Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Well...we couldn't be more pleased and surprised. Maggie had a great first day home. Sparkle in her eyes and she's practically back to normal. Great appetite last night and she's loving all the extra attention. She had a few family and friends visitors. Everyone is shocked at how good she looks. Her wound looks good and she's leaving it alone. Couple things WE did that of course we didn't know and have maybe hurt her progress. In the last year, we replaced all of our carpets with wood and removed a lot of grass and installed pavers out back. I've got yoga mats down and Maggie has a very nice, comfy "confinement area", but she has to walk about 30' to get to grass whereas it used to be right outside the back door. That's a pretty long walk for her, but she manages. She's obviously ready for a rest when she's finished with her business.
Last night was pretty amazing. I'm sleeping on Maggie's sofa right outside her area. I heard her being a little restless a couple of times, but we both managed to get a good night's sleep. I heard the Pyrenees walking around (gosh, they're loud on the floors!) more than I heard Maggie I think. She was ready for chicken and meds this morning along with a big drink.
I've been expecting ups and downs. We really haven't had downs. She acts like she wants to roll over onto her incision side, but then realizes she can't. And she'll get up and then try to sit down on that side, but backs off. I think she gets frustrated in that she can't easily switch positions and I'm sure she gets tired lying on her left side all the time. But, that will come around. I think it was 3 days after her biopsy that she felt like she could do that.
You might get a bit of a crash still - it frequently happens day 3 - 5 as the hospital meds leave their systems. But it sounds like you are all doing great! My Tess, by the way, pees right on the pavers (lovely right) rather than walk the 15 feet to the grass. She started this after her knee surgery and just never stopped.
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.
Yeah Maggie, that's a great start to things! 
But yeah, don't be surprised if you get a crash around day 3 or so. That seems to be when the hospital meds wear off 
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
Such good news!! She really is doing amazingly well!
As the incision gets less painful she'll start laying on that side. I think my Happy Hannah set the record...it was five weeks before she started laying on her incision side!
Do you have Photobucket or anything similar? If you plst a picture there and copy the html (or somethi g like that) to here, her pic will show up. Btw, like her new avatar
And bless her heart for not just taking a pee on those pavers! I think most dogs woukd do as Tess did! Frankie has taught Merry Myrtle to potty on the porch if it's raining! My be@oved Happy Hannah woukd NEVER have done such a rhing!
Keep these great updates coming!
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!
She's doing great. Not all dogs have dramatic downturns or crashes, she's probably one of the ones who won't. At least you're prepared but overall she really is having a fabulous recovery. And you're getting sleep too, that's awesome!
In time she'll figure out how to position herself. How's her bed? Firm? Lumpy? Tripawds have an easier time with firm mattresses.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
She's never really taken to a bed...Her confinement area is a cushy quilt on top of a cushy area rug.
Getting a little concerned about redness on her belly. The incision doesn't look bad, but her belly is noticeably redder today. Doesn't seem to be bothering her, and she's still doing great. May call the vet.
If you're concerned, definetly call the vet. Nitro had some nasty purplish-red bruising on his "boy parts" the first week. We wondered if this was due to his new way of lowering his body with only one front leg, while still on so many pain meds; the vet wasn't concerned about it, and it eventually faded away.
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
They weren't too concerned at vet's office, and I didn't take her in. She has an appointment scheduled for tomorrow, but I was pretty sure I'd be taking her in today. Last night, she had a very difficult time trying to poop...Walked/hopped around for what seemed like forever until she finally managed it. She was exhausted and I thought she'd sleep all night. That was about 6:00. At 10:00, she wanted out, I thought to pee. But she just wanted to lie down right outside the back door and refused to get up for over half an hour. She finally came in, never peed and we were "settled" for the night.
I slept off and on and continually awoke to check on Maggie. Very worried that we were about to have some "downs". Well, she had a terrific night. She was very calm and peaceful. I never heard her panting, or try to move around. I had a flashlight and kept checking her belly which looked better every time I looked. I finally woke up for good at 3:30 and couldn't sleep anymore so just stayed up with her sound asleep. Maggie finally woke up about 5:00. She went out and peed, had a nice drink and gobbled up her med-infused chicken. My wife got up about 6:00 and took over Maggie-duty. I crawled into bed for a very nice couple of hours. Got up about 8:30 and learned there's more important things going on in the world. So, for now...very happy with Maggie's continued progress but sad for the country.
