Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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My sweet, fluffy, beautiful baby girl, Lulu, has a soft tissue sarcoma on her right front leg. The bilobed mass is invasive in the joint, wrapping all the way around it. We received a 2nd opinion from an Oncologist already. All vets agree that amputation is the best option. It is scheduled on December 15th. Lulu is 13.5 years old and means everything to my family of course. I am so sad and scared. Will she ever be the herself again? Happy and spunky and playful? When she takes her Rimadyl you wouldn't even know she is sick. This has been incredibly hard to accept and I have cried every day since finding out. I hate cancer. This is not fair. I am just looking for some advice and support. What should I know and do before her surgery to be best prepared? Thank you.
Hi and welcome. Your future posts won't need approval so post away.
I'm so glad we had the chance to talk in the Tripawds Chat . As I mentioned, please check out Jerry's Required Reading List and the Tripawds e-books library for our best information and tips about amputation for dogs. Also, our Size and Age Matters Discussion Forum is another good place to read about how senior dogs do after losing a leg.
It sounds like Lulu is a good candidate for surgery. When it comes to dogs, age really is just a number (especially for smaller breeds). She sounds like she has all the chance in the world of doing really well after surgery!
Please keep us posted and stay tuned for feedback from others.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Under the circumstances, you are def in the right place for support, information and understanding! We understand the fear, the anger, the uncertainty and the mental and physical exhaustion involved.
YOU ARE NOT ALONE!! We are all here for uou and will help you navigate through recovery. And we will all be here to help you celebrate as Lulu recovers and gets mto be her adorable feisty self again!!
Sure, recovery is no picnic for about two weeks. It's major surgery and requires lots of rest and good pain management . Ahe may not want to eat much for a few days and may not poop for a few days. Drinking and peeing are important though. Rest, rest, rest, short leashed potty breaks and more rest. Any yummy food she will eat while she is recovering. Nonslip scatter rugs if you have hardwoods.
Will she be spending the night in a fully staffed 24/7 clinic? Even if she spends a second night, that's not unusual.
STAY CONNECTED, okay? You are doing this FOR sweet Lulu, not TO her!
Hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too
PS. Eat lots of cho and ice cream...it helps calm the nerves!😎
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 there,
It's pretty cool that you have a spunky 13 year old! Their spunk really helps them.
My feisty (now 14 year old) pooch was a sand bag for a couple weeks after his surgery 3 1/2 months ago, but then he was the same wonderfully obedient, active, feisty little (forgive my french) shit that I've loved for 12 1/2 years. He can't run as fast, or as far (and admittedly that still breaks my heart every day, but at 14, I don't think he would be very different with 4 legs), but he still loves the same things and gives them his all. Your Lulu sounds a lot like him. I took my kiddo's leg when his behavior on rimadyl would for sure suggest I didn't need to. But I truly believe he's here today because I did.
Good luck, and these people here on this website are awesome. Let us know how it goes.
Lulu had her amputation on Tuesday. It has been a rollercoaster of emotions. We are just so happy to have her back home. She is on a Fentanyl patch and Rimadyl right now for pain. She was supposed to have the Gabapentin too but vet discontinued saying it made her too "groggy". Should I be concerned that we don't have the Gabapentin? In pre-op they found that her liver was quite enlarged. They did some more tests and think she may have a little infection and decided it was safe to go ahead with surgery. She was holding her urine all day yesterday and was anxious. When she couldn't hold it anymore she eliminated in the house. She was scared to even try to take a step in the yard. After that she finally settled down and got some rest. She seems ok right now. Today is 2 days post op. How much should we allow her to try to get up on her own and move around in her limited space? Should we try to keep her totally off her paws right now?
First of all, WELCOME HOME LULU!! Surgery is done!!
So glad she peed and is resting a bit more comfortably.
For now, its rest, rest, rest, SHORT potty break and more rest. So, for now, she's probably whacked from the patch and quite woozy and disoriented. But the patch is crucial for keeping the pain away.
Drinking and peeing are important, but she may be off food and not pooping for a couple of days. Feed her a thing she'll eat for now.
You may have to help her get up for now and assist in walking. She'll get better with her mobility at her own pace.
Yes, she will need better pain management !! Talk with your Vet again and advocate for Gabag and Tramadol. They work well together. The Gabapentin can cause sleepiness, but with the right dose that can be managed. The hospital meds are al ost out of her system and the patch will only last so long.
Hang I there! You are In the roughest part of recovery and it's not easy. It DOES get easier though as you navigate thru the next couple of weeks.
STAY CONNECTED and let is k ow how she's dong......and how YOU are doing!
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!
YAY surgery is over! That's your first big hurdle, congratulations!
I see your other post in Treatment and Recovery (https://tripawd.....-for-lulu/), thank you for starting a new topic, I will answer your questions over there.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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