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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So glad to have found your forum. My 3 year old foster/rescue ( Dolly Momma) is having her rear leg amputated on Wed. 3/26. When she was found she was like a country western song - she was pregnant (had 8 healthy puppies - all adopted now) - she was/is full of buckshot (old and not causing any issues now) - she was HW positive (just completed treatment) - and her right rear leg was damaged and shorter. Her x-rays show that her leg was likely broken when she was 11 months old and never set - the bone adapted but the leg is permanently damaged as muscle,and tendons have shrunk. She occasionally balances on it but usually hops on the good leg already. We have been systematically dealing with every issue and now the last hurdle is her leg. She has been evaluated by 5 different vets, including an Orthopedic vet in Atlanta and the vet. college at Virginia Tech. They all agree that amputation is the best way to proceed due to her young age and the extent of damage to her leg. In spite of ALL this - she is the sweetest dog I've ever fostered. She loves everyone, even my cat. She has no bad habits - which is amazing for a coonhound who obviously was an abused hunting dog at some point in her life. So she's overcome a lot already.
I am worried about next week. I'm nervous about getting her out of the car when we get home (she weighs 60+ lbs.) and about helping her adjust when she gets home. Reading everyone's stories has given me courage that we can make it through this next week and beyond.
I am sure I will be asking lots of questions.....thanks again - it helps to realize how many others have done so well.
I have one current practical question. She has a wire crate in my bedroom where she sleeps with the door open. It is large so she has plenty of room. She also has a regular, soft dog bed in the den by the fireplace. She typically prefers the crate - when she naps during the day, she usually chooses the crate over the soft bed. Will the crate be difficult for her to negotiate after surgery? Should I put it away and replace with just a regular, soft bed (I don't need it as a crate - she has full run of the house) - OR would she do better without the change - is the crate a place of security for her? Would she be more stressed if I moved it? Or (another question) am I going to need to crate her and not allow her to move around the house at first? Thanks for any ideas on this!
Hi there and welcome, your future posts won't require moderation and appear immediately. Dolly Momma sounds like a real sweetie.
Well yay for doing such extensive research and getting opinions abut Dolly Momma's leg, that's awesome everyone is in agreement about how to proceed. If you haven't already do check out Jerry's Required Reading List and the Tripawds e-books , especially Loving Life on Three Legs, which is a guide for staying strong and fit after surgery. I think you'll be very surprised at how well she does, 60 pounds isn't that big compared to a lot of dogs here, she will do great.
Make sure your home's floors are slip-proof; adding traction with throw rugs and runners will help tremendously. Raised feeders will also make her more comfortable. As for the crate, it sounds ideal and I'm gonna bet that she will be fine in there, I would leave it, it sounds like a good place for her to recover.
You sound like a great foster pawrent, you'll do fine! And we're here to help so please feel free to post any other questions you have. Oh will she be available for adoption after she recovers? If so our Tripawd Rescue Forum is available to help spread the word!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thank you so much - I will read everything I can before next week! I want to be prepared. I was thinking of traction as we have all hardwood floors. She is currently doing well on those and rarely uses her bad leg - but I do have a few yoga mats I can use.
She will be available for adoption after she recovers (unless I "foster fail").... this is the longest I have kept a foster and am getting attached... so we will see. Our rescue just took in another that had to have his rear leg amputated - a redbone coonhound.
Concerning all the vet opinions - we first rescued her in Virginia - so she went through several vets there and that is where we got the opinion from Va. Tech. Then - as she was pregnant - we brought her to Ga. to welp her puppies and she went to another foster until her puppies were weaned and adopted. THEN - she came to me for further treatment. First her spay - then her HW treatment (which took 30 days of restricted activity) - this also helped her put on much needed weight. During this time - we debated her leg and my vet suggested another opinion from an Orthopedic vet in Atlanta. So - we did that.... I can't say enough about American Black and Tan Coonhound Rescue ... they go above and beyond to help the dogs survive and thrive. I've been fostering for them for about a year and a half. Dolly Momma is my 12th foster but the first one with *so* many health problems....
Thanks again! Planning to enjoy this last weekend with her before surgery. (That is her in my avatar)
Wow! Dolly Momma is so lucky she found you! Poor girl has been though so much. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a "foster failure" 
!
Is there a blanket or pad in her crate? If not, you could put something in to see if she still likes the crate with something soft in it. Just be sure to try it before the surgery. If she does like it, it will be the best of both worlds...a safe place and comfort. Try to use something washable in case her would drains.
