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Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat

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Behavior Changes Around Other Dogs, Packmates?
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Member Since:
13 July 2014
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18 July 2014 - 11:15 am
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Some of you may be familiar with my Aggie's story from my other topic post.  She lost a paw a few months back.  We have 4 other dogs, all males.  When she was recovering from her last injury, I kept her separated from the others a lot, to make sure she didn't hurt herself playing with them or anything.  Well, once she was feeling better and I started letting her be outside with them, she was very aggressive toward them.  They would be not even paying any attention to her, and she would just jump up and go at them biting and growling.  Also if I was paying attention to another dog, she would come at them.  I wasn't sure if she was so used to my attention that she didn't want to share, or afraid they might hurt her.  Either way, eventually it got a little better and almost totally back to normal.  Now that we have been recovering from this amp, I have again been keeping her mostly away from the other dogs, penning them in the kennel when I let her outside.  Now that she's starting to want to spend more time outside I'm again seeing her have aggressive reactions to the other dogs.  I know it's a pack dynamic with this many, and any changes can make a difference.  But what can I do to help speed up the recovery there with them all?  And why might she be doing this?  Thanks!!!

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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18 July 2014 - 2:55 pm
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Laura, I hope you don't mind but I'm going to edit your topic post slightly so that folks with multiple dogs can see it and respond. Unfortunately we're a one-dog household (and one with a high-strung German Shepherd at that!) so I can't offer you a lot of insight about this situation, but I know others can. You may also want to search through our Forums for posts with "Sibliings" and "Behavior" and "Other Dogs" in the posts and titles, I think you'll find some insight there too.

Stay tuned....

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

Member Since:
18 June 2014
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20 July 2014 - 8:14 am
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Laura,

We are a three dog household, one being an 8 month old puppy. At first I penned them off so that they didn't hurt Jake. Then I slowly let them mingle.  Aggie wants to feel normal and be treated normal.  Just watch them and give her pack mates equal attention.  They will figure it out.

Laurie

Member Since:
22 May 2014
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30 July 2014 - 3:29 pm
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A little uncertainty and a little defensiveness are to be expected. My boy Rowdy, a German shepherd dog who lost his left front leg to osteosarcoma, is an alpha dog if there ever was one. Bold and self-confident. He is adapting to the new normal, where he can't do some of the things he used to do.

He's the only dog in the household now -- we lost our other GSD about five years ago -- but we have two cats whom Rowdy helped to raise. They love him, and worry about him since his surgery, and he feels responsible for them. I have noticed that he is more inclined to try to control them by barking now, whereas previously he would hop up and run over to them to head off a cat fight, or whatever. Cat gets on my guitar case, which Rowdy knows is not allowed? Rowdy barks, shows his teeth, makes a motion toward chasing the cat, but hopes the "remote control" method works. He knows what he is doing.

Our animal friends are amazing, and much smarter than most people want to get them credit for. The main lesson I learned in training my shepherds for search-and-rescue work is "trust your dog." They won't let you down.

Here's hoping things have already sorted out well at your house!

Rowdy's Dad

Member Since:
17 September 2023
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27 September 2023 - 7:21 am
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Hello My name is Maureen and my Dog Buddy GS was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma Sept 8th and amputated Sept 20th at this point it hadn't spread to his lungs or anywhere else.The first several days after amputation Buddy was very much himself,up wanting to go out going potty regularly eating regularly playing with his ball .Now being Sept 27th he seems to be very down more,sleeping all day.He is still eating good and going out to potty.He just seems down now,is this normal?We have 3 other GS'S that we kept away from him for the first 3 days after amputation.When we did let them back together we started slow with one at a time.They are all doing great with Buddy.Buddy is the Alpha male and seems to still hold that position.Yesterday and today so far he has been resting alot which I think is normal seeings how he was so active the first several days,time for rest and healing.This is my first post so this is all new to me.Any guidance would be much appreciated.Thank You Buddy's Mom

New England
Member Since:
11 January 2022
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27 September 2023 - 7:26 am
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Welcome, Maureen.  Your future posts won't require approval.

What you are describing is completely normal.  Many dogs have an apparent setback a few days after amputation.  This is often because the strong hospital meds have left their system and their body is starting to feel sore from their new gait.  Amputation is MAJOR surgery and it really takes a few weeks to really recover.  Buddy needs some rest and it's possible his medication schedule may need to be tweaked.  

It would be great if you started your own thread so we can follow Buddy's journey and help you in a dedicated spot.

Member Since:
17 September 2023
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27 September 2023 - 7:49 am
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Thank you,I will post thread as soon as I figure how to navigate in this site.I haven't seen anything on posting thread.If you can direct me to the threads hopefully I can get this done

New England
Member Since:
11 January 2022
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27 September 2023 - 7:58 am
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Ok, here's a quick primer on message boards/forums.  This definitely isn't the most user friendly message board I've used.

This is the main page, which contains a list of "boards".  At the bottom of the main page there is a list of recent posts, which is an easy way to keep up with the community.

Each "board" has a list of "threads", which you can think of like individual topics of conversation.  We are in a thread right now.  Near the top of each "board" there is a button that says "Add Topic".  Here's a link to create a new thread on the Treatment and Recovery board.  IMO the "Add Topic" button is a little hard to see because it isn't a different color from the background it's on.  Each board covers a broad topic to make it easier to find information that may be helpful/relevant when someone has a specific question.

If you read some other recent questions, you'll see what you described with Buddy is very common.  It's a frequent question here.

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