Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat

Frankie has had some tummy issues going on the past few days and wasn't quite up to snuff. Kind of blah. Lots of grass eating (well,  otnot "lots" because there are just a few strands left in all this frigid weather), one or two "throw up" extravaganzas.  NO diarrhea.  

Immediately went to bland diet.

Plus walking on two legs all this time can be quite exhausting!!  His front leg gets worn out so quickly.  I'll be so glad when that "third leg" starts taking some of the pressure off his other two legs.  As the Rehab said, that one front leg is carrying almost all the weight and force that it takes to get up, to walk, etc.

So for REHAB VISIT FIVE she decided to skip the "advanced walking in circles" this time.  More ROM, laser, massage and some "weight shifting". He got the full Laser this time.  Still doing Assis Loop three times a day.

I went ahead and took him off the Rimadyl til I can get his bloodwork done.  Just being EXTRA cautious because of his "1,600 mg Rimadyl feast" in the past.  Hopefully I can get uim back on that as I think it helps.

Here's Frankie doing something "similar" to weight shifting.  It was more about stretching the leg and at least doing toe touching, but not any real  weight bearing yet.  His motivation to stay in that position?  You'll see!

Frankie liked doing the "weight shifting" so much, he decided to do it all on his own. Of course, having the can of dog food with him in the couch was a good incentive!!! 🙂

Er.....everyone lets their dog take a can of dog food up in the couch and eat it there, right?   Yiu do, right??

Oh...and staples were finally taken out yesterday too!   A Tech came from my Vet's ofrice.   It was really, really nice for him to drive way out in the boonies to do this for Frankie.

WOW Mitchell!  You're fast!  I'm still .ppstig with frozen digits and your replying (I'm surewith frozen digits also)!

So here's  somewhat of an  accurate chronicle of where CHILL COOL DAWG SUPER FRANKIE  is in his cruciate repair  recovery 29 days since surgery! 🙂  Frankie's -do-it-his-way grit and the Rehab visits have truly worked miracles for this three-legged dawg, with hip dysplasia in both hips, and arthritis!!

And your encouragement and support have kept me strong and hopeful more than you could ever know!

• First two weeks plus, basically couldn't get up on his own, couldn't turn without help, yelled out in pain when I tried to help him or when he tried to do it himself.
• Once he and I powered through getting up with his Ruffwear harness , he moved EXTREMELY fast and balanced on TWO  legs and was able tom0 poop and pee, go up and down the long ramp, go to "his" potty spots, refusing any help from me.  I couldn't keep up with his fast  pace znyway..  FRANKIE HAS TO DO IT FRANKIE'S WAY!
• 1st at home Rehab visit was  10 (or 9) days zfter surgery.
• Has had  7 at home Rehab visits. 
•  Has had 5 1/3 laser treatments.
• 'Using Assi Loop several times daily
• Tramadol 50 mg twice daily (started out more the first week plus),  Rimadyl and Gabapentin (1 at night).  Starting to reduce about four or five days ago.
• First couple of sessions were just very gentle ROM (range of motion), massage and laser
• Then ROM  was taken to another level.
• Weight shifting exercises have been added, as well as trying to  make  him walk slowly in small circles...takes two people holding harness to make him go slowly.  This one really hard and exhausting on him.  Can only complete small circle each way with rest in between four or five steps.  Making him go slowly uses a lot of his energy as he's trying to pull to go fast so he won't lose his balance, and he doesn't want to put much weight on that leg yet.
• She's suggesting water treadmill as maybe being of value to him at this point. She thinks it will help with weight bearing, as well as ease up the pressure on his two legs.
• As of this writing, Frankie is straightening his leg more and more......dropping it lower to the ground for toe touching a LOT more!, He DOES put some pressure on it periodically!!  Nothing that equals the kind of weight bearing yet that we are striving for, but he DEFINITELY is making progress!! 🙂  Hopefully we'll start to see more weight bearing as we go into the second month.
• Counter surfing!!!   I've caught him counter surfiing and getting in the trash this week!! 🙂
• FRANKIE IS DEFINITELY BEING FRANKIE, and seems to be adjusting well to not being full out wild and crazy all day!!  He likes napping a lot now and doesn't seem bored at all!
• AND YES CLARE AND PETRA!  Ice cream after every session!  Frankie shares his with me.  Nurse Myrtle doesn't 🙂

Videos following!