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
Today my baby Bentley had to have his left forearm amputated due to an accident a few days ago. This news came as a shock to my family and I, and we are somewhat terrified. We know that going through with the procedure was the right decision, but now were worried about being able to help him heal properly and get back to a normal life. Any advice would be appreciated! We just want to be able to get our baby back to his rambunctious playful self again the healthiest way possible! Thank you and God bless.
Sorry Bentley had to go through this but, rest assurred, you did the right thing!!!
How old is Bently? How much does he weight? Sometimes larger, older dogs jave a slower recovery. What kind of pain meds isnhe on?
If you jave hardwoods, make sure you p ut down non slip carpet for traction . No stair climbing or jumping off things. The first two weeks he just neds rest and to go to potty, maybe a little short walk after a bit.
Colorado State University just did a study showing it takes about a month for a dog to get back into the normal swing of things. See the Blog Jerry posted for more info. Many dogs here seem to start getting their sparkle back at about the two week mar m. My Happy Hannah took about three weeks.
I know this i s sooooooo scary but you n will be astounded at how well Bentlw will do on three legs! Recovery is no picnic s l be sure and stay connected to us and let us knownhow we can help. YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
Be sure and read Jerry's e-books and Living Life on Three Legs. Tripawds do develop a faster gait when walking and require a lot of little "rest stops" on their walks.
And you think y o u spoiled your dog before.....you'll be spoiling him non stop now!!! Nothing like a tripawd to melt your heart! You will be truly inspired by how well he adapts and just gets on with livinglife to the fullest!
Would love t o see pictures and hear more about your boy!
B R E A T H E.......B R E A T H E...........and eat lots of chocolate!
Hugs to all!
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!
Bentley just had his third birthday last month, yay! And he's a blacklab/sheltie mix so he's a chunky man weighing in at 83 pounds, because of this my main concern is getting him to loose a little weight so he can move around easier. He's such a strong boy so I know he'll bounce back quickly, I think he's just looking forward to being able to come home soon! I just talked to his vet this morning and she said he is on 4 oral medications at the moment but I did not ask the name of them so that is something I will have to get back to you about after we go visit him today (and hopefully bring him home :)) would love to upload pictures of him, but I'm still trying to figure out how to completely use the sight. I just want to say how thankful I am that there's a sight like this with a community full of other people who are going through the same thing and can offer advice to us new tripawd parents, so thank you so much!
I too am sorry that you and dear Bentley are going through this. This community is a great support and folks are so willing to lend advice.
Like Sally mentioned having throw rugs/runners (with the rubber backing to prevent them from slipping) are important if your home is a lot of hardwood and/or tile flooring. Also, be mindful of steps the first few weeks if you have a lot of those. Getting up may not be too much of an issue but coming down can be rough for front leg amputees. My Leland was a hind leg amputee so I always assisted him with a belly sling because getting up stairs was harder for rear leg amputees. You may want to look into a harness and this site has some recommendations for ones geared toward amputees.
Another important thing is too stay on top of Bentley's pain management when he comes home. There's a wide variety of pain medications that vets use and not all medications work the same for the animal. You'll notice the main ones mentioned on this site are Tramadol and Gabapentin. For my Leland he didn't do well on the Tramadol but he did fine with just Gabapentin. It may take a bit to find the right combination and/or dosage. However, you should come home with more than just an anti-inflammatory such as Rimadyl. If that's all your vet sends home you may want to speak with them about adding Tramadol and/or Gabapentin.
Also, elevated food bowls are important (if Bentley's a larger dog). Especially, for a front leg amputee...it would be tough for him to bend down and hold all that front weight on one leg.
I'm sure others will be along to give advice. Just hang in there...the first couple weeks of recovery tend to be the hardest with ups and downs. Then things start to even out as you and Bentley figures out what works best for your new normal.
Stay connected and post some pictures if you can.
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!
Bentley and family, welcome. I'm so sorry about the accident, how scary! We have a great community here to help you through the journey so don't hesitate to ask as many questions as you like. Be sure to check out Jerry's Required Reading List and the Tripawds e-books library for in-depth answers to many of your questions too.
