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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Kylie Jean had an unfortunate encounter with an equine a little over four weeks ago - but despite our best efforts (surgery to stabilize fractures with pins, sugar bandaging every 12 hours, vet visits every two-three days, two complete rounds of two different antibiotics) the damage to her little bones was just too great and we had to make the difficult decision to amputate her right rear leg. I say difficult because Miss Kylie is a stumped tail australian cattle dog who had just began to develop her herding skills with chickens and llamas - this is a breed that lives to work and run.
So now we are sitting at four days post op and Miss Kylie is doing much better - we have been able to make a couple of rounds up and down the hills just out our front door and a couple of trips to the barn but that pretty much takes the wind out of her sails and she's ready for a good 2-3 hour nap before she's ready to face the world again.
Hi Kylie Jean and family, welcome. Sorry about the accident but glad that Kylie Jean is on the mend!
We're familiar with this breed, Heelers are a tough and spunky dog. But four days out from surgery, even for a tough little dingo puppy like her, seems like way too much. I'm not a vet so take it for what it's worth. And I know how hard it is to keep a breed like hers entertained while healing. But based on the many convos we've had with rehab and ortho vets, it's in her best interest to 1) cut back the activity so her body has more of a chance to learn to adapt to her new gait and muscle uses and 2) see below...
To keep her young and injury free for life, my best advice is to consult with a canine rehabilitation therapist now. Three months is an especially young age to lose a leg, so she may have future issues and injuries if activity is left unchecked. A canine rehab therapist can take her needs, physically and mentally, into consideration and show you how to work with her to grow into a strong, injury-free Tripawd. The best part is the Tripawds Foundation may even pay for your first rehab visit !
So what do you say, ready to make an appointment?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Kylie Jean's avatar picture is sooooo cute!! Can't wait to see more 🙂
Many dogs end up with amputation after trying all of the scenarios you just tried. So often those kinds of repairs just don't work, but always worth a try. The thing about amputation, it's one surgery, its "curative" in her case, the pain is gone, and she's free ro live live to the fullest!
DITTO, DITTO, DITTO JERRY!! This IS major surgery and she MUST just be having SHORT potty breaks and then back in to rest. Although she's you g and probably pretty hard to co fi e to a small recovery area in the house, soooo many things can happen if a dog does too much too soon. Most Vets send dogs home with Tramadol, Gabapentin, Rimadyl and an antibiotic. As a young puppy, that may not be the case as far as all those meds, but she does need her pain to be managed.
A d as this adorable iss Kylie continues to grow and msture, she WILL be able to do her herding!! She may need shorter intervals and some "rest stops",'but she can still "unleash the herder within"!
I think member Cowdog Maggie did some herding, certainly some agility, after becoming a tripawd. I'll try and find the videos.
Your pup has such a pain free duture 🙂 Thanks for being such a good advoc for her and being such a good caregiver 🙂
Would looooove to see more photos,
Hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie 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!
Hello and welcome.
My little Pug mix Elly lost her right rear leg after being hit by a car at 7 months old. I adopted her at 10 months so didn't go through recovery with her. My first Tripug Maggie lost her left rear to cancer and I did go through recover with her. However as a stubborn Pug her recovery strategy was to imitate a slug for several weeks- very unlike a 3 month old Aussie!
I'm sure she is full of energy but I second and third Jerry and Sally on activity level. I know it is hard to keep the youngsters quiet but it is in her best interest long term. When I got Elly she was 2.5 months past surgery and healed, but not very strong. We spent lots of time on balance, core strength as well as obedience training. All low impact but still challenging to the mind and body. We also play with food puzzles and games. I used to feed her breakfast in a food puzzle!
Gotta run right now... more later!
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
It's one week post op and Kylie Jean is making huge progress. Our short outtings to go potty have been lengthened to 30 minute play sessions out in the sun going up and down hills, playing in deep piles of leaves, finding the right stick to bring back as a souvenir and following her 14yo mentor - who now seems to enjoy having a shadow. Inside play sessions now include games of tug of war, go fetch the toy cow and snag the bandana.
