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
We just adopted an 11 month old female Doberman. She was badly mistreated by her previous owner who kept her tied in the yard by her back left leg. Eventually the leg became badly damaged and was amputated by the rescue services vet about 3 weeks ago. We adopted her 2 days go. She is a wonderfully docile and friendly dog and our own vet says she is in excellent health but obviously still healing.
So where do I begin? We want to give her the most productive and happy life possible and have been reading as much as we can in the past few days. I have seen reference to 'pressure sore' but am not sure of how it can be prevented and or cared for if it occurs. She has also developed rough skin on her front 'elbows' from pressing down on them to help lift herself up. Is that OK or is there something we can do to train her to help get up in an easier way? The left side of her 'butt' (the same side as the missing leg) feels as though it is thicker than the other side. We have been massaging it probably more so because she seems to enjoy it. Is that normal? Do dogs develop a thicker 'cushion' on that side? It seems to be only slightly tender to her so we have also been putting some cool ice packs on it for her. Any and all advice is surely appreciated.
Sincerely~ LUPITAS DAD (aka Troy)
Welcome to our happy little community. I've owned a couple of Doberman's, they were wonderful pets! I'm not much help with your questions, my tripawd is a front amputee. She also has the thick elbow, but it doesn't seem to be an issue. As soon as Lupita if fully healed, I suspect you'll never know she has only three legs. They are unbelievably adaptive, and she is so young she should have a pretty easy adjustment.
Keep us posted on how she is doing.
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
LUPITAS DAD said:
So where do I begin?
You're off to a good start by finding us here and we're glad you did. So, where do we begin? 
Be sure to read our posts answering the top ten questions about canine cancer and amputation in Jerry's dog blog.
Post any concerns you have about pressure sores in the Ask A Vet forum. Pam is a vet and her 165+ lb English Mastiff Tazzie also had issues with a pressure sore on her paw after surgery.
I asked Jerry's surgeon about a thick hard area around the incision area and he said it was scar tissue, nothing to worry about. If the spot you refer to on Lupita feels very soft, it may a seroma which is common post-op fluid buildup. You should find helpul information in the many topics discussing post amputation seromas here in the forums, and this blog post – Dog Leg Amputation Seromas: What You Need to Know.
For the elbow sores, there are braces that can help keep them from ocurring. But again, I would ask Pam as I don't know ifthese are merely aesthetice or actually painful.
Finally, the Ruff Wear harness will help you help Lupita when she needs it and the hot/cold pain relief pack is a great way to ease the pain and speed healing.
Hope this is a good place to start! Best wishes to you and Lupita for a complete speedy recovery. We look forward to following her progress.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi Troy:
I have a 85 lb Malamute with rear amp. She also developed the 'elbow callous' on her non-amp side from laying on that side mostly and doing the same thing, bracing to get up. My vet said not to worry unless they are seeping or looking inflamed in any way. He also pointed out that humans get them too, but they are not a different color and as noticeable. So we stopped worrying about that.
As far as the 'thickness', is she fully amputated at the hip socket or does she still have some of her femur? I'm not a vet, but I hear that makes a difference. Our girl is amputated at the hip but the groin and thigh was left in place for her to have a butt, so to speak. I wonder if some of that might be because of her abuse? Tika definitely enjoyed her massages post-amp. Seromas and inflammation are certainly to be considered.
I just want you to know that you are on my hero list. To take in a dog that has been abused to the point of needing amputation. Oh, that makes me SO MAD. Even though one of my two 'big' dog bites was from a Doberman (the other from a Dachsund, hah!) I still think they are a sweet noble dog in the right hands.
Good luck to you, keep us posted. I have some Tika videos on YouTube, try searching for Tika Yells or Tika Swims, these were taking 5 months post amp and post chemo! They are also on the boards under the 'Share your Story' thread.
--Kim and Tika
Kim and Spirit Tika http://www.tika.....ogspot.com
1 Guest(s)
