Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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My 1 yr old yellow lab Blaise recently had his rear left leg amputated. The incision has nearly healed completely but because he is so active, when he slips, he lands right on the stump and opens up the wound again. My vet and I have been trying to cushion it with gauze and tape but that usually slips off within 2 days. I am looking for some type of permanent cushion (which obviously I would remove for cleaning) that would stay in place without so much tape. I was thining of some sort of pouch with straps which could go over his other rear leg or front and neck. I would appreciate any suggestions.
Thanks.
Karen
Hi Karen thanks for joining. That's a somewhat common and tricky situation. I'm not sure anybody's been able to find a solution so if you come up with something let us know. Meanwhile I'm wondering why he is slipping and landing so hard? Do you have enough traction on your floors? Is he perhaps getting too much activity right now? Preventing the falls would be easier than keeping a stump cover on I would think.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I think he's getting too much activity but it's hard to keep him on bed rest. I have him crated and slightly sedated but when I let him out to eat and go outside, he's like a maniac. This week I've been more successful getting him to calm down before I let him out. I have 4 other dogs who want to play with him and vice versa. Right now I keep them apart. When he lies down, he almost always lies down on the stump. I'll let you know if we come up with a solution. Even my vet said that a normal dog would try to avoid lying down on it. He's just way too happy.
Karen
BLAIZE! You need ro slow down big boy! You're gonna keep getting owweees!
Love his avatar picture and look forward ro seeing more!
So how long ago was his amputation and what was the reason?
My Happy Hannah wouldn't lay on her incision site for FIVE WEEKS!! Blaise is definitely feeling happy!
Jist want to welcome you. Sorry I have no solutions to your specific need.
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!
Oh dear, Blaize!
We're almost 4 months out from a front amputation. Even though Tipper is 10, limiting his activity was tricky! He's nosy and sassy, especially when people walk by the fence and when the dog behind us wants to run the fence.
Limiting activity was tough for both of us, and for his doggie sibling Logan. I wound up leash walking him, even in the yard, until he was healed up.
I also got a harness - the ruffwear web master - that gives me a handle to assist Tipper. He's got great balance and doesn't need much help, but if we're in a slippery or tricky situation, I often grab on anyway to have a backup in case he slips.
Because of the incision area for his front amputation, Tipper couldn't wear his harness until his incision healed. It's possible that the harness might not lay across Blaize's wound.
Now, plopping down right on the wound? Blaize, that's just plain silly! Would a big doggie diaper or even a pull up hit that spot?
TIPPER!! Good to hear you are as feisty as ever!!! HAPPY FOUR MONTH AMPUVERSARY!!!
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!
benny55 said
So how long ago was his amputation and what was the reason?
Hi Sally,
Surgery was about 2 months ago. His original owner brought him to the vet with paralysis from the waist down. She couldn't afford any more testing so she wanted to have him put down. My vet didn't want to give up on a 9 month old puppy. She talked the owner into surrendering him to her and she did the further testing. A neurologist found he had a blood clot on his spine. Once it was dissolved, he could walk again. But his left rear leg never got better, dragging it all the time, foot getting bloody, infected, etc. So it was decided to remove the leg. His right leg may not be at full strength or just too much bed rest. When just walking off leash by himself, he's fine. But if he tries to make a fast move or change of direction, he often lands on the stump. I have him wearing the tuff gear harness with the handle on top. He's such a great guy I wish he could be playing with the others. I'll try a surgical supply store this week and see if they have something I can adapt.
Karen
tipper said
I also got a harness - the Ruffwear webmaster...
Hi,
I'm using that harness now too and I can ususally catch him if he loses balance. Sudden changes in direction are what usually messes him up, which is why he can'y play with thw others until he heals or we come up with some kind of protective covering. I am going to try a surgical supply store this week and see if there is something there I can adapt. Either his other back leg isn't as strong as it should be or he is just a clumsy lab puppy still growing into his body.
Oh gosh! What a backstory!! So glad Blaize is with you now.
He probably feels better than he ever has and just wants to be reclaim his puppyhood and make up for lost time!!
Can't wait ro see more pics of Blaize and all his pack!
Wonder if seeing a Rehab Specialist could help?
Check this link....http://tripawds.....n-therapy/
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!
Hi Karen and Blaze and welcome.
I know from experience with my first rear leg tripawd that diapers don't stay on when there is only one back leg.
You might check out a site called something like Handicappedpets.com, they have a suspender thing that helps keep a drag bag on pups and works for diapers too. Maybe something like that would work, or you could get an idea there that will work.
I recently adopted my second rear leg tripawd, a little pug/beagle mix who got hit by a car and was given up by her owners. Elly turned one at the end of December and is about 3.5 months post amp.
Does Blaze have a bit of his femur left? My first Tripawd Maggie had that- called a mid-femoral amp. Really they only leave a little bit of the femur. Maggie was a slug after her amp and didn't really get active for several weeks after surgery so her incision was well healed. If Blaze does have a little femur left it could contribute to the incision opening when he falls.
Elly does not have any of her femur left. She falls occasionally- and usually its because she is trying to change direction quickly like Blaze. She does fall on her amp side and often sleeps on the amp side. At this point she rarely shows any signs that it bothers her.
Maybe to burn off some of that puppy energy you can have Blaze do core exercises and maybe some food games. I do some amount of work with Elly every day and depending on what we do it really wears her out. I use a game called Twister, and my quad pug loves Tug-a-Jug.
Good luck finding a solution for Blaze.
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
Well, I went to a wonderful prosthetic supplier (A Step Ahead) who offered to work with Blaise. Two hours later and being treated like a superstar (petted, pictures taken), they came up with a type of cup held on with a neoprene belt and Velcro, attaching to his harness. It was the best so far, but it would still flip off if he sat on it or ran too fast. Still it was some protection. Until I left him alone with it for a half hour and he used it as a chew toy. SO now he is wearing a padded sports bra I was not using. 2 days and it is staying on pretty well. I'll keep you updated.
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