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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Just wanted to say welcome! Glad the surgery went well...keep us posted!
Spirit Samson was Spirit Tripawd Daisys four legged "brother" and ruled as the self proclaimed head of the Monkeybutt Federations East Coast Division. Lady Chunky Monkey stayed from Oct 2011 and left for the bridge in Apr 2012. Miss Perdy is left and has some big pawprints to fill.
Do you have what it takes to be a Monkeybutt? Find out more at the Monkeybutt Federation
Kayla is coming home today!!! she is doing really well. the vet opened her kennel this morning and she came running out, they think she will adjust really well. so excited to get her home again but scared at the same time. have prepared the kids for what she will look like as best I can and the house is set up for her. thank you all so much for your encouraging comment they have really helped me get through the last couple of days and will help during the rough time ahead of us. Thank you - will let you all know how she is doing later.
Thanks for the great update! Best wishes for a complete speedy recovery.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
wow there is no holding this puppy back - Kayla is home and has already chased the cats, annoyed the kids and generally wont sit still. having lots of little rests and I am trying to restrict what she is doing but wow I dont think she realises that she is missing a leg at all. Should I expect her to crash at some stage or is she just recovering really well???
She might crash a little tomorrow... She probably still has some of the more powerful drugs in her from the vet's office, so once those are totally gone, she might be in a little more pain/moving more slowly.
Or, hey, maybe she's just doing great! She is a pup after all - and full of puppy energy!
All the best, hope she keeps going strong!
Jackie, Abby's mom
Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!
Yeah - ditto to what Abby's mom said!
Have you ever noticed some people when they have surgery, they feel wonderful shortly afterwards....and then they don't?
I know I've have!! Heck, one time I had eyelid surgery and decided to shave my dog the next morning! I was feeeeling NO PAIN and it sounded like a good idea! It wasn't until later when I realized I had shaved racing stripes on her because I thought she needed to be aerodynamic...that maybe, just maybe it was the meds and anesthesia!
On the follow up visit to the eye doc a couple of days later, he had to pull out the dog hair shavings in my incision which had ointment on it and that hair stuck like glue to it. I don't think he "got" the aerodynamic part was he politely removed the dog hair shavings from my incision!
True story.
Comet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
do I need to restrict what Kayla is doing or will she just do what she feels capable of doing?
It probably is best to try to restrict her activity. She might hurt herself, not yet knowing her limits. Having said that... we had a hard time restricting Abby, but it wasn't because she wanted to run around, it was because she wanted to go off and be by herself. I tried restricting her to the living room and put up a gate, but she would stand there like she needed to go out. I'd let her out and then no amount of coaxing would get her back in. She just wanted to be alone and "hide" in the yard until she felt better.
So, uh, yes, you should try to restrict her but... I wasn't so good at that myself. 🙂 Physically restricting her to a smaller space might help limit her racing around and trying to chase the cats!
Hope she continues to do well!
Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!
Great news! I'll ditto Abby and Comet. It's up to you to restrict her activity. Not baby her, but don't let her overdo it. Leash walking for sure.
She may or may not crash after today but just keep an eye on her. The less running and jumping right now the better, this can help prevent a seroma (fluid leakage) and possible stitches tearing.
What a great update!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Great to hear how well Kalya is doing! Ahhh- the energy and healing power of youth.
That being said- you do want to protect the incision and let the amp site heal. There usually are internal stitches that you can't see holding everything together in addition to the outer sutures or staples. I would try to restrict her until the outer sutures are removed.
I was lucky in that regard with tri-pug Maggie- she was not interested in any activity at all for a couple of weeks. She was walking and eating and peeing and pooping- but that was pretty much it for her.
I hope Kalya continues to do well. Having to restrict activity is a great problem to have (all things considered).
Karen and the pugapalooza
Kayla is still doing real good really getting the hang of getting round on just three legs. Bit sleepy this afternoon but not sleepy enough to keep out of trouble!!! - managed to destroy one of kids soft toys!!!
This may seem like a really dumb question but can I used a collar and lead on Kayla or do I need to find a harness - willl the collar and leash tip her off balance with her being a front leg amp?
No dumb questions here whatsoever! Use what works for you. Try the collar and lead, if it works, great! The biggest benefit of a harness is that it helps humans help their dogs by assisting them getting in and out of vehicles, etc.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Also take into account that her new normal gait will probably be a trot. Front leggers seem to keep their balance better going faster. Several people here tell stories of having to jog to keep up!
You'll have to see how she keeps her balance- and how much help she needs getting around- or in and out of the car, etc. Many front amps use the Ruffwear Webmaster Harness.
Maggie was a rear amp and a pug. I always used a harness on her because of her throat. She did have a ruffwear harness , but she was so small that it wasn't really practical (but it looked really good on her!). I did have to be careful even with the regular harness not to pull her off balance when she was on a leash.
Karen and the pugapalooza
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