Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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I apologize this may be a little long. I wanted to tell my pup's story, along with my concerns.
9 years ago my wife told me "I'm getting a dog". I had never had a dog before, only a cat, so I was quite unsure. Plus during my growing up I had run into some dogs that made me feel.. I won't say scared, but perhaps hesitant of being near them. So when my wife (then girlfriend), said this was happening I was unsure. But my wife saw his picture and named him instantly. "I'd name him Ryder," she said, and it was either that day or the next that it happened. I was along for the ride, whether I chose to be or not.
Don't tell my wife (though she already knows this), it was the best decision. Our fur family grew almost yearly after that, a cat (Malachi), another cat (Behr), and then another pup (Memphis) 2 years later. I learned over the years when we got our first dog (Ryder), why they call dogs "Man's Best Friend"... He is undoubtedly mine.
It was 2 weeks ago that I was hit in the gut with a diagnosis I wasn't prepared for. It hit a lot harder than I thought (never felt sadness come on so quickly). It was 4 weeks ago my good boy started limping. My wife and I were concerned but thought he had just hurt himself. We live in the bush, with our house in a hill/escarpment and he always goes up the hill for 2's, and then when done comes down like a rock slide only to make a hard turn at the bottom. We thought he had pulled something. We took him to the Vet and they found a spot on his left shoulder area that was very tender. We got Onsir (anti-inflammatory) and were told to monitor for improvement, before getting an X-Ray. Took a couple days to monitor him and he seemed to get better (I thought, my wife wasn't sure), but then jumped over a tree and yelped loudly and then was limping worse than before. Naturally we thought, if he was getting better he must just have re-injured himself by being silly, and set back his progress. His limping quickly went back to where it was before the vet, then slowly got a bit better. It wasn't until he was lying in the house looking for belly rubs, and I rolled him ever so slightly towards his left shoulder that he let out an awful yelp....."okay, you're right he needs an X-ray," I said.
After a while we got the x-ray results. My wife called me so upset trying to give me the news.
Soon after our x-ray appointment Ryder's pain level jumped. Anti-Inflammatory was not cutting it. He was up all night whining, panting, groaning and readjusting. Although he would still try and walk on his Left Leg, despite the pain. We called the vet, and got 400mg of Gabapentin - twice daily. This helped, and he was acting a bit better now, he even tried running.
We took him to the specialist and they said only the small spot on the left upper leg/shoulder is what they could see (assumed Osteosarcoma, as biopsy is not recommended due to the nature of cancer and all the boxes it checked). They recommended amputation and chemotherapy.
--Chest was clear by CT. Only a mass (possibly cancer) on Liver, but not a typical area for Sarcoma to spread to
--Muscle mass, energy, gait and appetite were good.
--Slight arthritis on Right Leg, and minor hip dysplasia
--No mention of weight. Our Vet said last regular visit, he was slightly overweight (90lbs)... currently now 86lbs.
This decision had me so torn. I hate seeing him in pain, but I am worried amputation will change him, or he'll struggle to do 3 legs and just be miserable in his last days.
Soon after our specialist appointment Ryder's pain skyrocketed. One night he whined, panted, and would not settle on a bed. No matter what side he laid on it was clearly hurting I gave him a second Gabapentin (roughly 8 hours since the last one as the bottle recommended if the paint got worse). By 3am I gave him the Anti-Inflammatory that night (no change). I gave him CBD oil (no help). Finally it reached 7am and I gave him another Gabapentin. He finally started to get drowsy and calm. We called the specialist and got Amantadine that for that night, and agreed we. By the time I got home with the new drug, he couldn't get up without help. I have to lift him up and carry him out to the yard, and carry him back in. He pees only (hasn't gone poop in a day or two now)
We decided. This state we think will be worse than amputation. So we called and made the appointment.
My Pre-op Concerns.
-Right now he barely moves, and when he walks he still tries to use the bad leg, maybe 3 steps then lies down. I'm concerned that because he hasn't essentially switched to three legs on his own (by holding the left leg up) that he won't adjust to being amputated. My wife thinks it is the pain with the pain meds. I haven't found anyone on here so far that talks about their pups behaved prior to surgery, just about them being in pain. ---- Anyone else's pups progress to such intense pain so quickly? Anyone else's pups struggle to move this bad before surgery?
-He still hasn't pooped. Meds may be to blame. He has been having cooked chicken breast with 1/2 banana almost every meal (1/2 banana some times just meal 1 and 4). But I hear post surgery that many pups struggle with the bathroom. --- Do I need to be concerned about his current state before surgery?
My Post-op Concerns.
-I took a week off to help with rehabilitation (especially since I'm the only one who can completely lift him up). My wife will be off for about 2-3 weeks. I'm not expecting it to be easy or quick but I'm curious --- How everyone else handled this situation?
