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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My tripawd is a husky, of all breeds. Its been 2 and a half days since his surgery and he is beyond bored being stuck in the house. The doctors said not to take him on any walks unless its to go to the bathroom, but he is pacing around the house and whining, staring out the window like he wants to get out and go go go. Now I know it wouldn't be good to go for one of his typical one to two mile walks, but would it be bad if I was to take him for a short walk? Has any one else had a dog that was so ready to get out and be normal again only 2 days after their surgery?
Hello and welcome! Your future posts won't require moderation.
It's great that your pup is doing so well! How come he lost his leg?
When it comes to Huskies, they do tend to bounce back VERY well after surgery. The thing is that by doing too much activity you risk breaking open the staples or sutures, as well as a seroma (build-up of bodily fluid at the incision site). I know how hard it is to keep a young energetic dog entertained during this time but for his own good you want to restrict his walking to leashed potty walks until the incisions are out.
In the meantime there is LOTS you can do with him. Have you tried playing hide and seek games with his food? Doing obedience command training? Brain games? Our Tripawds Gear Blog , Downloads and Amazong blogs all have some ideas. Here's a few for you, let us know if any of these help:
http://gear.tri.....uzzle-toy/
http://gear.tri.....tertained/
http://gear.tri.....for-hours/
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I have a husky tripawd that is not yet 2 and understand how pent up they get when they can't run off all that energy. One idea that may help you is to stimulate your boy's mind while he's on "bed rest". I use puzzle toys for my girl, like the Tug-A-Jug, the Bob-A-Lot, the Nina Ottosson Dog Tornado, and the ToysRUs Pets Treat Puzzle Game. The treat ball by Starmark isn't a mind stimulating toy, but it does occupy their time pretty good. Mind stimulating toys will run off energy, like going for a walk, so they should help. My recommendation is to get a few, because I'm guessing your husky is like mine, and gets bored and moves on more frequently than other breeds. I think all of the toys I mentioned can be found on amazon. I got some from PetSmart and other places, but amazon has most listed. Feel free to message me if you have any further questions.
Karma, Adelaide and the crew and our forever angel Brendol
Adelaide is a young tripawd Husky, from an injury. Her amp was on 10/1/12. She has 4 sisters, Aissa (a senior border collie/chow), Maggie May (a puppy Great Pyrenees), Mathilde and Morrigan and 1 baby brother, Bagheera. We are all watched over by our angel Brendol, who was dx with OSA 1/30/13, amp on 2/6/13, and left us on 8/20/13.
You can read their stories at http://adelaide.tripawds.com and http://brendol.tripawds.com
When TJ was 2 he tore his left rear ACL and I thought I could leave him at my parents or brothers house while I was at work.... that lasted one day... he would not be still. Playing with other dogs, sniffing around etc... he had no idea that his surgery to fix the ACL's success was highly dependent on his not using it for at least a week.
After I told the vet that TJ was being more puppy that surgical patient we got a nice script for doggy Valium. It was hilarious seeing my TJ all doped up and seemingly half asleep all the time because I knew that was not his way.
But for the recuperation period we medicated him as directed and his ACL healed fine... his next surgery was 9 years later when I had is OS (and his right front leg) removed .
I'd talk to your vet about medicating you husky for a few days... you REALLY don't want to make the post op and more difficult that is has to be... the first two weeks seem to be the key.
@jerry, keiko list his leg cuz he got away from me and ran right into the road. He got hit by a car and thankfully the ONLY injury he sustained was a detached leg (all the muscles/nerves/etc ripped off his body, making the leg useless). So they amputated his leg because there wasn't even a small chance if it ever regaining any feeling/movement/etc. I volunteered at an animal shelter from 16 years old till I was 24 and I saw more than my fair share of 3 legged dogs and cats, so I wasn't at all upset about him needing the amputation because he was still alive and there were no other injuries at all. I was grateful/relieved if anything. We did have to raise the money to have the surgery done, so he went a little less than a week with his arm in a makeshift sling, and the vets said that was a huge factor in how well and how fast he is recovering (the day after surgery we had to bring him back to the vet to have a catheter removed from the surgery site and he was already jumping all over the nurses and doctors). Thankfull he does not have any stitches or staples on the outside, they stitched the inside and glued his skin shut, but I am afraid he will hurt himself. I've been doing all sorts of games with him, he has a whole box full of puzzle toys (he's not my first husky lol) but he's bored of all that. He literally stares out the window and whines. I only bring him out to pee and he went out for a few minutes in his fenced area but I made him come back in.
I guess I'm curious as to how long I should wait and make him rest.
it's hard when they are showing such a good recovery isn't it!! and your heart flops for them cause they want to go go go go GOOOOOOOOO.
But.. they have had many different nerves, and tendons and veins cut where their amputation was and my vet told me to keep my guy retricted for 7-10 days beore going on SHORT leashed walks. You don't want any of the sutures inside to come undone to cause internal bleeding from an artery, etc.
I'm sure if you maybe took him on a short leash walk it might help him a bit.. but don't overdo it. A hint though.. you can never expect a tripawd to "heel" beside you... you have to walk pretty quick to keep up with them.. or get a good estend a leash!! lol
Good to hear that the recovery is going good.. and even better that you don't have to deal with that nasty Cancer being the cause of his amputation so you don't have to worry about that nasty sh*t coming back!!!!!
Christine.... with Franklin in her heart♥
Franklin, he was the Happiest Dog on Three Legs! Diagnosed 09/26/2012 with Osteosarcoma, amputated 12/4/2012. Had a wonderful 5 1/2 months painfree until he ran for the Bridge on 5/15/2013. Always in my heart, and always a guardian angel of my pack... You can follow his Tripawd Adventures, before and after, in my blog, Frank'n'Farter!
omygosh!!!! it's only been two and a half days? I thought I read 12 1/2 days!!!
I would call your vet and see what they think before taking him for a walk.. and perhaps do keep him a bit sleepy for a day or two to help with the "quiet time needed for healing" lol
I wouldn't want them too sluggish though cause I would be afriad of them falling while trying to get around...
Good luck!
Christine.... with Franklin in her heart♥
Franklin, he was the Happiest Dog on Three Legs! Diagnosed 09/26/2012 with Osteosarcoma, amputated 12/4/2012. Had a wonderful 5 1/2 months painfree until he ran for the Bridge on 5/15/2013. Always in my heart, and always a guardian angel of my pack... You can follow his Tripawd Adventures, before and after, in my blog, Frank'n'Farter!
Oh what a ball of energy! Well that's great he's not your first husky, you're well aware of their personalities and needs. If it were me I would do the tough love act and do not allow walks until at least his stitches are out and he's been released from your vet's care. With no external stitches that would make me nervous about the incision breaking open because of too much activity (that's not uncommon with those types of stitches, we've seen it happen here..yuk!). So be strong and keep up the entertainment games, the next week will fly by.
We would love to see some pics!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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