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 Laura. For images in the cloud, I think you need to create an album so that they are "published" somewhere and have a URL address when you right click on the image. Creating a blog on here was super easy and at first, I used it only as a place to store photos of Griffin that I included in the forums. I later went back and made it a true blog. I'm a techie novice with these things, so if I can do it, I know you can, too! Enjoy your weekend with Dexter and Bella! ~ Stacy
Griffin lived an amazing life for 11 years! Diagnosed with osteosarcoma on March 17, 2020, Griffin's right forelimb was amputated on April 2, 2020. Ten days later he was running and playing fetch! Lung metastasis discovered in July 2020 did not slow down Griffin and he lived joyfully for the next 7 months, passing peacefully at home on February 11, 2021. https://griffin.tripawds.com
dextersmom12345678 said
I do have my images in the cloud but have NO IDEA what their address is. Sigh...
In the cloud, where? Google Photos? Google Drive? Apple iCloud? DropBox?
If the image is publicly viewable, right-click on the photo to copy the image file link (URL). Past that in your forum post, and the photo does not display, we can help troubleshoot from there. 
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I'm sure the lilies will enjoy the fertilizer!! It's good to hear that Dexter's doing good, take it one hop at a time 
Hey there - they are in the Apple iCloud. When I actually attempt this I just may reach out to you for some tech assistance. Thanks for the offer! 🙂
Hahahaha! I bet you are right - those lilies will make the biggest, most fragrant flowers, thanks to Dexter's contribution! Thanks for saying that they'd appreciate the fertilizer - I gotta say, I really love the sweet, kind, supportive vibe I've experienced from everyone on this site! I guess, though we are all from different places and have different lives, the one strong common chord we share is dealing with our much-loved dog's illness and helping our dogs navigate the difficult shoals of post-surgery recovery. There is a real sense of banding together here and it is SO helpful during these really tough times to have you guys! I want to extend a big thank you to everyone who's been in touch and to send love and support right back!
dextersmom12345678 said
they are in the Apple iCloud...
Most major photo storage platforms do not facilitate embedding via third party hosting. IF the photos are public, viw the image and copy the Share Link. Paste that in your post and others should be able to view it, if it does not embed.
Like this one from Wyatt's iCloud...
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
admin said
Like this one from Wyatt's iCloud...
Like we thought, iCloud images do not auto-embed...but they should be viewable, if public.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi everyone, So remember how I was so jazzed that Dexter was doing so well? Well, I think we took two hops forward and one hop back. He seems glum these days and his hopping is getting worse, not better. He seems weaker and less interested in going anywhere (by anywhere, I mean just outside to pee. He's also stopped pooping again. I can't tell is he's sad, in pain, bored, in a drugged haze, or some combination. He had started walking sort of normally with the back legs earlier in the week but now he sometimes sorta drags his hind feet forward and ends up stepping on the top of his hind foot rather than on the pads. And his back is sort of hunched. On the bright side, he is still eating and drinking like a champ, so at least that. But it's gotta come out at some point!
So, my question is, have any of you seen this with your dogs? Did they initially seem to bounce back from surgery, only to regress a little? Is this normal or should I worry? I called into the oncology clinic where his surgery was performed but none of the surgeons are around on a Sunday, so I can't get a medical opinion today.
Also, I have no idea if this is related to anything or not, but he had an epidural when he had surgery - do epidurals ever impact hind limb function negatively?
Thanks!
Laura, Dexter, and Bella
Online
And this is why we call recovery a "roller coaster" . It's definitely full of ups and downs the first couple of weeks.
One thing that comes to mind that happens so often early on, Dexter has tweaked something. Massage all up and down his neck, shoulder, spine....any signs of tension, tightness? A possible tweak of some in his back?
Sorry for short reply but this will get uoi started. More later.
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!
