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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Hi,
I just wanted to know if anyone out there has had a front limb amputee develop sudden and severe (non weight bearing) hindlimb lameness? Jay had the op on Wed morn due to bone cancer in her humerus. She is on metacam and Tramadol for the pain. She came home Thurs afternoon. She hated being at vets and wasn't trying at all for them. She hopped into house on return, was carried out on Fri morn and then hopped across garden and back. With a few breaks! She then slept all morn which was fine and expected. changed sides a few times unaided but when we tried to get her up lunchtime she wouldn't put weight on her hindlimb. It is the diagonal pair to her amputation. Very painful on extension and she is now almost permanently lying on wound to avoid lying on this hind. Really struggling with if we did the right thing and how far to let vets go this morning when we go in for dressing removal and investigation of this new problem.
Thanks and sorry for the essay, I have already gleaned lots of help from your site it's been fab. hoping you can help me gain perspective on this new complication as it's so hard when you have no experience to use to get you through. xx
Hi and welcome. Your future posts won't need approval so post away. We're glad you're here and posting!
What's your doggie's name? And how old/young is she? What kind of breed is she?
First, remember, this is sooooo very early in recovery. And yes, others have gone through similar situations, I know it's scary though, so we're here for you, we want to see this get all worked out and her feeling better. Generally it's not an issue with the other leg, but rather some kind of muscle strain from the dog's body being used in all new ways. Muscles she's never used before she's having to use now, and it takes some practice.
How far did she go to the garden and back? It may have been too much too soon if it was more than a few steps. She shouldn't be doing anything else but going outside on leashed potty walks until her stitches are out. If she overdid it, R&R and gentle massage will usually take care of it but it's good to have your vet take a look.
What pain meds is she on? Is she groggy? Pain meds can make a dog just want to lay around and not do anything, and that's a good thing. Rest is medicinal and healing.
Also, what kinds of signs does she give you that it's painful? Does she cry out when you touch a certain area?
And one last question: what are your floors like? Are they slippery? Could she have slipped at one point and is now reluctant to move out of fear? Sorry, I know that's a lot of questions and not enough answers.
We hope your vet is helping to come up with an action plan to get her feeling better. Please hang in there, we'll be waiting for an update OIK?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi,
Sorry to hear your girl is struggling. A vet visit is definitely the right first step, but going in with info always helps.
My guy was a front limb amputee. He definitely went through cycles where one or the other back leg was causing him pain, and his legs would get shaky and he wouldn't want to move much. With only one leg, his back was always curved because he shifted his remaining front leg to the center. Whether pinched nerves or strained muscles, it was hard to say. I could just tell it hurt.
Lots of people here swear by acupuncture. We never tried it, but we did consult with an anesthesiologist who specialized in pain management and who frequently treats with acupuncture. She sent us to a chiropractor. Wow! The crack when she aligned his pelvis! The second visit the cracks were more mild and the results lasted longer.
The pain management vet disussed how dogs' spines move in an S when they walk, but when they become a tripawd, the spine moves up and down like a porpoise. The hind legs and lower back are held in a semi-crouch ready for the next hop. Massage, chiro, acupuncture.... and drugs can help with relaxing muscles and improving alignment.
Back to your girl, what you are seeing is not unique. It's a problem for her, and by working with the vet, hopefully you can find the cause of pain and treat it, and get those back legs back in motion.
Peace,
Jenifer & Milo
You've gotten great insight from Jerry and Milo.
I just want to add my "welcome" and reassurance that this is not unusual..scary, but not unusual.
According to some Vets it takes approximately two weeksish to recover from the MAJOR surgery itself, and about one month for joints, muscles, etc to adjust to the new way of walking.
I know it's hard ro see right now, but yiu did this FOR your pup and not TO him! It took me about three weeks before I could finally say I did thid FOR my Happy Hannah!
STAY CONNECTED! YIU ARE NOT ALONE!! Ask any question you want a d let us k ow how we can help!
Update when you 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!
firstly Jay is a 10 or 11yr old Collie cross. She came to us as a young dog from an unsuitable home as a fairly raucous and wild beastie so her age is not 100% clear.
We have tiles at home in the kitchen which is her room but they were covered in mats for her to come home to. Her walk outside was under close supervision on a harness to try and encourage potty- unsuccessfully I might add- it was only a few meters in distance.
Veterinary diagnosis is poor hip conformation so the thinking is that the extra weight and stress has allowed it to subluxate damaging the soft tissues. There is no real sign of arthritis in the joint which is promising. They have doubled her tramadol dose to try and counter the pain and we are taking her to the garden in a towel sling and carrying her back in.
So far the meds haven't made her groggy apart from today's sedative which she had fought off in the vets so came back with a vengeance once she was home and relaxed!
There is no doubt she is in a lot of pain on the left hind, she carries it tucked up and growls and snaps at you if you manipulate/palpate the area.
