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
He is limping, he is crying. Seems to be in his right back leg or hip. I have an appt. for 1;50 this afternoon. I dug into what I refer to as The Pharmacy of Ty and gave him some Gabapentin. I could not stand to hear him cry anymore. It is heart wrenching. He is resting now, but I feel SO GUILTY! I have continued to let him sleep in bed with us even though I know the risks of jumping off and on. I don't always make him wear his harness and I let him go every day somewhere in the car because that is what he seems to live for. This is new to me as Ty was so ill as a Tripawd that he never over did things. It is so hard with a youngster! I am scared, if he is having trouble at 1 and 1/2, what will happen at 5 or 6. I need to become a lot more vigilant of his activity. He ate his breakfast and still wanted to go in the car, but he was howling in pain. I figured that someone here has probably had the same experience. Lori and Ty....Daryl, Chan and Lucy too
TY GUY, Best Black Lab ever! Diagnosed and had amp in January, 2014. Kicked MRSA's butt. Earned his angel wings on April 16, 2014. Run Free my boy and don't forget a shoe. Ty is a proud member of the " April Angels". Ty sent us Daryl, a Tripawd rescue in Sept. of 2016. Daryl is 5 +or -. We are also Pawrents to Chandler, a Border Collie mix who is 15 and 1/2, Lucy, a Corgi who is 7, 2 minis, 2 horses, and a feisty cat named Zoe. Zoe had a non skeletal Osteosarcoma removed in July 2015. No Chemo, she was at least 16. She is going strong although she is now completely blind. She is now close to 20 and her hobbies are eating and sleeping in front of her personal heater.
Oh Lori....Let's hope he just over did it. I know it is hard to remain calm. Sending happy thoughts your way!
Oh no...I'm so sorry little Daryl is hurting. I pray it's something minor from just being a very active pup. Perhaps it's a pulled muscle or sprain/strain of a joint. Our dogs have always slept in bed with my husband and I but I've always had a cedar chest at the foot to assist them in getting up and down. When Leland started with his knee issues the hubby actually built and carpeted a ramp for him to walk up and down to get in and out of bed. Perhaps that's something you guys could look into after you figure out what is going on with Daryl and if it's related to jumping on and off the bed.
I'll be thinking of you guys today and hope things go ok at the vets office this afternoon.
Sahana and her Angel Leland
November 17, 2009 - June 30, 2014
May you finally be healthy and running free at the Rainbow Bridge. Until we meet again my sweet boy!
Last winter we came home one afternoon, and Murphy didn't get up to greet us. Normally he would have been bouncing all over. Since we had dealt with the hip dislocations after his amp, we of course panicked and rushed to the emergency vet 50+ miles away. It turned out to be a problem with his back. He spent several sessions in acupuncture and laser and then went through another series of rehab sessions. He is fine now, but we have had to be way more vigilant of how he is allowed to move (the quick starts from a standing stop tended to bother him, so we get him moving before we let him loose in the yard, etc.), and we have become more insistent on his exercises, even when he doesn't want us to. He uses a ramp for getting in and out of the car, so no jumping. Those bed steps sound like a great idea. We don't have to deal with that, as Murph sleeps in a kennel in the corner of our room. If he is allowed to roam at night, he thinks we should be up with him.....not happening.
Here's hoping Daryl just tweaked himself and that he is on the mend soon. It is definitely hard to keep those younger ones slowed down even when they don't feel well.
Kathi and Murphy
Murphy is a five year old Lab/Chessie cross. He was hit by a car on 10/29/12 and became a Tripawd on 11/24/12. On 2/5/13, he had a total hip replacement on his remaining back leg. He has absolutely no idea that he has only three legs!
UPDATE: Murphy lived his life to the fullest, right up until an aggressive bone lesion took him across the Rainbow Bridge on April 9, 2015 and he gained his membership in the April Angels. Run free, my love. You deserve it!
Hang in there Lori, it could be anything, even a splinter in his paw. Have you examined his feet?
I'm sure the doc will come back with a R&R prescription. Be sure to mention that you gave him Gabapentin. Be aware that this drug isn't something you want to give the same way you would with tramadol, it's not a pain-relifer (but a nerve blocker) and a very different type that cannot be withdrawn suddenly. Ask your dog about the best way to get it out of his system if he doesn't want him on it.
