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.
Join The Tripawds Community
Learn how to help three legged dogs and cats in the forums below. Browse and search as a guest or register for free and get full member benefits:
Instant post approval.
Private messages to members.
Subscribe to favorite topics.
Live Chat and much more!
Register
Log In
Members
Add Topic
Offline
Hi all!
This is my first post but I've been reading lots and lots and it has helped tremendously! My dog Zoey is almost 11 and had her front right leg amputated on Sept 26th. (cancer) Everything has gone fairly well. We had her in for the vet to look at incision/stitches last Saturday the 7th. There was a spot that was seeping where the incisions came together and another spot where she scratched (bad dog) and did some slight damage the day before the appointment. She's been wearing t-shirt and a bandana ever since then. Couldn't do the cone of shame as it rubbed right on the spot where the incisions came together. The vet decided to leave the stitches in longer. Appointment scheduled for stitch removal on Monday Oct. 16th.
Anyhow, I was just wondering how long until your pets were comfortable laying on amputated side? Sometimes she seems like she can't get comfy on the other side. like she's tired of always having to lay the same way. She has tried a couple times, but goes to the center instead or lays on the opposite side. I know it is frustrating her.
Also wondering how long it took for hair to grow back on your dogs?
Thanks in advance for your input.
Renee & Zoey
Hi there Renee & Zoey, welcome! We are so glad you chimed in and shared your story with us. You definitely sound like you've done your research, good for you 🙂
how long until your pets were comfortable laying on amputated side?
It varies from dog to dog. I think it took Jerry oh maybe up to two weeks before he did.
Are your floors slippery by any chance? If so, maybe she won't do it because she has a hard time getting up from the amputated side? If they aren't slippery, I would just be patient, she'll figure it out.
If you're worried and want to try to show her she can do it, how about having her do a sit, then bribing her into a down and over with the tastiest treat you can find? We taught our Wyatt Ray how to roll over and play dead that way, and although most times he rolls over onto his non-amputated side, occasionally he forgets and rolls onto the missing limb side. When he does he struggles just a bit but eventually figures out how to get up.
how long it took for hair to grow back on your dogs?
Again, that's one of those "it depends." Jerry's fur took four months. Wyatt Ray 's only took about two. We wrote this post a long time ago when we wondered the same thing ourselves:
Are You Furry Again?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thanks for the response. Yes, our floors are slippery but she has dog beds to lay on and we bought carpet runners which are placed throughout the house for her to walk on so that shouldn't be an issue. She's got stable pathways all throughout the house. I guess we'll just try to be patient.
Hoping her fur grows in sooner. I guess we'll keep the shirt on her until it grows in so she doesn't get a sunburn (we live in AZ) or get chilly once it starts to get cooler.
Thanks so much! We ordered some Tripawd bandannas so she'll be stylin'! Can't wait 'til we get them! 🙂
Renee & Zoey
Hi Renee & Zoey,
It took a couple of weeks for Zato to lie on that side, but it was difficult for him to get up without pain until he had healed more. I'd say he comfortably did it around the five week mark.
His fur took about 2 months to grow back in and it is still thin where he had his radiation treatments. It turned his black fur white!
Tracy & Zatoichi
Tracy & Warrior Angel Zatoichi 💓
Zato was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in October 2016. He triumphed through radiation and amputation with dignity and grace. After living a life of love and happiness, Zato earned his angel wings on February 19, 2018. Read his story here.
Hi Renee & Zoey,
welcome to the club that nopawdy wants to join!
Stewie is a 110lb Bernese Rottweiler cross. He had his front left leg removed 3 months ago. In the first week, he would lay on his amputated (left) side fairly often, but he had developed a seroma (which is a build up of fluid around the surgical area.) and had to have it drained a few times. Ever since, he has laid down on his right side. Now he does try to lay on his left side, but still isn’t totally comfortable about laying down on that side unless he is flat out sleeping. He does struggle slightly to get up still, but not as bad as before.
Stewie’s fur has grown back about an inch, but there is still a hand sized patch that is still bristly and almost bald still. It is located on the ‘flap’ side of the incision) It could be because of his harness, but he only wears that when we go away from home. My other thought is the fact that Stewie has been through four rounds of Carboplatin chemotherapy. (He still has two more session, so he has shaved patches on his front and back legs still.) I’m not totally sure as to why only that small patch is not growing like the rest. Yes, you are going to need a lot of patience in this ongoing process and journey, although it sounds like Zoey is doing remarkably well, it will be a little while before she is ready. Every dog is different in their healing process, but she will be amazing you in no time! If she is big like Stewie, it could be a number of weeks.
