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 everyone,
my big baby Keef joined the tripawed ranks yesterday, I've brought him home today and he's doing well, it's me that's all over the place! I'm So glad I found this site as this all happened very fast after a biopsy on what we thought was a fatty lump last Thursday. I'm just concerned that he hasn't had a wee yet either here or at the vets. Is this normal? He's eaten a and drunk a little since we got home this morning, he is otherwise very tired but ok under the circumstances. Thanks 😊
Hi and welcome, your future posts will not have to wait for approval.
I'm sorry you have found yourself on this journey, but this is the best place to be for information and support.
How big is Keef? What kind of pup and which leg did he lose? What kind of cancer do they suspect?
It does take some pups time to pee- but often vets won't send a dog home until that happens first. Be sure you keep your vet informed.
If you haven't already you might want to look through The Required Reading List or consider downloading one or more eBooks from the Tripawd Library. Lots of info in both on what to expect with amputation and recovery.
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Thanks for the reply, sorry I wasn't more specific! My heads all over lol,
Keef is a Weimaraner Staffy cross breed about the size of a big Labrador, he's had his left front leg removed. We don't really know yet what type of cancer but mast cell tumour was mentioned after the biopsy as the vet has sent the tumours off for more tests along with some lymph nodes we should know more soon. The tumours were wrapped around the "wrist " bones so amputation seemed the best option. We will know more when the tests come back, the vet has only sent him home with antibiotics and metacam for pain, I am worried that this might not be enough but we shall see, I can always call them for more advice if need be.
Im currently laid on the sofa with him as he insisted on his usual spot even though I had made him a lovely big bed on the floor! We are trying to chill out 😊
I would advise you talk to the vets right away about pain management - metacam is not enough after a surgery like an amputation. Once the meds from the vet wear off I'm afraid your guy is going to be in pain.
My pug Maggie came home with a fentanyl patch and tramadol. It is common now for gabapentin to be prescribed as well. Where are you located?
I've had two pugs deal with mast cell cancer so once you get the diagnosis maybe I can help. Did they do a needle aspirate of the tumor? Maybe so since they talked about mast cell- it is usually quite distinctive.
My heads all over
We can all relate to this! After my vet said amputation I don't think I heard another word she said. This is a lot to take in. The good news now is that Keef had a successful surgery and you can now focus on his healing.
I don't mean to scare you or second guess your vet on the pain meds- but we have seen this here a few times, not all vets seem to be up on the current pain care standards.
Karen
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Welcome Keef and family ... I am glad you have found this website as it was so helpful to us in our journey. I am sorry about the cancer and the amputation though. I would agree with Karen - you will need more pain meds than metacam. We also had the patch and some tramodol ... metacam (as I understand it) is more like Advil and I am pretty sure if we all lost a limb, we would want something much stronger too!
I would definitely keep in touch with your vet if Keep doesn't use the potty - some dogs take a few days for a poop from the pain meds and the surgery but the pee should come.
Stay close to us and ask us anything .. .there are tons of resources to be found here! Best of luck on healing ...
Hugs!
Alison with spirit shelby in her heart
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
Murphy came home on Tramadol, Rimadyl & Gabapentin for pain after his surgery. The meds they gave him will be wearing off soon, and he's going to be feeling it. Unfortunately, it seems that it's all to common to under-medicate after surgery. Keef probably had a catheter during surgery, so his bladder was empty for awhile. hopefully he's gone for you by now. Murphy went as soon as we got home ... it seemed like he peed for 5 minutes! lol
Murphy also didn't eat very well for the first couple of weeks after surgery. That also is not uncommon. Probably due to the medications. I cooked some rice, poured chicken broth over it then added some chunks of chicken to it. That way he had some fluids, too.
Donna
Donna, Glenn & Murphy
Murphy had his right front leg amputated due to histiocytic sarcoma at 7 years old. He survived 4 years, 2 months & 1 week, only to be taken by hemangiosarcoma at 11 1/2 years 6/12/17
Read about Murphy's Life on Three Legs
Sorry you find yourself here. Under the circumstances though, there is no better place to be for support and information and understanding! We get the stress of this journey like no others can.
If indeed Keef has not peed yet, call yoir vet and see if you can bring him in to jave his bladder expressed. As Don a said, he may not poop for a few days, but peeing is much more important!
And when you take him I , INSIST on pain meds!! This IS major surgery and it hurts! Hard ro believe some vets still don't prescribe proper pain meds, but we see it on here on occasion.
Stay connected and update after talking to the vet. We are all right nere by your side, okay? The first two weeks can be a bit rough. But once Keef's sparkle comes back it will all be worth it!
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!
So sorry that your Keef has had to join us. But we've all pretty much been where you are right now, so we'll help as much as possible.
I too agree that he's going to need something stronger for pain, especially w/ a stoic breed like a Staffy in the mix. And nobody here doubts that you do not want him in pain! None of us would let our pups suffer in pain if they don't have to and I'm absolutely sure you are the same.
The first few days he might seem OK, but when the hospital meds start wearing off, he should be ramping up on some alternative pain relief such tramadol (an opiod) and probably gabapentin which is used to treat "phantom" nerve pain. The trick to managing pain is to get ahead of it. It is much harder to get under control once it gets started. Tramadol can be a bit tricky because some dogs seem to tolerate it well and others don't. Some folks have to reduce the standard dose to get good pain relief but not have a dog that is acting like they are on LSD 
.
I would not worry too much about the pee at this point. He might just hold it as long as he can just to avoid moving around. If he's got a favorite spot, then I would just be sure you have some towels or something under him in case he has an accident. Poo will come in time. The meds are constipating, so it can take a few days. When we finally see poo, most of us feel like celebrating!
Get some rest too. The next 10 days or so can be a real rollercoaster both emotionally and physically.
Denise, Bill and Angel Ellie
Active 10+ Pyr mix suddenly came up lame with ACL tear in left rear leg. Scheduled for a TPLO but final pre-op x-rays indicated a small suspicious area, possibly OSA, which could have caused the ACL tear. Surgeon opened the knee for TPLO but found soft bone. Biopsy came back positive for OSA. Became a Tripawd 9/18/14. Carbo6 with Cerenia and Fluids. Pain free and living in the moment. Crossed the Bridge on 7/12/15 after probable spread of cancer to her cervical spine. A whole lifetime of memories squeezed into 10 months. Here's her story: Eloise
Hi Keef & Family, welcome. I'm sorry you're going through the amputation journey but we're here to lean on. I hope tonight and the coming weeks are smooth and uneventful. Try not to worry, there are all sorts of odd behaviors we've never seen before when a dog is on heavy pain meds and comes home after surgery. Glad to hear your vet is communicative, that's awesome.
If Keef doesn't urinate within 12 hours you do want to let them know. There are ways to express a dog's bladder (all sorts of videos on YouTube and even one or two here in the Forums I believe), but usually they do go on their own.
Let him rest and sleep, it's good medicine. But make sure he doesn't have a tall leap up onto that couch, you want to take very good care of that incision. Front leg Tripawds tend to get more seroma fluid in general but throw in too much activity and they get tons of fluid buildup. Is he wearing a bandage/wrap?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
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