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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Hello all! Well, Bella is officially a tripawd. Surgeon said it went well, no complications. Said she is pretty loopy still obviously. I hope she gets some well deserved sleep tonight. I’d love to go see her now but I don’t want to get her excited and then leave again, so I’ll wait until tomorrow afternoon when I pick her up. I’ve spent the last hour vacuuming, cleaning and making sure all the floors that aren’t carpet are covered so she doesn’t slip. Fortunately flooring is my trade so I have access to any carpet/rugs I need!
Its funny, I’m not nervous at all. I can handle this and I know she can too. The hard part is thinking about her alone. I just don’t want her scared, confused but I guess that goes with the territory. Soon she’ll be home, and I’ll do anything it takes to help her. I’ve been so fortunate hearing from friends and family these last few days telling me how happy they are that Bella has someone like me to care for her. Sure was nice hearing that, and motivates me more than ever. I feel so lucky Bella chose me at the humane society 9 years ago. It truly was amazing and I’ll never forget her looking at me with her 6 month old eyes back then, and sticking her paw under the kennel fencing towards me. I took her home that minute. I can’t wait to see her tomorrow. I’ll take any amount of days she can give me. I know she has life and fight in her. I can’t wait to be on her side thru all this to come.
YAAAAAAAAY!!! SURGERY IS DONE!!!
Bella is a TRIPAWD WARRIOR PRINCESS and has a powerful WARRIOR HOOMAN as her advocate and best pal!!!
Maintain that strong, calm, confident attitude and Bella qill mirror that. Don't even bother to look at her inc, she isn't. Just look into her druggy eyes and tell her what a good girl she is and she's going home!! A little heads up though, they do shave a lot of fur!
Yes, Bella is very lucky to have you as her Soul Mate. ❤
Stay connected and update when you can. Let us k ow ehat questions you have, okay? Recovery can be a bit of a roller coaster for the first two weeks or so.
Get some well deserved rest. Bella is high as a kite and resting easy😎
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!
Awwww. You and Bella have had so many good times together and you will continue to have them. Amputation recovery will only bring you closer together, as if that was even possible right? But it's true! It's such a learning experience and filled with so many hidden blessings that make us stronger together. You will be so surprised at her resiliency too!
That is sooo nice how you have a pawsitive support network with friends and family. That doesn't always happen, but when it does it's such a helpful thing to have. And you put traction down too? PAWESOME! We would love to see what a flooring professional's house looks like for a Tripawd.
3-paws up to #TeamBella!
Let us know how tomorrow goes! We'll be waiting for a pupdate.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Bella is home! I was so happy to see her. She seems a bit loopy/dazed/high etc but I guess that’s to be expected 1 day after major surgery. She has a fentanyl patch, gabapentin, carprofen, an antibiotic and pills to give for anxiety if needed. I thought she’d be more sleepy but not so much yet, mostly just lethargic and laying around staring at nothing 🤣. She’s ate treats I gave her, but isnt interested in her normal food. She’s drinking water so that’s good. Tomorrow’s a new day, and I’m looking forward to her getting stronger daily
HOME SWEET HOME!!! I know you are thrilled to have her back by your side!
Your desc ofnher "staring at nothing" made me laugh. I'm sure with all those good meds she's definitely seeing things.....that aren't there. The patch may make her a bit vocal too.
Kudos to your Bet for providing ample pain meds. Bella will come around some. Ore as the hospital meds wear off and as the patch decreases in potency.
Earing may be a vit pf a challenge for a few days, so entice her with any goodies Pooping may be delayed a few days too. Drinking and peei are jmportant.
You're doing a great job!! You and Bella make a great team!
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 home and best wishes for Bella's speedy recovery. Confinement, rest and moderation are key for the next couple weeks. Take it one day at a time and read up on what to expect before allowing her to do too much.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Bella is doing very well. She’s eating, drinking, going potty daily and she had surgery Tuesday! She’s great going down steps, up is more challenging but she does it. She walks around the yard well and has already adjusted her remaining back leg to where it needs to be. She doesn’t like to lay on the incision side yet....when she tries she usually bounces right back up and goes to the good side.
My only concern has to do with bruising. It seems to spread and get bigger overall. I’ll email pictures to her surgeon. Curious to hear from others though if bruising spreading and covering bigger areas is common.
Good idea to send the pic of the bruising to the Bet. Some bruising is normal and it does tend to look worse and more "colorful " a few days later. The Be5 can advise you if it looks "normal" or not. Keep us posted.
And Miss Bella, you take it easy girl! I guess steps are a necessity for outside potty? And yes, going up stairs require much more strength in the remaining back leg to push off. Sloooow and easy Bella. Rest and short potty breaks and back to rest. The first couple of weeks are when muscles are adjusting. Overuse too 3srly can cause some oint stress and even back and neck tightness.
And yeah, the incision is still sore and Bella is smart not to lay in it yet. Some dogs lay on it within a week or two, some three or four weeks. It took my Happy Hannah almost five weeks before she slept on it comfortably.
Great to hear she's eating and pottying! She really is doing so well!! Would love to see pictures of this SuoerStar😎
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!
Sometimes the bruising will get worse before it gets better, but you did right by sending pics to your vet. Let us know what they say OK?
SO happy to hear things are good with Bella! What a rock star! 
As much as she wants to go go go, try to help her take things a bit slower, it's pretty early right now.
Oh and when you can, please start a new topic in Treatment and Recovery, now that Bella has "graduated" from the Presentation and Diagnosis phase. Let me know if you have any questions about that. Thank you.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
my dobe Nitro had huge bruising in his groin area, all purple-y blue...went away after about a week to 10 days. Glad to hear she's doing well.
Paula and Warrior Angel 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
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