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Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat

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LB's turn is coming
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Member Since:
21 July 2017
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8 August 2017 - 6:04 pm
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All of you have already been where LB and I are right now. I'm about 12 hours away from taking LB to the animal hospital for his front leg amputation. I know this is the next step but I'm still scared. I look at his sweet face with his head tilted to the side and feel so bad that he has no idea what's about to happen. After reading posts from so many of you, I have to remember that so many have made it before LB and so many will come after him. One day at a time.

Tomorrow will be a slow going day until LB's vet calls after the surgery.

Member Since:
17 November 2016
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8 August 2017 - 8:00 pm
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We will be thinking good thoughts for you and LB.   I know you're scared - I was, too.  Just try to remember that you are trying to give him a better life!  Please let us know how it goes.

Tracy & Zatoichiheart

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.

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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9 August 2017 - 10:21 am
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Ohhh yeah that is a long day! We are thinking of you and hoping for a speedy recovery. Keep us posted and if you want to chat, the Tripawds Chat room is open, so is the Tripawds Helpline

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

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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9 August 2017 - 1:24 pm
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STAY CONNECTED!   YOU ARE NOT ALONE!   WE ARE ALL RIGHT BY YOUR SIDE!!!!

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!

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9 August 2017 - 7:04 pm
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Huge relief! Just got off the phone with LB's vet, 830pm. What a long day for my muppy (my made up word for mutt and puppy). 

She said LB maintained a great blood pressure and didn't have much atrophy in that bum leg. Since he's somewhat young and strong everywhere else in his body, she is very optimistic that he'll bounce back quite quickly. 

Now that I think of it, isn't that what she's supposed to say? Well, I will stay positive based on what she just told me. Then again, I don't want to have too high expectations. Anyone else over-think things like me?

Anyway, I get to pick up my boy tomorrow at 545pm so that makes me happy ☺. My boss is even letting me have the next day off so I can tend to him. Great relief. I predict a great night of sleep...for myself. I imagine LB should sleep pretty well with the pain meds he'll get through the night.

Unfortunately, my 10 year old son is afraid to see LB so he is refusing to go along to the animal hospital. My son also says he'll stay up in his bedroom tomorrow night. That makes me sad. I'm sure Ace will snap out of it once LB gets back to his normal, goofy self.

On The Road


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9 August 2017 - 9:08 pm
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tiffyshea72 said
Unfortunately, my 10 year old son is afraid to see LB... 

Please try to get him to watch some of the fun videos featuring Jerry, Wyatt and other amazing Tripawds running, swimming and playing.

The photo galleries can also help anyone prepare for what to expect when bringing new Tripawds home. A t-shirt (or boxer shorts) to cover the incision area may also reduce the shock factor.

You will also find various children's books in the Tripawds Amazon blog to help kids cope with recovery, though some of these may be suited for an even younger age.

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

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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9 August 2017 - 10:04 pm
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YAAAAAAAAAY FOR MUPPY LB!!!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂   Soooo glad to hear surgery went well!!!   TRY and get some rest tonightht.  LB will be seeing pink elephants and not feeling a thing!!

When you go to lick LB up, don't even vother to.look at his incision in front of him.  All he want to see is your smiling face and hear you tell him wnat a good boy he is and it's time to go home!!! 🙂   Keep your energy strong and confident.  

As far as your son, has he voiced specifically why it is he doesn't want to see LB?  

Anyway, regardless kf the reason, you can maybe remind him kf a time when he maybe cut himself and needed a bandage.  Tell him that you loved him so much you barely even noticed his "wound".  All you wanted to do was do whatever it took to help him heal and to feel better.   LB needs to know he is loved and  that he will be okay.  He needs to know that Ace will help him feel better.   He needs to be reminded that LB would never turn away and  ignore him if he hurt his leg.  LB woukd be right by his side letting him knkw everything is okay and thst he (LB) loves Ace no matter what!

Anyway, just throwing that out there.  And also, you can put a tee shirt over the incision (front legger) and bkxer shorts (if rear legger).

Let us know how it goes when you get LB home.  Some dogs are very whiny and restless and can't get comfortable (like my Happy Hannah), and some just want to sleep.  Rest, rest, rest and potty breaks and then more rest!  Peeing and drinking are important, vut don't worry if appetite is off and if he doesn't poop for a few days.

Recovery is no picnic.  It can be exhausting and sometimes scary.  And that's why we're here to help in anyway we can.  We've all been through the rough recovery time, so we pretty much understand all the ups and downs.  We also understand how wonderful it is when the sparkle returns!!

Get some zzzzz's and update when you can!

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!

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13 August 2017 - 6:05 am
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Sorry so long for the update.