-We have laminate floors and our house is reversed. So we come in to the lower level and spend the majority of the day upstairs, but bedroom is downstairs. --- Do you think we will need toe grips? Will just staying on top of nail trims work instead? How has everyone else's dogs handled these stair and floor type challenges?
-My boy likes to stand on car rides, and paces from window to window. --- How does you pup handle car rides?
-We live in the North and have lots of lakes and get tons of snow --- How does your tri-pawd handle swimming, and getting through snow and ice (especially thick snow)?
I have more questions but I loose track when I write. I'm just so worried and uneasy about this, even if it seems like it could only resolve his pain.
Hi Patrick. Your future posts will not require approval.
I'm sorry to hear about Ryder's diagnosis. Your story reminds me of how I got my first dog - my ex desperately wanted a dog and I'd never had one. Six months later, he was done with me and the dog. She's completely changed my life in ways I never could have expected.
I haven't been on the cancer journey with my dog, but many of our members have. I'll try to answer your questions with what I've learned, but others will chime in with their experiences as well.
Anyone else's pups progress to such intense pain so quickly? Anyone else's pups struggle to move this bad before surgery?
Osteosarcoma is very painful and the pain may affect more than just the leg that requires amputation. Every dog's experience is unique, but I don't think what you're describing is uncommon. Some dogs are able to move pretty well on all four legs up to amputation, others stop using the bad leg, and others don't want to move much at all.
Do I need to be concerned about his current state before surgery?
Have you mentioned this to your vet? The pain is probably the main contributing factor, but not pooping is a serious concern because it could lead to impaction.
We have laminate floors and our house is reversed. So we come in to the lower level and spend the majority of the day upstairs, but bedroom is downstairs. --- Do you think we will need toe grips? Will just staying on top of nail trims work instead? How has everyone else's dogs handled these stair and floor type challenges?
Rear amputees usually have better traction than front amputees, because dogs carry 60% of their weight on their front legs. However, laminate can be a tricky surface. I would start by putting down some throw rugs or yoga mats for traction . Going up stairs is more of a challenge for rear amputees because the hind end provides the propulsion to get up. If you can keep Ryder downstairs for the first couple of weeks while he recovers and finds his hop, that would probably be best. He may need some time to build the stamina necessary to get up a flight of stairs on his own. A harness with a handle, like the Ruffwear Flagline , will allow you to help him while he's recovering. It's too soon to know how he will adapt and if he'll need something like toe grips to get around your house. Toe grips do have a 30 day return window with refund if they don't work for your dog (mine pulled them off), so don't order them until you are ready to use them.
How does you pup handle car rides?
The safest way for a dog to ride in a car is in a crate. If your dog is not confined during a crash, he will become a projectile. Most "seatbelts" for dogs have the potential to do more harm than good because it's easy to wrap the tether around a leg or the neck. You can see where this could go wrong.
How does your tri-pawd handle swimming, and getting through snow and ice (especially thick snow)?
I live in southern New England, so I don't get as much snow as I used to. Winter 2021-2022 we got some serious snow and my tripawd did fine in the deep snow. This past winter we barely got a dusting. My dogs and I love snow and I miss it. I don't take my dogs swimming (the older one hates getting wet). I'm curious how my younger one (the tripawd) would do in the water, though.
Thank you Mischief
Have you mentioned this to your vet? The pain is probably the main contributing factor, but not pooping is a serious concern because it could lead to impaction.
No mention to the vet yet. We are going to call today. Pain, and pain meds were increased on Friday. We are nearing over 48hours. Appetite has been good, and we put water in the food bowl to ensure hydration stays up. We feed a bland dinner. Last night we gave him a good spoon of pumpkin puree and water. We massaged his belly and bum. This morning he seemed whiny for outside (it sounded different than the pain whine). I fear we've done such a good job of teaching him he needs to poop in the woods over the 9 years, that he won't go unless he is in the woods. But when I pick him up and take him to the woods, we maybe goes 3 steps then wants to sit or lie down.
It's too soon to know how he will adapt and if he'll need something like toe grips to get around your house.
The more I think about it, I'm sure I'll need something.When he sits waiting for his food, he always has to readjust because his back legs slowly slide backwards, or his fronts forwards (sometimes both). I'm very concerned about him slipping/falling when he's a tripawd, but we've done socks, booties and bandages on his paws (for various reasons over the years but non-traction related), and he has always tried to or successfully removed them.
