Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Alright, so amid the whirlwind of yesterday, the details were left out in my previous "omg it's happening" thread. So, yes, Yesterday Astro became a card-carrying member of the tripawd club. He went in to surgery around noon, two vets and three hours later, I got to go see him in recovery. His leg weighed 8.5 pounds (because I had to ask), which was honestly less than I would have expected, but hey. He now only weighs 121.5 lbs, so petite. Not. We spent the rest of the afternoon/evening laying on the floor of the recovery kennel and slowly coming back from the depths. They had slapped a fentanyl patch on him, so that was supposed to kick in around midnight. Fungal titer results came back - Negative. So the right call was made not to waste time on the "what if". He woke up like a champ and made several attempts to stand in the kennel (which is why I curse the Vet's slippery antiseptic floors). He also started getting anxious because there were other anxious whiny dogs in the adjacent kennels.
So the decision was made to haul him home where he would actually rest and start recovery. Around 7:45pm, we helped him up and he took some baby hops out to the car. He even tried to jump in himself (which led to an awesome half-catch to load him up). Got him home and tucked in. The vet gave us an extra dose of pain meds for around midnight in case the fentanyl hadn't kicked in. Thankfully, he slept through the night like a champ, no extra drugs needed after the patch kicked in. This morning I unwrapped his incision to check it out. Looking manly (chicks dig scars).
He's pretty comatose this morning with the patch. He didn't move a muscle all night, so after chatting with his vet we decided to let him keep on snoozing here for awhile instead of hauling him back in to jail first thing. She did suggest that I manhandle him over onto his other side, so now he's still comatose, but he gets to look at the dust bunnies under the cabinet instead. 
He hasn't used the bathroom (we tried twice to get him to go last night before leaving the vet). No interest in food or water or moving a muscle. All expected on the patch, but it would be nice if he'd at least go pee. They gave him A LOT of fluid yesterday... Glad I bought the waterproof pads.... We will keep you updated as we go (hopefully literally).
Kat and Astronaut, over and out.
Wow! He is doing amazingly well, and so are you. He was clearly ready to come back home and get some Momma love. In his Honey Badger t-shirt! Bless 'im. What does Rosie make of it all? You really are doing a wonderful job!
Sending everything positive for a speedy recovery.
Meg, 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...
WELCOME HOME ASTRO!!!
And to have such a smooth night, even if it is because you are whacked with drugs, is a real good thing!!
Your incision looks good too sweet boy! And, you wear your Honey Badger shirt well!
Okay, next on the agenda Mr Astro, is a good pee! We expect to be celebrating that today, okay?
Looking forward to more updates!
Hugs to all the pack!
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!
WOW... he definitely looks comfy there and I would let baby rest too if I was in charge! 🙂 he looks great - those scars and incision are really nice (we've seen a lot here).
He will pee ... poop might take longer but I would suspect a pee would come soon! Keep us posted!
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
You are both total rock stars! If anyone can handle a post-op recovery like this, you can, Kat. So happy to see things are good. But has he peed yet?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Well, we got up and outside where he took the longest pee EVER. His legs were trembling and so were mine trying to help hold him up long enough to finish! We managed the short trip in to the Vet where she decided to send him back home! She said he looks great, blood panel looked awesome and now we just need to work on rest and recovery over the weekend! Stopped on the way home and got him a Bacon Gouda sandwich at starbucks and he ate half! All good things! Happy Fri-YAY!
Wow! Go Astro go! So happy to hear he is home and doing well. You just described Mosby's first pee at home ... it took so long I thought my husband's back was going to give out from holding him up, and I had to pitch in to help! And now Mosby wants a bacon gouda sandwich ... Have a restful weekend, Astro and mom!
So great to hear Astro is on his road to recovery! Not even one overnight after the surgery; wow!
Otis - 121 lbs pre amp - 114 lbs post amp and now 118 lb Great Dane - English Mastiff X. Started limping on 12/24/16. Diagnosed with Osteosarcoma 12/28/16 - amputation of front left leg on 1/6/17. Stitches out and 1st round of Chemo on 1/19/17. 2nd round of Carboplatin on 2/10/17 - 3rd round on 3/2/2017. 4th round was scheduled for 3/22/17 - however due to low WBC postponed - 4th Chemo completed on 3/28/17. Had breathing difficulties, stayed in Tufts ICU overnight. Due for 2 more rounds of Chemo but we are opting to go with homeopathy with Dr. Loops instead.
