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 all,
My name is Holly. I am so glad to find this group. Our little Lucy 5 years old shih tzu mix rescue was diagnosed 5 weeks ago with a broken hind foot. No idea how she broke it. Likely she was stepped on since she is always under everyone's feet..She has been limping off and on since May. So it's likely been broken since May. I took her to the vet in May but they felt like it was likely a strain or pull of some sort. I am so upset that I didn't get this addressed sooner but she seemed to get better and would do fine for a while then back slide again. When I took her to the vet 5 weeks ago she was clearly in pain I was thinking she likely had cancer and we would have to put her down. They checked her out and found her healthy except for the broken foot. They splinted it and she seemed to be doing so much better but in the last couple of days is back to not wanting to walk again. I took her in on Monday and X-ray is showing no signs of healing at all. NONE... it's almost as if her body has given up on healing the leg. X-ray looks exactly like it originally did. Vet thinks our only option at this point is to amputate the leg since she is in so much pain now and it's not healing at all. He does not think a pin or rod will help. We decided for her sake to move forward with the amputation. I have been crying since Monday. I feel so responsible for this and wish I would have insisted on X-rays back in May. She's a great dog and our hope is she can get back to her hyper running barking self quickly. 😢
Holly, Lucy and family, welcome. Your future posts won't require approval so post away.
I'm sorry to hear about the recommendation to amputate. It sounds like you are still feeling uncertain about that, if so a second opinion by an orthopedic surgeon would put your mind at ease. As someone who had a broken collarbone that wouldn't heal (and had to end up having a plate & screws put in), I can relate. The good news is she doesn't have cancer, so yay!
Please don't beat yourself up in the meantime, you did the best you could with the information you had to work with. Dogs are incredibly good at hiding their pain and it's not unusual for this kind of thing to happen. Plus, because of her size, she should do just fine on three legs, smaller dogs make great Tripawds.
Be sure to read over Jerry's Required Reading List , it will help put your fears at ease. This great community will chime in too so hang in there.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hello and Welcome.
I'm sorry you and Lucy are dealing with this, but as Rene said- don't beat yourself up. It doesn't do any good for you or Lucy to focus on the 'what ifs'. The truth is you don't know what the outcome would have been if you had chosen differently! Lucy needs you to be a strong pack leader now and show her that everything is just fine.
I've had two small rear leg tripawds. My first, Tri-pug Maggie, lost a leg to mast cell cancer. After finally getting used to her new normal (Maggie was very stubborn and objected strongly to any change in her life!) she hopped happily through life for almost 4 years.
Last October I adopted a 10 month old pug mix who had been hit by a car and lost her right back leg when she was about 7 months old. I haven't found anything Elly can't do for a dog her size (about 15 lbs) except scratch behind her right ear 
. In fact I am more worried about her over-doing as an energetic puppy who just turned one year old at the end of December.
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
Hi Lucy and Holly!
Lucy's avatar picture is chock full of ADORABLENESS! Can't wait to see more pictures of this cutie!
You've gotten great advice from Jerry and Karen. Manynof us here were back and forthe to the Vet for "treatment" of a "sprain" that would clear up and come back. The Vets are the experts, not us. So now it's time to move forward with the new knowledge you have. I also would strongly suggest a second opinion if that would make you feel better.
I can tell you that, far too often, we see dogs here going through amputation because "repair" of a broken leg just didn't work after painful surgery, or splinting, or whatever.
Recovery is no picnic for a couple of weeks. It is major surgery. Balancing the pain meds can be a little daunting sometimes. One thing to remind yourself from this point forward, this will get rid of a painful leg! Her sparkle will be back bigger and brighter than before!!
You will be doing this FOR Lucy, not TO her!! And Lucy will be so grateful!
Post pictures when you can and update as you proceed forward! We are all right here by your side! We u understand like no others 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!
Welcome Holly & Lucy. Please don't beat yourself up. Things are always easier to see in hindsite and you simply saw her improving at times and were happy to see that. Your adorable Lucy will probably be so happy to be out of pain and feeling good again. The first week or so is challenging but soon you will see sweet Lucy get her mojo back and sparkle brightly again. Great news about her state of health too. I suspect Lucy is going to rock it on three. Keep us posted on Lucy's journey please. We'll be right here for you and Lucy if you have questions or just need support. Hugs,
Linda, Ollie, Riley & Spirit Mighty Max
Welcome Holly & Lucy. You have been given great advice not much more that I can add.
Michelle & Angel Sassy
Sassy is a proud member of the Winter Warriors. Live long, & strong Winter Warriors.
sassysugarbear.tripawds.com
07/26/2006 - Sassy earned her wings 08/20/2013
05/04/2006 - Bosch, Sassy's pal, earned his wings 03/29/19 fought cancer for 4 months.
"You aren't doing it TO her, you are doing it FOR her. Give her a chance at life."
Lucy an Holly;
So so sorry about Lucy, boy did you come to the right place...I have only been involved here about a week. Our wonderful 2 year old Murphy turned up lame less than 3 weeks ago, and this past Monday had his left front leg amputated. Like you I cried, denied and knew for sure there was a mistake. 3 days later we are still in shock by all that has gone on.
But, if I hadn't found Tripawds, I don't think we would have made it 3 days. All I can say is take a deep breath and read like crazy.
MURPHY and family
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