Yesterday I was able to chat with a rep from Ruffwear to discuss sizing. I'll hold off for another week before ordering but by the time the next puppy obedience class begins she will be comfortable wearing a harness. And, after chatting with the lead instructor at PAWS Agility, she won't be the only tripawd graduate!!
There's still plenty of nap time and lots of snuggling lap time but life is certainly on the upswing!
prairierider said
It's one week post op...outtings to go potty have been lengthened to 30 minute play sessions out in the sun going up and down hills, playing in deep piles of leaves
So far so good, just seems a bit early for so much running around. Many new members experience the "recovery crash" when allowing their pups to do too much too soon. keep in mind that walks and play time do not build strength. Consider some starter exercises to start developing core strength and avoid potential injuries overdoing it. Take advantage of the Maggie Moo Fund for Tripawd Rehab, or download Loving Life On Three Legs for much more information.
Yesterday I was able to chat with a rep from Ruffwear to discuss sizing...
Do consider purchasing from the Tripawds Gear Shop as opposed to directly from Ruffwear. The Web Master Plus Brush Guard is our best recommendation. Feel free to call the Tripawds Helpline (Extension #3) with any questions!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Well Kylie "talked" Dad into a couple of extra trips outside today - which she thoroughly enjoyed playing in the leaves - but when I came in from work noticed she was a tad off. Nothing dramatic - and you know youngsters just don't know when they are tired - but I could tell she had not taken her afternoon nap and she seemed to be a little "concerned" about her good rear leg. Anyways, a good dinner followed by half a dose of rimadyl to relieve any inflammation and a 15-30minute total body massage and Miss Kylie Jean was out like a light for the next three hours.
I've used TTouch techniques on all of our equines and on our older ACD when she gets anxious but this is a first for me to use on a pup but judging from her response it did help her come down out of her play-mode and I could feel her melt away as I worked my way down her spine, shoulders and hips. Once I got to her feet and toes she was sound asleep.
Tomorrow will be a down day - a little extra relaxation and perhaps we can introduce a new game ... Search is where we will hide a treat - first in plain view and later under a pillow or on a low shelf but generally its more of a mind game that all of our pups have enjoyed.
As for her wound and stitches ... all of the swelling has been resolved and there's no discoloration. She should be good to have her stitches out on Monday and get her official discharge. Its been one heck of a six week roller coaster since her injury and, as our vet tech friends have reminded us, we would have always second guessed ourselves if we hadn't tried everything possible to save her paw. As the days melt into weeks and the weeks begin to fade into months, I can begin to imagine Kylie joining me on farm chores and perhaps eventually trail miles.
I know you get tired of hearing us say this, but that spunky Kylie Jean really needs to take things at a slower pace! Easier said than done, right? I cannot imagine how hard that woukd be with a three month old youngster who has that painful leg gone!!
Excellent job in doing the "sniff mind games"! Keeps her occupied without overdoing those muscles thst are still developing.
Love that the Tellington massage worked wonders for her. Good idea!
She'll be able to do farm chores with you and trail rides. She'll just need to be able to "stop and smeel the roses" alo g the way:-) 🙂
Cannot wait to see pictures! Better het, video of her cute self frolicking in the leaves! 🙂
Hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie 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!
Absolutely correct - it is a challenge trying to keep Kylie Jean on stall rest but today she got more rest than romp - only one trip out to the barn while I cleaned stalls and only one trip to the chicken coop. No trip to the workshop or no playtime in the leaves. She did enjoy our game of search and was quite proud of herself at finding a treat. Unfortunately the "rest" led to boredom and she was put in "time out" for getting too loud when trying to get the 14yo ACD to wrestle ... then she managed to get a hold of my glasses that I had left on our headboard while we were napping together. Oh well, needed new glasses this year anyway 
I would love to share some photos / video but haven't figured out how to add them to my replies 
In the meantime I will change her avatar as she grows and enjoys farm life.
Oh Kylie Jean you are a firecracker! Don't eat any more eye glasses or mamma can't take you on those walks!
