Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hey all,
so suddenly Chance is reluctant to go down the stairs and just seems 'off' like he's not feeling well. He's been doing fantastic up to this point - moving around great, good energy and spirits. We are just shy of 5 months post-amp. So naturally I'm really worried. I did see him take a spill last week going fast down the back stairs. But he didn't yelp at the time.
We have a vet visit tomorrow afternoon. Hoping it will be nothing serious and he can just rest and be OK. What is the likelihood of osteo in a second limb? If that's not what it is and this is just overuse of the remaining front leg, what can be done? He is not even three years old so usually is full of energy. It's hard to slow him down. For now I will use his harness going up and down the stairs to help him. And depending on what the outcome is tomorrow may see about doing accupuncture and swimming rehab.
Any thoughts or advice would be nice to hear at this point. Thanks!
-Patricia
CHANCEYPANTS!!! You better take it down a notch crazy boy!! It's soooo easy to overdo and tweak a muscle.
Most likely it IS a tweak of some sort from his tumble the other day. Sometimes it's a disc, a muscle or joint "injury" Often with a front legger it's a shoulder issue. Try massaging up and down neck, shoulder, back, etc., Does he show any tension at any of these spots?
Osteo "usually" doesn't go from limb to limb. Not saying it doesn't halpen, but it's not the usual route.
Most likely the Vet will put Chance n Rimadyl and want him to take it easy for about a weekish. And "take it easy" may mean laying off stairs for a bit (if that's possible).
And we have a HAPPY FIVE MONTH AMPUVERSARY to celebrate!! 🙂 🙂 YAAAAAAAAAY FOR CHANCE!! Keep em coming!! 🙂 🙂
Update js tomorrow, okay?
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!
Hi Patricia,
First, yeah, let's celebrate that FIVE MONTH AMPUVERSARY! 
That is pawesome!
Your instincts are spot on about why he may not be feeling so great. Not because cancer could be in the other limb (that is super rare and usually isn't the case, but it can't hurt to have this investigated by your vet). To me, it does sound like the spill could have something to do with the pain indicators he's giving. Good job paying attention to his signals.
He could also be getting too much activity before his body is ready for it. What's his daily routine like? I know it's super hard to be cautious when your dog is acting and feeling so great, but even when they are, it's important to remain vigilant. Using the harness to help him up and down stairs should be a normal part of every day with him, even though he may not seem like he needs the help. Our Wyatt Ray doesn't have cancer, but I still put the Webmaster harness on him every day and assist him on our home's steps every time). That's just one instance of how you can help Chance stay injury-free. If you haven't already done so I encourage you to read our e-book, Loving Life On Three Legs , for more helpful suggestions about managing his activity level
In the meantime, definitely make an appointment with a certified canine rehab therapist. Remember too that the Tripawds Foundation may even pay for your first visit. Check out our blog post to learn more:
http://tripawds.....bursement/
Let us know how he's doing OK?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Also a big fan of the Ruffwear Webmaster Plus harness, especially if he took a spill on the stairs. I've only been on the site for a year, and remember one dog that had osteo in the orther leg (Hank). But i remember many many pulled muscles, strains, etc. Hopefully, that is what Chance is dealing with.
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.
thanks for the replies! We have had the Ruffwear harness
since the amp was done but he did so great getting around that I never used it. I regret that now. I definitely have just been letting him go full bore and think he has done too much 
our vet appointment is this afternoon. I will let you know what they say! paws crossed. And we will definitely make an appt with a rehab therapist asap. Fortunately there is a good one in our area!
Happy 5 months Chance!
I hope that Chance has just over done a bit and a little rehab and strengthening exercises will get him hopping healthy again.
I do lots of food toys and puzzles with Elly and right now we are learning Nose Work. Sniffing out treats (the first stage of NW training) is really a good mental exercise for her and wears her out!
Let us know what the Doc has to say about Mr. Chancypants. And I hope we can see you guys at the next Nor Cal meet up in May!
Karen
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
just back from the vet.... x-ray of front leg looks clean! He was definitely sore when she was manipulating the arm. The vet didn't really specify where the 'source' of the pain in that leg might be. But for now we are back on Tramadol and Metacam and taking it easy the rest of this week. The harness is now a part of our regular up and down the stairs routine, too.
