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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Goodness, I am sorry I am late to the chorus of supporting voices. Not sure how that happened. I had an experience at the vet hospital last night like your recent experience - I was picking up Pofi's meds and a group of young people were outside with a darling dog who greeted me like a friend. But they were all sad and one man was weeping inconsolably - as I was waiting for the meds, one of them was being told about how the process would go. And as I walked out they were walking in with grief in their eyes and I gave their sweet dog another rub on the head, but could barely keep myself from crying. And I am grateful to be picking up meds to bring home to my hopping dog who is no longer in pain. I'll be where they were someday, but I am grateful it is not today.
Pofi is a Malamute x Greyhound - he will be 12 in one week and became a front leg amputee on May 6. He also was not using his leg at all any more in the last days before surgery and he adapted to being an actual Tripawd instead of a virtual one very quickly. Hoping Mr. Gibbs also makes a smooth transition, but keep in mind, recovery is often not a straight road.
My best advice is to not be afraid to talk to your vets about tweaking meds if Mr. Gibbs shows signs of pain - try to stay ahead of it. Dosage or frequency can often be changed and possibly even an additional med added to the mix.
Best thoughts - hope you all have a reasonably good night. Oh, and our blog is in my signature - there are some videos showing Pofi a few weeks post amp getting around really well that may help you see past any tough moments.
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.
YAAAAAAAAAY FOR MR GIBBS!! He's home!!
As Karen said, coming off of the anesthesia is not a pretty thing. Try not to be alarmed if he's co fused and vocal.
Mkst dogs here have Tramadol, Rimadyl, an a antibiotic and Gabapentin. Some come home with a pain latch. The hospital meds are usually out of tbeir system by the second or third day, so keeping the doses consistent is important. It can be a bit tricky at first.
Hang in there! We are all right here with you!!
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!
Thanks for all the kind thoughts and helpful suggestions. He only got us up twice last. Once at 10 to go out and go pee. Then T one am but he was at the door but we could not get him to go out. We had a bed right next to his so we sensed every movement. I never went back to sleep after the 1 am wake up. But this morning his brother Joey went out to pee and with a bit of assist Gibbs went to the exact spot and did too. Then using a towel under his back end we went across the patio and into the house. He is doing better then I had hoped for. So meds are in and he went to his favorite chair, he has 3, and put his front paw up on it and we helped him up. So the vet wants to see him again today and we will get him back. I am still having issues figuring out how to pick him up as the incision is quite large, more than I expected, and I do not want to hurt him. Will check with the vet today. Will check back in later.
Sounds like you are off to a good start!
Instead of a towel you might try a cloth grocery bag slit down the seams, the handles are built in. You can line it with a small towel for cushioning. It distributes weight better and is easier to hold on to than a towel. Other members have had luck with a long sleeved shirt as a sling, less bulky than a towel.
Karen
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Hi there🐾
So happy to hear MrGibbs is back home and you are handling everything so well 👍🏼
We are all right here for you ☝🏼️
Sending you lots of pawsitive energy and cuddles to your cutie 🐾🐾🐾
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 :-)
So we took Karen's suggestion and oh my she was so right on. We took Gibbs back tonight to make sure all was good. The vet and all the people that work there thought that that was the greatest thing they had ever seen. I could have taken the credit but gave it all to the tripaws website and the amazing people who are here!!! Gibbs is doing good and his checkup went well. However I have noticed that he is now not at all eager to get into the van and go anywhere. They are smarter than we think!!!!
eurydice said
Hi there🐾So happy to hear MrGibbs is back home and you are handling everything so well 👍🏼
We are all right here for you ☝🏼️
Sending you lots of pawsitive energy and cuddles to your cutie 🐾🐾🐾
Thank you for your words of encouragement. I. Am hoping very day gets better!
YAY! That's terrific! Go Karen! Go Mr. Gibbs! Here's to a healing kind of weekend.
Be sure to request some of our brochures for your vet clinic so they can spread the word to anyone who needs it:
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Oh, I'm so glad it helped!
I can't take credit for the idea, I learned it here. Sometimes just the smallest tweak in what you are doing makes all the difference.
I'm glad Mr. Gibbs is doing well.
Karen
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Day 3:
Gibbs slept all night and actually got out of his bed and moved to the cool floor last night. We live in Phoenix. He was back in his bed this morning and wanted to go out once we were all up. He is moving now with not much support from us.. Although I am watching him like a hawk. Not wanting much food today and has not had a good poop yet. Hope that comes soon. He has been really sleepy today but guess that may be normal? Anyone out there, how many 50 mg Tramadol have you used and how many a day?
thanks.
Hi,
Pofi had to spend 2 nights in the hospital post amp - his was done very late in the day and they only finished at 7 pm, so the first night hardly counts, but the second day he was not exactly rallying, so they kept him that night. Due to fasting prior to surgery and actually fasting prior to the MRI which was day before surgery, and the anesthesia, he actuallly did not have a bowel movement till Friday late morning and surgery was on Wed. The anesthesia does slow everything down...
2 weeks before and after surgery, Pofi took:
- 2 Tramadol 50 mg 3 x daily
- 1 Rimadyl 75 mg 2 x daily
- Gabapentin 300 mg 3 x daily
Yes, sleepy is very normal - major surgery, anesthesia still working out of his system and Tramadol being a narcotic...he will perk up more in coming days, doubtless.
Sounds like Mr. Gibbs is doing so well!
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.
That does sound like a VERY normal recovery, especially at day 3. Sleep is medicinal, let him lounge around as much as he wants right now. The poop will come soon. Some dogs take 4 days!
As for Tramadol dosages, be sure to check with your vet before changing anything OK? I can tell you our 75lb. Wyatt was prescribed 50mgx3, every 6 to 8 hours or as needed.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hello all.. Back from Alaska and our boy has made great improvements. Sorry I have not posted this week but just buried with work. Gibbs has done well but today he seems in a slump. Not eating as good as he was and really not much energy today. I am wondering if he is going through depression or is just not feeling good. I am not sure but worrying again. Anyone seen this in their experiences?
Welcome home!!
Let's see, it's about seven or eight days ppst surgery, right? What's his activity level been like the last few days? It's very, very easy for new tripawds to get sore muscles. Massage up and down his spine, his heck etc, see if there is any tenderness.
Incision looking good? Pain meds seem to be the right balance? Have you tried realky yummy food...chicken, steak, cheeseburger, etc.?
What's yiur energy level? Strong, confident, fun, etc?
One thing I really encourage you to try is have someone come over to visit him that he really likes. Get al excited and have the knock on the door with "enthusiasm" and have them bring some really yummy food. I can almost guarantee he will perk up!!
Has he been able to just sit out in the sunshine and sniff the breezes? Being outdoors does wonders for them sometimes
Obviously, if you have any concerns, definitely check with yiur vet to make sure he doesn't have a fever, infection, etc.
The meds could be causing soe tummy upset too, so speak to your vet about that. He may even suggest cutting back on them a bit.
Try the visitor thing and let us know how it works!
Hugs!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
PS...For whatever it's worth, it took me three weeks before I felt like I could say I did this FOR my Happy Hannah and not TO her!!
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!
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