Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hello everyone.
It's been a while since I have posted here, but Tripawd comunity is with me all the time, so many good advices here. 💚
Our Trina is almost 10 years old now and she had her front right leg amputated when she was only 3 months old. All this years she was doing extremely well, hoping around, climbing mountains and swimming in lakes and sea. She is our heart!
Time also brought her arthritis, which is the most severe on her remaining leg elbow, and despite occasional painkillers (if the walk was too long) she is doing and coping great. She gets all the best suppliements and is overall healthy.
Unfortunatelly, 14 days ago she jumped from a pier, chasing a crab, and land on her front leg. She didn't show a sign of paint at the moment, but I knew this is bad. After an hour, we could see that she is walking "differently" and since it was Saturday we made an appointment with her orthopedic vet on Monday. She was walking differently, we could see she was in some pain but she was still walking. Exam and xray showed no fractures, we could only see her arthritis on her elbow grew since last year, but otherwise nothing. Which is good news. She also showed no signs of pain at phisical exam of her leg. Vet subscribe her painkillers and rest and check up in a week. But she was getting worse every day, even with rest and pills. By the end of the week she didn't walk anymore. Tried, but when she puts a weight on her leg, she cries and falls. My heart is breaking. Vet got us a urgent CT appontment this last Wednesday. I was sure something was injured or worse, since she was getting so bad, but CT is also clear - no fractures, no broken miniature parts, nothing. Blood work is fine.
Since CT, her condition is the same. She is resting all day because she is afraid to get up. We help her with harness and scarf to go pee and potty and that's it. If she tries to get up, we can see that her leg is not stable, it slides out, she cries and falls. When she is resting (lying) she is in a good mood, she has great apetite.
On Monday morning we are going back to vets office. We will ran out of pills by then and he wants to see her again.
We are also waiting for her Walking Wheels Wheelchair (4 wheels support) that is arriving by mail on Wednesday.
We will se how it goes with vet but I am turning to you if there is someone with simmilar experience or some personal advice. I would do anything to help my baby and take away her pain but I am really lost. I was thinking about trying acupuncture even.. I don't know. It is sad seeing her this way, she is very outdoorsy by character and now she can't do anything. The worst is that I clearly see that she is in pain if she tries to get up.
Any advise or insight about own experience would be much appreciated.
Lots of love to all of you from Slovenia!
Sanja
Sanja and Trina it is so good to hear from you, I'm just sorry it's under these conditions. How is she doing today? Any better?
What a cutie. I had to look up her photos!
[Image Can Not Be Found]
We understand how hard it can be to have a senior Tripawd. Our Wyatt Ray is now 11 years old, he was only 2 when you joined us in 2011! And he has lots of arthritis and pain management issues that we are coping with right now. See these posts about senior Tripawd dogs.
You have made all the right moves as far as getting her checked out and having the diagnostics done, YAY! Let me ask you this: what kind of pain medications is she on right now? She should be on something for pain, possibly Gabapentin and a muscle relaxer like Methocarbomol.
Since Wyatt was about 9 he has started a daily pain medication regimen, and it's not just for acute (sudden) pain, or pain from playing too hard, but rather for maintenance. He takes medication every day, 3x daily and it's helped tremendously. It sounds to me like Trina is at this point herself, and you are at a place where a vet pain specialist is needed to come in and help determine 1) the cause of her current pain, 2) the right pain medications and 3) daily physical therapy exercises for her. It's the best way that she can continue to have a great quality of life, just like our Wyatt does.
It sounds like you are in an area for great veterinary care. By any chance are you near the University of Ljubljana? I looked up their veterinary teaching hospital and it appears they offer physio therapy. Ask your veterinarian for a referral so that Trina can get some pain management happening right away. Also, you REALLY want a physio expert to check out the wheelchair you just bought, to ensure it will fit her properly. Wheelchairs can do more harm than good when they are not adjusted to the dog's body as precisely as possible so please don't use it until you have an expert take a look OK?
Stay strong and know that she can overcome this. It's not the first time this has happened to a Tripawd and she is so strong and relatively young that I'm sure she can bounce back.
Please keep us posted.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi Jerry and thank you for all your nice words and advice.
Today, Trina is the same.. Ok when laying down, good appetite, but she can't stand on her front leg. If she tries, she cries from pain and falls.
We are just back from short "walk" - she is not walking, I am holding her with her harness, she goes pee and I carry her back inside when she lays down.
Otherwise, here on those links are some recent (this year's) photos of her, so you can see how happy and in shape she was until 14 days ago. The first Photo with a plush toy is from yesterday.
https://ibb.co/WHcRxyD
https://ibb.co/H40pwwx
https://ibb.co/xJk2k0t
https://ibb.co/M5jDDqS
I will definitely use help with assembling her wheels, I will ask the vet for help and the team from Walking Wheels also told me that I can call them via video call so we can assemble the wheels for Trina together.
Regarding painkillers, at the moment she is on Tramal 150 mg pills (1/2 pill on every 12 hours) and Onsior 20mg (1 pill per day). Tomorrow when we go back to the vet I will talk with him about a permanent solution with her painkillers. Because for now, this is not helping, she gets them everyday and she is the same - no progress whatsoever.
