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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Anyone have any advice on recovery? My Ziggy has somehow fractured his hip and has to have surgery on his remaining rear limb, I have no idea what this will be like. I am a mess over this.
Hi Ziggy and family, welcome.
I'm so sorry about Ziggy's accident, poor guy. Good thing he has you advocating for him. Don't forget, animals are far more resilient than we give them credit for, they never cease to amaze. And as long as you maintain a strong, optimistic attitude, he will reflect that back to you and recovery will be that much easier.
A surgery recovery on a remaining rear limb of a Tripawd isn't impossible to handle, many here have done it for their dogs and I can think of one or two cats like Feta who went through it (Feta's case was very unique though, so if you look at her blog please don't let it get you down OK?).
We have talked to orthopedic vets about recovery on a remaining rear leg, and here is what one, Dr. Brian Beale, told us:
What to Know About Remaining Limb Surgery on a Tripawd
I think I have more questions for you, like:
Are you working with a boarded surgeon who will do the procedure? Are they experienced in it, and have they ever done it on a Tripawd? Finally, have they lined up Ziggy for rehabilitation therapy afterward? Rehab is key to any recovery but especially one like this. If your vet surgeon is experienced in working with a Tripawd, that will make life much, much easier in that they can give you a better idea of what to expect for a feline recovery (obviously different than for a dog). If you are not I would consider getting an opinion from someone who is, just to put your mind at ease.
I hope this helps, I know you must be so worried. Stay tuned for feedback from our community OK?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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Try and catch your breath, get grounded, do your research, talk to the specialists and proceed from there. I know you need to move forward quickly as your precious Ziggy has to be miseravle.
As Jerry said, some dogs here have had total hip replacements, or other injuries requiring surgeries on their remaining legs, and it IS doable! Lots of recovery time and confinement for awhile required. And yes, follow up with a Rehab Specialist if at all,possible.
What is the reason for Ziggy veing a tripawd? Were you involved in that recovery? If so, you have a little window into what to expect as far as managing pain, etc. How old is Ziggy? Is his weight in a good range?
I'm just guessing that one of the biggest hurdles will be with the liter box. I'm gonna punt over to our expert kitty members as they can give you far better insight than I.
Hang in there. Stay connected, okay? We'll help in any way we can.
(((((((((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!
Thank you for your responses, the vet doing the surgery has done FHO surgery on tripawds before, luckily he is an Ortho specialist but it is a regular vet clinic, people travel from all over my state to go there as there are very very speciality hospitals around. As far as a rehab specialists i have not been able to find one so far, plenty of canine ones though of course so I am going to call some of them and see if they have ever worked with cats or will.
Ziggy had to have his left rear leg amputated due to cancer, I found a lump on his paw almost overnight and it could not be completely removed and his only chance at all of survival and for it not to spread was amputation. We still are not certain if the cancer will show up down later but at this time it has not and I am very hopeful.
So glad to hear you have an ortho vet doing the surgery, that's a huge advantage and will set Ziggy up for success. And good job to think of calling the rehab therapists to ask about feline rehab therapy. If you have trouble finding any, please message us, we are happy to try to find one for you. My guess is that you will find a therapist out there, it may just take some extra searching. Many are listed as canine therapists but also work on other species.
Hopeful is the way to go. You found that lump early and you took action. Great job!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hey there, we are going through this right now and I was wondering how it ended up for you? Ise is a cat we rescued in June 2020. He already had a back leg amputation when we got him. He is young still, 2 in July of this year. He started getting hissy around the beginning of December and favouring the back leg and he wasn't as active or spunky. We took him to the vet, got an xray, and ya, turns out he broke the head of his femur. We just did the FHO surgery on Friday, Jan 15th and we are wondering what his recovery is going to look like. Mostly he is just angry and frustrated and dragging the back leg unless we get him propped up and help him balance but he hates it. Is this normal for now? Until the scarring process makes the false hip joint?
Thank you!
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Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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