Astro, you rock 👌🏽
Absolutely stunning recovery so far 👍🏼
Me and Eurydice think you are a very, very serious candidate to win the Super Tripawds Cup 🏆 for the smoothest recovery
Keep up the good work 👏🏽 and keep us updated 😊
Sending you and Mom a big hug and lots of tummy rubs 😘😘😘😘🎉🐶
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 :-)
Astro, hold out for a Starbucks Puppy Latte! If you liked the sandwich, you'll love your Latte!!
YAAAAAAAAAY FOR PEEEEEEE!!!
YAAAAAAAAAY FOR BEING HOME!!!
Looking mighty sweet in your photos Astro.
The recovery is no picnic and it doesn't feel good for awhile. But Rosie will help show you the ropes 🙂
Btw....it was such a treat to revisit Rosie's "snow pictures" from the link that you ppsted on Meg's blog. They were spectacular the first time I saw them, and even more spectacular the second time!! 🙂
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!
Well, yesterday was a whole lotta sleeping. He woke up enough to take his drugs at 7pm, had a little water and half a can of food.
Had a bit of a restless night, somehow he managed to turn himself around in the middle of the night without waking me up, but then he got caught in the blanket and had to whine at me until I woke up and fixed it for him. Drugged him again with Gaba and Clavamox at 7am and he drank a little water. Dozed for a bit until 8 when starbucks was delivered and then woke up and got lively enough to eat a bacon sandwich and go out to pee. For now, he's propped up partially on his chest, keeping a stoned eye on the happenings.
Hey there handsome Astro. You sure are looking good. Your scar looks just like my kitty's, only way larger. Unfortunately she was full of beans when she got home so I'm happy to hear that you are taking the recovery slow.
Enjoy your starbuck sandwiches and lattes with your mama. With all this publicity they might want to cough up a donation to the Tripawd Foundation!
Happy healing,
Kerren and Tripawd Kitty Mona
So glad to see Astro is still recovering very well. Starbucks delivery??? We want to move to Cali!!! Omg I just tried to get Otis in the car so I could go get a DD coffee for me and munchkins for Otis and we failed. If only they delivered!!
When you realized Astro changed positions by himself, without waking you, weren't you wondering how the heck you slept through it? Otis did this to me to the 1st or 2nd night home and I was like hmmm does that make me a bad nurse mamma lol
Keep moving forward Astro! One hop at a time!
Otis - 121 lbs pre amp - 114 lbs post amp and now 118 lb Great Dane - English Mastiff X. Started limping on 12/24/16. Diagnosed with Osteosarcoma 12/28/16 - amputation of front left leg on 1/6/17. Stitches out and 1st round of Chemo on 1/19/17. 2nd round of Carboplatin on 2/10/17 - 3rd round on 3/2/2017. 4th round was scheduled for 3/22/17 - however due to low WBC postponed - 4th Chemo completed on 3/28/17. Had breathing difficulties, stayed in Tufts ICU overnight. Due for 2 more rounds of Chemo but we are opting to go with homeopathy with Dr. Loops instead.
otisgreatdane said
When you realized Astro changed positions by himself, without waking you, weren't you wondering how the heck you slept through it? Otis did this to me to the 1st or 2nd night home and I was like hmmm does that make me a bad nurse mamma lol
HA! I was sooo confused! I went to sleep looking into his face and then woke up in the dark and was like "something is seriously wrong" until I realized that he had somehow turned around and I was looking at his big ol butt in my face. I have NO idea how he managed it, I am not a heavy sleeper. And he hasn't shown any other inclination to 'readjust himself' before or since. I usually have to prod and roll him to get him to switch sides every so often. I still think it might have been elves in the night. 
I'm so delighted at how well Astro's doing. It sounds as though he knows just exactly what he needs and you are providing it for him.
Ditto Sally re the snow pics. They are truly amazing. How you got such great colour against the dazzling snow background I do not know. And Rosie's expressions are fabulous.
Starbucks delivery??? We want to move to Cali!!!
That's exactly what I thought
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...
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