magsdad said
They weren't too concerned at vet's office, and I didn't take her in. She has an appointment scheduled for tomorrow, but I was pretty sure I'd be taking her in today. Last night, she had a very difficult time trying to poop...Walked/hopped around for what seemed like forever until she finally managed it. She was exhausted and I thought she'd sleep all night. That was about 6:00. At 10:00, she wanted out, I thought to pee. But she just wanted to lie down right outside the back door and refused to get up for over half an hour. She finally came in, never peed and we were "settled" for the night.I slept off and on and continually awoke to check on Maggie. Very worried that we were about to have some "downs". Well, she had a terrific night. She was very calm and peaceful. I never heard her panting, or try to move around. I had a flashlight and kept checking her belly which looked better every time I looked. I finally woke up for good at 3:30 and couldn't sleep anymore so just stayed up with her sound asleep. Maggie finally woke up about 5:00. She went out and peed, had a nice drink and gobbled up her med-infused chicken. My wife got up about 6:00 and took over Maggie-duty. I crawled into bed for a very nice couple of hours. Got up about 8:30 and learned there's more important things going on in the world. So, for now...very happy with Maggie's continued progress but sad for the country.
Isn't that the truth, magsdad. A very somber morning. But I am still happy she had a good night and ate well this morning and that the redness on her belly is subsiding. Maybe that is why she wanted to lie outside for a while - maybe it was cooling for her.
Lisa, Minneapolis
On October 27, 2016, nearly 6 months after amputation, and 18 months since his cancer likely started, we lost Pofi to a recurrence of Soft Tissue Sarcoma in his spine quite suddenly. His canine sister also succumbed to cancer on March 1, 2019 - we lavished her with our love in the interim, but life was never quite the same without her only real canine friend. Cliff kitty had to leave us, too, suddenly, in August 2019. Lucia kitty grieved all these losses, but helped us welcome two new Lurchers into our home and our lives, Shae and Barley.
My cat also turned red which it turns out was due to bruising. You can apply ice (wrapped in a towel) or just a cold cloth. My cat started sleeping incision side down on tile flooring. It's amazes me when they know how to take care of themselves.
I'm also sad for your country. My thoughts are with the friends and family of all those affected.
Kerren and Tripawd Kitty Mona
If I remember correctly Max's redness got worse like two days after surgery before it got better too. Like any bruising it gets worse before it gets better and amp is one heck of a bruise! Sounds like your girl is doing really really well and I'm so happy for you! As you said tho the rest of the world sadly isn't....
Hugs,
Linda, Riley & Spirits Mighty Max & Ollie
Hi there Maggie and Dad 
We are soooooooo pleased with the way things are going with Maggie, she is doing so, so so well what joy !!!
It seems she will be hoping around and taking possession of HER couch soon!
Big hurrah for you too for looking after your girl from such an early stage after the operation k
Keep up the good work !
Sending you a big hug and XL cuddles to your XL girl
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 :-)
Hi Maggie's dad, just catching up on your story. Wow, you're like super Dad! Having her home the first night, taking night shifts to keep a watching eye over her, she's one lucky girl who is clearly very loved by you and your wife.
Mags sounds like a real trooper and sounds like she's making great progress so soon after her operation. The bruising does look so sore after surgery but it disappeared far quicker than we thought, like you said, it's almost like every time you look at it, it gets better. Just like Mags, our Beau also seemed to just want to lay outside in the first few weeks he was home, they must like the coolness on their tummy or just the breeze. I suppose dogs just have their own instincts about what they need to feel better. I remember when Beau had a little bit of nausea after one of his Chemo sessions, he started digging a hole and eating dirt. Supposedly there is something in dirt that dogs seek out to stop nausea, who knew!
Keep doing what your doing, it sounds like Maggie is doing wonderfully, such happy news.
Hannah, Beau & Family
Another nice night bunking with Maggie. Just back from her first post-op check-up. Maggie uses a ramp (normally) to get in and out of my Jeep. That obviously was a challenge, especially going up. I ended up pretty much lifting her. If that's the worst of all this, I'm good. Vet was very pleased with her progress. Happy with the look of the incision. Temperature normal. Everything good. Expected the redness and was surprised she was getting around so well. So, just want to thank everyone again for the support and the great info here. We would have been absolutely lost. Little things like the "cool ground might make her feel better", and letting us know what to expect was so reassuring. We are convinced we did the right thing for Maggie and this site was a big reason for that.
Hurrah great news keep up the good work !
Big hug and a big cuddle to your gorgeous girl
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 :-)
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