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 I'm a new comer and this forum seems fantastic. We have a beautiful 13 year old Labrador and last week she had her back left leg amputated. She's got stitches in for another week. We're sleeping downstairs with her as don't want to be carrying up and down the stairs. We've put rugs everywhere in the house as we have laminate. I'm just scared when she goes out for a wee she's going to be unstable and fall and hurt her other leg. She seems ok through the day but pants a lot on a night. I'm so worried about her. Sorry I just feel scared at the moment
Hi Chaos and family, welcome. We're glad you found us and yeah, we think this is a pretty fantastic place too 🙂
What's your dog's name and why the amputation?
So if you haven't already I recommend checking out Jerry's Required Reading List and the Tripawds e-books , which give you a ton of pointers that will help ease your mind. You're not alone in your fears, all of us were scared. And although there will likely be a small stumble or two as your girl gets strong, odds are that it will be far worse for you than it will for her. The key thing when it happens is to not panic or cry, but to be strong and project confidence so she feels just as sure of herself as you do. Attitude is everything with an amputation recovery!
Sounds like you've done all the right things to add traction to your home. Good job! How about a harness? If she has any stairs to navigate you'll find that something like the Ruffwear Webmaster harness is super helpful, to allow you to help her figure out the stairs. It's not a requirement to have one but it does help.
Also, if she's panting at like it sounds like she needs more (or sometimes less) pain medication. What medication is she on? If she's out of meds, let your vet know what's happening. Sometimes dogs need more pain meds for longer than initially prescribed. No need to worry, that's normal, especially for older pups. Panting at night can also be a sign that she's doing too much activity too soon. What's her activity like during the day?
It's OK to be scared, that's why we're here! You can always call the Tripawds Helpline or hop over to the Tripawds chat , and keep posting here so we can help OK? Stay tuned for more feedback from others!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thank you jerry. I will check out Jerry's required reading list and Tripawds e-book. She's called chaos(suits her so much at times). We took her to the vets as she was limping when we got home from work they did an x Ray and said her bone had shattered as if she'd been hit by a car it was that bad. And a malignant tumour of the bone too. But she just stays in the house with her 11 year old daughter and 4 year old staffy. We Was looking into a webmaster harness today. She's on metacam at the moment once a day and amoxycare capsules twice a day. My partner has taken time off work to be with her. He takes her out for a wee went she needs once and if he goes out in car she goes with him. Thank you so much
CHAOS!! Grest name! Can't wait to hear more abput her personality!
DITTO Jerry!
It does sound like she needs to be on pain meds on a consistent basis for a bit longer. It sounds like she's abput a week past amputation. Is that right? This is still very early in recovery. She needs to only be doing short potty breaks and then back in for rest, rest and more rest.
Metacam is a good anti-inflammatory but does very little to curb the pain of MAJOR SURGERY. And make no mistake, this is MAJOR surgery. Not sure amoxycare is. An antibiotic perhaps?
Just to give you a sense of what we "normall" see around here as far as pain. Most dogs come home with Tramadol, Gabapentin, Rimidylw (or Metacam) and an antibitic. "Most" dogs stay on these for zbput two weeks or longer. My Happy Hannah stayed on meds for three weeks, while reducing them some during the third week.
For a se iore gal not on some good pain meds, she seems to be dping really well. But the symptoms you describe do sou d like pain signals . So talk to your Vet and advocate for getting her some better pain meds.
Of course you're scared! We scare ourselves a lot arpund here!! Werew really good at it! But youvew already weathered the scariest part! Yoy made a BRAVE decision to give Chaos a chance at a good quality pain free life for more loving and spoiling!! 🙂 You've weathered the fear of surgery and the hardest part of recovery! Good job!!
We'll be looking forward to celebrating many victories for this sweet girl...and poctures!! 🙂
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!
Hi benny55 chaos is due to go back to vets next Tuesday. But over the last few days she’s been coughing, as if she’s going to cough an hair ball up. My partners had time off work to spend with her and today she’s coughing and bringing up white glen. She’s been doing really well eating scrambled egg and chicken etc with her meds but today she’s not touched anything? We love her to bits she’s our lioness. Thank you for the confidence bust that we’re doing the right thing. 😊
Not a Vet and not givinw Vet advice.
Just gonna throw out a couple of things. Sometimes the tube used during surgery (can't think what it's called) can irritate the esophagus and cause coughing. Even wondering if Chaos has developed a little kennel cough.
Additionally, the white phlegm can indicate gasto upset sometimes. The meds can certainly mess up their digestive tract in some dogs.
One more thought. Are you able to take his temperature? Sometimes respiratory infections can come about as a result of the tubing, being in the hospital, etc.
What pain meds is he on? Is he on an antibiotic?
Give your Vet a call and, IF after describing the "symptons" he thinks it's a tummy upset from the meds, he can give you something to coat his tummy. He .ay wa t you to bring him jn to check for fever,respiratory infection, etc.
Update us on how the LIONESS is doing? Can't wait to see phots!!
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!
I second what Sally said. Definitely ask your vet about it, but from what you describe it sounds quite a bit like kennel cough. My chy girl had that some years ago, and it was awful! She would cough regularly throughout the day and this white frothy spit would come up. I was constantly following her to wipe it up. Sometimes it can also have a little pink tinge to it. Is he on an antibiotic? If it is kennel cough, that should help it. I think I also gave chy a little robitussin too. It usually goes away after a few weeks.
Hang in there, and keep us posted 🙂
-- Kayla and Chy
Hi Chaos and furmily!
How is the Princess Chaos doing today?! I see that you have been given some excellent advice. Did you manage to see your vet? I hope the coughing is nothing serious?
Chaos is still super early in her recovery, so be sure that she is resting more than anything else right now. We kept Stewie closed up in a small area in the living room for the first two weeks. He was allowed out of his ‘infirmary’ only to pee.
It takes a few weeks for them to catch up physically....Mentally pups and cats for that matter, adjust super quickly to being a Tepawd. They don’t allow for the muscle and endurance to build up as well. So it’s up to us Hoomans to put limits on how much activity they get. Especially in this initial recovery period. An excellent piece of advice that Sally once shared with me, is that if they are having to stop and rest, they”ve gone too far!
Keep us posted on Chaos and her recovery. Pictures always help us to fall in love quicker! 
All the very best from Petra, Stewie🐾 and his Pride >^ ..^<
Remember...“live in the moment!“ 
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