I wrote a post for someone else recently with all of the various products I've tried for traction with my tripawd... I'm struggling to find it right now. My quad-pawd tolerates boots well. She's very sensitive to cold and sometimes needs them in the winter. Loki, my tripawd, hates anything on her paws. The good news is Loki doesn't need traction help in my home. My best recommendation for training boots or slipper socks is to do something with your dog once they're on so your dog has something else to think about. Go for a short walk or run through some basic commands. If you put them on and let your dog chill, it's easy for hi to focus on the boots and try to get them off.
I'll try to find a link to that other post for you...
Hi there and welcome to the club nopawdy wants to join. I'm so sorry for the diagnosis, and totally understand where you are coming from. You ask great questions and I can tell your head is spinning (we can't blame you!). I'll try to answer your questions:
-Right now he barely moves, and when he walks he still tries to use the bad leg, maybe 3 steps then lies down. I'm concerned that because he hasn't essentially switched to three legs on his own (by holding the left leg up) that he won't adjust to being amputated. My wife thinks it is the pain with the pain meds. I haven't found anyone on here so far that talks about their pups behaved prior to surgery, just about them being in pain. ---- Anyone else's pups progress to such intense pain so quickly? Anyone else's pups struggle to move this bad before surgery?
Bone cancer pain is excruciating, and no drug can touch it for very long. It's not that the pain came on so quickly, it's that he did a VERY good job hiding it as all dogs do, and he could no longer handle it. Many people upon looking back after surgery, realize their dog was in pain for much longer than they even realised. It's only until you look back that you see it.
I would not be concerned about him not adjusting to life on three. The only time we have seen that happen is when a dog has other existing health issues, and even that is rare. Once that bad leg comes off you will see an incredible difference.
-He still hasn't pooped. Meds may be to blame. He has been having cooked chicken breast with 1/2 banana almost every meal (1/2 banana some times just meal 1 and 4). But I hear post surgery that many pups struggle with the bathroom. --- Do I need to be concerned about his current state before surgery?
Pain and pain meds will do that. He may be constipated for a while after surgery. Let your vet know but it's nothing to be concerned about, as long as he's urinating. Some dogs take up to a week to poop after surgery. Nothing to panic about.
-I took a week off to help with rehabilitation (especially since I'm the only one who can completely lift him up). My wife will be off for about 2-3 weeks. I'm not expecting it to be easy or quick but I'm curious --- How everyone else handled this situation?
That should be about enough time for him to get his sea legs, go up outside to the bathroom, eat and such. He probably won't need as much help as you think as long as his pain management is good.
-We have laminate floors and our house is reversed. So we come in to the lower level and spend the majority of the day upstairs, but bedroom is downstairs. --- Do you think we will need toe grips? Will just staying on top of nail trims work instead? How has everyone else's dogs handled these stair and floor type challenges?
Laminate floors are a tripawd's worst enemy. Whatever you can do to put clear traction tape down on the stairs, and throw rugs with rubber backing on your floors, will help. These are things you would do for a senior dog anyways, you're just doing them earlier. A Ruffwear Flagline or Webmaster harness are essential for slippery stairs in a house like this.
See our Tripawds Recovery Shopping List for some ideas.
-My boy likes to stand on car rides, and paces from window to window. --- How does you pup handle car rides?
Most will do exactly as before. Both front and rear leggers will do the same type of behavior in the car, but you may want to consider a back seat car sling to help him not tip over so often.
-We live in the North and have lots of lakes and get tons of snow --- How does your tri-pawd handle swimming, and getting through snow and ice (especially thick snow)?
Woaaah Nellie! One step at a time., you will get there. He will get to do what he loves, only in more monitored and shorter time periods. Ice and snow can be tricky but again, a harness and Ruffwear boots are our #1 tip for dealing with adverse outdoor conditions. Most dogs will do just fine in their normal environment. Thick snow is really though though, it's a hard workout, so you want to limit his time until he's strong.
A visit with a rehab therapist is really smart. They can guide you on appropriate activity for him, to prevent injury and help build strength. Tripawds Foundation can even pay for your first rehab visit so please take advantage of the program.
I have more questions but I loose track when I write. I'm just so worried and uneasy about this, even if it seems like it could only resolve his pain.
Great, that's why we are here, to help you feel better. Be sure to post bigger questions in appropriate Forums like Hopping Around (for mobility questions),Eating Healthy (for nutrition questions) etc.
Also see Jerry's Required Reading List and the Tripawds e-books library for more ideas.
Keep us posted!
So sorry to hear about Ryder. Just one thing to add to these good posts. We also have two levels with most of the living on the upper level. I've moved my desk down here and we eat down here, outside, usually meals and always dessert. I think that keeps Nicholas cheerful and feeling like part of the family and that's been important in his good recovery. He's a month post op and moving around quite skillfully, just less stamina. It really gets much easier once you've settled on a path forward.
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