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.
Join The Tripawds Community
Learn how to help three legged dogs and cats in the forums below. Browse and search as a guest or register for free and get full member benefits:
Instant post approval.
Private messages to members.
Subscribe to favorite topics.
Live Chat and much more!
Register
Log In
Members
Add Topic
Offline
Hi guys!
It's been a bit since we've posted - and everything here is going very well physically for Rosco! He is almost to his 4 month ampuversary, which is a huge milestone for us, because that was his estimated time left if we did not treat his cancer. Yay! Writing today because wanted some advice/opinion on neediness and separation anxiety at this stage - we are months past the surgery, and he is not on any meds, but we have seen an increase in Rosco's clingyness since his amputation.
I just got back from vacation with my husband and Rosco, and also with my parents. Had a rental house up in Maine that's dog-friendly. My parents see Rosco every few months or so, and have known him for about 3 years (since we got him). He stayed with them for 2 weeks while we were on our honeymoon last year. This was the first they've seen him since his amputation, and the general consensus was he's doing great - but seems more attached to me and my husband than he used to be. We settled in the first night we were on vacation and after a few hours went out to dinner (without Rosco) and heard later from a neighbor he barked most of the time we were gone, for maybe an hour and a half. That was heartbreaking to us - and we didn't leave him on his own the rest of the trip. I felt like such a bad dog mom, but this is unusual behavior for him. He is typically alone while we are working (except for his daily walk w/ the dog walker), and he has been good when we've left him while on vacation other times - no barking or whining when we leave the house.
We didn't leave him on his own the rest of the trip, but did notice he was very on edge if he was with my parents, without my husband or me at home with him. Even while my husband was home, if I went upstairs without Rosco he would be pacing at the foot of the stairs.
He's also been SO much more snuggly in general. Usually he'd sleep at the foot of our bed, but now he comes up to sleep toward the top of our bed, right against me. I've gotta say the snuggling doesn't bother me at all, but just wondering if it's a sign he's less secure/independent and wondering how to increase his confidence.
Since we've been back home, he's back in his routine and seems much more chill and calm, so I'm not sure if it was just being in an unfamiliar place set this off.
Any advice for helping curb this behavior? Has anyone had this experience?
GOSH!!! It's just great to here that Roscoe...that cute, adorable Roscoe, is doing soooooo well!!! And a FOUR MONTH AMPUVERSARY coming up....ICE CREAM FOR EVERYONE!!!!!!
First of all,I'm like you...nothing is better than your dog snuggling up to you!
Just my two cents worth.....it could be the rental house had the scent of other dogs and that made him feel more vulnerable. Roscoe may feel a little more fearful now and feels uncertain when his pack leader...you.....leaves him in a strange enviornment. Also, without even realizing it at all, perhaps your parents even put off a little "uncertainenergy" while you were out..subconsciously fearful something might happen while you were gone. Anyway...just throwing stuff out there.
The fact that Roscoe is back to nor.al just makes me think it was the unfamiliarity of the rental house. I LOVE YOUR DEVOTION TO ROSCOE! He's a very loved boy...and so darn adorable too!
Hugs and love....and we expect pictures for all his ampuversaries!!!
Sally and Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle 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!
After my Leland's amputation he formed a stronger attachment to my husband and snuggled with him more than before. He always stayed close to me prior to the surgeries and we snuggled and hugged and kissed a lot. I think they know something is different and they don't have the same abilities to protect themselves from danger as before so they form stronger attachments to their human pack leaders to look out for them.
I agree with Sally that it may have just been something with regards to the rental house and it not being his "safe" place when his human pack went to dinner. Since he's back to his routine in your home and is doing fine that's all I can figure.
Congrats Roscoe on your approaching 4 month Ampuversary! 
Sahana and her Angel Leland
November 17, 2009 - June 30, 2014
May you finally be healthy and running free at the Rainbow Bridge. Until we meet again my sweet boy!
Aww it's great to hear from you, I can't believe four months have gone by already. I'm glad to hear Rosco is doing great.
I like Sally's theory, I'm thinking that the unfamiliar surroundings and new people in the picture made him nervous. Watch his behavior at home and see what it's like for a few weeks, I'll bet he returns to his old self. To me this doesn't really sound like separation anxiety if he's not destroying furniture and that sort of thing. Keep us posted and oh, I need my Rosco video fix!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thanks so much for the replies, everyone! It's comforting to hear your thoughts in this case. One thing that adds to the "it was mostly the rental house" theory is that the house did have thin walls and nearby vacationing neighbors. Rosco has always been very alert to sounds and I think that may have added to his anxiety a bit. I hadn't even considered the idea that the house may have smells in it from previous dogs, but that's totally possible given that it was (obviously) a dog-friendly rental house!
Rosco is doing better now that we're back home. We do feel that he has been a little bit more of a "shadow" for each of us since the surgery, which again, we don't mind at all! Glad to know that that alone doesn't sound like symptoms of stress and anxiety.
Jerry, you can find lots of Rosco videos/posts here, at his instragram! http://instagra.....scoschnauz
Here he is slow-mo running on the beach like David Hassleruff: http://instagra.....modal=true
Since we were in Maine, we got him a new toy, a lobster! http://instagra.....modal=true
And another slow-mo of him shaking up his armadillo: http://instagra.....modal=true
You're more than welcome to link to any of these on twitter if you want, Jerry! 
Yay, Rosco !! Almost 4 months, what a great thing to read !! Hope everything continues to go well....!!
I never had much of a problem with this kind of thing, but the advice from everyone sounded excellent.......I love all the videos and the pic, what a very cute guy Rosco is!! Really love the lobster toy pic!
Bonnie & Angel Polly
Oh Rosco, you are a silly fun boy!!! You make David Hasseloff jealous!
I agree with Bonnie, that lobster picture.....ADORABLE!!! His ears, his focus....just adorable!!!
I do feel sorry for that armadillo!
Delightful pictures, just delightful!
Rock on Rosco, rock on!
Sally and Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle
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!
He looks SO strong and hoppy! I love these, thank you so much! I forget, what's your twitter handle?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Adorable!!!!
Shelby was a bit of a clinger after her amp too.... not enough to bug me but she was always independent and became a little more snuggly post-amp! But our bond also strengthened greatly during her various injuries and health issues so that could have been part of it too.
He's super adorable though...
Alison with the Spirit of Shelby fur-ever in her heart
Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.
October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014
Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife
Jerry, our twitter handles are @emimorgan (for Emily) and @drewmo (for Drew)!
Pawesome, thank you. We'll be following along.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
1 Guest(s)
