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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My very sweet Socks a 7 year old greyhound has been diagnosed with bone cancer today. She slipped and fell on Wednesday night breaking her right front leg. We have no choice but to amputate. I am very nervous about all this. I am worried that I am going to be traumatized. The vet I use is very supportive and is trying to prepare me the best he can. Is there any advice I should know before I bring her home. Any help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Jennifer
Proud mama to Socks, a 7 year old greyhound. Became an amputee on 12/10/12. Once a racer, always a champion.
Welcome , your future forum post will not need moderation. Please see link to reading list or ebook above the forums for best advice and tips.
Best wishes for speedy recovery! Keep us posted.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Well, it probably is going to be harder for you to adapt to her being 3 legged than it is for her, but you'll both get through it.
The recovery period can be rough, but after that, you'll be amazed at how she learns to adjust and adapt.
There are post-amp photos on the site here somewhere. You migth want to look at them so you know what to expect. It's possible she'll be bandaged up though, and you won't see the incision at first. Some dogs have bandages, some don't. Ours didn't. Her incision was quite large, but she was the same happy, smiling, loving dog when we picked her up and that's the main thing.
Hang in there.
Jackie, Angel Abby's mom
Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!
Hi Jennifer, welcome to Tripawds. What is your pup's name?
I'm sorry you are dealing with cancer. I know it is hard to absorb all this, and at this point hard to believe your pup will be OK, but she will. It is truly amazing how well dogs adjust to becoming Tripawds.
That being said, the first couple of weeks after surgery can be full of ups and downs. Yours are already stressed, you will get tired, and things might look bleak. Don't get discouraged! Your pup's needs a little time to get used to her new balance, and she will be on pain meds that make some dogs kind of loopy. She will adapt and she will amaze you.
The pictures Jackie talked about can be found here: http://tripawds.....m/gallery/, scroll down to the surgery and treatment picks. It does help to know how your girl will look. Focus on how happy she is to see you and all will be well.
Let us know when you get her home.
Karen and the pugapalooza
Hi Jennifer. Welcome I am new here as well as of last week. My kitty Jill will have her right hind leg amputated next Wednesday. Best of luck to you and you baby!
Jill is a 9-year-old tuxedo kitty. She was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma in June 2012 on her toe in her right hind leg. Her leg was amputated on 12/12/12 and she completed four rounds of chemo (2 of Carbo, 2 of Doxy) in April 2013. "Like" Jill's facebook page: https://www.fac.....tty?ref=hl Proud member of the WINTER WARRIORS!!!! Her blog can be read at http://jillsjou.....ipawds.com. xoxo
Hey Jennifer, I wanted to give you a longer answer today since I couldn't do it on my phone yesterday.
So, rest assured, while this decision is absolutely terrifying to a human, to a dog, it's not nearly as devastating. In fact, dogs do better than their humans in how they cope with this kind of challenge! We've known quite a few greyhounds here and they've all done great after surgery. Be sure to search for "greyhounds" here and throughout our website, we have lots of greyhound-specific info for you.
The best thing you can do right now is to relax, and know that everything is going to be OK. Don't let the depressing odds get you down; many dogs outlive those statistics, and hopefully Socks will be another one!
Also, be sure to check out our Required Reading List and eBook, Three Legs & a Spare if you haven't already, you'll find lots of answers to your questions there.
Let us know how the next few days go, and remember we are here to help!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hey Jennifer,
You found a great community to come to for support and to ask questions. I found them a few days after Chili Dawg's amputation and wished I had found them before- it would have helped me to have seen the post-surgery pictures, as Chili Dawg did not have a bandage on. I was more traumatized then Chili Dawg was. I don't think he even really noticed he was missing a leg. The first 2 weeks were hard- I'm not going to lie. If you can make it through that, you can make it through anything. And once your dog is off the medications, and you see their personality coming back (being doped up on pain meds masks who they really are for a bit), you will see that it was the best decision. Within a month, Chili Dawg was wrestling with his Boxer brother, and by 2 months, he was running around the back yard.
Hang in there!
Jenna and Spirit Chili Dawg's pack
Diagnosed with OSA: 5/2/2011 Ampuversary: 5/11/2011 OSA returned in hip: 8/26/2011
Chili Dawg crossed the Rainbow Bridge on 8/30/2011 & is now pain free. He was my heart dog, and I miss him every day.
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