Check out this link that explains adding images to the Forums. Basically you need to host them somewhere like KJ's own Tripawds blog or a photos sharing site like Imgur, then come here and past the photo URL. If this makes no sense and you have questions please private message myself or Admin and we will help you get them up so we can see more your spunky gal.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Stitches out, passed follow-up with flying colors and ready to get on with life. While we are still taking plenty of naps, Kylie Jean is enjoying being a puppy again. The joys of following her compadres (Mattie her 14yo mentor, Zoe a 10yo Great Pyranees and Ghost a 4yo feral cat) thru the woods and leaves, up and down the llama trails, touching noses with llamas and watching horses from a respectful distance. The llamas have been a great confidence builder - their quiet nature is just what Kylie needed to quell her anxiousness. Puppy obedience begins in four weeks and she should have her strength and stamina back with plenty to spare. Gotta say that since her surgery, it seems as though someone has added nitro to her fuel cells - which is just a clue as to how much energy her body was using in trying to heal her injury and now that energy can go to growing up.
Thank you to everyone for their compassion and words of wisdom. We will continue to share our progress and our adventures on three-legs!
WONDERFUL UPDATE!!! 🙂 🙂 Your description of her activities has me grinning ear to ear! 🙂 And I love heariw about all her pack mates too. And who knew Llamas coukd be such a good role model for her!
Hope you can figure out how to post pictures and videos. So don't hesitate to reach out for further instructions. Different computers have differe t looking screens sometimes and it can be hs4rd to figure out how to do stuff!
A d YAY for stitches out!! 🙂
It's really uplifting to know that the amputation really did relieve Kylie Jean's pain and allow her to start really living life to the fullest
!! 🙂 🙂 Chewing your glasses not food, vut everything else is great!! 🙂
Hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie 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!
To echo what everyone else has written -- tell young Kylie she has to take it slow!!! She will look at you like you're nuts, have tantrums, try to outsmart you and outmaneuver you, but it's for her own good! My Jack Russell was hit by a car and abandoned at a vet at 8 weeks old, and they called me to see if I'd take him. Truthfully he was 2/3 dead at that point, his back leg was shattered and his internal organs were all smashed around. Rushed into a critical care facility, he came out alive and happy but missing a back leg and hip. He stood up and fell over, stood up again and started walking and then running. 8 weeks old, a squishy Jack Russell, nothing cuter in the world, how could I resist? But I had to. HAD TO. We went to C.A.R.E. (Cal Animal Rehab in LA) and they were awesome with him, but also with me. They made me understand his limitations in the long and short term. Not only does your pup have to heal, like any post-op dog, but she has a growing body and her body is going to have to adjust as her skeleton and musculature adjust to accomodate her missing leg. The good news is, we had tons of homework that worked Able's busy little brain and left him tired enough to be content to lay on a bed with his toys and play more gently. Look into balance exercises, we have an inflatable bone that he had to balance on, all kinds of things for core strength. Swimming is fantastic of course, if you have access to anything (Able happily jumps into the bathtub and paddles his little legs). Remember that little body has to last her and you a long time! She's a lucky pup.
Its been a good 2+ weeks since Miss Kylie Jean had her stitches out and was released from care. Since then she's gained height, weight, strength and balance. We have our 30minute morning and afternoon walkabouts and a couple of 30minute play sessions in the barn while I clean stalls. If the sun is shining and weather permitting we have lengthened her time outside to explore, dig in the dirt, shuffle thru the leaves and snag the various treasures that have been abandoned by the GP. Because I work 11-7, there's naptime between 10AM-1:30PM and 7PM-9:30PM and then its bedtime from 10:30PM-4:30AM which is when Jim gets up to stoke the fireplace, make coffee and Miss Kylie can sit with him out on porch to watch the sun come up. Like any kid, there have been days when Miss Kylie has played a tad too long or too rough and needs to take the next day a little easier but those days are becoming less and less. School starts in two weeks with puppy obedience and our instructor is very familiar with the ACD mindset, as well as having tripawd experience so we are looking forward to getting a solid recall and enjoying some social interaction with other pups her age.
Kylie Jean has the best loving and fun home evvvver!! 🙂 Grinning ear to ear as I read all about her daily activities:-)
Wonderful thst her "teacher" in puppy class is familiar with tripawds. Cannot wait to get an update WITH PICTURE'S!!!
Hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
PS...Great feedback from ABLE's mom!! :-)'Thanks! 🙂
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!
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