Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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My Bouvier des Flandres, Maggie, had her rear leg amputated 3 months ago due to cancer. She is 5 years old. She has recovered really well except she has no padding between the pelvic bone and her skin. The amputation site just opened up and my vet said he thinks it is a pressure ulcer. Does anyone have any experience with this? I am looking for some type of padding that she can wear so when she lays on that side it does not create pressure on the site. It is difficult because she doesn't have a tail, so anchoring padding has been a challenge. I am an ER nurse so dressings are not a big deal for me but trying to secure one with only one leg and still allows her to go to the bathroom, I am out of ideas. Can anyone suggest anything? I am desperate for help.
Hi and welcome, your future posts will not have to wait for approval.
I'm sorry you are having issues with your girl Maggie. I'm not a vet but I do have a couple questions for you. Is the ulcer actually on the incision scar? Does she have any of her femur left? It doesn't sound like it but just to be sure.
My little pug Maggie was a rear amp but she had a mid-femoral amp which left a small piece of femur with muscle padding around it to protect the site and give her a good base. My current tripawd Elly is also a rear amp but she has no femur left at all and her pelvic bone is quite prominent near her rear end. I have been a bit concerned about it, Elly will not sit or lay down on hard surfaces and I don't ask her. I can see where it could lead to problems like your Maggie is having.
As far as padding- I know it's hard to keep anything on a rear amp dog. My Maggie became incontinent at one point and I tried diapers instead of meds but I couldn't keep the diapers on her even with her pug tail. Later I found something that might have helped- pet suspenders. I have no idea if it would work in your situation but you can check them out here. I had also thought about attaching the diapers to her harness somehow- but things got too wet and I went with meds. There are some other equipment on the Handicap Pets web site that might inspire you.
I haven't really heard of this problem here before- but my memory isn't all that good sometimes! Hopefully Dr. Pam will have some insight for you and some other members might have experience as well.
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
Hi
Thank you for your reply. No Maggie does not have any femur left and no padding. So it keeps opening up. She will only lay on her unaffected side. Like you I have tried diapers, ace wraps, t-shirts, etc. I am an ER nurse so pretty handy with dressing wounds but can't keep anything on it and it is difficult as it is closer to her rear. I will look at the links you sent me.
Thank you,
Cindy
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