Gosh, didn't that nutty LB come bouncing out of the boarding area when he knew it was time to go home?!  His tail was wagging and he was making those happy noises.  Good thing I already took care of the bill... why wouldn't they accept my Blue Cross/Blue Shield??... before he came out because he headed right for the door.  I had to keep up with him!  And this was less than 24 hours post-op, that silly dog.  He headed straight for the car...funny how he seemed to know, or probably smell, where it was in a full parking lot... and hopped right in.  I wasn't sure what to expect but it sure wasn't that laughing.  I guess all of the excitement and energy caused him to drip for about a half hour or so.  Since the bleeding stopped after that short time, I figured it was normal.  He hasn't bled since.  

I'm waiting for him to get back to eating.  He wouldn't eat his home-cooked food so I gave him a spoon of peanut butter just to get some sort of protein in him.  I didn't have any sliced cheese on hand (do your dogs come running at the sound of the deli wrapper no matter where they are in the house?) so I sprinkled some shredded cheese into his food.  Didn't that little bugger eat around the food to get to the cheese.  I consider it a win of sorts.  Last night (3 days post-op) he did eat a small amount of home cooked food that I also hide his Rimadyl and multi-vitamin in.  Hasn't touched his morning meal yet.  Maybe after he gets moving around a bit today, he'll start getting that appetite back.

So while I was a vacation down in the Southern Outer Banks, I bought LB a couple of t-shirts.  Hey, I buy the kids t-shirts from the beach, why not LB?  So today I will be bringing down the ol' sewing machine and customizing those shirts to fit LB's new silhouette.  

I still need to come up with a way to thank LB's vet and the staff she brought in just to do LB's surgery.  She came in during her own vacation to take care of my boy.  I'm thinking of calling Panera Bread and have them make up a catering tray of sandwiches and drop them off for everyone this week.  A mushy card isn't enough on its own but I will still send one.  

Canada
Member Since:
7 July 2017
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16 August 2017 - 10:52 pm
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Hi Muppy LB!

Stewie wants to welcome your family to the wonderful world of Tripawds! Stewie just celebrated his 5th week Ampuversary and wanted to tell you that although the first couple of weeks are pretty rough, a new Muppy emerges and you will be truly amazed at each new day! 

Each pack has their own experiences, but this Tripawds community is amazing to reach out to at any time! Like Sally said, we're hear to help in the sense of lending that understanding ear and a few of these members are amazing at soothing your fears! 

A couple of weeks ago, I met a young fellow, around 8 or 9yrs old and at first he said that he felt sorry for Stewie, but when I said, "not to feel sorry for him, but to feel happy for him 'cause he no longer has the tumour pain, which was REALY BAD!" The young man's face lit up and said, "Yeah! 'Cause dogs don't think about their lost leg do they?" He made me smile and to remember truly live in the moment, not just like a dog, but like kids too! Maybe your son would enjoy reading some of the recovery blogs... he could start off with Stewie's "5th week Ampuversary" blog, because Stewie is doing so well, it is upbeat. Plus, next week, Stewie will be writing a blog "His Top 10 Bonuses To  Becoming A Tripawd!" Stewie's Tripawds site link is in his signature at the bottom of this message. Your son may also love Sally's replies, her attention to detail, her positive advice, ice cream and more ice cream is most uplifting! 😂 😉 Sally is one of many wonderful people who stay in touch, cause we all have a common care.

Looking forward to hearing about LB's recovery and wishing you all the best!

Sloppy kisses from Stewie👅🐾
& all the very best from his adoring pack! 🐾🐾🐾❤️

On July 10/17 I became a Super Tripawd! You can find out more about my Pawrents Allensong but first Check out my 🎗 journey Super Stu Remember...“live in the moment!“  

Schofield, WI
Member Since:
13 August 2015
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17 August 2017 - 11:48 am
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Awe LB's back home!  Yay!  So happy to hear he's doing so well!  At this point most of us will give our pups anything they will eat.  Rotisserie chicken, tuna a cheeseburger anything to get some protein in them and hide pills in. 😀  I'm sure as your son sees LB is the same pup he's always loved he'll come around.  Hugs you're doing a great job!

Member Since:
21 July 2017
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17 August 2017 - 5:57 pm
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I don't think LB is having a good recovery. Please let me know if anyone's pet acted like this...

LB is one week post-op. I'm lucky if he even eats 1/4 of his daily diet. He may eat very little one morning and then eat very little a day and a half later. I understand it'll take time for the appetite to return but his meals, I think, are too far apart no matter how much eats. He has become very withdrawn. He may hide behind the loveseat or a recliner, away from everyone else. He no longer wants to sleep on the bed with me when Dad's working at night. Last night I found him curled up tight in the spare bedroom. He doesn't wag his tail anymore, even when I offer him a piece of cheese. I'm pretty sure he's still in much pain because his tail is always tucked tight between his legs and his shoulder (with the missing leg) looks like it's a tight muscular ball. I took a good look at the incision tonight and there's no redness or drainage so that's a good sign. 