THANK YOU for writing! I hadn't yet heard of the "recovery rollercoaster" but I guess it's nothing to be surprised about. I will do as you say - give him a jolly good massage and hope that he feels better soon. I will keep you posted. I have been giving him rub downs all week but I'll give him a really good one now. Poor sweetheart. Thanks again!
Hi Laura! To piggyback on what Sally wrote, in addition to massage, ask your vet if you can do passive range of motion (PROM) exercises with Dexter. Griffin loves them and usually falls into a relaxed stupor when I couple them with massaging his leg, back, and neck muscles. The videos below are from the Animal Medical Center where Griffin is being treated. The first 2 are massage and the last 2 are PROM. [FYI - I do not sit the way the person does in the front limb PROM video - that just seems really awkward and hard to maneuver!] As you can see, PROM exercises are simple and gentle to perform but they do wonders to keep Griffin's muscles loose after having to work so hard to walk and move as a 3-legger. When Dexter is ready for rehab, you can also check with your vet about additional exercises. I posted Griffin's Rehab Exercises on his blog, but always check with your vet first. I hope the videos are helpful! Hugs to you and Dexter! ~ Stacy
Griffin lived an amazing life for 11 years! Diagnosed with osteosarcoma on March 17, 2020, Griffin's right forelimb was amputated on April 2, 2020. Ten days later he was running and playing fetch! Lung metastasis discovered in July 2020 did not slow down Griffin and he lived joyfully for the next 7 months, passing peacefully at home on February 11, 2021. https://griffin.tripawds.com
Sounds like he might be painful- not wanting to get up and a hunched back. It is good that he is eating and drinking. Pain meds can be constipating so not pooping isn't too unusual. It's also not unusual for a tweak to be needed to pain meds or the dosing schedule to keep a pup as comfortable as possible.
And yes, there are often hops (seemingly) backwards during recovery. He is working really hard to get around, new Tripawds are using their muscles very differently now.
The foot knuckling is not often reported here though but there have been a few cases. Is it both back feet or just one? There are several reasons for knuckling- it could be as simple as a sore paw or pads. Have you checked his feet, pads and toes to make sure there isn't an injury or something stuck? Does he lay on one side or in one position for a long time then have issues with the leg/foot on that side?
I did a forum search on 'Knuckling' and got these results. Maybe something there might sound familiar and help. I would definitely get a hold of the vet though and let them know what you are seeing.
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
Hi,
When you do Karen's search you will see Brownie coming up. Brownie had similar issue. His back was arched, His back legs were weak. when he went to lay down he would miss the sit position and just flop. I took him to the vet, and they did an xray. Brownie had arthritis in his spine. They put him on Adaquin injections which really helped a lot. Later down the road he was having the pain again. They put him on an arthritis medicine, not Rimidyl I can't remember the name. And they did help a lot by day three. Sally know the name. I can't remember.
But As Karen said I would suggest speaking with your vet. Keep us posted.
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"
Can you send us a video? Agreed, most likely a pain thing because of a tweaked muscle, or, as Nncy mentioned, arthritis showing up. Nancy was kind enough to pay forward some of Brownie's goodies to my pups. Metacam is what Brownie waa rakingmfor arthritis. It's also good for a y inflammation if he's tweaked his back or shoulder, or whatever. Only. Of course, with Bet approval!
And, of course, as Sracy mentioned, don't do any Rehab til uou get the okah from a Vet and get him checked out. The videos will be realky helpful though when that time comes.😎
I went back to catch up on ao e of Dexter's activity. AMD this early on (and it is still early), it's soooo easy to tweak or strain a muscle/joint. I've forgotten, what pain meds is he on?
Anyway, for now. Keep him low key, cont what pain meds you do have amd run things by your oir Vet in the morning.
Not that familiar with epidurals for dogs, or humans for that matter. But I do think they can cause some TEMPORARY weakness at first...your Vet can advise.
And, as Karen said, no worries about the poop. He already ahead of the curve on that anyway!!
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!
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