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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Hi My 11 year old very well apart from localised aggressive tumour had amputation 2.5 days ago (it has come through skin and was leaking becoming a mess) I am struggling to get her up and walking she is very happy being loved and feed on her bed need any help you all can give me please I know its early I know she is 11 it was that or PTS she deserved a chance
Hi Buddy, welcome. Your future posts won't need approval so post away.
I'm sorry to hear your Greyhound lost her leg but thank dog it's a local tumor! What's her name, by the way? At 11 years young that's pretty neat that she's otherwise doing well. She's a lucky girl to have you for a parent.
Try not to worry. At 2.5 days out, that is really quite early. What kind of pain medication is she on? Pain meds will make dogs dopey, which is good, because all she should be doing right now is sleeping, eating and pottying. The only walks she should be taking are to go outside to eliminate, then back in.
I know it's hard to see our dogs so mellow, but it's healing and restorative for them. I would definitely let your vet know that you're concerned, because we can't tell you for sure if this is all normal, but based on the recoveries we've seen here, it does sound normal especially for a senior doggie.
If you haven't already do see Jerry's Required Reading List , it will help put your mind at ease, as will our e-books library. Stay tuned, more members will chime in shortly.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
OH I see you're back online. I'm in the Tripawds Chat room for a bit if you want to talk OK?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Your are exactly right, it is REALLY, REALLY EARLY in recovery! We all undersw how scary this part of the journey is. We've been there and, it does get better!
Right now she needs complete rest and just up for potty breaks. It takes a little bit of time to adjust to three legs, especially for older dogs who are on pain meds! Some dogs take a several days before they are able to walk on their own at all! Are you using a towel sling or a harness to help her? Also, before you get her up, try gentle massage and very gentle stretching.
Sounds like she is drinking and eating okay and that's good. How 'bout her pain level?' Does that seem managed? Some dogs come home with a fentanyl patch, most come home with Tramadol, Rimadyl, an antibiotic and often Gabapentin. The hospital meds are starting to exit her system and that can kinda' make her feel a little more "off" for another day or so.
For whatever itsw worth, it took me about three weeks before I coukd finally say I did this FOR my Happy Hannah and not TO her! Some dogs recovery faster, some slower. Generally, certainly not always, you'll start to see some sparkle come back around two weeks. Her sparkle WILL come back and all this will be behind you!
Vets say it takes "approximately"'two weeks to recover from the MAJOR surgery itself, and about o e mo th to work out adjusting to all the mobility issues. Patience is soooo hard, but just take one day at a time. Give her time to heal and adjust. She's doing exactly what she needs to do now...rest and soak up loving and spoiling!
STAY CONNECTED! You are not alo e! We are here with you! And eat lots of CHOCOLATE! It helps!
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!
Hi there and welcome 
As Jerry and Sally said it is still early days and all she should be doing now is having a LOT of rest ...
I know it is hard to see our babies so helpless and debilitated but it WILL get better !
Generally the first landmark date is when stitches come out 10 days or so after surgery.
It is not uncommon they have a crash between day 3 -5 when medication wears off.
Did she have a front or a back leg amputation?
I am really glad she is eating and drinking and in good humour, those are all very good signs!
If you have hardwood floors you should place mats (I placed rubber underlay too) for traction and create paths for your girl to hop on.
It is really important she doesn't slip whilst adjusting to her new life on 3 otherwise that can be a confidence killer ...
We are here for you so feel free to ask anything, anytime !
Sending you a big hug and pawsitive energy plus cuddles to your baby girl
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 :-)
Oh thank you all so much I'm in tears here in UK I have been so so very worried about her and your responses have made the world of difference to me. Weeing uncontrolled when taken out but no poo yet!!
Nellie is a rescued retired Irish Greyhound the tumor was removed in May 2015 and pathology was inconclusive synovial sarcoma with possible bone involvement or soft tissue sarcoma so not knowing if i was dealing with something that may have spread i left well alone. It grew back and I got a second opinion this greyhound Vet pointed out that an aggressive tumor would already have spread and Nellie in all other respects was fine a second biopsy identified a localized form and things occurred really quickly the tumor broke through the skin weeping we've had a short heat wave in the uk not helpful with a weeping mass and an infection sat in so after antibiotics and a drip on Saturday it was amputate or ..... I have held 4 other dogs when they have been assisted to leave this world and each one I swear looked at me as if to agree the time was right. With Nellie I would have never been sure so here we are I do not regret it just lost for what to expect and what to do for her to give her the very best chance. The other problem is she was walked twice a day and always toileted on grass. My back garden id fully concreted to enable me to keep it clean (I have 6 with Nellie 4 Greyhounds and 2 Spanish Podenco's) calming down .... thank you Vicky
Hi there
You are definitely doing the right thing for Nellie, as you say it isn't her time to go yet.
Recovery wise, it is exhausting during the first week or so and there will be better days and worse days but you wait and see how Nellie will surprise you, just give her time!
As for peeing on grass, she will go back to her old habits as soon as she is ready.
When she hops more confidently perhaps you could take her in the car so she could pee on grass ?
Stay strong and before you know it the hard recovery time will be over and your girl will enjoy life to the full again.
Sending you a big hug and cuddles to Nellie
ps we are also in the UK, in London, where are you?
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 :-)
I just checked driving distance between us, it's a good couple of hours so sadly not easy to get our doggies together ...
But if you ever come to London do send me a message, we are in Wimbledon area so lots of doggie parks around.
Sending you a big hug and big cuddle to Nellie
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 :-)
Hi, Buddy:
At 2.5 days, this is so, so early. Her system is just getting past the affects of anesthesia and the immediate post op drugs.
My boy is a Lurcher of sorts - a sled dog mix with some Saluki or Greyhound. He was 11.5 when he had his amputation 10 weeks ago - STS located in his armpit. He is very, very mobile - and he isn't as lean as your Nellie will be. That is such an advantage in this process.
I have posted a few topic threads with links to videos showing him getting around if you would like to look:
We are also blogging (in my signature).
Best thoughts for Nellie - I'm sure she is going to surprise you with how she improves.
Lisa, Minneapolis
On October 27, 2016, nearly 6 months after amputation, and 18 months since his cancer likely started, we lost Pofi to a recurrence of Soft Tissue Sarcoma in his spine quite suddenly. His canine sister also succumbed to cancer on March 1, 2019 - we lavished her with our love in the interim, but life was never quite the same without her only real canine friend. Cliff kitty had to leave us, too, suddenly, in August 2019. Lucia kitty grieved all these losses, but helped us welcome two new Lurchers into our home and our lives, Shae and Barley.
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