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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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A rescue who is having her hind leg reamputated. What should i expect?
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Member Since:
29 April 2016
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1 May 2016 - 6:00 pm
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Rosie is a 6 month old Indian/phariah/Desi dog rescued from India. I'm told she and her siblings were hit by a train. Some college girls found her walking the train tracks, took her to a shelter and the shelter took her to a vet who amputed her leg in January 2016. The amputation was apparently done wrong as it was done below the knee causing her skin to rub against the bone. Tomorrow it is being redone to cut her higher near the hip. She is going to be spayed at the same time. What should I expect regarding peeing, pooping, pain and ability to walk. I live in a condo and have gotten her accustomed to the elevator to go outside to toilet. The walk there and back is probably just 300 feet. She's been pretty agile including able to run, the vet mentioned she'll probably do well since she is already accustomed to having just three legs. My concern is more with toileting, eating and pain. Can anyone describe what to expect?

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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1 May 2016 - 8:15 pm
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Hi Rosie and family, welcome. I hope you don't mind I moved your post here, this is a great place to discuss situations like yours that are non-cancer related. Rosie is so lucky to have you take care of her, thanks for asking about care.

I'm glad she's getting the full amputation done after all. We see problems with partial amputations sometimes, it's always a heartbreaker to have a dog go into surgery again. But it does sound like she'll do fine. You will be so surprised at how well she learns to balance and adapt to normal activities. Toileting usually isn't a big deal, especially for smaller dogs. You can try using a sling like this the first day or two to see how she does. She may not need the support. Ensuring your floors have plenty traction will give her confidence as she gets around.

Your biggest issue will probably be trying to keep her calm so she recovers. It's usually that way with puppies. Do your best though. The more rest she has, the faster she will heal.

Check out Jerry's Required Reading List , which answers many questions about life on 3 legs. And of course this amazing community will chime in too.

Thanks for joining!

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

Michigan
Member Since:
2 April 2013
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1 May 2016 - 9:31 pm
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The first 2 weeks or so is normally the hardest for most dogs pain-wise.  Murphy came home on Tramadol, Gabapentin & Rimadyl.  Some come home with a Fentanyl patch for pain or with antibiotics.  Since Rosie has pretty much already adapted to life on 3 legs, she should do pretty well.  Do you already have a harness for her?  On the home page you will see links for gear.  Murphy had a front leg removed and we use the Ruffwear harness by Webmaster.  It has a handle on top and works great for helping to get him in & out of the car when we go places.

Donna

Donna, Glenn & Murphy 

Murphy had his right front leg amputated due to histiocytic sarcoma at 7 years old. He survived 4 years, 2 months & 1 week, only to be taken by hemangiosarcoma at 11 1/2 years 6/12/17  
Read about Murphy's Life on Three Legs

Donna.png

Member Since:
14 February 2016
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2 May 2016 - 4:29 am
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We are also a big fan of the Ruffwear Webmaster harness .  You have enough of a walk to outside that a harness might be really useful.  Make sure you have good traction on your floors (although since she is already a Tripawd, you probably have already taken care of that.). First 5 or 6 days were really hard - lots of meds, I kept a log book so I could keep track of poo, pee, water and food and when to give meds.  At times, Otis did not want to get up.  The log book helped me to know if it was likely he needed to pee based on time alone, or whether I could just let him rest.  I also made sure to carry water to him with some regularity the first few days - some folks have also carried food to their dogs.  Rest and pain management are the most important.  I had a mattress on the floor next to Otis' bed, and tried to stay with sight (and even moved some furniture so he had a better line of sight and space to move between rooms.   We are all behind you and Rosie today.

Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016.  Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016.  Lung mets August 25, 2016.  Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016.   Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.  

Wherever they are, they are together.

Idaho
Member Since:
12 March 2013
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2 May 2016 - 8:23 am
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X3 on the Ruffwear Webmaster harness . We found it to be invaluable. Our Tripawd was a Murphy, too, but he was a rear legger who also had a total hip replacement in his remaining rear leg. As has already been said, keep Rosie as quiet as possible at first...only out to potty until her stitches/staples come out. We used a small exercise pen with a sleeping pad in it to keep Murph confined. Keep ahead of the pain. It's much easier to stay ahead than to catch up. And stay connected here, both for Rosie's sake and for your own

Kathi and the Turbotail April Angel...and the Labradork

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!


