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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Hi Everyone! So glad to have found this page!
JJ's paw was severed in a freak accident on Tuesday night and back leg was amputated to the femur yesterday. He will be in the hospital for the next few days and I'm REALLY nervous about bringing him home. My husband handled the trips to the emergency and surgeon, but he is now out of town and will not be there to support this VERY emotional, nervous mommy when I bring him home. I have 3 children (a 4 year old and 2 year old twins, all girls) and I've been through hell with them (twins were 32 weekers due to me having HELLP...if there are any other NICU parents you know what I mean). With the kids I can go into "Mommy mode" and I can handle bodily functions, fevers, emergency room visits and hospitalizations (which there have been a few for one of the twins in particular) like a champ. But with JJ I have been a complete mess! He really is my first "child" as he was my birthday present just a month after my husband and I got married and moved into our first home together nearly 8 years ago. My first dog...you see what I mean? seriously emotional! 
Anyways, any suggestions on what his immediate care needs might be when I bring him home? I also work full time and there will not be anyone available to stay with him 24/7 after the weekend. I want to do what's best for him in this situation. Any words of wisdom are GREATLY appreciated!
Hi jjsMom, thanks for joining us, your future posts won't need approval.
OK, you are in great company here. This community is filled with people who have been in your situation and understand exactly what you mean when you say that JJ is your first child. Yes, it's really emotional but if you stay strong and positive, you'll both do just fine. Remember, JJ will look to you for guidance, so be strong and believe that he'll be fine, and he will.
The great news is that his size is a big advantage. Smaller dogs just have an easier time on three legs. Him being a rear-legger is a bonus too, as they tend to have things a little easier since dogs place less weight back there.
First, start with Jerry's Required Reading List , which will answer many of your questions about post-op care. People here will have lots of terrific tips and suggestions too, so hang onto your hat and you'll see them come in now that your post is approved.
Finally, don't worry about him being alone after the weekend, he wouldn't be the first Tripawd to have pawrents who work full-time 
. While it's ideal if you can have someone go over to check on him a few times a day, as long as he's kept in a smaller space so he can't get into any trouble, he'll probably just sleep all day.
Hang in there! And feel free to visit the Chat Room, we usually have folks in there during the evening.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi! I have a rat terrier, so i'm guessing my polly and your JJ are about the same size. Polly was 18 lbs pre-amp.
If you want to send me a private message i can tell you what I learned from Pollys situation and what worked for her.
the first few days are the worst. JJ is going to be groggy and in pain and overall grumpy. Just don't let it get you down. You did what you had to do to save him right? So just keep reminding yourself of that. Keep him in a crate as much as you can. With little ones running around he will appreciate having his quiet area to just relax and be grumpy.
Chances are he will heal quickly and learn to navigate on the missing leg. Just try to remember that this is a major surgery he underwent and he will need a lot of time to recover.
If you can have someone check on him when you go to work, that would be best but if not- its not the end of the world. I was blessed to have a friend as a nurse who came in a cleaned pollys wound and sat with her during the day. I also have a friend that was able to swing by around the afternoon and let her out. But if you don't have that don't stress! I'm sure friends will offer to come by, and if they do- let them! If not, seriously don't sweat it. There were a few days polly was in her crate while healing the entire day in the cone of shame . She survived it. I'm pretty sure with the pain meds and cone all she did was sleep anyway.
You will be ok. Let mommy mode kick in. Because JJ needs you to be the strong mommy right now. There will be ups and downs but just remember you did this out of love! You are welcome to send me a private message if you are worried or scared or just want to talk about how cute he is. This forum is full of amazing people!!!!
Thank you pollygirl! JJ is about 15 pounds and used to be able to jump 4 ft high from a sitting position LOL definitely not going to be doing that again
Luckily I spent some time reading some blog posts and questions in the forums yesterday. I picked up my little man a few hours ago and I didn't even cry. I was prepared for what he looked like, but I wasn't prepared for how he is acting!
JJ just wants to RUN! We have the windows open and he heard neighborhood kids go by on their skateboards and he was up and barking in 2 seconds! I took him outside to go to the bathroom and he wanted to go for a walk...it's going to be hard to keep him quiet for the next couple of weeks 
I have him in the kitchen and the back door was open when I got home but the security screen was closed...he had his face right at that door and his outside brothers and sister were going nuts! His "sister" (a 25lb lab/boxer mix) who we adopted just 4 months after him got very protective and barked at his two "brothers" (golden retriever/basset hound mixes each about 70lbs). She's now sitting on outside of the screen and JJ on the inside 
Glad it seems to be going well. I just adopted a tripod last weekend and I am a nervous mommy as well. He surgery was prior to us getting him by about 3 months so he's all healed up, but he also tries to run and go. He is full of energy and this is definately not slowing him down that I can tell. He has more energy than our 4 legged dog does! I hope the recover continues to go well. 
Hi and welcome.
I was having trouble posting the other day so I missed saying Hi. I had a tri-pug Maggie who was a left rear amp. She hopped happily for almost 4 years without too much trouble. Going up more than 3 or 4 stairs wasn't possible for her anymore, but she could do just about anything else. Since JJ was able to jump so high before he might do OK going up stairs.
It sounds like your biggest problem is keeping him quiet- that is a good problem to have!
How's he doing after the weekend?
Karen
I went to check on him at lunch and he's still all doped up. The Tramadol is kicking his little rear. He WAS having trouble keeping it down until the lovely ladies in the chat suggested yogurt and he did really well with that 
I still haven't let him try the porch steps yet...I carry him outside. He's doing very well confined to the kitchen and laundry room, but I think that my girls can get a little too loud for him. One of the twins in particular is in LOVE with him and anytime that he is visible she's yelling "look Mommy there's JJ!" Then he goes and hides in the corner LOL
I just hope I'm doing everything right...he wants to go on walks so bad but I'm afraid that he is going to hurt himself
You are doing everything right because you are coming from a place of love and compassion and don't hesitate to call your vet with questions if you feel frightened and unsure. Plus, this is the best site in the world to find individuals who have experienced just about everything. Remember to breathe! Let the pack leader that you are takeover and you will so great!
We are here for you so you can be there for your three legged baby!
Sending you support and encouragement, Sally and Happy Hannah
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!
You are absolutely doing everything right! Sounds like this will be a classically uneventful recovery. I'm glad the yogurt worked well.
Keeping him in a quiet place is a great idea. Your kids sound like such a hoot and there will be plenty of time for pawtying when he's all healed up.
Keep up the great work!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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