Good luck. Let us know how she is.
Hugs,
Carol
I hear ya on getting out of the car. getting in is tougher on my guy as he is a front leg Tripawed. To get him out, I usually put his bed in my car and then pull it out some to form a bit of a ramp. It has memory foam inside, so is kind of stiff. I also cut the sides out of a fabric shopping bag and have wrapped that around him for extra support getting in and out. looks a little funny , but
you just adapt. As for the crate, I would leave it. If it is too hard to go in,she will not. Maybe put a bed beside it also, kind of give her a choice? My Corgi has free run of the mud room( the only place I can as of yet let her out unsupervised.) She pees on all my throw rugs. Catch 22, need them for my 3 legged guy and cant have them because of my short legged girl. Anyway, where I was going with that, is she still goes to bed in her crate. It seems cozy to her I guess. Good luck next week, she will do great! Lori & Ty
TY GUY, Best Black Lab ever! Diagnosed and had amp in January, 2014. Kicked MRSA's butt. Earned his angel wings on April 16, 2014. Run Free my boy and don't forget a shoe. Ty is a proud member of the " April Angels". Ty sent us Daryl, a Tripawd rescue in Sept. of 2016. Daryl is 5 +or -. We are also Pawrents to Chandler, a Border Collie mix who is 15 and 1/2, Lucy, a Corgi who is 7, 2 minis, 2 horses, and a feisty cat named Zoe. Zoe had a non skeletal Osteosarcoma removed in July 2015. No Chemo, she was at least 16. She is going strong although she is now completely blind. She is now close to 20 and her hobbies are eating and sleeping in front of her personal heater.
OMD!! What a journey!! What a lucky girl to have you in her life!! Love her face and love her name!!
You've gotten some agreat advice!
My favorite bed in the whole world is the Big Barker Dog Bed...you can search here for it and order here from Amazon. Not sure how much the Dolly Momma weighs, but they only recommend this bed for large dogs. It's very much like a "tempurpedic" for dogs. Firm so they can stand and not risk falling on too much softness. Great for joint support, etc.
Do any of the vets suggest waiting maybe another thirty days to let her fuly recover from all her surgies, HW treatment etc. or do they feel she needs to have it done ow. It is a major surgery nd recovery is no picnic for about the first two weeks. I'm sure they've considered every angle though.
Raised food and wter bowls help too. Do you have stairs for outside? You may want to co sider building a ramp if you do.
YOU are a SAINT!! Thank goodness she has you as her human! Thak yo for all you do to help these wo derful souls! thank yo! Let us kow how we can help...we are all here for you cheering you both n!
Happy Hannah and I live in Virginia with two other slightly senior rescues. If you ever decide to send her back to her Virginia home............just sayin'
Sending lots of hugs!
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!
What a warm welcome! Let's see - she currently has a king size comforter folded in her crate so I can wash it. I may go purchase the foam pad that fits the crate and put a washable cover over that. After reading all the great information here - the current set-up may be too soft for her after surgery. I will also check out that Big Barker Bed .
As far as scheduling - She was spayed - then given 30 days to recover - then had the HW treatment - then given another 30 days to recover. It's not the same urgency as if she had cancer, so we could wait awhile... I think the rescue usually wants to get vetting done asap - so they can start to seek adopters. I have planned it so I will be home with her the first 5 days - then work 2 days (just a few hours) - then I will be home for a week for spring break.
I have no stairs in or out of house so that is a blessing! I've ordered the elevated bowls - hopefully they will come so she can try them out before next week. I plan to shop and cook a little this weekend - boiled chicken, brown rice, and broth and freeze it for later in case she needs to be tempted to eat.
Thanks for the description, Lori - of getting out of the car. I actually had a 130 lb. bloodhound that was not injured but didn't like getting in the car. I kept thinking, "I could NEVER adopt such a large dog, if something happened, I'd have to call the fire department to help me load him to go to the vet". Funny the weird things you worry about - somehow the car has been one of my big worries - I can pick up her front feet and she hops in now - guess I'd worry about the incision, or her falling if I did something wrong, etc. I do have a husband but he had a stroke and cannot help me at all with lifting.
I am still reading, reading.... such great info. here!! You have brought down my anxiety level several notches already ~
HI there, Your pup is lucky to have been found but someone so caring!
I do not blame you one bit for being nervous. I have a 9 year old rotti/pitt mix and she had a rear leg amputated 1 week ago. I was fortunate to find this site about 2 months ago and the support is amazing. Use it and you will be able to give back and help others as well.
