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 there!
My apologies if I'm repeating anything, but I am at work and only skimmed previous replies. 
First thing I would suggest is if possible, have someone go with you to pick her up so that someone can sit with her in the car and you don't have to worry about her stability in the car while you are driving.
My house is hardwood so I prepared a recovery area with area rugs, comfy things, and food dish area nearby.
If the vet doesn't supply you with a sling to help support her at first, you can make one by adding handles or straps to a dishtowel (that's basically what they sent us home with). there are other products available (check out the Gear section here) but if you need something last minute you have options.
Once all the doubters see how happy she is and how quickly she's recovering, hopefully they will stop being so judgmental. But remember, she's your baby and you know her best. You don't need to justify anything to anyone.
Hope this helps!
Mica & Roxy
Sorry..keeps cutting off! Also want to add...and I forgot who said it...but the ones you've told. Ask then if they'd want to be euthanized in a few weeks due to unbearable pain or have their leg taken off and live a life free from pain and full of love:-)
Sort is alert an happy and briskly enjoying life...and will ciponti UE to do so after surgery:-)
By the way, it took me weeks to make the decision and I actually cancelled the surgery once, if of twice!!
Soooooo, just talk to us and your vet.....we u derstand:-) we are all here for you and understand exactly what you are going throuh:-)
Sort is a strong Collie type and will adjust just fine:-)
Putting you in a beautiful crystal bubble to protect you from anything trying to disempower you and take away your focus of what's best for Sort!! Giving Sort a chance at more quality life is NOT a selfish decision....it's a selfless decision:-)
Lots of love, Sally and Happy Hannah
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!
zoey1 said
I'm facing a lot of criticism and judgement from family, friends and my horse trainer who all think that it's horrible what I'm doing.
Do I put Zoey through a month (or so) of pain, confusion, etc. just to get a bit more time with her? Is that fair, especially if she doesn't adjust/recover from the surgery? It sounds horrible, but I'm torn between releasing her now instead of putting her through major surgery and pain.
Ok, first off, ignore them. Zoey is not their dog and it's not their decision. This post has some great comebacks for negative reactions. I'm pretty sure that every one of us who had to make this decision has faced this situation, which only made us stronger and our bond even deeper with our animals.
The thing about amputation is, you aren't prolonging her life, you are helping her to live a pain-free life. There is a big difference between this decision and say, keeping her on life support. Now, when someone says you are being selfish, why not ask them; why is it OK to amputate a person's leg but not an animals, if the outcome, a pain-free life, is the same? Why is it OK to believe animals shouldn't live life with one less limb but not humans? You'll get the old "but they're not human" remark but that's OK, because until a person's been through this, they have no idea how they would react. So ignore them.
As far as what the eventual outcome is; every living thing eventually succumbs to death. Nobody knows whether that's going to be tomorrow or ten years from now or whenever; the same things applies to animals. Always remember that statistics are just guesses; many, many Tripawds have beaten the odds and gone on to live wonderful lives, sometimes for years, sometimes just for a few months. But in the animal's eyes, time doesn't matter, all that matters is they spent those moments with their pack, pain-free and enjoying every minute.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Our greyhound had her front right leg amputated about 7 weeks ago is doing fine, almost running on three legs. Our best advice would be to try to keep her at the vets for a few days. We took her home the next day and it was a mistake, could't do much with her and had to take her back the next day.She was very stressed and had a high fever. After several days she came home a different dog, was much better and made the healing process a lot easier. If you can affort it I would highly recomend doing it. Hope everything goes well.
Brindie
Do not worry about what other people say (this includes us too if we get too pushy
). I am so surprised that even a horse trainer would have that attitude - us horse people do many things to help our horses stay comfortable and live longer. It is your decision and what is best for you and Zoey is what is most important. Dogs are so tough and adaptable and we should all look up to them as the face adversity with courage and heart. Hang in there - it will be OK.
My surgeon kept Shooter for two days as the pain management
is so important and even though I wanted him home, I think that was the best for him. If they can't keep her, you will get through this with lots of care, patience and no sleep
.
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.
Its only natural to start second guessing your decision to amputate. I think almost everyone on this site, at some time, before their surgery did the same thing. It is a big decision to make. Its a decision that you and you alone have to make. DO NOT listen to the people that are saying negative things. Zoey is your baby and you are doing what you feel is best for her. If those people were in your shoes, I'm sure they would be singing a different tune. I would love to see the look on their faces when Zoey comes running up to them the next time they see her.
When Zoey is fully recovered from her surgery, you are going to look back and wonder why you even had any doubts. When Cadence was diagnosed, I was more worried about the cancer spreading, than the actual amputation. I had read so many posts on how well the dog will adjust, that I just knew in my heart she would be ok with it. And she was. She was no longer in pain and was able to still go to her favorite park and she still went in the water.
