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Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat

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Today is freedom day
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Member Since:
18 January 2018
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23 January 2018 - 1:04 pm
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Today my girl rids herself of the leg that has caused her so much pain these last few weeks. Today she will be free from a growth that has overstayed its welcome. Today she starts a new adventure, although a challenging one, on three legs.

I admit I'm a bit nervous for her, not because she's losing a leg, but because she is an older dog going through a major procedure under anesthesia. There's always the risk that she'll find her way to the bridge earlier than I would have hoped, but I like to think she wants to stick around as much as I want her to.

She's having a mid-femoral amputation; I'm glad she'll be keeping the shape (to some extent) of her beautiful behind. My family worries that it's not enough for a prosthetic, which is not really a concern of mine. I know they mean well by their concern, but it annoys me when they fret over how much of her leg they are removing. I don't understand why whether or not she'll be a candidate for a prosthetic is such a big deal. I'm just happy that soon she'll be pain free, and will get back to doing chy-chy things.

Send good vibes to Chyenne as she earns her freedom today 🙂

Livermore, CA




Member Since:
18 October 2009
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23 January 2018 - 1:31 pm
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What a great attitude you have! 

I hope you were not planning on a prostetic as it has to be planned before surgery and to my knowledge there needs to be at least two functioning joints left for a prostetic to be used. Tell your family to stop worrying about it!

I think a mid-femoral amp is a good idea as opposed to the entire femur being removed.  I've had two rear amp Tripawds- my first was a little pug named Maggie who lost her rear leg to mast cell cancer.  She had a mid-femoral amp although they really only leave a small part of the bone.  My current Tripawd is a pug mix named Elly who was hit by a car and lost her right rear leg as a result.  Her entire femur was removed.  I don't know if it had to be or if it was the surgeons choice- I adopted her post amputation.

Maggie had better balance and a much better foundation to sit on.  Elly has trouble sitting on hard surfaces, I think because it's uncomfortable on her hip.  Elly gets around just fine- she is faster and more agile than Mag ever was- but she has a funny gyration in her back end when she hops.

Anyway- Happy Freedom day to Chyenne - keep yourself busy today and keep us posted!

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

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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23 January 2018 - 2:50 pm
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WE STAND AND SALUTE CHY ON FREEDOM DAY!! 🙂   AS KAREN SAID, YOU JAVE A GREAT ATTITUDE!!!

AND WE STAND AND SALUTE YOU FOR HAVING ONE OF THE BEST ATTITUDES EVVVVER!!!   YOU HAVE THE WISDOM OF A WISE SAGE.   PEOPLE AROUND YOU HAVE A LOT TO LEARN FROM YOU 🙂

Update us when you can.  Yes, you were forced to make a brave decision that none of us want to make.  You have done your research and you are doing everything you can to give your girl a chance at a pain free life for more spoiling and loving.

We'll all be cheering for your Cheyenne.:-)

Lots of hugs to you......and another salute!

Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!

PS. When your family sees how well Chy does in three, they'll get past the "prosthetic thing" fast.  They can only be used in very specific situations and, as Karen said, take a lot of preliminary work, not to mention a lot of "fittings" and tweaking and rehab to get a dog used to them.

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:
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23 January 2018 - 3:34 pm
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Sending all the good vibes possible! You are right, this is the beginning of a new chapter for all of you and you are going into it with a wonderful mind frame. Karen and Sally are right, once the procedure is complete they will get over it. 

The pain is going away today, and after some rest and healing you will be amazed at how good she will do!

Thoughts are with you, please keep posted on your progress.

Jackie and Huck 

Hugs,

Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry

Huckleberry's Blog

Member Since:
11 January 2018
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23 January 2018 - 5:18 pm
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Hooray for you and Cheyenne!  Praying surgery has gone well and that she‘s resting comfortably as she starts her recovery.  

We just brought Gus home post amputation (surgery was yesterday) and he‘s doing amazingly well, I think — so I hope Cheyenne is the same way!  

Keep us posted and know that you aren‘t alone in this journey.  

Sarah & Gus 

Member Since:
18 January 2018
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23 January 2018 - 6:34 pm
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Thanks everyone! I'm trying to stay strong for her, and stay even keeled. I know my attitude towards this will make a difference for her; if it doesn't bother me, it won't bother her.

The prosthetic decision never even really crossed my mind, really. It was more something my family was hoping/pushing for. To me it researching that option was just a waste of time when I felt I needed to be focusing on post-operative care and life as a tripawd. It didn't feel like a necessity, and would be something that would be more of a hindrance than a help. I know their hearts are in the right place, but I think they tend think about how they would feel if they lost a limb -- I just don't think that dogs handle it the same way. 