Member Since:
29 April 2016
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2 May 2016 - 4:27 pm
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Thtankyou everyone. I spoke with the vet's assistant who said she did well but they are keeping her overnight to give her fluids and pain meds. I get to bring her home tomorrow. i'll post updates in hopes that they help anyone going through this in the future.

Livermore, CA




Member Since:
18 October 2009
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2 May 2016 - 4:51 pm
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Hi and welcome.

I adopted my current Tripawd, a small pug mix named Elly, when she was 10 months old.  She was hit by a car when she was 7 months old and she lost her right rear leg as a result. She was also spayed during the amp surgery.  According to her foster mom Elly recovered very quickly and it was difficult to keep her quiet.

I'm guessing your biggest problem is going to be keeping her quiet while she recovers! Find out from the vet today what pain meds they will send her home with.  We have seen here that pain management is not standard and some vets are still 'old school' where they don't think dogs need much or any pain meds after a surgery.  My first Tripawd Maggie came home with a fentanyl patch, Tramadol and an anti inflammatory.  Gabapentin is often now prescribed as well.

Staying overnight is a good thing to get the pain and pain meds balanced.

Keep us posted on how Rosie (and you!) are doing.

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

 

              Maggie's Story                  Amputation and Chemo


Member Since:
29 April 2016
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3 May 2016 - 9:05 pm
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I got Rosie home early afternoon. She slept most of the afternoon and walked around the den just a bit. She ate her dinner which the vet said should be half of what she normally eats. So she had 1/2 cup kibble sprinkled with chicken and she took her meds; Tramadol(1/2 50mg), clindamycin (1 150 mg) and vetprofen (25mg). She doesn't seem to be in pain but she is crying a little when I put her in her pen. I think I need to let her try to settle down on her own.

Her wound appears stapled, is not covered and they told me not to cover it. Is this typical? The vet told me to return if any signs of distress or vomiting and to go to either of two emergency vets if any after hours need arises. I told the Rescue owner this and asked which she would want me to take Rosie to and her response was "call me if there is an emergency" and that one place is expensive. The Rescue group is getting me upset because she seems more concerned about expenses and she doesn't have a plan in place if any emergency arises. She also doesn't respond to texts saying her phone has a problem. While I think she is compassionate, I also think she is a bit scatter-brained and doesn't have a plan in place. I told her I will call her if there is an emergency and she must agree that she will take Rosie to wherever she wants to have her treated since she won't designate a vet for me. I feel like I have to put her feet to the fire to get her to put a plan in place.

Back to the staples, do they dissolve or are they typically removed? Vet said nothing about this.

Livermore, CA




Member Since:
18 October 2009
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3 May 2016 - 9:24 pm
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Some vets wrap the incision site, some do not.  Typically the rear amps are not wrapped as the bandaging won't stay in place.  My first Tripawd Maggie was a rear amp and did not have any bandaging.  My current Tripawd, Elly, had her amp before I adopted her but from the pictures I've seen she had no bandage either.

The staples will have to be removed by the vet, typically around 14 days post op. 

So, are you fostering Rosie?

Karen

Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.

1999 to 2010

 

              Maggie's Story                  Amputation and Chemo



Member Since:
27 July 2014
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3 May 2016 - 10:54 pm
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I've seen some postings on the forums that some vets that work for rescue organizations tend to lack in aftercare. However the vet that did Rosie's amputation said to return if there is any distress, so it's likely this vet will remove the staples. You could phone to ask when to return to have the staples removed. My cat's aftercare was included in the amputation costs so this may be the same for you.

I think if you can manage Rosie's pain through the medication, keep her from chewing the stitches/staples, and keep the surgery site clean, then she will heal well without any problems.

I hope to see a photo when you get a chance.

Kerren and Tripawd Kitty Mona


Member Since:
2 May 2016
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5 May 2016 - 10:31 am
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My rescue, Tria,  also had rear leg amputated after being hit by car. She was fostered for the 3 months post surgery. I adopted her after all was said and done, so can't answer your questions directly, but i called the foster mom and she's more than happy to talk with you. If you want to email me at dseymour2@comcast.net I can give you her number.  

Meantime, I can tell you that Tria is managing beautifully and not having a 4th leg is a non-issue. In fact, many who meet her don't even notice initially if at all. 

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