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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The suggestion to have the amp earlier in the week makes sense, I never looked at it like that before!
As for preparing your home, check out Jerry's Required Reading List and Tripawds e-books for our best tips.
Don't worry, you will do FINE! Knowledge is power and you've done a great job preparing. Be strong and know that you are a great pack leader. Show her, tell her that you believe she'll be fine and she will.
More to come, gotta run!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hooray for doc student! Me too! You ready to get another PhD in canine oncology? Join the club.
OK, some random thoughts: puppy may be too drugged or sore to know what's going on at night to worry/want to sleep with you. I'd be prepared to cuddle in bed with pup. I'd also be prepared to not to, b/c pup is too whacked out to figure out how to best sleep. Sleep is hard to come by, for us, those first few nights. It took Jackson weeks to finally rest on his stump. But tried all the time. So he'd circle, and circle, and circle, try to get down, couldn't then circle and circle in the other direction until he's finally plop down from where he came. I felt badly. But, he rested after all that work! So...your pup may not, might not, be able to sleep with you.
Throw rugs are awesome. Fill your home!
I'm thrilled to hear reinforcements are coming! That'll be wonderful!
You are taking away pain. You are giving back life. Yep, your pup is senior and recovery can take a few weeks. But, boy oh boy, for those where amp is appropriate, it's the best thing ever. Life and spunk returns! Not amp'ing...can end a good thing too soon.
Your pup is going to excel! PROMISE!!!
You got this.
~ Katy & Jackson
ACL tear in right hind leg 12/5/12 and scheduled ACL repair surgery 12/21/12. Pre-op xrays revealed osteosarcoma. Amputation 12/28/12. Chemo (carboplatin) started Jan 10, 2013 and ended on April 5, for a total of 5 doses. He handled carbo like a champ! No side effects. We started metronomic therapy at his third chemo and have been also doing some holistic treatments. He's a lively, playful 10 year old huskie-boarder collie and a very proud member of the Winter Warriors! Our love. Our funny little guy!
Welcome Danell and Kasey-
Glad to hear the initial diagnosis was so good. Mast cell is rather unusual and requires amputation when on the leg. I'm sure Kasey will adapt really well. It's not a walk thru the park the first week or two (every dog is different), but once the pain starts to fade and the drugs can be reduced you'll be surprised. Shooter was 13 and never thought too much on having 3 vs. 4 legs. I do highly recommend massage as the change in how the body works can create muscle soreness. For the first month I did this almost every night and it really made a difference. There are others on here that have used swimming therapy and acupuncture with great results.
We'll be watching for updates and sending good thoughts your way.
Luanne
Spirit Shooter was a Miniature Australian Shepherd who was diagnosed with a MCT and had a LF amp 1/28/13 at 13-1/2 years old.
Shooter crossed the Bridge on 8/28/13, his 7 month ampuversary and two weeks from his 14th birthday.
The pug girls always slept with me. When Maggie had her amp I slept on an air mattress on the floor and she slept in her bed near me. After a week or so we went back to my bed. Mag was always cautious and never tried to get off the bed on her own after surgery.
How about putting your mattress on the floor? I did that last year when quad-pug Obie had knee surgery. It kept some semblance of normal and I didn't have to worry about him jumping.
Funny side story- my older pug Tani, who was then 12, had finally stopped jumping off the bed, or going down the little stairs I built. Even with the mattress on the floor she waited for me to help her down!
Good luck Monday!
Karen and Spirit Maggie
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
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