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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Ginger my German Shepherd/Chow mix had her surgery on Dec 22nd, and is going great medically and physically but seems depressed. Example, it is a beautiful day and she would normally want to be laying on the porch instead she is sleeping, something is seems to be doing more and more of. She isn't eating right.
She is just so sad. Any ideas or am I being a worry wart?
Hi Ginger and family, welcome. Your future posts won't need approval.
Of course you're a worry wart, who wouldn't be? Recovery is an up and down ride and this community knows how hard it can be. Here are a few questions that if you can answer we might be able to help more.
- What is her age? Is she older? Age plays a role, and older, larger dogs can take longer to recover.
- When you say she isn't eating right, what exactly do you mean? Will she only eat people food and is refusing her kibble? Or nothing at all? Will she take food if it's hand fed?
- Does she have any conditions like arthritis or maybe is a little too fluffy for her size? Even a few extra pounds take a toll and make it tiring for a brand new Tripawd to get around.
- Does she react to touch negatively? Is she snappy or short-fused right now? If so, that could be a sign that she's in pain.
Recovery takes work, and sleep is healing so try to remember that, I know it's hard, we tend to panic. But hang on tight, we'll be here to help you through it.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi Ginger & family! Is Ginger on any pain medication? My Lily was a total zombie for the first two weeks post-op. She was reclusive, slept all of the time and just seemed to have lost her spark. We worried we had lost our goofy, happy-go-lucky Dane but once she came off the pain meds she was back to her old self within a few days. She also got very tired very quickly for several weeks after surgery so something as simple as going outside to potty really sapped her strength and it was time for a nap. We even walked her across the street once a few weeks after surgery and had to get the car to bring her back, she was so exhausted!
Every day gets better so try not to get too discouraged. Before you know it she's going to be zipping around like she's always hopped on 3!
-Kerry
Lily the Great Dane (she was actually a lot more than just "Great") joined our family as an ornery puppy on December 20, 2005 and changed our lives forever. She was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in early May of 2014 and her right rear leg was amputated on May 8, 2014. She sailed through 5 rounds of Carboplatin and 15 weeks of Pallladia. She hopped on 3 legs like she was born to it and continued to fight cancer with grace, valor and an abundant sense of humor...and always a *giant* smile on her face. Lily had two small nodules on her lungs but was brought short by a brain tumor in late December, 2014. Lily earned her wings on December 28, 2014 and we miss her terribly every day. http://lilyt.tripawds.com
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