Stewie’s ‘Berny’ patch is finally starting to show on his chest! The white and brown are becoming far more apparent! If you think a sweater is necessary, then absalutely cuddle your girlie in style, 
Zoey you are a wonderfully mature girlie, you’ll be shiwi g all these young bucks how to rock been a Tripawd!
I wonder if you could tell us what kind of fur baby you are?!
Take care and all the very best from Petra Stewie & his adoring pack!
Remember...“live in the moment!“
Hello again and thank you for your responses. Zoey got her stitches out today and has just one very small scab left. The vet seemed very pleased with her progress. We will continue to keep a bandanna and t-shirt on her until scab is completely healed and hair grows out more. I don't want her to get a sunburn.
When she got back from the vet today, once her sister, Zelda calmed down (we adopted them both together), we let them out back and they actually ran around and played a little. This was a first since before the surgery! Another first since surgery was after she pooped this afternoon, "she peeled out" or scratched the dirt with her rear legs! Too cool! Progress, I love it!
Zoey & her sister Zelda are "super mutts". We were told they were lab/shepherd mix when we adopted them, they look like they could have some of each but are only about 34-36 lbs each.
Hoping that she'll be able to lay on her other side by the 5 week mark or sooner! 🙂
I uploaded a pic of Zoey before her amputation as my avatar.
Thanks again for the responses!
Renee & Zoey
PEELING OUT AFTER PEE.....PLAYING WITH ZELDA.......STITCHES OUT.... BEST DAY EVVVER! 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
LOOOOOVE great updates like these!! 🙂 🙂 🙂 Can't stop grinning! 🙂
And Zoey's avatar pictures is BEAUTIFUL! 🙂
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!
Running and playing! Yay Zoey! Healing is in full swing! She will figure out her other side, especially now that she's able to get more active. Loki started lying on his after a day or two, but he seemed to like the security of pressure against the site. His hair also grew back really fast (maybe a month?) but he has super short pittie fur so it only had about 1/2 an inch to grow!
Good luck with Zoey!
-Brittnie and Loki
🐾 Loki, Dog of Mischief 🐶
I loved life as a tripawd for over three years following right forelimb amputation due to an aggressive and recurrent hemangiopericytoma. I reclaimed my place among the gods and valkyries in Valhalla on November 11th, 2020. My parents miss me tremendously, but I know they'll keep me in their hearts forever... and don't worry, I've approved my mom's use of my Tripawds account.
Stitches coming out seems to make most dogs a lot happier! Yay Zoey! Great update! All dogs are different when it comes to laying on amp side. Our Max actually favored laying on his amp side after just a day or two ....go figure 😳 While some wait for much longer.
Yes, yesterday was a great day!
Today was great as well! We had been walking her shorter distances, trying to slowly build up her strength, but today she made it almost all the way to the mailboxes! They are quite a way from our house. She hasn't been going that far for quite a while even before her surgery took place. She enjoyed all the smells that she hadn't been able to sniff for quite a while! She was a happy dog! 🙂
So, great news for Zoey....she's laid on her amputated side quite a few times today! Also, she has been jumping up and laying on the couch and chair like she used to do and has walked to the mailbox (about 1/4 mile) 3 times now. I'm so happy! She seems very happy as well to be able to be a dog again! She's wearing her new bandannas now too. 🙂
Oh wow these are GREAT updates! Yay for Zoey!
When life gets back to the new normal, we can breathe again. Isn't it great to get excited over the little things, like checking pee mail and stopping to smell the roses? I know that I took those little things for granted until Jerry couldn't walk anymore because of his painful leg. When he was able to get outside again it was like an all new life together.
It's terrific to see that she has made such great pawgress and is on her way to hoppy times. WHEEEEE!!!!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
WONDERFUL UPDATE!!! 🙂 I KNOW how happy you are at this juncture of the journey to see so many of her "normal" routines return! 🙂 You know we have to see a photo of her stylin' her new bandanna, right? RIGHT??
Zoey gets extra treats for laying on her amp side! No, scratch that. This calls for ICE CREAM FOR ZOEY! 🙂
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!
Excellent job Zoey!
It sounds like you have done an excellent job of recovery! 3 Paws up to everyone! 
I agree with Sally... a run to the mailbox definitely deserves ICE CREAM! 🍨
Keep up the good work and keep hopping hoppily along!
Yes, it is awesome to see her normal routines returning and life getting back to normal. It's also nice to not have to shove pills down her throat 2-3 times a day. I'm sure that she's happy about this as well 😉
I don't give her ice cream, but she got an extra baby carrot as a treat. She loves her baby carrots!
I'm not sure how to post a picture in the gallery here but I changed my avatar to Zoey wearing her yellow Tripawds bandanna. I also posted it on the Tripawd Facebook page.
Renee & Zoey
1 Guest(s)
