Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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I haven't been on here for awhile, but I have a question. My 12 year old Beagle, Kasey, had her front right leg amputated about 7 months ago. She has been doing great and getting along wonderfully! On Saturday morning, I took her for a walk and we were about three houses from home and she stumbled and then started to walk funny. I picked her up and carried her home. When I got her inside I noticed her front left paw looked funny. I looked at it and her "middle" toe looked like it was crooked. I called the vet and they said bring her in. Her usual vet does not work on Saturdays so she saw a different vet. They were going to do x-rays, but the machine was not working correctly. The vet said the toe sounds crunchy and she believes it to be broke. I have to call the vet tomorrow and if the x-ray machine is working I will take her in, but if it's not I can take her in first thing Tuesday morning. The vet said if it's broke there is not much they can do and amputation of the toe will be a definite possibility. I honestly do not know how much more Kasey or I can take. She is trying to use her leg, she really has no choice, she puts some pressure on it but you can tell it's bothering her. The vet gave her pain meds too. So is amputation really the only choice if the toe is broke? I am trying to avoid that at all costs, but I really don't know what to think about this whole thing. I feel like it's my fault because I took her on the dang walk!
Thanks!
Short of wrapping Kasey in bubble wrap and keeping her inside things just might happen. It's not your fault!
Of course I'm not a vet but I thought I would throw my 2 cents in while you wait for Dr. Pam.
Did they wrap Kasey's paw or put a splint on it? In human cases, unless the toe is displaced there really isn't anything to do (I've done it a couple times!). It seems like for front amp tripawd putting a splint on the foot would distribute the weight a little and maybe make walking more comfortable.
My quad pug Tani is now 14 and has arthritis and neurological issues with her back legs, bottom line is they don't work very well. About 3 weeks ago she tore a nail off one front foot. I cleaned it up and wrapped a bandage on her foot. She could barely walk, and needed help to balance to do her business. I took her into the emergency vet and they put a ridiculously large bandage on her leg- it looked like she had a broken leg. But because of the padding they put in she was able to walk just fine. Maybe something like that would help Kasey.
Good luck, let us know what the regular vet has to say.
Karen and Spirit Maggie
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
They did not wrap it or splint it. I've been carrying her up and down the stairs, carrying her outside, but she will use the bathroom on her own.
Yeah, Karen offered some good insight.
It may take a bit of pampering and wrapping just right and some pain meds, but she should get to the point where this doesn't bother her. I know with our tripawds we want everything fixed yesterday!!!
And know this to be true.....Casey does NOT hold you responsible for her paw injurtpu! Casey needs to be allowed to be Casey...that's called QUALITY!!!!
Keep us posted! Sending n you lots of hugs!!
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!
I would definitely check about the possibility of putting a splint on the toe - I'm not a vet, but as a tripawds mom and knowing why we ended up amputating, a broken toe doesn't sound like a reason for another amputation.
Surely after the X-Ray you will be able to get an answer, but I would surely look for a second opinion before thinking of any surgical solution for Kasey's toe.
Daniela
Our awesome Golden Boy was diagnosed for OSA in April 2014 in the proximal humerus, front-leg amp on 05/20/2014. Finished chemo (Carbo6) on 07/10/2014. Ongoing treatment: acupuncture + K-9 Immunity Plus ( 3chews) and home-cooked no-grain diet. Stopped Apocaps because of liver issues. Liver issues: controlling altered enzymes with SAM-e and Milk Thistle. October 17: started having seizures. Taking fenobarbital for seizures. April 18: started prednisone.
Oh my gosh please don't blame yourself, things happen.
I hope she's feeling better and able to get around today. Seems to me like toe amputation is a worst case scenario that vet gave you, hopefully you won't even need to go near there. I have no idea what your vet would recommend but I'd definitely see your regular one and find out what's next. Maybe a quick readjustment will fix it? Paws crossed!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Kasey is using her leg, walking around, going up and down the stairs, but still favors it. The x-ray machine was down today and was hopefully getting fixed this afternoon. I would think if it was a really bad break, one that would require amputation, she would not be using it as much as she is. I am dropping her off at the vet tomorrow on my way to work and my usual vet is going to examine her and let me know.
Thanks for the update. It seems to me also that she would be trying not to n use that n paw at all if it really bad! And like everyone says...and of course we aren't vets...but it seems like there are options other than amputation!
Paws crossed!
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!
If the toe is broken it should be bruised/discolored and swollen. I would xray it when the machine is fixed and if it is broken it should heal fine with a splint.
Pam
The toe is broke. The x-ray showed the bone in her toe broke right in half (horizontal) fracture. So she has a splint on and its wrapped. The vet did a laser treatment which goes under the skin and increases the blood flow and something with the cells (he compared it to photosynthesis). So Kasey will have this done once a week for four-six weeks to hopefully increase the possibility that the fracture will heal correctly. Anyway, Kasey is getting around okay on her foot. The vet was very considerate and listened to my concerns. Kasey looks so pathetic right now, her only front leg wrapped in a bandage and then of course the cone of shame when I have to go to work to avoid her from chewing the bandage.
DARN! Should be some protective bubble we can put our tripawds in so nothing else can harm them!!!
At least this is fixable! Check out the site for MURPHY. and DAISY also. Both of these are tripawds who, although the "cause" was different, each had to deal with very limited use of their three legs...which really amounted to two legs for a bit. You'll find lots of tips as to how they managed until they healed.
Really sorry poor Kasey has to go through this. It sounds like you're in good hands with this vet... Is Kasey on any pain meds? Take it one day at a time and recovery will be here before you know it.
PLEASE keep us posted.
Lots and lots of treats for Kasey!!!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle
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!
Well shoot. I'm glad they can wrap it, that's good to know, Poor Kasey! I hope the laser helps and she heals quickly.
If at some point you would like to write about your experience in a guest blog post I'd love to run it in the News blog (send me a PM if you'd like details). This is something that all Tripawd pawrents fear, and knowing how you are both coping on a daily basis would be super helpful.
Hang in there, things WILL get better!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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