I am going to schedule a visit with a rehab therapist as well as read Loving Life On Three Legs
. I feel bad because it's my fault completely for letting him overdo it But at least now we are on the right path. Thanks for all the replies!
We keep a bottle of Carprofen around (and we have some leftover Tramadol in case that doesn't work) in case Murphy has an off day. Any time we notice that he runs too much, we know that he's going to be sore the next day, so we medicate him with 1. Or if he's acting sore or stiff, we give him 1. He can have 1 every 24 hours - and normally only needs 1 every once in awhile. We use his harness anytime he goes in the car or for a walk. And we massage his neck, back & hips every day. He just started seeing a chiropractor (tomorrow is his 2nd visit) and she gave us some stretches to do to help increase his core strength again.
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
So glad Chance had a good check up and it's "just" a matter of overdoing it! It'sal.ost impossible to stop a feisty pup like Chance from playing full out, so no need to feel guilty, okay? And sometimes it's not even sbout overdoing it, but rather just a twist or a tweak the wrong way.
Like Donna said, it's wise just to keep an anti-inflammatory and some Tramadol in hand. A dose or two and immediate rest usually clears things up. Glad you have a good Rehab in the area. I think ChanceyPants will enjoy all the extra attention! 🙂
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!
As I recall from meeting Chance, he's definitely has a lot of energy and thinks he can conquer the world!!! Thinking it was over-use as well here .... and hopefully he'll be feeling better soon!!
Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.
October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014
Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife
So glad Chance got a positive check up. It's hard to keep our pups from being overzealous - they just go go go! Izzy is actually suffering a bit of "overdoing" herself so I understand how you feel. But YaY for no major obstacles!
Momma to the world's most beautiful American Bulldog, Izzy!! Lost her front leg to OSA 9/18/15. Diagnosed w MCT in June 2016. Celebrated her 1 year ampuversary with knee surgery on 9/18/16! MCT recurrence in Dec 2016. Happy & hungry til nearly 14, earning her wings on 7/31/17.
well it turns out we are not out of the woods yet.... 
the vet called last night and said that the radiologist had a look at Chance's xray and saw something on his toe bone that had some long scary sounding name. And that the presence of this toe thing is often an indication of chest tumors. So she has requested we go back in today for chest xrays. I'm trying to remain positive but I have also known all along that this was a possibility. We didn't do chemo but I have done everything else for him that I am able to do -- raw diet, tons of cancer fighting supplements, thc and cbd. I won't do chemo if there are chest tumors so in a way I don't even see the point of doing the chest xrays. She couldn't really give me an answer about what exactly this toe thing is and what I can do for that.
Anyway, I write this with a heavy heart. I am praying for the best but know that this is just a cruel and unfair disease. Chance is only 3 years old and is so loving and sweet. I hate that he has to go through all of this, it just seems so unfair. I know I'm speaking to the choir here. I will let you know tonight what the results of our visit are. Thanks for listening 
Please do let us know. We will be thinking of you and Chance. You are right, it is a wretched, vicious disease, but nobody could possibly show Chance greater love and dedication. Please look after yourself as well.
Big hug,
Meg, Clare and Elsie Pie xxx
Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, November 2023, adopted January 2024.
Also Angel Tripawd Meg (aka The Megastar), who died in April 2023, aged 14, after seven glorious years on three, and Angel Staffies Elsie Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...
WHAT???? Gosh, I don't even k ow what ro say! I hadn't heard kf a toe xray possibly indicating mets.
As an aside, chemo is NO guarantee one way or another! Many who did do chemo, didn't even get to complete the ttreatments because mets showed up.
And just throwing this out there.....you don't have to do chest xrays! Clearly Chancey is feeling fine and not having any symptoms! IF symptoms develop, then yiu can consider xrays simply because there are some good supportive treatments you can do to keep him comfortable and extend the quality time.
Although Happy Hannah did do four rounds of chemo, she didnt have xrays after that because I knew I wouldn't do any treatment, or very little. When she did show symptoms then I did the xrays and di some good quality treatments.
Regardless, CHANCEY does NOT give a squat abput what onynole xrays say. They mean NOTHING to him!!
We're all sending pawsitive energy to you and ChanceyPants!! Love and 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!
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