Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Also, I did use intermittent ice packs on buddy's incision site. I got one of those frozen packs from CVS or frozen peas work. That helped a lot. I would ice him 3-4 times a day after I got his meds on board
Yaay! One night down, huzzah! And a first poop already? WOOHOO! Karl rocks!
Yes, this is pretty typical for the first couple of days. Just stay on top of his pain control and if it seems the meds aren't working (either he's too agitated/nervous/anxious or too dopey), let your vet know. And yes, you're right to be concerned about him moving around too much. Right now he should only go outside for potty breaks. R&R will do a world of good.
Keep it up, you're doing pawesome!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
It sounds like he's ahead of the game already! Nitro wouldn't eat (or poop) for the first week....we had to shovel spoonfuls of yogurt down his throat just to get him meds in him. The first couple weeks of recovery can be 1 step forward, 2 steps back, so don't be discouraged if you experience this. Just roll with it, stay positive, and know that better days are coming. Celebrate every milestone no matter how small they seem.
Paula and Nitro
Nitro 11 1/2 yr old Doberman; right front amp June 2014. Had 6 doses carboplatin, followed by metronomic therapy. Rocked it on 3 legs for over 3 years! My Warrior beat cancer, but couldn't beat old age. He crossed the Bridge peacefully on July 25, 2017, with dignity and on his terms. Follow his blog entitled "Doberman's journey"
"Be good, mama loves you".....run free my beautiful Warrior
Thank you everyone. 😊 We were up so much last night. Yikes! Between medications, pacing, potty and food, yes Karl s eating better and drinking from his raised bowls. Yes! I am really concerned though, he's limping on his back left foot, oh boy. ( he's a right front amp. ) this is really causing me some stress, did he have a problem with it before and I just didn't notice because of the trouble in the front?
He's doing good otherwise and the fentynal patch comes off today.
It' s beautiful here in Wisconsin today, I let him sit in the sun for a little while.
Hugs, Karl and mom Julie
Hi, I didn't know you were from Wisconsin! Where? We live in Green Bay!
Do you have a harness for Karl? Ours made it so much easier for Nitro the first few months. I can see why the limping would cause you stress; maybe he hasn't found his sea legs yet? Nitro did so much better when the patch came off - he didn't tolerate it well at all. Where did you have the surgery done?
Yes, it's such a beautiful day today! Soak up the sun and hug that boy of yours.
Paula and Nitro
Nitro 11 1/2 yr old Doberman; right front amp June 2014. Had 6 doses carboplatin, followed by metronomic therapy. Rocked it on 3 legs for over 3 years! My Warrior beat cancer, but couldn't beat old age. He crossed the Bridge peacefully on July 25, 2017, with dignity and on his terms. Follow his blog entitled "Doberman's journey"
"Be good, mama loves you".....run free my beautiful Warrior
Karl lives in Milwuakee Wi. In an area called Bayview just south of the Summerfest grounds and right on Lake Michigan. He's a beach bum for sure. 😉 He had his surgery at Brentwood animal hospital in Oak Creek and stayed the night at Lakeshore 24 hour speciality hospital.
Has anyone heard about a clinical cancer trial called Naturasome?
I sent pictures of the incision to the vet via email, don't you love technology
hugs, Karl and Julie.
Keep focusing on Karl getting back to the beach, he'll get there!
Does he seem like he's any pain when he limps? Is the limp constant or occasionally? Have you tried palpating him to see if something hurts somewhere? A lot of times we tend to really magnify things when we're really worried (and sleep deprived!). Its worth mentioning to your vet but take some notes on when it presents just so you can help pinpoint whatever, if anything, it is. Remember, this is still early, like Paula said, he could still be very wobbly.
As for the "clinical trial." STOP. DO NOT PASS GO. and read this:
Important ! Everyone should know
Be sure to read my comment in this post.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Howdy and welcome!!
I'm so very sorry to be late to this post, but I'm loving Karl's recovery. He (and you) are doing great!
