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 just broght my dog Cyndi home today, she just had her front left leg amputated. I didnt know what to expect. she is a 10 year old pointer mix, she started limping over a year ago. the vet said it was mostlikly a shoulder injury. then this past december she developed a lump, xrays showed it was osteosarcoma. we didnt amputate right away because we just werent sure it was the right thing to do. the lump got bigger and bigger till it broke through her skin, we had no choice, the cancer was not in her lungs, so we decided to amputate. she has been walking on three legs for a long time now so she is used to it. she is in some pain, panting a lot, im hoping the pain meds work. im still worried, and have a slight feeling that i shouldnt have done it, but finding this website has made me feel a whole lot better about our decision!! Im so sorry for what you are going through, i totally understand!! good luck and i hope all goes well!!!! if you do amputate im sure your doggie will be just fine.... good luck agin
Yep, input and output systems are working great. Incision looks amazing. I guess her body is catching up to her new way of getting around. Just wanted to make sure.
kcompton said
I just broght my dog Cyndi home today...
Welcome kcompton, your future forum posts will not require moderation. Please consider starting a new topic or blog to share your story.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
kcompton said
hi...I just broght my dog Cyndi home today, she just had her front left leg amputated. I didnt know what to expect. she is a 10 year old pointer mix, she started limping over a year ago. the vet said it was mostlikly a shoulder injury. then this past december she developed a lump, xrays showed it was osteosarcoma. we didnt amputate right away because we just werent sure it was the right thing to do. the lump got bigger and bigger till it broke through her skin, we had no choice, the cancer was not in her lungs, so we decided to amputate. she has been walking on three legs for a long time now so she is used to it. she is in some pain, panting a lot, im hoping the pain meds work. im still worried, and have a slight feeling that i shouldnt have done it, but finding this website has made me feel a whole lot better about our decision!! Im so sorry for what you are going through, i totally understand!! good luck and i hope all goes well!!!! if you do amputate im sure your doggie will be just fine.... good luck agin
K, we hope that Cyndi has a smooth recovery. Please start a new topic so we can help your situation specifically, we are here to help however you need it. I think once you see how well she gets along after recovery all doubts will be erased from your mind. Keep us posted.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Kcompton, the first three days after surgery, I was convinced that I had made the wrong decision. Those first days are the worst. Zoey was panting heavily, especially right after surgery and we discover that she cannot tolerate certain drugs used for sedation and pain. Once home, it continued a bit as the drugs worked their way out of her system. Because of her reaction, she did not go back on tramadol. She has just been taking gabapentin and deramaxx. She pants a bit after the gabapentin but it goes away. I also have a fan blowing on her to keep her from overheating. She has a very heavy coat (even though it is shaved at the surgical, site) and combined with the t-shirt that we have on her, I worry about her getting too hot. Consider those options for your dog.
Here it is now, 10 days post op, and zoey is doing great!! Today for the first time, she got up on her own, hopped to the door, hopped out to the backyard, sniffed around and went potty, and then hopped back through the hard, to the door and back to her bed, I couldn't believe it!!!!
I am so proud of her!!
Zoey AND Mom, we are so proud of you VOTH:-) 
YAY for Zoey getting stronger and stronger. Considering everything she's been through, her recovery is progressing at a fairly fast pace and it only gets better and better!
Applause to you mom for hanging tough when things were looking bleak and for staying committed to being positive for Zoey!! GREAT JOB:-)
Look forward to more wonderful updates,
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 just wanted to add closure to thins thread.
We lost my beloved Zoey a week ago tomorrow. My heart is forever broken. Thank you to everyone who helped me with her surgery.
Not what I was expecting to read at all! I'm at a loss for words right now.
So very, very, sorry. Our hearts break with you. Zoey is famiy.
It does sound like she got some wo derful quality time with you to create wonderful memories. I kw she got more loving and spoiling than any of you ever imafined possible.
Zoey ws you did everything in tne worl possible for her. We are just so limited n what can be dne with this stuoid hateful disease.
Zoey wn though! She ket her spirit intact and othing can ever touch that!
When you can, I hope you come back to this thread, or somewhere else and tell us ore avout your Oey, okay? We are always here for you and we uderstand like no others can!
Soey left you with a lot of wo derful memories. I kow they're hard to think avout right now. For Zoey thoigh, can you think of so ething that just made her tail wag non-stop? Maybe the sight of seeng you co e home? Or the sight of a cookie? Whatever itis, just kow that everytime she thinks lf you, sne's wagging her takl and smiling the biggest grin possible!
She's tucked safey in yojr heart and will never leave you. Dogs like Zoey can never have their bright light dimmed!
Sihine on Zoey, shine n!
Love to you,
Sally and Nappy 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!
Tucker and I are just two weeks post-amp and I can report that he is doing incredibly well.
Tuck is a large deep chested 9 year old chocolate lab who had his front leg amputated (invasive sarcoma) and he has adapted beautifully to the new him!
Tuck has his stitches removed just yesterday and his surgical site has healed incredibly well.
I agree with everyone else here......it is a bit of a roller coaster the first two weeks but that is due to meds, everyone adapting to the changes and the "human's" anxiety about the amputation.
If you can, stay away from or ignore the negative people in your life who don't agree with your decision for Zoey. You know her the best and she has always trusted you to make the best choices for her.
Look in her eyes and know that in a very short time she will be free of the pain from her cancer and adjusted to her new physical presence!
Keep coming back to this website.....there are a lot of great people here to chat with and to ask questions of.
Good Luck to all of you tomorrow.
Linda and Tucker
Oh Zoey!!! We miss you, darling. Oh dear Zoey. You fought hard and enjoyed the love of your people. We'll miss you. But, we hope your pawrents and us find some level of peace knowing you're no longer in pain or struggling. Run free and fast, dear.
~ 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!
I am so very sorry to hear about Zoey. You both gave it such a good fight. Please do share more about her life, if you'd like in "Coping with Loss." Writing about her and all the good times can help you cope and I know everyone here would love to see some photos when you're up to it. It can help you exchange the sadness you feel for good memories, little by little.
My heart goes out to you, please know we are here for you.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
So, so sorry for your loss. Keep Zoey's memories close to help you through this. Hugs to all of you.
Take care-
Luanne and Spirit Shooter
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.
I'm so sorry Zoey has crossed the bridge. She will live on in your heart and so will always be by your side.
Karen and Spirit Maggie
Thank you. I will tell her story here in the forums one day. Right now I am overcome and incapacitated with grief.
Stay connected tonus, okay? We understand like o others can.
Grief has no rules, no time frames. It's individual and it's devastating and can seemingly suck the life right out of you.
So etimes...not always...so etmes just sharing a memory with s for a second r two, can at least get you through the despair for a brief moment.
The nly thing that I could add is to now that, even though Zoey of course knows yoj are heartbroken, she would want to know that your tears will be replaced with hapoy me ories of her...slowly, but surely. That's why she filled her days up with sme much joy and hapiness and love with you, so you would forever have a smile in your heart when you think of her.
She s tucked safely in the corner of your heart, all snuggled in. You are tucked safely in ner heart and that akes her tail wag and outs a goofy grin on ner face!
We will NEVER forget Zoey! Her life matters to us!
Love and light to you.
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!
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