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.
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I have a "blow up" donut collar for Charlie, but it just seems cruel. I left it off last night while she was sleeping in her crate because she doesn't see, to be interested in getting at the dressing. She left it alone all night and I have not seen her attempt to go near it at all. I'm just wondering if it's even possible for her to reach the incision once the dressing comes off. It was a front leg that was amputated and by looking at her it doesn't even seem like she could even reach it with her mouth. Do you think the collar is even necessary?
I think I would just keep a close eye on her. Shooter was also a front leg amp and never had any interest in the incision so he never need a cone of shame
or a collar. That said, there are some on here that had their dogs pull out stitches even in front amps.Maybe they practice yoga?!
Luanne and Shooter
Spirit Shooter was a Miniature Australian Shepherd who was diagnosed with a MCT and had a LF amp 1/28/13 at 13-1/2 years old.
Shooter crossed the Bridge on 8/28/13, his 7 month ampuversary and two weeks from his 14th birthday.
I picked up my girl today from her amputation surgery and asked the vet tech about cones, etc. She said a t shirt often does the trick. It covers the incision so dogs often leave it alone. I have a 60 pound pitbull/sharpei, and I bought a few children's t shirts/tank tops from Kmart and they work great. I sewed the sleeve of the amputation side shut.
Maggie was a rear amp. She had a short pug face and a bit of a Buddha belly so she could not reach her incision so I didn't need a cone or collar. A tee-shirt is a good idea, but be absolutely sure she can't get to the incision. It's better to have her wear the collar for a couple weeks than have a healing set back if she pulls out sutures or licking causes an infection.
My quad-pug Obie had knee surgery in February, and I used the inflatable collar on him while the incision healed. He has a history of neglect and abuse and he really got agitated when I used a cone to protect an eye injury. He tolerated the collar pretty well, I only used it when I had to leave him alone.
Good luck.
Karen
Taffy's a recent amputee, front leg 7/22, he was licking his wound site. We are just cleaning, and then we placed a piece of cloth around the waist, tied at the top with a rubber band,so it covers the drain site, rather then having things dangling in front. We also put a antibiotic ointment that our vet had prescribed for another recent surgery, which also required a drain site. It seems to be doing the trick! Good luck with your baby!
My thought is, all dogs are different and some have no interest in it, some do and will get to it any chance they get. My non-vet opinion is better safe than sorry; it's hard to see our pups wearing the cone of shame , but it's a lot worse to have to take them back to the vet to have their incision re-sutured and cleaned up.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
If a dog is licking or trying to get at a wound its because its bothering them for some reason. TJ never even licked his front amp incision once... but it was kept clean and he was on pain meds/antibiotics.
Since the cone/collar is to stop the dog from disturbing the incision, and hes not (even without the collar) then I say leave in off. A comfy dog is a happy dog.
I did a t-shirt with my dog but it is so hard to say which dogs will go after an incision. I can't tell you how many times I have resutured a dog because someone left a collar off for "just one minute". I would keep a close eye on your dog when you are home but still consider using the collar if you are gone.
Pam
Yo Little Charlie,
You may indeed not be able to reach your amp site but then again.....we dawgs can be pretty crafty when we want to. I freaked when my pawrents put the cone o' shame on me so they decided to take it easy on me. Well, they were sorry for doing that last night! I had to go BACK to the ER vet because I pulled out a bunch o' staples in my belly. See my tail of cone o'shame alternatives here.....
xoxox and best to you in your recovery!
Travis Ray
p.s. I didn't start seriously messing with my staples until day 5 after my surgery....
Every dog is different, but Barret was a front left leg amputee and as long as I covered the wound with either a tshirt with the arm hole sewn shut or a dressing (Vetwrap/gauze) he didn't bug it at all. If I left it uncovered he would lick it incessantly.
I have one of the blow up collars too, but honestly didn't use it for this surgery. I just kept it covered and he was fine.
Heather & Barret
Barret was diagnosed with Hemangiopericytoma May 16, 2013. Front left leg/scapula/pectoral muscle was amputated on June 11, 2013 and we've never looked back. Follow our story on http://barret.t.....pawds.com/ and read my column on That Pet Blog
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