Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hello, first time poster here. My 11 year old yellow lab hound was limping, and instead of the ACL tear we expected, they found osteosarcoma in his rear left leg last Wednesday. We moved quickly and had the leg amputated last Thursday. So we are about 9 days post op. The incision has been healing nicely, and he's still on pain meds, and still wearing the cone (which he hates). Stitches come out and first chemo treatment starts this coming Thursday. The hardest thing right now for him is getting comfortable and figuring out how to lay down. He gets up and down constantly, and can't relax. Does anyone have any tips for getting my new tripawd to relax in his new body? Any beds that work best? Any other advice? Thanks!!
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Best wishes for your pup! What's his name?
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I think a lot of people whose dog's had a rear leg removed used boxer shorts to keep the incision clean, using the fly for their tail. Murphy had a front leg removed, so we used a t-shirt. When you're around, he probably doesn't need the cone on. Or, you could try an inflatable cone - we found one for our other dog at Pet Supplies Plus.
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
Sometimes pain meds can make a dog "antsy." Our Murphy just zonked out on Tramadol, but old Gus couldn't settle when he took it. Sometimes the inability to settle can also indicate pain. There is a real fine line with pain control, but once it is dialed in, things go much better.
Would a soft collar be a possibility for your pup?
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!
Hello:
As others have said - some of the pain meds make a dog antsy. What meds and dosage is your boy on? Sometimes it takes some "tweaking" to get the right combination to allow a dog to rest more comfortably.
It's great you were able to move quickly post diagnosis.
While we didn't need it for post amputation as for some reason he had zero interest in his incision, we have used a Comfy Cone in the past with success. But boxer shorts seem like a great solution unless you think he is really obsessed with the incision.
Some dogs definitely seem to get more comfortable after suture removal, too.
Lisa, Minneapolis
On October 27, 2016, nearly 6 months after amputation, and 18 months since his cancer likely started, we lost Pofi to a recurrence of Soft Tissue Sarcoma in his spine quite suddenly. His canine sister also succumbed to cancer on March 1, 2019 - we lavished her with our love in the interim, but life was never quite the same without her only real canine friend. Cliff kitty had to leave us, too, suddenly, in August 2019. Lucia kitty grieved all these losses, but helped us welcome two new Lurchers into our home and our lives, Shae and Barley.
What's his name? We have three of the Big Barker beds, purchased pre amp due to Otis' mild arthritis. Some have tried gentle massage - you have to imagine that he is feeling some muscle pain. We also used aromatherapy - I scented a hand towel with peppermint and lavender essential oils. It seems like a long haul, but many of us see real improvement when the staples come out, so hang in there!
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.
Sadie would not settle down with the cone on. No issues with pain, the Tramadol or any of that, but put the cone on her and it was "Let's try this. Nope. Okay, how about this? Nope. This is okay.... for about fives minutes." when she tried to lay down. Made for a long few days before I could be sure she wouldn't lick without the cone.
Thanks folks! My dog is Baxter, who has been my loyal companion since I rescued him as a 1 year old, about 10 years ago.
We've taken the cone off for some sofa snuggles, and took him for a very short walk without it yesterday, and he was so happy.
He's on Tramadol, Gabapeiten, and Meta(...sp?), the liquid. We are day 10 now, and he's now going to be off of most of those so hopefully that goes OK.
The surgeon said that since it's a back leg, I shouldn't do an inflatable cone (which we actually already have) since he may be able to get to the sutures. Our next appt for suture removal and first chemo is Thursday, so hopefully that will help with him getting comfortable! I believe that he won't have to wear the cone anymore after that day. Thank you for the replies that he should (hopefully) be more comfy after that happens!!
Terri, Baxter does that too, but all night long!! He'll sleep for a few hours, then seems to not be able to get comfy. He'll go from one dog bed to the other, bonking the cone in to walls and dressers (and making so much noise), up and down, then to the corner, then by my bed... all night long! It's driving me crazy! I hate crating him at night since he's crated during the day, but he would up in the crate about 2 AM this morning since I needed sleep!! Hoping things get better after Thursday...
On the plus side, Baxter has figured out how to lift his one remaining rear leg to pee on that side. It's quite impressive. He puts all his weight on his front paws, then almost does a handstand. He's such a character!
Thanks all!
Howdy and welcome!!
Wow, a handstand??? That's truly impressive!
Both Harmony and Meesha did the same thing when they had to wear the cone. I had so many bruises on my legs. I truly believed they did it purposely to get me to take the cone off: It worked!! 
Harmony became a Tripawd on 10/21/14 (MCT). She left us way too soon on 11/1/14.
"We miss you so much; our love, our heart, our Harmony."
- Pam, Ron and Melody, Meesha, Doublestuff and Mariah Carey
Hi there Baxter and family 
My dog Eurydice is a front leg amputee and I got her memory foam mattresses, they are much better than the regular ones she had before because they mold to the shape of her body and are very comfortable indeed.
Whatever you will go for, make sure the bed is not too soft so Baxter will find his balance easily when turning to find a comfy position to sleep in.
Hugs and cuddles to your boy
Eurydice 77kg/170lb Great Dane limping end of April 2016, amputation (right front leg/osteosarcoma) 4 May 2016 6 courses of carboplatin followed by metronomic therapy, lung mets found 30 Nov 2016. 3 courses of doxorubicin, PET scan 26 Jan 2017 showed more mets so stopped chemo. Holistic route April 2017. Lung X-ray 5 May 2017 showed several tennis ball size mets, started cortisone and diuretics. Miss Cow earned her XXL silver wings 12 June 2017, 13 months and 1 week after amputation and 6 1/2 months after lung mets, she was the goofiest dawg ever and is now happily flying from cloud to cloud woof woofing away :-)
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