very quickly and has been quite overwhelming. 

We got over a very bad day 4-5 hump, which I've read from the forums was likely a result of the strong pain meds wearing off. For just over 24 hours Charlie was inconsolable. He would stand up every 10 minutes, sending me or my husband rushing over to steady him with his sling before he fell over. He wasn't resting at all (and neither were we!) and would cry and do the piercing greyhound scream every few minutes. He didn't seem to be in pain but just in a panic over not being able to roll over onto his side. We would place him on his side to try and make him more comfortable, but he would immediately shift back to his front and continue crying. On the advice of the vet surgeon, we adjusted his pain meds and put him on some anti-anxiety meds to allow him to get some rest. 

He is much better today - more alert and steady on his feet when he gets up, eating and drinking normally, etc.

My  main question for others who have gone through this is what the timeline was before their pet could be left alone for a few hours without the fear of them falling and injuring themselves? My husband and I each took a few days off work this week so someone has been home 24/7 but, with the unexpected expense of the surgery, we are getting worried about how much time off we can take. Any advice?

Thanks!

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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24 May 2018 - 5:14 pm
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Welcome and best wishes for Charlie! Every dog is different, but confinement is key to a quick complete recovery. If crate trained, or if you provide a safe recovery room – with little space to roam around, no slick floors and nothing to jump up onto – Charlie should be able to be left alone anytime since it has already been a week.

While you wait for comments from others, use the Advanced Search above to refine your forum search results with specific phrases, and you're sure to find lots of helpful feedback. You can also search all blogs here . Or, consider downloading the Tripawds e-books for fast answers to common concerns and feel free to call the toll-free Tripawds Helpline anytime!

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

Member Since:
30 April 2018
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24 May 2018 - 8:24 pm
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I can’t offer any insight since Sierra is having quite a difficult recovery, but I do want to tell you it’s only going to get better! I would say make a safe space where Charlie is confined and can’t get into trouble & try leaving for short spans of time. It will build up his confidence and yours too!

hugs! 

Melinda

Mom to tripawd Sierra, India & Echo

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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24 May 2018 - 9:52 pm
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So glad to jear Charlie  is doing better today.  Fetting thenpain managed properly  and with consistency  can take a vit of trial and error sometimes .  Glad tje Vet worked a dose and frequency  that seems ro be working.  It is major surfery and it does hurt!

Melinda gave some good advice.   If I recall, it was around day six or so that I left my Happy Hannah for just an hour or so, and she was fine .  I think  So I would go on and do a trial run and see how she does.  I was licky jn thar Happy Hannah never messed with her stitches  and never needed a cone,  It seems like I did take a week off before I wemt back to work.  If uou need to go vack sooner, do you hsve family or friend who could check on Charlie a couple pf times?.

You're  doing  a good job of monitoring  him and addressing his needs.

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!

Member Since:
21 May 2018
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25 May 2018 - 5:07 am
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yay for Charlie dogs! We have a Charlie also. We are still working on a diagnosis and path. 

One suggestion I have is to maybe set up a camera to watch Charlie to see how he is when he's alone? 

This app https://alfred.camera/ Lets you just use your cell phones. So if you both have a smart phone. Set it up on both phones then maybe both go to the store or just drive the car down the block to monitor him. You can also listen to sound on the app and talk back.

if we do surgery I also worry about my boy being alone. 

maybe also look into CBD oil for calming, we use Pet Releaf


Member Since:
24 May 2018
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25 May 2018 - 7:12 am
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Thanks everyone! It has really been so helpful to be able to read through the forums and speak with people who have been through this!

We have Charlie in an enclosed space with exercise mats on the floor so he won't slip. My concern is that he's been so anxious that sometimes when he tries to stand up if we don't get to him quickly enough with the sling to steady him, he kind of collapses down, usually onto his amp side. However, when he is feeling more confident he actually can keep himself up, walk a few steps, and lie back down. I'll do some short trips outside the house today to see how he does.


Member Since:
24 May 2018
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25 May 2018 - 7:14 am
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color23 said
yay for Charlie dogs! We have a Charlie also. We are still working on a diagnosis and path. 

One suggestion I have is to maybe set up a camera to watch Charlie to see how he is when he's alone? 

This app https://alfred.camera/ Lets you just use your cell phones. So if you both have a smart phone. Set it up on both phones then maybe both go to the store or just drive the car down the block to monitor him. You can also listen to sound on the app and talk back.

if we do surgery I also worry about my boy being alone. 

maybe also look into CBD oil for calming, we use Pet Releaf  

Good suggestion! I will look into the app.

We have used CBD oil in the past with Charlie - this is unfortunately his second bout with cancer. The first time was a mast cell tumour on his nose, but with 4 rounds of chemo it went away. It worked well to keep him calm and we should probably get some more to try this time!

Member Since:
21 May 2018
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25 May 2018 - 7:31 am
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We use the oil year round. I think there is a lot we don't know about it yet and it may help with other issues. 

We started it due to firework noises and needed to calm him. 

This is our dogs possible third cancer, he had a tumor removed on 'butt' area then a parathyroid tumor but the biopsy got lost to confirm what it was.

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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25 May 2018 - 9:52 am
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This app https://alfred.camera/ Lets you just use your cell phones.

We used something called Presence to keep an eye on Wyatt. It allows you to use old cell phones as a system, nothing to buy at all. See:

Wifi Pet Cam Basics for Recovering Tripawds (and more!)

The only problem with a camera, is that if you see something that worries you, and you aren't able to get to your pup to help, it's even more stressful than not knowing in my opinion. We ended up not using the monitoring system afterward because it was just too upsetting for us to see how upset Wyatt was when we left him alone. Behavior modification techniques made a bigger difference for our pack. It wasn't an instant fix but it worked over time. 

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

Member Since:
5 May 2018
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19 June 2018 - 3:55 pm
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Hey Charlie + Charlie's mom --

Just chiming in to say hi from another greyhound family dealing with a front left leg amp. I know every dog's different, but I'd be happy to chat with you anytime about our pups' progress -- Wabs' surgery was just a few weeks before Charlie's, so maybe we can offer a little insight into what's to come.

As for alone time: We've noticed Wabs' progress comes and goes (appetite, energy, etc.), but most of our staying at home with him has been our paranoia rather than him really needing assistance. We're comfortable taking off for a few hours to go watch a movie or head to dinner, but we try to spend as much time around as possible, especially if he's seemed to be a little "off" in any way that morning. Hope your boy is feeling better.

<3

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