Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat

Thanks. I'm in the States, I just couldn't remember the name of the drug (and it's not on the bottle) so I looked them up and found what matched the pill visually. I'm sure my vet will prescribe some pain meds. We had my last dog on Gabapentin and CBD oil in his last few weeks.

Antibiotics are another thing - he's not on any, and that didn't hit me until I got home (I was a little overwhelmed in the moment). It seems like that would be standard protocol for a surgery this serious.  I'll ask my vet. I'm hoping they can get me in this morning.

Thanks for the links! I'm still navigating the site. There's a ton of info on here and I'm glad I stumbled across it. This little dude has been through a lot, and he still doesn't have a proper name. I will keep you updated.

Now I'm really glad I got him. Who knows what might have happened if someone else had tried to do this on that limited support and information. Still waiting for my vet's office to open in 15 minutes, they're not even answering the phones yet.

Posting a picture here doesn't seem to work. Is it the site, or is it TinyPic?

The problem is somewhere with my browser extensions. Even Imgur wouldn't work until I shut them all off.  I'll play with it later. This is my new dude, still has no name but I'm leaning toward Asher or Vinnie. We have an appointment with my vet at 10:30.

I was mistaken. He got a shot of a long-acting antibiotic at the shelter (Convenia), so he's good there. I just overlooked that note in the pile of papers they gave me.

So we got some liquid Gabapentin, a proper e-collar (he could actually reach around that floppy thing they gave me), and a lepto vaccine since the shelter didn't give him one of those. He's good to go, clean bill of health apart from the missing leg. Hopefully we won't need to go back until it's time to get the sutures removed.

krun15 said
Hello and welcome.  He is lucky to have found you, I'm glad you are heading to your vet with him. 

I can see why you fell in love, he is adorable!  Same way my current Tripawd Elly found me... I saw a picture of her and had to have her! Elly is a small Pug mix who was hit by a car at 7 months old and lost her right rear leg as a result.  I got her when she was 10 months old, she just turned 4. 

Let us know what your vet says.

Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls

  

Thanks! He is a cutie, isn't he?

I think Asher chose me as much as I chose him, and I know that sounds like a corny old cliche.  I didn't even see his picture - I was just doing my morning browse of the shelter listings and saw a new dog at one of them. No picture, no description beyond "Terrier Mix" and his shelter name, Eugene. I called and all they told me was that he was black and white, and about ten pounds. So I figured I'd go have a look.

It was only when I got there that they told me he was missing a leg - and that the amputation had happened only two days ago. That sounded like more than I was prepared to deal with, but I'd driven all that way so I may as well meet him, right? I saw his cute scruffy little face first, then I saw his deep red amputation site with its long row of Frankenstein stitches. But he was running around, dancing, and spinning in circles - all on three legs.

And when the shelter worker left the room and it was just me and him, he jumped in my lap, licked my hands and face, and let me pet him, and I was sold. We just continued like that until the worker came back, me playing with my puppy. I told her I'd take him, paid my fees, got his license and adoption packet and a small bottle of meds, and took him home.

They also threw in a leash and a collar, a small crate, a big bag of food, his floppy cone e-collar, a small Kong toy, and a squeaky toy. Now that I think about it, they were very eager to give me extra stuff. I wonder if they were expecting to have a hard time finding him a home.

Last night, just as I was drifting off to sleep, I heard him shifting around in his crate, followed by a loud squeal, just like the one he made when he fell over and landed on his wound. I guess he hit his wound, because there was a tiny bit of blood. I spent an hour with him in my bed, comforting him until he fell asleep. I almost let him sleep with me, but I was worried he'd get bored and jump off the bed. This morning when I let him out of his crate, his cone fell off. His wound site looked okay, so I think it stayed on during the night.

I didn't want to do it this soon, but I'm taking him to work with me today. I hope it's not too stressful for him, but I need to keep him under observation.  I gave my vet a call to see how concerned I should be about that little bit of blood, and to see if I can get something stronger for the pain, hopefully something a little sedating. Still waiting to hear back. He's acting calmer right now, so I think I managed to get all of the Gabapentin in his mouth this morning.

He's due to get his sutures taken out on the 14th. Only six more days of this worry and paranoia. Hopefully.