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..new here. Our diagnosis of osteosarcoma came last Thursday, decision to amputate LF has been made, and now we just have to make the arrangements. Your posts have helped more than I can say (as everyone has said), and this is just to introduce ourselves. Cemil is an Anatolian Shepherd, 3 years old, 30" tall, 156#, outweighs Mom.
I know there will be challenges ahead, but his eyes say "Do something", so here I am, learning as I go. Thanks for the support I've already found here; Cemil thanks you too. My biggest questions right now are, What kind of help is he going to need from me when he first gets home after the surgery? How can I prepare? I'm nervous because I can't lift him.
Cemil and mom Mary, Mujde and Radzi….appreciating and enjoying Today
I thought I would have a problem moving our Mastiff Tazzie around after surgery (180 # post amp of RF leg) but she really surprised us! We kept her in the hospital for 3 nights because she had a liver infection (due to pre-existing condition) so maybe that helped but she was able to go to the bathroom on her own and even do a few small steps the night we brought her home. We had a sling all ready but didn't need it. For a few days we followed her around whenever she got up and once she fell trying to drink from her elevated dish (lost balance) but she really figured it out pretty quickly. I was concerned because she only limped 1 day before we made the diagnosis and she had both of her ACLs repaired previously so I wasn't sure how she would balance but it all worked out.
Are you planning on chemo? We did carboplatin because sometimes the Adriamycin can be hard on the hearts of these giant dogs but your vet/oncologist will help you with those decisions. The most important thing is to get the leg off quickly.
Please keep us updated on your dog's story!
Pam and Tazzie
Hi and welcome. I'm sorry to hear of Cemils diagnosis.
When we brought Darcy home the day after her surgery she was awful about getting up. We did have to lift her (I couldn't but my husband could do it). However, I've honestly not read of other dogs who have refused to move! Everyone elses dogs just get up, albeit slowly and more tentatively than before but they do get up! You may just need to steady her and be on hand with a sling of some sort like Pam mentioned (we used a rolled, small fleece blanket as our sling). After a few days, we put a T shirt on Darcy and knotted the extra fabric to form a 'top knot' on her back. This allowed us to get rid of the sling and we used the 'top knot' as a sort of handle, to guide Darcy and give her support.
Because Darcy was not moving, we had her water bowl and food next to her bed but once she started to move on her own, we made sure that the water bowl was on a raised stand so that she didn't have to bend too much to drink. (She ate her food laying on her bed as she had always done and she still does it now).
I would recommend that you prepare foods and freeze them (for yourself) so that you can eat well but not have to spent time making things and I'd recommend that you get yourself some Rescue Remedy to help you feel as calm as possible.
Wave byebye to the leg ASAP and then Cemil can begin his recovery.
Best of luck and keep us posted!
Bev & Darcy
x
Darcy – tripawd since 16th October 2007.
***Darcy would love to be your friend on Facebook - just search for Darcy Deerhound***
So sorry to hear about your dog. Those first days of shock and disbelief are so hard. And then difficult decisions have to be made. Every dog and family is unique, but I will share some of our experiences.
Although Ember is much smaller - 55 pounds - she had no trouble getting around right from the start and we did not need a sling. She lost her rear leg, but she had been experiencing pain in the leg for a while, so she had had an introduction to tripawd life even before the surgery. She stayed in the hospital 3 days like Tazzie (over the Thanksgiving holiday), but the vet called and said that when she woke up from surgery she hopped outside and squatted to pee with no trouble. She was also able to walk on the linoleum floor right away which suprised our vet. Now at home she stays to the carpeted area of the house but she runs up and down the outside concrete stairs with no problems. She did prefer not to reach down to her food bowl for about a month, and she did, and stilll does, fall from time to time (2 months post amp). Most recently at the beach when she tried to dig a hole with both front paws. No harm done! We felt a bit bad for her, although it was kind of funny, but she just scrambled up and kept digging, this time with one front paw. Dogs just get on with it - sticks and holes and balls and walks and all - and that is the lesson that they can teach us!
I have two teenage sons and we can all pick Ember up and carry her. All of us can pick her up to put her in the car, or up the hardwood stairs so she can sleep in the bedroom. You will have a different experience with your bigger dog, and others in this forum use slings, harnesses and ramps. We may get a harness for Ember down the line - partly because her old leash and collar put her off balance.
Jane and Ember
So sorry about the dx. You have come to the right place for information and support through this very difficult time. We are new to this also, just barely 1 week post-op. I couldn't have been so strong without this forum. So many caring and kind people here. I was so full of tears, worried and fearful when I saw the link someone had posted to- doug and the b brothers.(?) It really helped me get a grip. I started living in "today", not yesterday, not tomorrow. I just took it as it came- day by day!
I have to say I was worried about getting my fur-baby around- not nearly as big as yours. I had pictured him after surgery lying on his side barely able to lift his head. I assumed my husband would have to carry him into the house when we brought him home. Well, I was completely wrong! He was so alert the day after surgery and hopping around- fast! So don't worry too much, they do need a little help with balance at first, but wow, they do adapt quickly.
