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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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Post-op care tips
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Member Since:
12 January 2016
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1
15 January 2016 - 10:04 am
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We are owners of a wonderful 8.5 year old rescue racing greyhound who had his left forelimb amputated 4 days ago for osteosarcoma. Our sweet boy had great pain control during surgery and has been relatively comfortable on a regimen of tramadol and a fentanyl patch for pain, and gabapentin for neuropathic pain (phantom limb pain). We are both in the medical field (myself a vet student and my boyfriend a human doctor) and, while certainly new to the world of owning a tripawd would like to offer our two cents in the hope that these topics might help anyone out in even the smallest way! Firstly, let me say that this advice should be discussed with your own vet since each case is different, but in general here are some tips:

First, talk to you surgeon prior to surgery about how they are going to control pain before, during and after surgery. It is SO important that they use "multi-modal" pain control to lessen the many different ways that pain manifests. Asking about what drugs will be used to reduce stress and pain prior to surgery, if nerve blocks will be used (an injection around the nerves that will be cut-VERY important) and what type of IV drugs will be used and what your fur baby will be going home with.

Second, know that even with the best pain control, your dog or cat will still experience discomfort, stress and pain. For me, it's just easiest to think "how would I be feeling right now?" "would I be wanting pain meds, an ice or heat pack or just some physical comfort?" But if you are worried, always call your vet to see if they can provide further options.

Third, getting your tripawd to eat after surgery can be difficult, but, just like in humans, the drugs and sedation can really decrease appetite. Making sure they are drinking is the most important and using things like really low-sodium chicken broth, beef broth or tuna water poured into plain water can stimulate drinking. Starting with yogurt or peanut butter to give pills can help, but baby food is my favorite trick. Getting plain chicken, beef or pork baby food provides protein and is usually very attractive to even very sleepy pets. You can add this as a yummy topper to their regular food. Even adding water and microwaving food to a mildly warm temp can release more odor and make the food more attractive. 

Finally, the most often over-looked therapies can be super effective at relieving pain and stress. Massage, heat and cold therapy are great options. When your pet is lying down, start with long, gentle, hand-over-hand strokes from the neck to the lower back, being very sensitive to painful areas. If they seem uncomfortable, stop and try later. This is a GREAT way to increase blood flow, and provide actual pain relief. There are awesome resources on this web site about effleurage, rolling and petrissage techniques so look 'em up!

This is a hard choice to make for our furry family members, but there are so many great resources here, at your vets and with animal rehabilitation professionals that we can make the recovery process as easy as possible! If anyone has questions about this or things to add please let me know! Thanks to all who contribute to this awesome site-it has been such a great support network!~ Much love to all the tripawds out there!

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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15 January 2016 - 12:03 pm
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LOVE THIS! clapBravo, thank you SO MUCH for taking time to share such fantastic tips. We can't thank you enough for taking the time to do so considering you're caring for a new Tripawd yourself. I'm so sorry for the diagnosis, but it sounds like things are going pretty well?

I have a gazillion questions for you! Like:

  • What's your dog's name?
  • Where did he have surgery? Did you get to assist?
  • May I share these tips in our Tripawds News blog ? And if so, would you mind posting photos of your pup?
  • May we add a badge to your profile as a "vet expert"? That's a special designation for vets and LVTs, just so folks know where you're coming from if you share your thoughts about a particular situation.

Do tell, we want to hear all about your recovery and whatever we can do to help make it easier. You have a fantastic attitude and it's so clear that you are going to be a GREAT vet!

Thanks for joining, your future posts won't require approval.

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

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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3
15 January 2016 - 12:24 pm
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Just wanted to also add a great big THANK you and send some cyber hugs your way! Very kind of you to offer such helpful I sight while you are in tne middle of your own recovery lrocess with your gentle Grey.

Ake sure you are taking care of yourself. Recovery is no picnic and can be pretty exhausting. Let us know if we can helpYOU, okay?

So yes, please tell us more about your precious pup! pictures too!

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!


Member Since:
12 January 2016
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15 January 2016 - 4:43 pm
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Thanks so much for the replies! It has been so great to read and share in all of the experiences of everyone who has gone through this!

  • What's your dog's name?  
  • Watson! (or The Watsonatorbig-grin)
  • Where did he have surgery? Did you get to assist?
  • He went to Oakland Veterinary Referral Service in Bloomfield Hills, MI. and saw Drs. Henney and Becker for initial exam and Dr. Cervi for surgery. I did not ask to assist in this surgery as I didn't have any professional connection with the hospital and also had complete faith in the surgical team 🙂 
  • May I share these tips in our Tripawds News blog ? And if so, would you mind posting photos of your pup?
  • Of course! And I'd love to show the handsome man (he's a scarf guy, and camera shy,) but can't for the life of me figure out how to include pics...
  • May we add a badge to your profile as a "vet expert"? That's a special designation for vets and LVTs, just so folks know where you're coming from if you share your thoughts about a particular situation.
  • Absolutely!
On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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5
16 January 2016 - 10:45 am
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Wooohoo!

Just a hint: There was some trouble with your post...it appears you copied and pasted some weird formatting into it that turned your reply invisible. Were you trying to paste photos or something? Here are instructions for adding images, let me know if you'd like help.

By the way, another member in Canada consulted with a vet at Oakland Hills, check out Sheba's story, we just posted about her:

http://nutritio.....coma-diet/

Oh I take it you're in school at Michigan State?

Glad you want the Vet Expert badge, welcome aboard!

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

Raleigh, NC
Member Since:
29 April 2013
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6
16 January 2016 - 12:52 pm
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ekmcneilly said
Third, getting your tripawd to eat after surgery can be difficult, but, just like in humans, the drugs and sedation can really decrease appetite. Making sure they are drinking is the most important and using things like really low-sodium chicken broth, beef broth or tuna water poured into plain water can stimulate drinking. Starting with yogurt or peanut butter to give pills can help, but baby food is my favorite trick. Getting plain chicken, beef or pork baby food provides protein and is usually very attractive to even very sleepy pets. You can add this as a yummy topper to their regular food. Even adding water and microwaving food to a mildly warm temp can release more odor and make the food more attractive. 

Finally, the most often over-looked therapies can be super effective at relieving pain and stress. Massage, heat and cold therapy are great options. When your pet is lying down, start with long, gentle, hand-over-hand strokes from the neck to the lower back, being very sensitive to painful areas. If they seem uncomfortable, stop and try later. This is a GREAT way to increase blood flow, and provide actual pain relief. There are awesome resources on this web site about effleurage, rolling and petrissage techniques so look 'em up!

Nixon went from 72 lbs to 56 lbs between diagnoses and the day of his actual amputation.  He was 53 lbs when I brought him home.  Encouraging him to eat was a high priority.

I first used cottage cheese to encourage him to eat.  I later moved to Wild Calling canned dog food.  At $3/can, it was expensive but he got back up to about 60 lbs and maintained that even during chemo.

Here is Nixon cleaning the bowl with some cottage cheese topping his food.

I also used a rice heating pad to treat the edema that set in during recovery on his remaining front leg.  The one from Amazon fit him perfectly.  I've been told you can just use a tube sock filled with rice for the same effect. 

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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7
16 January 2016 - 1:27 pm
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Awww, I lpved seeing Nixon's video. Such a sweet boy.

Just as a Beacon of Hope for everyone, Nixon whopped that piece of crap disease for over two years!!!

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!

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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8
16 January 2016 - 6:08 pm
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Ditto here Ingrid, it's great to see you and Angel Nixon here today. Thanks for sharing your wisdom.

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

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