Please tell me some of you had the same experiences. I'm so afraid that we found the cancer too late. Just saying those words make me cry. Have you ever thought that?

Member Since:
3 July 2017
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17 August 2017 - 7:54 pm
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It sounds like it's time for LB to make a visit with his vet! A lot of pups do have a bit of a downturn about a week post-op, once all the surgical meds clear their systems and the over-doing it with play time catches up to them. That said, he may need a tweak to his pain meds or just a checkup to ensure he doesn't have any other complications going on. Keep us updated! LB is in great hands with you! ~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.

Canada
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7 July 2017
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17 August 2017 - 10:37 pm
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I do agree with Loki's Mum, a trip to the vets would probably be a good idea, just to check that things are as they should be. Even a phone call might lessen your anxiety.

We had a super hard time with Stewie when it came to eating, for 2-3 weeks, I had to hand feed him. And that was anything but his dry kibble. We cooked steaks, chicken, Gr beef and the list goes on... my vet was not concerned about what he ate, as long as he was getting sustenance  into him.

No it's not nice to see your boy hiding away... the most important thing to check first, is the kind of energy that you and LB's pack members are putting out there. Just a thought.... Sometimes we send out the wrong messages to our fur babies, when we feel sad for them, or anxious, or concerned. All these energies that we are surrounding our dogs with, send messages to them that can be confusing to them. What they know is that everyone is In a slump, feeling down and concerned, anxious and it is all centred around him, it would be easy for him to misinterpret the messages and think he is the problem. The best therapy for both of us and still is, is giving Stewie his belly rubs. They tend to settle him down and it's calming for us both. 

For two weeks, Stewie was kept in a small area of the living room, basically where we all hung out in the evening and could see us during the day. I would give him his space when he asked for it and occasionally he would ask to go downstairs to just be by himself. 

Its tough, but stay connected with your vet. They have the knowledge as to what is right for LB. you've also got really good support from this community.

Keep us informed as to how Muppy LB is doing and in the meantime we send our healing prayers.

Take care and all the very best to your family. Stewie sends hugs and sloppy kisses 👅 to LB❤️🐾

On July 10/17 I became a Super Tripawd! You can find out more about my Pawrents Allensong but first Check out my 🎗 journey Super Stu Remember...“live in the moment!“  

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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17 August 2017 - 10:59 pm
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Okay, deep breaths.....really.......take some DEEP BREATHS.....INHALE SLOWLY...EXHALE SLOWLY......DEEP INHALE SLOWLY....DEEP EXHALE SLOWLY....B R E A T H E....

As PETRA said, we are all here to help and, goodness knows, we understand the stress of the recovery period!  And btw Petra, Imlove what the little boy said about dogs not thinking about losing their leg!

Now this is STILL very early in recovery.  My first post here was on Day Six of recovery for my Happy Hannah.  My thread title was something like this:  "Day Six after amputation and I fear I've made a HORRIBLE decision!!"   It took me three weeks before I could FINALLY say I did this FOR my Happy Hannah and not TO her!!

First thing that comes to mind is LB is in pain, as BRITTNIE mentioned. What meds is LB in...the dose...the hours inbetween each dose.  Most dogs at this point are on Tramadol, Gabapentin, Rimadyl and an antibiotics.  The Tramadol and Gaba doses usually vary between three times a day or two times a day.

The tenseness, the hiding, the tucked tail, not eating, usually pain signals .  And being in pain can slow down the healing process.  It IS MAJOR surgery and it hurts!

Is LB drinking okay?  Peeing okay?   Pooped yet??

Also, often a dose of fluids at the Vet helps stimulate the appetite.  The Vet may also recommend an appetite stimulate.

Massage all up and down LB...his spine...his shoukder...his neck. Any signs of pain or does it seem to really relax him?

Okay, we'll wait for your response and see if we can help you sort through this.  Of course, a Vet visit is the best way to get things checked out as we are not Vets and not giving Vet advice.

Lots of 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!

Livermore, CA




Member Since:
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18 August 2017 - 3:34 pm
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I went back and read your posts and don't see you talk about meds anywhere.

What meds is LB on?  All of the behaviors you describe can be signs of pain- and that should be able to be managed by tweaking the pain meds he is taking. It sounds like he is not getting enough or maybe not often enough, get in touch with your vet so you can get him comfortable.

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

 

              Maggie's Story                  Amputation and Chemo

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