I will be thinking about you and Zoey tomorrow. Please keep us updated on how the surgery went. We are all her for you. Take a deep breath...everything is going to be just fine.
“Dogs are our link to paradise. They don't know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring--it was peace.” ― Milan Kundera
Thank you, each and every one. Today has been a roller coaster. I did speak with my vet. She does send most amputees home the day of surgery, and she is quite experienced. She says that she sets up a port/IV/something! that allows the caregiver, me, to inject the pain meds straight into her system. She said that she is a strong advocate of staying ahead of pain and that with this system, her patients have a relatively easy recovery. She also said that she could arrive at my house in the middle of the night if needed.
She mentioned several other things that she does to allow for better recovery at home.
Should I get one of those cooling those beds? Did your dogs seek out something cool to lay on?
That's interesting about your vet's approach. It's good that she's on top of the pain medications...did you ask her what she uses? What were her other recommendations? Just curious.
The thing about the dog coming home the same night is it's usually a lot for a pet pawrent to handle. If you feel up to the task and your vet is willing to come over if necessary, it should be fine. And it's a lot better than leaving her in a clinic all alone.
Some dogs seek cool, others don't, it's really a toss up but they are great in hot weather that's for sure. Did you see the therapeutic ones on our Beds Page in the Gear Blog?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Maybe I'll beg her to take care of zoey tomorrow night. If not, I'll be as prepared as possible.
Jerry, I looked at my notes that I scribbled down while she was explaining things to me about the pain relief. This is what I wrote down, perhaps someone here will understand it: will insert a "pain drain". It's a rubber catheter. (this next part, I have no idea what I meant) - "syringe into for local block". I'll find out more tomorrow.
I asked her about the Amantodine. She said that she doesn't need to use it as with her method of constant pain relief, there is no pain "wind up".
She said that she's been thinking about zoey's case all day and has decided to do a partial, or "poor man's" amputation. She doesn't want to amputate all the way to the scapula. She's instead going to the hock (do dogs have hocks? I thought it was just horses!) and then a wrap of her muscles. She said that it will provide a more even weight distribution to help in zoey's recovery and learning to walk again and that it would be less traumatic for her to recover from.
Last question: would any of you mind if I print out some of your posts to give to some doubting friends? You each made some valid points that I had not been able to put into words.
Feel free to print anything of mine.....it'll be pretty hard to read though with all typos..... of for the novice reader:-)
You may consider just letting them think what they want, be judge mental if they so desire and you and Zoey put all your energy into begging the vet to let a vet tech spend the night with Zoey:-)
Don't know enough to answer any of your surgery questions......just assuming she's not talking about leaving part of the limb....... I DO know that scenario could cause problems:-)
One more thing....IF you do take her home first night (sorry....and I'm not usually this point blank at all......but that would really scare me, I don't care ow drugged she is!) Make ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN YOU HAVE EXACT PRECISE DIRECTIONS....READ WHAT YOU'VE WRITTEN BACK TO HER AND HAVE HER SIGN OFF ON YOUR NOTES:-)
Again, all this in the "for whatever it's worth"!
You and Zoey are going to enjoy every blissful. Moment of this journey and your new, deepened bond.
Please keep us posted, please!
Sally and Happy Hannah
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 like how your vet is into the pain relief methods, too many aren't.
Yes you can print out whatever you like of mine. Better yet our ebook, Three Legs and a Spare , has a lot of thought about this in the early chapters.
I apologize for overwhelming you but one thing you may want to consider about a partial amputation are the experiences that others have gone through when it comes to a "poor man's amputation." Keep in mind I'm not a vet so take that for what it's worth...but what we've seen oftentimes with member's partial front limb amputations is they don't always heal as expected and oftentimes a second surgery is needed. If you are comfortable with your vet doing it this way and you're OK with your dog having a second surgery if needed at all, ask her how she will handle this situation and if she will charge you for it. Some vets will and some won't.
Second Surgery to Remove the Scapula
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Oh wow, thanks for that information. I already dropped zoey off but the surgery is scheduled for later this morning. I read the information in the link you provided and I just now left a message for the vet to call me BEFORE the surgery. Thank you for telling me.
Good luck today! I forgot the surgery was today, I didn't meant to overwhelm you at all, I hope I didn't. Please know that every dog is different with their recovery and no matter what, you're being a great advocate for Zoey, she will do just fine with you there for her.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Good luck today Zoey! You are going to do GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Come by the chat room
today if you need to talk at all I'm there all day and night
Jill is a 9-year-old tuxedo kitty. She was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma in June 2012 on her toe in her right hind leg. Her leg was amputated on 12/12/12 and she completed four rounds of chemo (2 of Carbo, 2 of Doxy) in April 2013. "Like" Jill's facebook page: https://www.fac.....tty?ref=hl Proud member of the WINTER WARRIORS!!!! Her blog can be read at http://jillsjou.....ipawds.com. xoxo
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