Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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We brought our Ginger home on Saturday after her front leg amputation on Friday. Saturday was really rough but we just let her rest. Because she was whimpering a lot, we added another pain medication (injections of buprenorphine) in addition to oral galliprant and oral gabapentin.
Yesterday, on Sunday, we were really encouraged. She sat up by herself, got up by herself, and hopped a couple of steps. When we took her outside (we're carrying her out on a thick beach towel) for the third time, she hopped across the yard like she was going to go potty. She took a couple of falls and hasn't tried to get up since. We are using one or two slings to try to help her.
Today, Monday morning, she still hasn't peed and won't try to get up at all. She just whimpers unless we are massaging her. When we tried to get her to pee this morning, we gently massaged her bladder area hoping to stimulate something. Still nothing. And she still won't put any weight on her back legs.
We know she has to pee, we're assuming she is constipated, and we don't know if she hurt her back when she was trying to walk yesterday. We're going to call the vet in a few minutes, but if anyone has any advice until then, we'd greatly welcome it.
Hey Ginger & family, I'm sorry to hear about the mobility issues right now. Poor pup! How is she otherwise as in her appetite and alertness?
Did you talk to your vet yet?
My guess is that she felt a little too good and pulled a muscle while moving around. She's probably feeling pretty terrible from it. This isn't at all uncommon, so try not to worry (although that's way easier said than done!). This is so early in recovery, she will get there! Usually R&R takes care of situations like this but in the meantime you definitely want to get her to urinate. A dog shouldn't go more than 12 hours without doing it. Here is a video that shows how to express a dog's bladder if you haven't seen it yet.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Ok, the current crisis is over. We took Ginger back outside on the towel after my last post. She would not let us help her get up with the sling; instead she yelped and cried. While we were discussing what to do next, she got up, went and peed (the longest one ever) and laid down. When we encouraged her to come back to the towel, she decided to go into the house herself -- including through the doggie door! We were so proud and relieved that we both cried.
She rested inside the doggie door for quite a while, ate a little food and drank a little water. We are now seeing a little light at the end of the tunnel.
Thank you for the video on how to relieve her bladder. We had tried putting a little pressure on it to help her want to go. Now we know what do if we need to.
The vet had not called us back yet, and once she finally went potty; we let the clinic know that the vet didn't need to call back.
Sorry I didn't post this reply a little sooner. Of course there was a computer problem that had to get fixed first.
We agree with you, she probably did a little too much yesterday and is paying the price for it. That will probably be the case with this morning's ordeal, too. We are massaging her everywhere except for her incision area, and have started applying a little ice on her wound for 4-5 minutes. Will do that several more times today.
Thank you again for your help!
I'm so happy things are better! That's terrific news, thanks for letting us know.
Here's to better (mellower) days this week. Keep her as calm as you can, and remember that she will have lots of time to roam and sniff around when her stitches are out. Hang in there.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi Ginger, we just went through this last weekend and we believe it was one of the meds or the cocktail of meds. Our dog wouldn’t get up either. He peed a full tank right on the floor. Once we took him off one of the meds he started improving.
Thank you Traci and Jerry!
In our last post, Ginger finally peed three days after amputation. Next, she would not poop. She went 7 days post amp before our vet had us use a suppository. It worked within 45 minutes! We had to do another suppository the next night, and since then she's pooping on her own.
Ginger has still been pretty wobbly on her legs at times, and we think it was too much of one of her pain meds. With the vet's help, we've been adjusting her meds and combination of meds. It's been a struggle to find the happy medium between being too lethargic from the pain meds and not wanting to get up, or not enough pain meds and not wanting to get up.
Finally, today, Day 12 after amputation, she's doing better. Thank you again for your support!
It's never to celebrate 
YAAAAY FOR
So glad you are finally able to see the light at the end of the recovery tunnel! Every dog recovers at their own and have their own hurdles to overcome specific to them. And yes, tweaking the pain meds fo fet rhe eifht balance can be quite fristrating. Your patience and perseverance are starting to,pay off.
Once you get the stitches out, if you can get a consult with a Certified Rehabilitation Specialist, the Tripawd Foundation will pay for the first visit. They can show you exercises you can do at home to help her build up her core muscles.
Thanks for the update. And, as you are starting to see, it DOES get better!
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!
Thank you, Benny.
We got most of Ginger's stitches out last Saturday, but some of them weren't ready. They should all come out tomorrow.
I've made an appointment with a Rehab Specialist for 3/23 and will check out the Tripawd Foundation. Besides the rehab, we now have to decide on chemo or not. I'll search the blogs for additional help and insight.
This site is the best, and I appreciate everyone's support and suggestions!
gingersparents said
...we now have to decide on chemo or not. I’ll search the blogs...
Here, we'll help...
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Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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