This was also the reason we thought something is injured or god forbids broken since painkillers are not working. But it's not.
I will also talk to him about therapy, thank you for that advice.
I was considering buying CBD drops for her, I think they can do only good. For now, I just really wish we find something to take away her pain so she can move along on her own - only for short walks. We are also waiting for Innopet Sporty Trailer to arrive, so we can put her in and go for a long walk with her brother Ash.
I am really worried and I generally hope that we find something to ease her pain.
I will keep you posted and thank you again.
P.S.: Is there a thread on this forum for buying a second-hand gear? I was thinking of buying her Ruffwear Doubleback Harness. She has a Ruffwear Webmaster for years and it's amazing, only now I think she would feel more comfortable with larger support for lifting. Doubleback is very expensive in Slovenia (almost 200 euros) and with all the costs of her treatment, Wheels, and trailer, I thought I could look into used ones if someone is selling.
Thank you again for everything
Sanja
Hi Santa, I have more thoughts for you later but for now:
Glad to hear you are going to ask your vet for stronger pain meds and therapy and getting help with the cart. See the pain management link for ideas ok? Be aware that CBD can be hit or miss with strong sudden acute pain, choose wisely (we like ElleVet CBD because it has been used in university studies but I’m not sure they will ship to you).
Also yes we have the Tripawds Angel Exchange in our Forums:
https://tripawd.....-exchange/
I’m so sorry she isn’t feeling better. Please give her a kiss from us, we are thinking of you both and sending healing thoughts your way. More thoughts later...
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Oh those photos of her are precious!
PS if you haven’t already try gentle massage and heat and ice therapy on her shoulders to see if that helps her feel a little better. Many soft tissue strains happen in those areas on front leg amputees.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I would add gabapentin and consider changing her NSAID from Onsior to a different class such as meloxicam, carprofen, or deracoxib. I would also strongly suggest you try an Assissi Loop to use two to three times a day on her elbow; this has made a huge difference for my dog. He has arthritis in both hocks (ankles) and I doubt he would be walking without it. The Loop helps with both acute and chronic pain and is very safe.
Pam
Dr. Pam you are a saint, thank you for sharing your expertise and experience. I'm so glad the Assisi Loop is helping Julian. I think we need to try it for Wyatt.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
For anyone on Facebook, here is a video of Trina walking, on hardwood floors.
FYI: Providing some traction on those hardwood floors is one way to help Trina with her mobility. Non-slip rugs are best. Find many solutions to help Tripawds on slick floors at https://gear.tr.....-tripawds/
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi, I just read Trina's story from the beginning. It angers me so to see how cruel people can be to animals. It happens in the US as well.
I just wanted to thank you. She could of died in the street, but because of you she has had a life full of love!
I hope Trina gets to feeling better soon. You are a very caring and amazing person!
My Beautiful Beloved Brownie was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma on February 26, 2019. With all odds against him he lived an additional one year and eight days with amputation, love, and prayer. I was honored to be his mom, and I have never been so proud! He will live forever in my Heart!
04/01/2007 - 03/05/2020
"March Saint"
Hi everyone!
Thank you for all the advice. Let me get you some update on my sweet girl. She is better!!! 🙂 Not a 100%, but 50 for sure.
We had another check up with vet on Monday. We went again through her CT scans, and other then arthritis and a mild elbow displaysia, there is nothing new. We took her off Tramal for now, because she was really not herself on those and now she is only on Onsior and PEA (palmitoiletanolamid).
I got her a non-slippery sock too - I am so mad on myself I didn't get it sooner, poor baby. I also give her some hot therapy for her elbow and shoulder.
Anyhows, since yesterday Trina is "here" again. She is far more present without Tramal, she can get up and walk on her own. It is not perfect but she is not crying anymore and I don't have to fully support her. She is in good mood and I am super happy. I understand that she needs more time and rest to heal and that her illness will stick around, but she is clearly better.
We are waiting for her wheels to arrive and we will try to teach her using them, maybe not every day but at least a bit, so she can preserve her leg a bit more.
Her InnoPet Sporty Trailer also arrived yesterday and boy she loves it. We will use that when we go for a longer walks or hiking, so she can be with us.
This is it for now. We have another check up next week and I will keep you posted.
Love to all of you!
Sanja
Hoooorrrraaay! This is the BEST NEWS EVER! 50% is better than anything less, she's amazing. 
Don't beat yourself up for not knowing about traction things like socks. You're off to a great start! You may also want to order some Dr. Buzby's Toe Grips so you don't need to remember to put a sock on her every day.
Take things slow and easy and she'll get back to feeling 100% again. I can't wait to see more photos and video of your amazing girl.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Jist catching up in time to hear that Trina is starting to be Trina again👏 You're on the right path now with good pain management , good support "means of transportation ", and taking things sloooow and easy for awhile. She's very lickynto have you as her hooman!
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!
Really interesting to read this post because my tripawd dog Teka has similar problems at the moment.
I hope Trina is still beeing better?
I`m really loking forward to you reporting about how she is doing with the wheels.
I got Teka a wheel-chair a few years ago but she really didn`t got along with it. It was nearly impossible for her to change her whole gait again to manage with the wheels. So we just use her stroller with which she is ok.
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