Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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My Chihuahua mix dog recently got her leg amputated (2/6) and I am having a hard time getting her to drink water and use the bathroom. She is eating wet dog food for me at least but I have tried putting a small amount of chicken broth in her water but she won't touch it. I have tried taking her outide to potty but she will only stand there. She had a rear leg amputation and I was just wanting a little bit of input on if people have had similar problems like this with their dogs after this procedure? Thank you to anyone who answers!
Hi Amber, welcome. We're sorry your pup had the amputation. What was the reason? Just curious.
So it's been almost two days since her surgery, and this kind of behavior is pretty common so soon after coming home. Usually it's the pain meds that throw a dog off kilter for a bit, and mess with appetite. What pain medication is she on, and how often? Is she showing any others signs like anxiousness, whining or pacing?
That's GREAT she's at least eating the wet dog food. Has she urinated? If not, definitely let your vet know. Don't worry too much about not pooping right now, that will happen soon. Most dogs need a few days to get a regular bowel movement again. That's another thing that pain meds mess with.
In the meantime, you are doing everything right. Keep trying to entice her with wet, stinky food and spiked water. Something will grab her attention! Breathe, and know that you will both get through this. I'll bet by Friday she'll be much more inclined to drink and eat. If you suspect there is something more serious going on, please let your vet know asap OK?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Yep, ditto everything Jerry said!
She just had major surgery, she's on pain meds, and she's adjusting to walking on three legs. She probably still has some Hospital meds in her too, and that can make her a bit wacky.
My happy Hannah didn't want to drink water for at least the first week. She had no problem eating, she just didn't want water. I ended up swirling some ice cream in the water and that seemed to do the trick. Put a little bit on a spoon first, let her lick the spoon, and then drop the ice cream into the water in swirl it around.
Try and get some rest when you can. She may be restless and not wanting to get much sleep the first couple of nights. It does get better, I promise! Keep us posted and let us know how we can help, okay. The first week or two can be pretty rough. We understand like no others can and we are here to support you.
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!
She had a severely dislocated knee, not sure if she was born with it or an injury as a puppy but my vet said amputation was the only thing that wold get rid of her pain. It progressively got worse as she got older and was already starting to develop arthritis in it. She's only 2 years old also. She is on Tramadol and amoxicillan. If she hasn't urinated by Wednesday evening I'm going to call the vet and let them know she hasn't went. The only time she has whined was when I accidently touched her stump when picking her up to take her outside and a little bit when she first came home and was trying to get comfortable laying down. She's already seemed to have perked up a little bit but I'm a worry freak especially since she hasn't been drinking.
I may be wrong but only Tramadol for pain medication doesn't seem to be a whole lot to be hones so maybe she is just not completely pain-free and comfortable yet? I know a lot of people here had Fentanyl-patches and Gabapentin and other meds, so maybe someone will chime in and add to this.
If you go to see your vet again anyway, maybe ask about that.
I am German so things over here, while similar, are usually called something else. What helped with the drinking issue with my dog was actually what we call "sausage-water". You can get canned sausages here that are in water to keep from drying out. That totally did the trick for us. I don't know if you have anything comparable where you are.
And, you know, I am a great fan of "if in doubt, ask a vet". It took me a while to get over the "I hope they don't think I'm stupid" -phase but by now I will ask anything that is on my mind. It's their job after all. So if you feel something is wrong, call them up, show up, whatever it takes to ease your mind.
All the best and to a speedy recovery
Tina and Manni
Guardian of Manni the Wonderdog. -Or was it the other way around?
Osteo and amputation in Dec 2015. Second, inoperable, primary osteosarcoma found in June 2017.
The end of our adventures came Dec 10, 2017. 2 years to the day.
Regarding the pee, wouldn't wait any longer. If possible, go ahead and get her into Vet so they can express her bladder. If I read this eight, it's been over 24'hrs with no pee, right? Poo may take awhile, but pee is important, plus, she needs ro drink. Vet may give her some fluids.
Hang in there! This is the rough part!
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!
Ditto not enough pain meds. Most dogs come home with three types of pains meds (anti-inflammatory, opiod,and nerve) AND have a fentanyl patch for the short term. If possible, call the vets and request more.