P.S. Don't be afraid to post about Daryl in other places here, like "Hopping Around" or "Beyond Cancer." He is a Tripawd after all!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
GEEZ DARYL!! You are a crazy pup! Do NOT scare us like this! Humans on this journey get really freaked out when a tripawd pulls a muscle or wrenches their back!!!
Murphy's situation we all remember...and this sounds VERY similar!!
And Lori....you HAVE to let Daryl be Daryl!!!! Yes, with some monitoring but without depriving him of the things he loves....THAT would be taking away some of his quality. I'm sort of paraphrasing Elizabeth, but I know there is no holding Tanner back and she pretty much lets him play full out, living everh second to the fullest....again, with caution but nothing that reallyy stops him from being Tanner!
You have some great advice as far as the bed goes and sure, putting a harness in to help him get in the car is not "taking away his joy"!
I've had many dogs over the years with a back issue, or a pulled miscle or bummed out knee...and they all had four legs and I never could pinpoint any activity that would jave caused this...things just happen!
Glad Ty's pharmacy (like that phrase...have Hannah's pharmacy also!) was on standby!
Give js an update when you can. Got a feeling a little steroid injection, rest and maybe so.e acupuncture will help!
Perhaps a "Jello Shooter" for you???
LOVE YOU!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle 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!
Lori,
This must be pretty scary for you, and I am hoping there is nothing seriously wrong with Daryl.....I know you can't wait to get him to his vet fast enough. Just want to add my support for you and him, and so much great advice has already been given so I will just wait until you can get back to us with results. Hang in there.....
Love,
Bonnie & Angel Polly
Lori,
Please don't feel guilty!! You have nothing to feel guilty about! You are allowing Daryl to live an active, happy life filled with love and companionship. It's every dog's dream!! You are an amazing mom!! I'm pretty sure that Daryl won't be happy if you try to keep him in one of those big protective bubbles!
I hope this is something simple that a little rest will take care of.
Hugs,
Carol
Oh, Lori, bless your heart and Daryl's too!
It's just so darn hard to keep our fur babies from over-doing it. I play ball with Melody all the time and she amazes me at the way she twists and turns to get the ball in mid air. And it doesn't seem to matter how careful I am to keep her from doing it. My point, you're not being fair with yourself thinking you can effectively control everything he gets into.
I'll be thinking about y'all this afternoon as you get the poor fella some relief this afternoon at the vet's.
Pam
Harmony became a Tripawd on 10/21/14 (MCT). She left us way too soon on 11/1/14.
"We miss you so much; our love, our heart, our Harmony."
- Pam, Ron and Melody, Meesha, Doublestuff and Mariah Carey
Well, no real answers today. By the time we got to the vets, he was everywhere. Stood up on his hind legs to greet Dr. Doug.
I felt a bit foolish. I had given him 1 Gabapentin earlier. Vet said Tramadol would be better, if it comes to that. He felt all over, pushed, pulled his legs every which way and not a whimper. He did, however, test positive for a tick borne illness called Ehrlichia. It showed up on the Lyme test. He had not had one at the shelter, so it was suggested. so 30 days of Doxycycline. He also sent away blood to check platelet count as this can somehow attack blood platelets. Never heard of this before. Lyme yes, 3 people in our neighborhood have it, but not this. This can cause a type of Arthritis also, so we are going to see if this improves with treatment. If it keeps happening, we will sedate him and do an xray. The other thought we have is, if he was hit by a car maybe he had other injuries as well as the front leg. Vet did not seem to think that there was any major problem and even suggested a cramp??? I guess I am a bit gun shy as we are 1 year past not getting answers for Ty Guy. Different vet though. Thank you all for the support and advice, Lori, Ty, Daryl, Chan,& Lucy
TY GUY, Best Black Lab ever! Diagnosed and had amp in January, 2014. Kicked MRSA's butt. Earned his angel wings on April 16, 2014. Run Free my boy and don't forget a shoe. Ty is a proud member of the " April Angels". Ty sent us Daryl, a Tripawd rescue in Sept. of 2016. Daryl is 5 +or -. We are also Pawrents to Chandler, a Border Collie mix who is 15 and 1/2, Lucy, a Corgi who is 7, 2 minis, 2 horses, and a feisty cat named Zoe. Zoe had a non skeletal Osteosarcoma removed in July 2015. No Chemo, she was at least 16. She is going strong although she is now completely blind. She is now close to 20 and her hobbies are eating and sleeping in front of her personal heater.