I think probably the worst thing about the first night (and week) home after surgery is trying to interpret their comfort level. Anticipating their needs is just so much more difficult when they can't tell you what hurts. It's such a traumatic surgery and having to learn how to walk on three has got to be taxing on muscles that weren't designed for a tri-gait. I just can't imagine how sore he is. Heck I've slipped on my stairs twice this month already and have been sore for three weeks. Karl's a freakin' rockstar!
xoxo
ps - Sally, I love how you're always encouraging when it comes to making sure pawrents take care of themselves. However, my butt is now as big as the backside of a barn since I run for chocolate when I'm stressed. I will add, the extra padding really helped on the stairs. 
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
Hooray for Karl! I haven't had a chance to check in here, but I have been thinking about you all. He sounds like he is doing great! We had a similar issue with Sully limping on a hind leg right after surgery. Also, about 2 weeks post surgery he would yelp a little if he turned his neck too far one way. In both cases, our vet reminded us that Sully was working a lot of new muscles in new ways to get around now. We certainly kept an eye on him and made sure he didn't seem to be in pain, or that the limp didn't get worse, but in both cases the discomfort seemed to ease and eventually disappear all together. The first week or two after surgery is hard because there are so many new things happening with Karl and he can't tell you how he is feeling. Follow his lead and trust your gut. You have already done so much for him by getting rid of that painful leg. I cannot tell you how happy it makes me to hear how well he is doing after surgery. Sully and I will continue to keep you and Karl in our thoughts and prayers! 🙂
Sully and Rachael
Thank you everyone, you all rock!
I think it may be true, he's adjusting to a lot of new things and maybe his gait just looks strange. I have an appointment at the vet for Friday and That should be ok.
He's been a little sleepy since we took off the Fentynal patch, probably a good thing.
Im a little overwhelmed where to start with nutrition I have him on awesome food, but I want to do better seeing he has Cancer. Any suggestions?
Also he has a very large chest and I want to order a harness.
Mom Julie got some sleep, Amen!
Hugs,
Karl and mom Julie
karl said
Im a little overwhelmed where to start with nutrition I have him on awesome food, but I want to do better seeing he has Cancer. Any suggestions?Also he has a very large chest and I want to order a harness.
My go-to resource is the Dog Cancer Survival Guide . Tons of great diet information in there. Ideally you'd want to work with a veterinary nutritionist. They are hard to find but when you get to the vet, ask for a referral they should be able to find one for you. Most will work long-distance too.
As for harnesses, the Tripawds Gear blog has our recommended harnesses, have you seen them?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Up all night, Ruff one. Karl was very restless and then started panting and shaking. I didn't realize it but I was giving the wrong amount of Gabapentin and on top of it I found one that he spit out on the floor.
Called the emergency vet, they added another dose of tramedol and he became more relaxed. Then later called my vet and went in for an appointment. Upped his tramedol to 3, 3 x a day.
Im a little weary today so I put on some music I love. It's helping. 😌
I need a hug,
Oh, sorry! These days/nights will be over soon! Pain really is the hardest thing to get past.
Maybe a glass of wine with the music would help? 
Donna
Donna, Glenn & Murphy
Murphy had his right front leg amputated due to histiocytic sarcoma at 7 years old. He survived 4 years, 2 months & 1 week, only to be taken by hemangiosarcoma at 11 1/2 years 6/12/17
Read about Murphy's Life on Three Legs
I had to go back and see how many days it has been for Karl. He's less than a week out, so you're definitely in the roughest phase. It can be so hard right now, especially getting their pain meds right. It is good you were able to see the vet and hopefully they were able to reassure you that his recovery is going fine, he's just hit a little rough patch. Hang in there!
Denise, Bill and Angel Ellie.
Active 10+ Pyr mix suddenly came up lame with ACL tear in left rear leg. Scheduled for a TPLO but final pre-op x-rays indicated a small suspicious area, possibly OSA, which could have caused the ACL tear. Surgeon opened the knee for TPLO but found soft bone. Biopsy came back positive for OSA. Became a Tripawd 9/18/14. Carbo6 with Cerenia and Fluids. Pain free and living in the moment. Crossed the Bridge on 7/12/15 after probable spread of cancer to her cervical spine. A whole lifetime of memories squeezed into 10 months. Here's her story: Eloise
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