Also, most dogs do NOT come home with amoxicillin.
Likely she may be reluctant to walk or move much so soon after such major surgery: especially without pain meds.
For a small dog, I would be very concerned if she has not urinated by now (the bigger dogs have bigger bladders, so...). Depending on where the amputation is, sometimes there may be a "rethinking' of the nerves for amputees and so urination may take awhile longer. Also, pain meds may make her a bit out of it. There is a med to help kick start urination which I believe is called bethanechol which I have heard other dogs take under some circumstances (I think it is a one dose med).
Best wishes, hang in there, and let us know when she pees! We celebrate EVERYTHING here!!!
Hey Amber, I'd agree that she may be very uncomfortable. Let your vet know before this evening if at all possible, especially about the lack of urination.
What helped with the drinking issue with my dog was actually what we call "sausage-water". You can get canned sausages here that are in water to keep from drying out. That totally did the trick for us. I don't know if you have anything comparable where you are.
OMG love this idea! Yep, we have those little sausages here and in fact, they're called Vienna Sausages!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
They sent her home with the amoxicillan to take to prevent infection. And she is very sensitive to pain medication plus with her being only 8 pounds. She still has not urinated so I called the vet and they are going to take a look at her today just to make sure something is not wrong. Luckily I havent had to put a cone on her yet and is leaving the stitches alone
Glad you are going to the vet. One member actually found that as soon as he got to the vet, his dog pee'd (all of the pee smells maybe). It took my Tess a while (although not 24 hours) to figure out how to squat when she had knee surgery - might be something like that going on here. Are you able to take her to a location where she would normally go and to try to approximately her normal 'pee routine'? I found that Otis was very uncomfortable going on a lead, so we went to the backyard on the lead, I unclipped it, he did his business, I reclipped it and we walked back inside.
On drinking, great that you are feeding wet food. A tiny bit of "tuna water" - from the tuna packed in water, not oil - might also work, or someone (Sally?) swirled ice cream into the water.
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
OMG love this idea! Yep, we have those little sausages here and in fact, they're called Vienna Sausages!
Yep! Exactly what I meant! 😊 Works miracles!
Manni did come home with antibiotics such as amoxicillin. In fact I asked if they would let me administer that myself (yeah, they came in syringes...) so I wouldn't have to drive him to the vet every day.
Guardian of Manni the Wonderdog. -Or was it the other way around?
Osteo and amputation in Dec 2015. Second, inoperable, primary osteosarcoma found in June 2017.
The end of our adventures came Dec 10, 2017. 2 years to the day.
We have a fenced in yard so she kind of would normally just go wherever she felt like lol. I carry her outside and set her down but she just stands there and won't move. I am probably going to try and mix some of her dry dog food in there with the wet this evening so her stomach doesn't get used to the wet food. How long did it take for your dog's to become used to having 3 legs?
I think everybody here is different. For us it was two weeks until things started to get better. Motivation was key for us. Does your dog have favorite humans or dogs that would make for good motivation? Get them to come over, try and have her hop a few steps towards them for example...
Guardian of Manni the Wonderdog. -Or was it the other way around?
Osteo and amputation in Dec 2015. Second, inoperable, primary osteosarcoma found in June 2017.
The end of our adventures came Dec 10, 2017. 2 years to the day.
Good news! I was getting ready to put her in a kennel to take her to the vet and when I opened the bed room door she came running out and went pee! It was inside because I wasn't fast enough for her and she fell over mid process but I picked her up and took her outside and she finished the job there.
Glad the Vet is checking her regarding the pee.
The not moving could be med related (making her a bit woozy or disoriented) and it could also be pain. Some dogs don t even stand on their own for a couple of days, much less walk! She'll get it figured out. Hard to be patient, but this recovery period doesn't last forever!
She'll figure mobility out. It's still very, very early and she's drugged and just had MAJOR surgery! Right now it's all about, rest, rest, rest and short potty breaks (okay, you're working on the potty breaks :-)).
If you have hardwood or vinyls, make sure you put down non slip scatter rugs down for traction .
Update when you can! And try and rest 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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