TRIPAWDS: Home to 22969 Members and 2152 Blogs.
HOME » NEWS » BLOGS » FORUMS » CHAT » YOUR PRIVACY » RANDOM BLOG

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.

JUMP TO FORUMS

Join The Tripawds Community

Learn how to help three legged dogs and cats in the forums below. Browse and search as a guest or register for free and get full member benefits:

Instant post approval.

Private messages to members.

Subscribe to favorite topics.

Live Chat and much more!

Please consider registering
Guest
Search
Forum Scope


Match



Forum Options



Minimum search word length is 3 characters - maximum search word length is 84 characters
Register Lost password?
sp_Feed sp_PrintTopic sp_TopicIcon-c
Feeling anxious and needing lots of advice and help
sp_NewTopic Add Topic
Member Since:
21 March 2017
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
16
28 March 2017 - 11:15 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Hi all

Barney went in this morning at 7.30am and had his amputation at 11am 😢 The vet called once he had finished and advised that the op went well. I do not get Barney back for 3-4 days now 😢😔 but I know he is in the best place and they will take great after care of him. 

I am very anxious to get him back with us. I'll be needing all your help and advice when he's back. 

Thank you once again 

Naomi and Barney xx

Norene, TN
Member Since:
21 October 2014
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
17
28 March 2017 - 12:00 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Wonderful news!

Now is the time to take advantage of those 3-4 days and prepare yourself mentally, emotionally and physically for his recovery. First, you must get some rest. It's very difficult to stay centered when you're sleep deprived. Take care of yourself so you can take care of Barney.

Prepare yourself for the new normal. Not only will he look different, but he will walk, run, eat, poop, etc., different.

Lastly, forgive yourself for not being able to cure cancer. None of this is your fault, although cancer will make you think it is and will toy with your emotions. Stay strong and Be More Dog .

heart

Harmony became a Tripawd on 10/21/14 (MCT). She left us way too soon on 11/1/14.

"We miss you so much; our love, our heart, our Harmony."

- Pam, Ron and Melody, Meesha, Doublestuff and Mariah Carey

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
18
28 March 2017 - 12:43 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Yay for Barney's surgery success! Thats one big hurdle you two have overcome, congratulations!

The first time you see him try not to be sad. Remember that you are helping him live the best quality of life possible while kicking cancer's butt. Barney's going to rock it on 3, just wait.

Let us know how things are going.

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

Germany
Member Since:
14 December 2016
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
19
28 March 2017 - 1:55 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

harmony said

Wow is the time to take advantage of those 3-4 days and prepare yourself mentally, emotionally and physically for his recovery. First, you must get some rest. It's very difficult to stay centered when you're sleep deprived. Take care of yourself so you can take care of Barney.

Lastly, forgive yourself for not being able to cure cancer. None of this is your fault, although cancer will make you think it is and will toy with your emotions. Stay strong and Be More Dog .

heart  

Naomi, good to hear the surgery went well. I agree with harmony 100%!! (I just couldn't have put it as well)  Manni was in the clinic for 5 days and while I was very anxious to get him back it was also a relief to know he was well cared for. Harmony's last sentence is really important. It will probably take you a while to get to that point because the first few days to weeks will be trying, but there is so much wisdom in that. Barney now has a chance to live because of you. It's not 'he now has to hop through life because of me' but you have been doing everything in your power for him. -don't forget that in the days to come. 

Any questions you have in the near future-come here , ask, let us try and help. 

All the best to Barney!!! And to a speedy recovery! 

Tina & Manni

Guardian of Manni the Wonderdog. -Or was it the other way around?
Osteo and amputation in Dec 2015. Second, inoperable, primary osteosarcoma found in June 2017.
The end of our adventures came Dec 10, 2017. 2 years to the day.

Manni's blog -dogblog-

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
20
28 March 2017 - 4:10 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

YAAAAAAAAAY FOR BARNEY!! 🙂 🙂 Such a relief to hear that surgery is done and Barney is doing well!

Yes, get some rest while you can! Barney is seeing pink elephants and feeling no pain! The Vet may even decide to let Barney go home sooner and then you not get much sleep for a few nights!