When you pick up your pup, ask your vet about the pain meds, and who you can contact after hours if you have an emergency. Also keep in mind that dogs come home one of two ways usually: super groggy and slow, or hyper energetic and invincible. Your job is to strike a balance between the two to make sure he stays calm enough to heal yet just mobile enough to feel strong so he can at least go potty, drink and eat a little something (loss of appetite is a major side effect many dogs experience but it's usually not a long-term issue).
Also, you are correct; keeping his weight down is a HUGE thing that Tripawd pawrents can do to ensure long term mobility and health. A three-legged animal should be slimmer than their four-legged friends because it's less stress on those joints.
Try not to get overwhelmed. Just take things day by day, Hang in there and let us know how today goes! We're here for you.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Just a little update on baby Bentley, we were able to bring him home today. Yay!! My poor sweet pea is so tired though 
we've only been able to get him to get up and go outside once since we've brought him home, when we tried a second time he just couldn't muster up the strength to get up. I'm hoping this is just because he's 24hrs post opp and exhausted, plus on pain meds? I also haven't been able to get the poor little guy to drink any water since he's been home (he also has his jaw wired right now because he broke that in the accident) so I'm hoping that's normal for the first night home. It's just breaking my heart to see him looking so sad right now.
YAAAAAAAAAY! BENTLEY IS HOME!!!
Your description of Bentley so far sounds perfectly "normal". He still has hospital meds in him and should be out of his syste by day three.
And he has his jaw wired shut too? Poor fella'!!
My Happy Hannah had to be bribed to drink water! I had to swirl a scoop of ice cream in her water in order to get her to drink. You may try chicken broth too.
Your vet maynhave to give you some insight on how to get him to drink and eat. Hydration is very important.
What about planting? Is he able to pant? Knock on wood, I've not had a dog with a broken jaw so I'm just curious how they drink, eat, pant, etc.
It may take Bentley a bit longer to adjust to being mobile and balanced on three legs as the accident was so sudden. Many dogs here start with a limp off and on before the dianosis of that piece of crap disease.
It is hard to watch recovery for the human. But Bentlw is still probably pretty high on hospital meds and not feeling much of anything! He may still be seeing a few pink elephants though!
Hang in there! His slarkke will be coming back shortly!
Sending hugs to all!
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!
Hearing that definitely makes me feel better, I'm somewhat of a worry wart so i have myself questioning everything he does, or doesn't do right now. The chicken broth is a great idea, I'm definitely going to have to try that. Also he loves ice cream so I'll give that a try tomorrow morning!
Also,. I was actually very surprised at how his jaw looks, you can't even tell it's wired shut unless you look at the inside. It almost looks like he has little doggie braces. He can still open his mouth though, enough to eat, pant, and my favorite thing of all give kisses!
Being that the accident was so sudden it definitely makes sense that he's going to need a little extra time to adjust. He only went about 2 days with his paralyzed leg before the amputation so this has all happened so fast for him. We really appreciate all the advice!
Ivw got this picture in my head of him grinning with his little doggy braces...and it's very cute!
Thanks for explaining how he can still eat, xrink, etc. Poor fella', he has a lot of adjusting to figure out...and he will!
As his hospital meds wear off and his regular pain meds kick in, don't be surprised if her whines a lot and becomes restless. Some dogs have a hard time getting their pain meds balanced and some dogs have no problems!
Just continue to let him rest and just go out to potty for now. Many front leg amputees have trouble going down stairs but can go upstairs fairly easily. Rear leggers can usually go downstairs fairly well but have trouble going up!!
Oh, and let us know when he has his firstnpoop! We celebrate anything around here!!! Sometimes the lain meds .ake it hard to go for a few days, but he'll eventually go!
And sometimes front leggers hsve a few face plants while they try and figure out leeing, sp be prepared for that!
Most importantly, try and get some rest yourself! This part of the journey can llay havoc onnyour sleel...or lack thereof,!! And dontw forget the chocolate!
Hugs to all!
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!
He's such a smart little guy I feel like he'll have it down in no time! Plus he gets his jaw wiring out in 6 weeks so I think he'll feel a lot better once he can fully open his mouth. He loves to "talk" and unfortunately that's one thing he can't do too much of with that in right now!
As far as pain meds his vet has him on tramadol (3pills twice daily) I'm hoping that works well for his pain management . They also have him on an anti inflamitory.
