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.
Join The Tripawds Community
Learn how to help three legged dogs and cats in the forums below. Browse and search as a guest or register for free and get full member benefits:
Instant post approval.
Private messages to members.
Subscribe to favorite topics.
Live Chat and much more!
Register
Log In
Members
Add Topic
Offline
YAAAAAY FOR 💩💩💩 WE LOVE TO CELEBRATE 💩💩
Can you leave him in a pen or in a small room when you go back to work?? Does he wear a cone? As long as he has a cone or some onesies so he can't get to the stitches, bing co fined next week should be fjne.
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!
YAY FOR POOP! That's a big milestone and one to be very proud of! Who wouldda thought right?
Yeah I agree with Sally, what about leaving him in a small room and making sure he can't get to the incision? The time when most people leave their new Tripawd alone really varies depending on their circumstances. Some folks wait the full two weeks while others just aren't able to do that. Some will day board their recovering Tripawd for a week or so, while others will leave them safe and secure in a room. Many people also have friends come over to check on the patient. So it's all about what you can do and and what you're comfortable doing for him. You know him best and what he can and cannot tolerate, that hasn't changed even though he's with one less leg.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Sorry i missed the notice, yay for poop!! Woo hoo 😁
We had Huck's crate in a spare bedroom. We literally took the mattress off the frame and put it on the floor so #1 it was closer to the ground, #2 he couldn't go into hiding mode. Before i go any further, no... you can't stuff pillows and stuff under the bed because they will tunnel like a gerbil and then you'll be afraid to hurt him trying to get him out. I was forewarned, i thought i could get around it, I.Was.Wrong. lol.
We had music in the room when we couldn't be with Huck, and he was only allowed out of the crate supervised until after suture removal. His crate was huge though. It was big enough for our 75 pound lab with room to spare.
So if you can have him in a cat proofed room with nothing to jump on or knock over, I agree that he'll be ok for short periods. You'll start to see changes as he heals... you really will and you'll have to take each day as it comes.
It sounds like you are headed in the right direction. Keeping my fingers crossed for you ❤
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry 
Great input Jackie! Thank you for sharing.
no… you can’t stuff pillows and stuff under the bed because they will tunnel like a gerbil and then you’ll be afraid to hurt him trying to get him out. I was forewarned, i thought i could get around it, I.Was.Wrong. lol.
YIKES! That must have been a scene!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thanks for the advice. I have a very tiny open plan flat so it’s not possible to put him in a room where there’s no danger. This morning he hopped out of his cage and made a run for under the sofa then under the bed so I’ve had to block off those areas. I think he was pleased when I didn’t catch him 😂....he probably realised he could still escape. I’ve made a kind of cage/table enclosure to give him more space but still keep him confined. As long as he doesn’t decide to scale the sides it should be fine while I’m here monitoring. I’ve also been zooming myself from my phone to my laptop and leaving my phone near his crate so I can keep an eye on him when I’m in the other room. A kind of make shift cat cam ....helps being able to see what he’s up to ...which is mostly sleeping and hopping about a bit....massive progress since day 1 though but still a long way to go!
You are so welcome.
Yeah it would be tough to keep him confined in your home, don't feel badly about it. Cats are SO smart when it comes to being escape artists. Just keep cool and know that this won't last furever.
I love your makeshift cat cam idea!!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Sounds like you've got it all covered! I hope you had a good day all in all😊
You're getting there, and it sounds like he's doing well❤
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry
Hi,
I just went through this in August and you have great advice from paws and jerry and everyone here! they helped me set the right room and carry my emotions .
everyday will get better. Everyine here reminded me throughout recovery how this was to help Pittens live a full pain free life . The recovery made our relationship grow deeper (and ive had her for 18 years).
sending support to you!
Thanks @pittens ...it has really helped to have so much support with this. It’s such an unknown...not to mention the emotional roller coaster and the self questioning.
every day I have new questions and worries that I have to navigate but every day he is slowly getting better and I have to focus on that
Cat cam?? Brilliant! Love it!!
Thread hijack ......just want to say hellooooo to Mom to Pittens!!! Lpvely to hear from you and so kind of ypu to chime jn and help ❤
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!
Coco has decided he's sick of being cooped up and demanded to go exploring around the flat this morning. He's currently on a rug in the hallway looking pretty content. Feels like progress 
.... though I'm having to be very creative about confining him to wherever he decides to go... my homemade cat cam is great though
Yay! You're moving in the right direction 😁 I am happy for you. Keep being diligent so that you have no setbacks but you're rocking this❤
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry
I noticed coco has a bit of a lumpy raised area near the surgery site. I've read this can be fluid build up. Has anyone else experienced this? Should i be worried. The stitches and wound itself all look pretty good so i'm hoping this is just part of the healing process.
What does it feel like? Hard, soft? Is the area cool to the touch?
Could definitely be just that and our should subside. If it leaks, gets warm, gets worse, let your vet know, ok? Probably no big deal but always good to keep up on those things.
❤
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry
Those are some giant steps he made! Everything is going in the right direction and it does sound like the lumpy area, if it is soft and squishy, could be a seroma . Lots of Tripawds get them in the days following surgery. It's a harmless fluid build-up that should resolve on its own but you can help by applying gentle warm compresses for a few minutes a couple times a day. If it leaks, and it's more watery than bloody, it's still probably harmless but good to let your vet know.
I hope tomorrow is just as good for Coco!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
1 Guest(s)