A d yes, when you do pick him up just look into his happy eyes and tell him what a good voy he is! Don't even bother to look at his incision (you can sneak a peak later....and they DO shave a lot of fur)! Barney will be soooo happy to see you and he just wants to go home and get out of there!

We'll be right here to offer support and any first hand tips you may need.

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!



Member Since:
21 May 2016
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
21
28 March 2017 - 4:17 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Hi Naomi and Barney,

Soooooo glad to hear surgery went well !

Yes, you've got a few days to adjust to the new normal, remember Barney is going to be as happy as before and will adapt to his new life on three before you know it.

Try to be cheerful when you pick him up and don't even look at the incision, just look at his cute little face and his huge smile when he sees his Mommy!

Have you got traction covered for when he comes back home?

Eurydice (a front legger) wore a Tshirt with a soft harness over it to protect the incision until stitches came out. 

We are all here for you both so please keep us updated!

Sending you a big hug,

Teresa and Eurydice xx

Eurydice 77kg/170lb Great Dane limping end of April 2016, amputation (right front leg/osteosarcoma) 4 May 2016 6 courses of carboplatin followed by metronomic therapy, lung mets found 30 Nov 2016. 3 courses of doxorubicin, PET scan 26 Jan 2017 showed more mets so stopped chemo. Holistic route April 2017. Lung X-ray 5 May 2017 showed several tennis ball size mets, started cortisone and diuretics. Miss Cow earned her XXL silver wings 12 June 2017, 13 months and 1 week after amputation and 6 1/2 months after lung mets, she was the goofiest dawg ever and is now happily flying from cloud to cloud woof woofing away :-) 

Livermore, CA




Member Since:
18 October 2009
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
22
28 March 2017 - 11:00 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Good to hear the surgery is done and was a success- quite a feeling of relief I bet!

Rest up for the next few days so you can be positive and strong when you pick up your boy.

Keep us posted on his homecoming!

Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls

Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.

1999 to 2010

 

              Maggie's Story                  Amputation and Chemo

London, UK


Member Since:
15 December 2015
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
23
30 March 2017 - 4:33 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Great news re the surgery. Ditto all of the above. Meg was in for a similar time post amp and I do think that was helpful for her, though I know how eager I was to have her home. Rest up, and stay tuned. We are all thinking of you.

Meg, Clare and Elsie Pie xxx

Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, 23 November 2023, adopted 12 January 2024.

Also Angel Tripawd Meg (aka The Megastar), who died in April 2023, aged 14, after seven glorious years on three, and Angel Staffies Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...

The Amazing Adventures of Ruby Tuesday 

My Life as a Megastar

Member Since:
21 March 2017
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
24
30 March 2017 - 11:46 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Hi all

firstly, you are all lovely. Thank you for your kind kind words, they are so reassuring to me 😊

Ok, so I have spoken to the nurses twice a day and they have sent me pictures and today a video, to which we all 😭 Lots of happy tears. Barney is amazing! He is already since tuesadays op walking only on a lead! Fantastic, I am amazed guys. He is so brave and my hero x 

He is now only on 1 pain relief and antibiotics and has had his catheter removed today. He has only eaten twice since he went in to them but that is Barns he's quite the king when it comes to his food, so I already have the lamb here ready to cook for him 😀 

We have bought a harness that you all recommended and have a ramp for in and out of house and car. We have bought a lot of carpet runners and yoga rubber mats for around the house.

I know we have a new road ahead and I'm excited to be there right next to my Barney bear for him to show me ❤️ 

Thankyou all again for your advice and any further tips would be greatly appreciated 

Naomi and Barney xxx

Schofield, WI
Member Since:
13 August 2015
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
25
30 March 2017 - 4:59 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Boy sounds like you've covered everything!   These dogs are so amazing!  They just pick up and figure it out!  How wonderful they're sending you video updates!  Barney will be home shortly and then you get to experience spoiling your tripawd to the extreme.   Barney sounds like he's quite a character and I'm sure you'll both be happy once he's home again and under your watchful eye.  Almost there!

Hugs!

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
26
30 March 2017 - 9:32 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Such a good update! YAY BARNEY! 🙂 Up and walking YAY! 🙂

It's wonderful that the clinic is sending you pictorial updates.