Just got a call from the student on my case, I had chy's surgery done at WSU's teaching hospital, she made it out of surgery ok (thank goodness!), and is in their ICU taking her time waking up. Later this evening they'll try to get her walking, and if all goes well we can go home tomorrow. I am so relieved that my biggest worry, was just that, a worry! I always get so nervous now when she has to go under.

I wish I would have saved myself all of this trouble by having this mass removed when I had the needle aspirate done a year and a half ago. Her vet at the time said to just leave it, so I only had the more "serious" mass removed from her anus (that's a whole other story -- I swear this dog has 9 lives!). For the rest of my life I will never take a lump or bump for granted!

Member Since:
1 October 2017
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23 January 2018 - 7:21 pm
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I am so glad she's out of surgery and doing well, YAY!  Listen please, you are not the first person to be told "just leave it".  Obviously you had other things more important going on at the time. And when it comes to procedures done around the rectal area, if it's not taken care of properly they can lose the ability to control their bowel movements. It sounds like you made the right decision for what was going on at that time. Now this has been addressed and taken care of too. You can only do one thing at a time, right? So concentrate on the NOW and stay positive. You are so right about staying even keeled. She needs that more than ever right now and she will look to you for strength. That bad part of her leg is gone and she is going to be so much happier not in constant pain anymore. Don't concentrate on the leg, concentrate on how excited she is going to be too see you and get back home. It might be a little bumpy for the next couple of weeks, and we're all here for you. Breathe... you are doing a great job! 

Hugs,

Jackie and Huck ❤️

Hugs,

Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry

Huckleberry's Blog

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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23 January 2018 - 7:26 pm
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YAAAAAAAAAY!!!  CHY IS OUT OF SURGERY!!! 🙂 🙂 GREAT NEWS!!! 🙂     Shaking off that anesthesia takes awhile, so she's exacty where she needs to be.l

TRY and get some rest.

Higs

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:
18 October 2009
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23 January 2018 - 8:20 pm
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Great that surgery is done!!!

Hopefully she will be home tomorrow.  Let the healing begin!

Karen

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

Member Since:
18 January 2018
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24 January 2018 - 9:54 am
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We get to go home today!! I can't wait to see my baby girl's eyes, and for her to tell me all about her experience. They say she is doing well, but still figuring out the mechanics of walking on three limbs. The light bulb hasn't turned on that she can support herself, so they're sending us home with a sling while she figures things out. I'm sure she'll be fine, she's pretty resilient, and just needs a little encouragement from a familiar face smiley

Member Since:
15 December 2017
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24 January 2018 - 10:54 am
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You have the best attitude! I'm sure once she's home she will figure things out. So glad to hear that surgery went well and you'll get to see her face soon. I really, really think seeing my dog's face when I went to pick him up at the hospital was one of the happiest moments I've shared with him. It was really special and I know yours will be similarly emotional and positive!

Camille & Otis

Livermore, CA




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24 January 2018 - 11:31 am
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All the meds can make it hard for them to get their 'sea legs'.  And we have seen here that sometimes the more mature pups take just a bit longer.

The recovery can be bumpy (not always, and mostly for us two leggers!) so don't get discouraged if Chy is not herself.  Keep that great positive attitude, especially around Chy, and take note of each small victory.

She will be amazing you soon!

Karen

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

Member Since:
11 January 2018
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13
24 January 2018 - 6:37 pm
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Hope she‘s home now and getting some much needed sleep!  Gus is 2 days ahead of you surgery wise. Today was his first full day at home and he‘s done great - having a little difficulty with the mechanics but going after it with his big heart.  Hoping for a good night for you guys and a positive tomorrow.  Let us know how she‘s doing.  

Sarah & Gus 

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18 January 2018
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25 January 2018 - 12:17 am
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I'm so glad to hear that Gus is doing well, Sarah! He is such a handsome boy, and I bet he is happy to be home. Here's to a speedy recovery, and steady progress on getting the hang of the mechanics!

Made it home ok. We live about an hour away from where Chy had her surgery; she was anxious whining the whole way home (those elephants must have really been putting quite the show!). I felt for her, but I know it's just the drugs and she'll get through it. Once we got home she settled down, drank a ton of water, and had a little bit of dinner. Her incision has been iced, and I gave her a nice massage. Boy, did her muscles feel so tense! She's just resting now after doing her business outside; we braved the three stairs to the back yard and she's a trooper. She has some trouble lifting her back end so I've been helping her get up using the sling. I don't want to overly baby her, but it's so darn hard to see her struggle!

I started an album for her recovery process; I figure a picture is worth a thousand words and I hope it may help someone in the future.

Chyenne Amputation

Member Since:
1 October 2017
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25 January 2018 - 4:03 am
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How sweet! Omg she looks like a big ole teddy bear! So glad she is home and doing well clapHope you both had a good rest filled night of sleep.

Hugs,

Jackie and Huck heart

Hugs,

Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry

Huckleberry's Blog

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