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 Everyone!
So happy I found this site! My 13 year old Border Collie mix had to have her back leg amputated due to cancer. Aside from the leg, she is healthy, happy, and playful. After surgery on March 9th, 2022, she was doing amazing. It was incredible how well she adjusted to life on 3 legs. She was getting around beautifully once the recovery period was over. In the past couple of weeks, I have noticed a decline. She sometimes struggles and it looks like her one back leg gives out. She is more wobbly and needs assistance. I have an appointment this week at my Vet but was wondering if anybody had experienced anything like this? Thank you!
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Hi Sam, welcome! I'm on my phone now but wanted to get your post approved so others can see it. Back later today with some feedback... real quick though, what kind of activity has your dog been getting since surgery?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Sam & pup (what's her name), I'm back! And I see Sally is looking at your post too so I know she will have some good ideas.
Now that I'm on my laptop, I can type a little better!
So, the reason I ask about activity level is that a lot of times a Tripawd overdoes it after surgery. It happens all the time. Their brains say "go! go! go!" but their body disagrees. And eventually the body wins. Usually R&R and scaling activity way, way back helps. Also seeing a canine rehabilitation therapist. These experts can show you how to help your pup be stronger and stay that way, it's so educational. We feel it's so beneficial that Tripawds Foundation can pay for your first rehab visit ! So when you go to the vet this week, ask them if there is a therapy center they work with. If not, let me know, I'm happy to look around to find one for you.
It's still very early in her recovery believe it or not. And senior dogs need extra time & TLC to get strong. How long are her walks? Do you have other dogs she plays with?
How are your floors? Do you have traction ? That's also helpful for stability and reducing the chance of a muscle pull. Keeping the fur between her toes clipped very short also helps.
Scale back her activity a lot right now. Keep her mind busy with interactive brain games too, those are so helpful, even after recovery is over.
Let us know what the vet says oK? And consider registering as a member so your future posts won't need approval.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
So glad to jear how well your "mature" puppet has been handling life on three up until this "issue".
What's your Border Collie's name? She sounds like quite a vibrant "youngster"..
A couple of things come to mind. Sometimes when they have siuch a good recovery and go back to doing things like they did before a little tto fast, there can definitely be a little bit of a setback. We see that a lot in the first couple of weeks plus. What has her activity been like after the recovery..Is she doing long walks, stairs, jumping on the sofa, etc?
It's good to have her Vet check her over to clear the leg of any cruciate issues, arthritis, etc. Also,, even if there were no signs before, "hidden" arthritis can show up once the three legs are used more than before when there were four.
Also, if you have access to a Rehab Specialist, they can be of huge benefit in helping her reclaim her strength in that back leg and in jer core . The Tripawds Foundation will pay for the first visit.
In the meantime, do lots of massages up and down her spine, her neck and shoulder areas. See if she shows any aign of tension anywhere. Rest her for now and if you jave any pain meds ,from the rec 6ou might give her some....only with Vet approval of course!
We'll look forward to your feedback, so update when you can, okay?
Hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
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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!
Hello!
So sorry for the delay, I just got back online. Thank you both for replying! I was worried she was overdoing it and it just caught up with her.
Gracie has definitely overdone it! We were very careful during the 2 week recovery period, had a sling to help her walk around and go outside. Once she was healed and feeling better, she was on the move like she was before! Trying to take stairs, jumping up on furniture before we could get to her, etc. Then it just started to go down hill.
We have hard woods and rugs but have Dr Buxbys rubber nail covers which gives her great traction .
We go on very short walks helping her with the sling and yes, she has a sister she plays with. 🙂
Sally, she is very young at heart! Nobody can believe she is a senior. She still has sass and spunk and loves stealing toys from her sister. LOL
If there is food around, look out! 😉
Thank you both for the wonderful input and advice. I will talk to our Vet and look into a Rehab Specialist.
SO happy I found you! 🙂
Sam
Hi Sam and Gracie, welcome.
I wanted to share that I adopted my current Tripawd, a little Pug mix named Elly, when she was 10 months old. She had been hit by a car when she was 7 months old and lost a rear leg as a result. She was about 2.5 months post amputation surgery and fully healed, but fully healed does not equal strong! She was full of puppy energy but wore herself out very quickly. I had to work with her to get her to use the stairs or stools to get on and off the furniture. When we went on walks the stroller was close at hand so she didn't go to far. And I got her on a program of exercises to build strength and balance. Elly is now more than 7 years old and we still do all types of things including balance exercises, trick and obedience training and food puzzles and games. I highly recommend the food puzzles and games- Elly doesn't even know she is working out!
BTW- I also recommend that you join as a member here, it's free and then your posts won't have to wait for approval.
Here is a video I made showing just some of the food games and puzzles we do. Maybe something here for Gracie?
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
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