Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Yesterday Quixote went to jump off the couch and not only did he land funny he was jostled by the other dogs and ended up landing on the incision HARD. He screamed for a good 10 mins. Then was shaking after. I know he was in pain. I picked him up and cuddled him gave him pain meds and made him take it easy for the rest of the day. How do you tell a young dog that he has to take it easy ahhhhh.
Also when will I get used to his new look.
Do they EVER get careful? Murphy has spent almost half his life as a Tripawd and his rehab vet says he is still his own worst enemy! They just don't get that there are consequences to simply being a dog.
While I consciously know that Murphy has only three legs, there are still times that I find myself not being used to it, even though he is.
Kathi and Murphy
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!
Mona, my kitty who had her front leg amputated, sometimes takes a flying leap off the bed which is quite high. The landing is quite loud and seems harsh to me. I'll notice the next time she'll go down using the chair and box I've set up. They learn - "If I fly off the bed it hurts. If I take the chair and box it doesn't hurt".
Over the 9 months since her amputation Mona has become lighter on her feet (it can sound like she's tap dancing), found some new ways to get down off the couch, takes left turns by pivoting on right front leg. She can run just as fast as my other cat (only short distances though).
I'm used to Mona's new look now that her hair has grown in. It is so endearing watching and hearing her walk. I marvel at how she sometimes dismounts off the filing cabinet like a gymnast using her front leg to push of the side and land first on her hind legs. It warms my heart hearing her walk because the amputation saved her life. I call it the walk of life and wouldn't have it any other way.
I'm sure Quixote with figure it out through trial and error.
Kerren and Tripawd Mona
Nah, they are not careful. I think I react more to Daryl's faceplants more than he does. His worst is the car. He likes to stand with his front leg on the console and look out. Not the best for a front He used to leap on and off our high bed. We got a different bed frame that is a bit lower and he now crouches real low and almost slides off. He knows where I have put the rugs for him to get down on also. In the end, I want him to be healthy, but I want him to do things he enjoys also. Such a tough balance. Hang in there, you really will relax a bit. Lori, Ty & the gang
TY GUY, Best Black Lab ever! Diagnosed and had amp in January, 2014. Kicked MRSA's butt. Earned his angel wings on April 16, 2014. Run Free my boy and don't forget a shoe. Ty is a proud member of the " April Angels". Ty sent us Daryl, a Tripawd rescue in Sept. of 2016. Daryl is 5 +or -. We are also Pawrents to Chandler, a Border Collie mix who is 15 and 1/2, Lucy, a Corgi who is 7, 2 minis, 2 horses, and a feisty cat named Zoe. Zoe had a non skeletal Osteosarcoma removed in July 2015. No Chemo, she was at least 16. She is going strong although she is now completely blind. She is now close to 20 and her hobbies are eating and sleeping in front of her personal heater.
Quixote! Stop scaring your mom!! Geez, if only we could explain that they have to be careful! Then again, maybe that just want to play full out regardless of the consequences!! And the "visual" of the amputation really does fade...especially after all the hair grows back. I think having a rear leg amp. Like Happy Hannah is less noticeable than a front legger loke Frankie. The rear leggers have a more fluid gait
Lori, I love the cisual of Daryl "being careful" sliding off the bed. I could tel@ Happy Hannah "easy" if there was ice or snow on her reaml, and she would slow her pace down veey carefully.
Murphy, I think you'll always be a bit of a "risk taker"! Its just what you do!!
Kerren, I love reading about Mona! :-)"The walk of life"..well said!!!
If anyone has the answer, let us know!! Frankie keeps me on my toes and scares the heck out of me!
Snow board jumping: http://youtu.be.....26sQ2C78Rg
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!
Gesh Frankie....
To answer your question I didn't find it hard to get used to Sassy without her leg. I knew it made her feel 100% better. I was protective of her though. I guess everyone takes their own time getting used to the new look.
Hugs
Michelle & Angel Sassy
Sassy is a proud member of the Winter Warriors. Live long, & strong Winter Warriors.
sassysugarbear.tripawds.com
07/26/2006 - Sassy earned her wings 08/20/2013
05/04/2006 - Bosch, Sassy's pal, earned his wings 03/29/19 fought cancer for 4 months.
"You aren't doing it TO her, you are doing it FOR her. Give her a chance at life."
You do get more used to the look as the fur grows back, but it takes a long time for it to grow all the way back. Our Murphy has been a tripawd for 2 years now and he's not careful either. Not too long ago I posted how upset I was because he slipped on the ice on our deck running out the back door...he always has to race with the other dogs! ugh He is always jumping on & off the furniture as if he has no cares in the world. 
That's the great thing about our pets, they don't worry like we do!
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
Sally, Frankie loves you sooooo much he's going to take a shortcut to get to you quicker!
I love all of these stories of how our tripawds just go on living life to the fullest.
Kerren
“A dog can’t think that much about what he’s doing, he just does what feels right.”
―Barbara Kingsolver (author, Animal Dreams)
I agree with when the fur comes back is when you get used to the new look. When you have the big incision and even after the stitches come out, it still takes time.
As for being careful...I don't know what to tell you there. They can learn but sadly it is like a little kid and they have to hurt themselves first before they look for a better way.
Kerren......lpve that quote!!!
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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