Wrigley II and his mom send hugs your way
Hello, and welcome to this great community of people. Thanks for registering. Don't you love the advice so far? We are so grateful for everyone who shares their experiences here.
We are verry sorry about Cemil's diagnosis, but we're going to be that he'll be OK after all this. Yes, he's a big boy, but as you can see, there are lots of other big pups here who have been through amputation and done very well afterwards.
What's he going to need from you? He's going to need you to be a calm, centered pack leader who shows no fear. One of the biggest things a dog needs to successfully recover is a pawrent who isn't nervous, jumpy or scared. We know how hard that will be, especially in the first few days after surgery. But remember, if you show no fear, Cemil won't either. It's the way of the pack!
Feel free to check out our Top 10 Questions about amputation surgery, here. Our Health Tips page has some advice too, as well as various pieces of advice scattered throughout our Forums.
If there is anything we can do for you, just let us know. We are here for you and rooting for a speedy recovery. Please keep us posted, and let us know how he does. Good luck!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hello, and welcome to this great community of people. Thanks for registering. Don't you love the advice so far? We are so grateful for everyone who shares their experiences here.
We are verry sorry about Cemil's diagnosis, but we're going to be that he'll be OK after all this. Yes, he's a big boy, but as you can see, there are lots of other big pups here who have been through amputation and done very well afterwards.
What's he going to need from you? He's going to need you to be a calm, centered pack leader who shows no fear. One of the biggest things a dog needs to successfully recover is a pawrent who isn't nervous, jumpy or scared. We know how hard that will be, especially in the first few days after surgery. But remember, if you show no fear, Cemil won't either. It's the way of the pack!
Feel free to check out our Top 10 Questions about amputation surgery, here. Our Health Tips page has some advice too, as well as various pieces of advice scattered throughout our Forums.
If there is anything we can do for you, just let us know. We are here for you and rooting for a speedy recovery. Please keep us posted, and let us know how he does. Good luck!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I, too, was concerned about helping Trouble as she is too heavy for me to lift and doesn't really like to be lifted anyway. Her surgery was the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and we picked her up on Friday. She could get around fairly well on her own by the time we took her home. We used a large towel as a sling for about 2 - 3 days, but only to help support her when she needed it or when she was tired. We used it to get her in and out of the vehicle. We had always used a harness on her so I had no collar. About day 3 I went out and bought a collar. The collar and a short leash were all we needed from that point to help support her when necessary. Within 2 weeks she graduated to her long leash when I could no longer keep up with her. Trying to keep up with a short leash was about to run me ragged!
Don't be afraid, they help you help them. Welcome to the forum, everyone here is supportive and helpful.
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
Thank you all. Our appointment has been set for Monday, surgery at 10. Cemil will be in the hospital until at least Tuesday afternoon, and maybe another day depending on how he's doing. After that, I'm pretty much decided on the holistic route--acupuncture, Chinese herbs and homeopathic stuff, plus diet. I have an acupuncturist for one of the other dogs, Alle, who is diabetic, and I like the way it works. I had a brief conference with that doctor on the night of the diagnosis, and we'll have a more thorough one in a few days and get started. I have Rescue Remedy for myself (great stuff!); I'm naturally fairly calm and strong anyway, but I'll be aware of the messages I'm sending out. Also, I hadn't thought about an elevated food dish, but I have one so I'll move it to Cemil's room.
Last night, as I was trying to be matter-of-fact about everything, I remembered a friend of mine whose husband had a life-threatening illness. She said she wouldn't treat him as an invalid because if she did, he'd become one. I guess that's one part of being strong.
Pray for Cemil. He's at the max dosages of his Carprofen and Tramadol, and we have to get to Monday.
Cemil and mom Mary, Mujde and Radzi….appreciating and enjoying Today
Your friend made a very good point about not treating like an invalid...but you wont have to worry about that. Cerril will come through with flying colors! If there is one thing that I have learned through sharing Max's story and listening to others is that these dogs are amazing! Its the humans who have all of the emotional baggage that we drag with us. Dogs live in the moment and depend on us for love and care. Sounds like you have those bases covered! Cerril will be hopping along side you befire you know it.
Max was also on the max doses of Carprofen and Tramadol before his surgery, so I understand the way you are feeling. It will be such a relief to get the amp done and know that he will be pain free when everything heals. The first days are tough but just take it slow and easy and go with your instincts. If you feel like you need to call the vet...do it. We will also be here for you to bounce things off of. Lots of expereince on this site to draw from and most of us have had "our moments" of freaking out. Its a natural thing to worry about the fur babies we love so much!
If you are worried about balance, I recommend the Ruff Wear web harness that Jerry shows on this site. We have one for Max and its been really helpful (more for me than him!) at times when its close quarters or on stairs. There is a handle you can grab that makes it really easy to guide and help with balance if needed.
Best of luck to you and Cerril....we will be thinking about you both and send hugs and prayers your way!
Paula
Paula and Spirit Max
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