Thank you, fingers crossed we can settle the pain soon for her.
Jane and Jay. xx
Not sure if a harness would help - we are fans of the Ruffwear Webmaster Plus harness which you can find in the gear blog.
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.
Good news update!!
Thankfully the increase in meds appears to have made Jay more comfy. No major panting sessions just lying in bed and much less whining. The amazing news for us was that she had a much better night so I was able to catch up on some sleep too!
She is showing a desire to move about and getting more confident but I am trying to curtail activity as much as possible especially while she only has 2 legs. She did manage to go for a wee this morning though aided by the fact our neighbours dog came and wandering and widdled up one of her flower pots, nothing like a bit of scent competition to make it flow!!
Otisandtess we have a ruffwear harness thanks to the reviews and info I found on here when I was looking into things before the op. She doesn't seem happy with us using it to help lift and carry her though so a towel sling it is for now, Vet was very impressed with it when we went to pick her up though.
The best thing is that because she is happier I am am happier which has to help her stress levels!! I fear I might be doing a lot of gardening though as she likes to lie outside watching the world go by....!
Sooooo glad to hear Jay is feeling better and resting more comfortably ...and you too! Make no mkstake ablut it,this part of the journey is VERY STRESSFUL and very exhausting physically and emotionally
And YAY for wee scent competition! Such a great incentive!
Now, there may still be several ups and downs over the next week or two. We often call the recovery period a roller coaster ride...that we don't want to be on!!
Gardening with a tripawd, living in the now just like your tripawd,stopping to smell tne roses (or plant tne roses)...yeah, that's why we do what we do.
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!
And down we go again.... 🙁
So today she has shown no desire to stand at all, no toilet time at all. When we carried her outside she just won't take her weight on her legs. Even carried her to the truck to go for a ride with me to work thinking a different environment might encourage the wee but no. She seemed happy to be out and watch the world go by but no other interest.
Also getting really difficult to get her to eat....
Darn, I'm sorry to hear that she's having more issues. While decreased appetite is sometimes a side effect of pain medication, she should be spunkier than that. Maybe the increased tramadol isn't right for her? Did your vet offer any other medication such as Gabapentin? Sometimes other meds like Amitriptalyne or Amantadine can also be added into the mix for better relief.
I've heard pain management vets say that tramadol is the "go-to" drug for most general practice vets, but by itself it's not as effective as when combined with other drugs. Hopefully this is what's going on.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
We did discuss Gabapentin as she had it to try and help with the cancer pain but vets didn't feel it was right in current situation. I shall be calling to speak to the vet who did the op in morning just to see her view I have been wondering if dropping the tramadol to twice a day but keeping the dose up might be better....
Really worried about the complete lack of any attempt to support herself. I kind of expected her to go off her food and be tricky to toilet. Pre cancer she used to do a handstand while she did her business.....so that was always going to be a tough transition!
Thank you so much to all of you who help to provide this amazing resource. It's great to be able to get insight from people who have been there and done it. Love to you all no matter how many legs you've got!!
Jx
Really worried we are reaching the end of the road.......
Her back legs just fold under if we lower her to the ground. she isn't even trying to sit up using her remaining front leg and hasn't moved herself at all, not even to switch sides, since yesterday afternoon.
She did wee however - all over her bed and self at 5am 🙁
OK don't go down that road yet, it's so early and there could be things going on that are easily adjusted. Did you talk to the vet yet? Let us know K? We're thinking of you both and sending lots of positivity.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
So vet wants to see how we do on 1tramadol 3 times a day and is seeing us in the morning for a dressing change/removal. Felt like she was preparing for the her hips just aren't strong enough to carry on talk. 🙁
Jay is more aware and interested on her surroundings this evening. Hubby got a tail wag on his return home and I am getting mugged for attention as I write this. She isn't making any attempt to use her hindquarters which I do find concerning....
Hi Jay & mum!
Sorry to hear it's been a rough road so far. I'm a little surprised the vet felt Gabapentin wasn't a good choice. Perhaps it's because of the hind limb issue as it works differently than other pain meds. My Izzy is a front amputee and actually went lame in the hind leg on the same side as her amputation. Because I am me (a nervous Nellie), it took me about a month to decide what to do/get her to surgery (she tore her ligament, hence the refusal to use the leg). In the meantime, she was on Gabapentin 2x a day and it helped her manage quite well. I was surprised at how efficiently she learned to get around on just two legs!
I did end up buying a sling (rear harness) for Izzy to help support her hips when she went potty - she couldn't hold herself up at all and would just collapse on the ground and pee all over herself without it. It was a the best purchase I made, along with the puppy pee pads, which I kept on her bed in layers under the sheet I wrapped it in. That way, if she soiled herself, I could lift her off with sheet enough to pull the soiled pad out and a fresh one was already in place!
The sling I used is here: MT Harness
Give us an update when you can!
Amy & Izzy, too!
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.
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