Yeah, not feeling much like eating is normal. That will change when he gets home and has homecooked meals of lamb, steak a d scrambled eggs and ice cream for dessert! 🙂

The Vet will most likely send you home with Tramadol, Rimadyl and antibiotic and Gabapentin. You may have to tweak the doses a bit depending innhiw Barney is doing. It IS MAJOR SURGERY and it hurts!

We'll be watching for more updates. Get some good zzzz's while you can! 🙂

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!

Member Since:
21 March 2017
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
27
3 April 2017 - 4:28 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Hi all

so we are home now and Barney is seeming more like himself 😀👍 snoring away in the living room knowing he's now safe 😊 I am totally in Awe of Barney guys. He is amazing. Aww we had our first walk at home this morning and we made it to the top of the road before he sat down but still fantastic seen as it's only been 7 days. How far/long did you all walk your doggies at first? Barney is only on one tablet which is again amazing. The vets said he was very comfortable so didn't need any more 👍 

His wound is covered ATM with bandages but they are gradually peeling off as Barns scratches his stitches! He is bruised a lot all underneath 😒 But each day I am noticing this reduce. His wound was weeping a lot straight after surgery and the vets have told me that the flappy skin under his belly is the fluid/blood that will disburse over time. It hasn't leaked at all at home. 👍 

So up to now all is great in our household. 

Once again, thanks all 

Barney and Naomi xxx

Germany
Member Since:
14 December 2016
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
28
3 April 2017 - 4:40 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Hey! Great update!! Sounds like Barney is doing really well!! 🙂

It took about a week at least for me to get my dog going again and then we only went for about 5-10 minutes at a time. But not really because anyone recommended it, mainly because I felt that would be ok for him to manage. We gradually built up the length of our walks after that.

You do want to make sure that he doesn't open up his stitches with the scratching though. The bruising is pretty normal. Manni looked terrible at first but it gradually subsided. As long as it doesn't swell up again or turn really hot it should be ok.

all the best!!

tina & Manni

Guardian of Manni the Wonderdog. -Or was it the other way around?
Osteo and amputation in Dec 2015. Second, inoperable, primary osteosarcoma found in June 2017.
The end of our adventures came Dec 10, 2017. 2 years to the day.

Manni's blog -dogblog-

Member Since:
14 February 2016
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
29
3 April 2017 - 4:45 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Great update.  Our dogs truly are amazing!  

We didn't do any more than short leashed potty breaks for the first two weeks.  It takes a while for their muscles to adjust to the new stance and gait, and you don't want to pull a muscle or cause other injury by going too fast.  Try to keep him reasonably quiet until the staples come out.  If the weather is nice, perhaps just go outside and sit with him?

Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016.  Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016.  Lung mets August 25, 2016.  Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016.   Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.  

Wherever they are, they are together.

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
30
3 April 2017 - 12:19 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Yay for Barney's healing! That's so cool he's doing so well.

As for walks, vets tell us that dogs should be kept on very, leashed short potty walks until stitches are out. After that, just a few minutes at a time and building up to a maximum of 15-20 minutes once the dog is back to normal activity levels. Anytime a dog sits down on a walk it's their way of telling us they've overdone their activity so use care and Barney can avoid muscle strains and joint stress.

Be sure to check out our e-book, Loving Life On Three Legs , for lots of great tips about fitness, diet and more.

Also since Barney has graduated from this forum topic, please start a new one somewhere like "Treatment and Recovery" or whatever kind of issue you want to discuss, or even just to Share Your Story OK? Thanks!

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

Forum Timezone: America/Denver
Most Users Ever Online: 946
Currently Online:
Guest(s) 209
Currently Browsing this Page:
1 Guest(s)
Member Stats:
Guest Posters: 1268
Members: 17732
Moderators: 6
Admins: 3
Forum Stats:
Groups: 4
Forums: 24
Topics: 18610
Posts: 256798
Administrators: admin, jerry, Tripawds
Tripawds is brought to you by Tripawds.
HOME » NEWS » BLOGS » FORUMS » CHAT » YOUR PRIVACY » RANDOM BLOG