I was super nervous about everything but Ripple doesn't seem to know anything is amiss. I thought the amp site would be horrid looking (it was not) I thought I would just bawl when i saw her (I did not) I thought she'd not be able to get around (she was/is) and I think most of my fear was of the unknown, what it would be like to bring her home. It was fine, she settled right in immediately. We have no rugs in our house and that can make it tricky but if she is used to that already it should be ok. The only issue she had getting into the car was her cone was too big. We forced them to take it off and to be honest, we have never put it on. She has had so many surgeries and seems instinctively to know not to go after stitches.
Everyone said the first 2 weeks are bad and so far it has been Ok but yes, some parts are difficult. The meds seem to be giving her anxiety and there is a lot of pacing and panting. But she wants to go on walks and her attitude is great and it all worthwhile.
It IS scary but know that you are doing what is right and you guys will be OK. You are fortunate to have each other.
Welcome!
Dolly Momma is SOOO lucky to have found such a great foster mom who will help her through this journey.. and a journey it is! Definitely do the traction .. we have all carpet so didn't have to worry, but when we took cody out to the pet store he slid all over when he got excited! They have gripper socks you can get for that, we are thinking about getting some just so we have them! My advise to you is to take it day by day. The first two weeks after surgery are the worst. It's such a roller coaster but you CAN do it and so can Dolly Momma! Keep us posted on everything and good luck!
Cody and Family
Cody is our 7 year old Australian Heeler mix boy. Diagnosed on 2/20/14 and became a tripawd 2/21/14! We chose a homeopathic approach and he is being treated by Dr. Loops our of NC.
Welcome....and what a lucky girl, Dolly Mama is!
Personally.....I suspect that a foster fail may be in the cards for this young lady....how could you not get attached!!!
Everyone has already given you fabulous advice about traction and raised bowls so my only piece of advice would be to stay in touch with everybody here after her surgery....the first two weeks can be a bit of a rollercoaster....questions about meds - eating - walking - first pee - first poo - we talk about it all!
Have a fabulous weekend with her....but I think you will find that she will still be able to enjoy the same things on three legs as she did on four
Hugs
Linda and Tucker
Welcome to the group! And I'm excited we have another Georgia member. I was Brendol's momma (a pitt mix that had bone cancer) and I have another tripawd, Adelaide (a husky from a bad break), and we are in Gwinnett County. You are taking such good care of Dolly Momma that I sort of hope you are a foster fail. Good luck with the surgery and let us know how everything is going. Usually, a couple folks are in the chat room in the evenings if you'd like to join us there as well.
Karma, Adelaide and the crew, and always our angel Brendol
Adelaide is a young tripawd Husky, from an injury. Her amp was on 10/1/12. She has 4 sisters, Aissa (a senior border collie/chow), Maggie May (a puppy Great Pyrenees), Mathilde and Morrigan and 1 baby brother, Bagheera. We are all watched over by our angel Brendol, who was dx with OSA 1/30/13, amp on 2/6/13, and left us on 8/20/13.
You can read their stories at http://adelaide.tripawds.com and http://brendol.tripawds.com
Dolly Momma, what a cute name and what a lucky girl to have you! I had to laugh when you said she was like a country song I don't have much to add but wanted to say Welcome! Keep us posted!
Mom to Tripawd Angels Jake (2001-2014) and Rosco (2012-2015) and Tripawd Tanner. “Whatever happens tomorrow, we had today; and I'll always remember it”
Is this community great or what? And so are YOU by the way! 12 fosters and all this that you've been through with Dolly Momma? She scored! I can tell you'll both do great.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi gamom, just wanted to add my support for you, and so sweet, Dolly Momma. I absolutely love those Coon Hounds, what beautiful dogs they are. I really don' t have anything more to add, everyone else here did an awesome job covering just about everything. The one thing I CAN add, is that our Tripawds do wonderful after amp, and after they heal. They never know they are missing a leg. I also want to say that it takes very special people to foster pets.....I could never do it because I would end up keeping every one if them. Thank you for doing what you do.
Keep us all updated on your pretty girl, and keeping you and her in my thoughts....
Bonnie & Angel Polly
The resiliency of dogs is so inspiring!
My little pug Maggie was a rear amp, never had much trouble getting her in or out of my truck 
She was walking the day of surgery, but it took her quite a while to build up her strength and stamina.
You have lots of good advice, I just wanted to say welcome. I know her surgery will go well, 3/26 was Maggie's birthday!
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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