Luckily we do not have any stairs at our home so that is something we won't have to worry about for a bit.! What were worried about is the space of our house. It's extremely small! Were hoping this won't hinder him in any way.
It's Definitely good to know about the first poop! I would have been worried I'm sure if I hadn't known it may take him awhile. It definitely makes senses though with the meds and all.
Bentley and I would just like to thank you so much for being so kind and helpful! It has definitely made the transition of becoming a tripawd pawrent a lot less scary and intimidating!
So sorry for you and Bentley. Based on his breeds he should be bouncing around in no time. I cannot add more to the wonderful advice that Renee, Sally and Sahana gave you. He is still pretty sedated from the vet, surgery and anesthesia. Pain control is VERY important during this time. You know Bentley best. 3 tramadol twice a day? I am no doctor but if his pain appears managed why not spread it out more and decrease the dose. Don't worry if he doesn't eat too much right away. But hydration is important. Try anything you can. Ice cubes, broth, yes Sally ice cream lol, popcicles. Keep us posted, we are here for you.
I'm glad to hear that Bentley is finally home. Rest is very important so it's better for him that he's home...those vet clinics can be awful noisy...
Wow...and on top of dealing with the amputation the poor fella's mouth is wired due to a broken jaw. Yeah, I think Bentley's recovery may be a little longer than the typical 2 weeks but hey he may just surprise us all. One thing I've learned through my journey with Leland is that our furkids are resilient.
Leland too did not want to drink water after he came home. I had taken one of those syringe things that you give dogs liquid meds in and squirted water in his mouth. If you find something that works for you and Bentley go with it as it's important to get water in them.
Hang in there and I'll definitely be keeping Bentley in my thoughts!
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!
That's awesome he's home! Glad to read that Sally could ease your fears last night, isn't she great?! And yes, Bentley has extra challenges to deal with for recovery, he will likely take longer than the average Tripawd to get around and get that sparkle back. But just keep your vet in the loop about what's going on and if you have any concerns at all don't hesitate to call them.
What were instructions the vet gave you for feeding and watering? I've never dealt with a wired jaw so I'm curious. To make water more appealing, try puttig a splash of low-sodium broth in it or even Gatorade (just a little). This side effect of medication is quite common but you want to make sure he's getting fluids so spiking the water with something tasty like this (even tuna water) will help. Food is another matter but he'll get to feeling hungry soon, then the poops will follow.
Hang in there and keep us posted, we're all sendng lots of love and cheering you on!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thank you again for all the advice it is so helpful.
Bentley has blown me away this morning! He went right out this morning and pottied (still no poop though) and he's eating very well. Because of his jaw he is required to stay on a soft food diet (they didn't say anything specific about drinking) but I was able to get him to eat a whole can of food this morning with ease, and one last night. He seems to have his normal appetite back. The ice cream in the water was a success! I finally got him to drink a little this morning!
He doesn't seem to be too sleepy today though he just wants to snuggle and not leave my side. He actually jumped right into bed last night (we have the mattress on the floor so he can get up and down as he pleases) and kicked dad out to sleep on the couch. He seems to have his beautiful personality back and I've even managed to snag a few more kisses. He seems to be in really good spirits today, plus we got a little snow, his favorite! 
so that has him pretty excited.
As far as the pain meds I haven't been giving him all 3 at once, that seems kind of silly to me. Instead I'm giving one to him every 4 hours so he still gets the required 6 per day but they're more spaced out to help manage his pain. He hasn't cried or whimpered at all since we've brought him home so I'm hoping that's a sign spreading them out was the right decision for him!
Love baby Bentley and mom.
You're doing a wonderful job with Bentley. I'm glad to hear that spacing out the Tramadol seems to be working well for Bentley. It would seem to be giving him the pain relief needed without throwing him for a loop (Tramadol is a narcotic).
And YAY for going potty and drinking some water. Way to Go Bentley!!!!
We too put just our mattress on the floor because Leland always slept with us and we didn't want him trying to jump into the bed. I think it's cute that Bentley wanted a little extra room so he kicked hubby to the couch...that had me giggling over here because Leland would do the same thing to my hubby...
Keep us posted on Bentley's progress.
Sending both you and Bentley a BIG HUG!!
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!
1 Guest(s)