Poor Darryl! I'm really glad it all worked out ok, it could've been anything...like Jerry said even a splinter in there could cause a reaction like that. Darn pups, if only they could talk! Glad you were able to get him there and find out he has Ehrlichia so you could get that treated. Perhaps Ty was up there looking out for the little guy 
Sally is right, you just have to let him be Darryl. He seems a whole lot like my Tanner, and its really hard to reign that kind of crazy in. We do let Tanner go all out, he LIVES in those moments and I do have to constantly remind myself to let him be whatever kind of dog he wants to be (he usually decides the bat shit crazy one). We do our best to be vigilant about what he's doing, but its truly exhausting. Darryl was meant to be Darryl....sweet Darryl, crazy Darryl, loves to jump off the bed and give his mama a heart attack Darryl :). I do know that one day we'll probably have to deal with an injury, since these guys are more prone to them, but in the meantime Tanner's going live his life 100mph full speed ahead with ears flopping, slobber flying and 2 out of 3 paws off the ground!
I haven't been on here much recently but have I told you how much I love you lately Sally?! You know my answers before I do! ha.
HUGS to you Lori and Darryl!! and kisses to the sky for Ty guy!
Mom to Tripawd Angels Jake (2001-2014) and Rosco (2012-2015) and Tripawd Tanner. “Whatever happens tomorrow, we had today; and I'll always remember it”
AWWWW. ELIZABETH....making me well up over here! And back atcha''my little light beam!! And Elizabeth...you know tnat wuote of yours that's one of your favorites....about skiding in brpadsie in a cloid of smoke....and saying WOW, what a ride!!!!...heck...can't re.e.ber the words...nor can I remember where I saved it because I lpve it so!! I'll find it! But innthe meantime, this would be a perfect
Place for you t post it again!
Imw kind of off subject here....but smetimes when my mind goes looking for something to regret....because there IS NOTHING!! Anyway, I'll think the opplsite lf the regret that your mind makes up Lpri....I'll think did "it" too soon....and then I remember Elizabeth's quote....$
Saves me everytime! And Please remember Lori....your situation with Ty was soooo different....I had answers with Happy Hannah and that #*_&&###& lung thing could only get bigger...no doubt about the slippery slope that lay ahead for her. TY BEAT MERCSR! And that's a legacy that he...on a soul level...knew he had to fulfill! Through you...yoj could warn soooo many, as you have, about this silent, almost invisible threat to our dogs!
Okay, back on task...I ABSOLUTELY BELIEVE THE LIMPING COULD INDEED BE A SYMPTOM OF LYME DISEASE! And I cannot belidve I didn't think of that!!! My beloved dog Barney starting a painful limp one day....this was v
Before Happy Hannah's limping. Anyway...two weeks of Doxycycline and it cleared up!
I also have had it twice...and the second time I "self treated and self diagnosed and took all thedogs' leftover Doxy I jad on hand!!
Soooooo glad Daryl is better! So glad! The Lyme in dogs can lresent in many ways...but a sudden limp is DEFINITELY one of the main signs!
Only tripawd people say YAAAAAAAAAY FOR LYME DISEASE!!!!
Sending lots of love and huge cuddles for Dary!!!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle 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!
“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!”
Mom to Tripawd Angels Jake (2001-2014) and Rosco (2012-2015) and Tripawd Tanner. “Whatever happens tomorrow, we had today; and I'll always remember it”
E X A C T L Y!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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!
That is great news, although sorry he tested positive for that darn tick disease. If anything though it sounds like they caught it early and will knock it out right away. Yay!
Nothing wrong with being overly cautious, it's a fine line we have to walk with our Tripawds between letting them be regular cats and dogs and protecting them from injury. You're getting the hang of it, and are very much on top of things. Good job!
P.S. Love that quote Elizabeth!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
2 Guest(s)
