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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Good morning, new here- hoping to hear some words of encouragement regarding a rear leg amputation. Recently d/x with osteosarcoma in his hind leg, Rex is facing amputation (not willing to go the comfort route, although it was one option given). He is an otherwise healthy and very happy dog.
I've read the sticky'd posts, wondering what the things I don't know are...should I be looking at something for after-care or therapy? Does he need some assistance I wouldn't think of (going poop, moving around....? scratching isnt a problem, we don't stop touching him lol).
Are there success stories you'd like to share regarding a senior amputation and prognosis?
Hi Jonathan and Rex. Your future posts won't need to wait for approval so post away.
I'm sorry about the diagnosis. But we are so glad you found us because we are here to support you and Rex on this journey. Tell us more about him. And while he's older, it sounds like he's a good candidate for surgery. When is the big day?
I think the biggest thing you can check out right now is our What to Expect articles , and our e-books library. There's a lot to know but we don't want to overwhelm you too much right now. Some things to consider:
- How's your house? Do you have slippery floors? If so, putting down traction will help him sooo much. Slippery floors and Tripawds aren't good together.
- Do you have other dogs in the home? If so, you'll want to keep them separated while Rex is in his first week of recovery or so.
- He probably won't need much assistance as far as getting around. If you have stairs in your home, be sure to get baby gates to block them off while he recovers, possibly longer.
- Also consider booking time with a rehabilitation therapist. It makes a huge difference in how well a dog recovers, especially senior dogs. And the Tripawds Foundation can pay for your first rehab visit so you've got nothing to lose and everything to gain by helping him have a better recovery, and get strong sooner.
- As for success stories, check out our Size and Age Matters Forum, and our Senior Tripawd pets stories for some examples of life on three legs. I'm sure you'll find hope and inspawration
Stay tuned for feedback from others!
Hi Johnathan and Rex. There are several success stories regarding seniors who had amputation . I believe my Brownie is one. He had front leg amputation right before turning 12. It did take him about three weeks to be Brownie again. He was 90 lbs at time of amputation.
Stories I have read the smaller dogs do seem to adjust easier. Just my opion. Each dog is different.
Pug Maggie did awesome as a Tripawd. Pug Ronnie is another one.
Sending positive thoughts to you and Rex.
My Beautiful Beloved Brownie was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma on February 26, 2019. With all odds against him he lived an additional one year and eight days with amputation, love, and prayer. I was honored to be his mom, and I have never been so proud! He will live forever in my Heart!
04/01/2007 - 03/05/2020
"March Saint"
Seeing that avatar picture of Rex made me fall in love instantly! He is adorable!
Jerry and Nancy have given you great support and I can only say ditto.
Around here, we say age is just a number. We've had many pupper far older than Rex do just fine on three. One fella comes to mind named Sam. If I recall he was a medium size dog at least sixteen, maybe seventeen and he handled three just fine, Has Rex been evaluated by and Oethoped Surgeon and deemed a good candidate? Sou ds like he's a little spitfire of a dog.
It is MAJOR surgery and recovery is no picnic. Slow pace, good pain meds and a lot of pat will get you through. As Nanch said, smaller dogs do seem to recover a bit faster and seem to master the art of three faster than bigger dogs. Shhhh....dont tell the big dogs that😉
We are here for you and you are not alone, okay? Let is know how we ,can best support 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!
Thank you All! I appreciate the kindness and the hope-
We're awaiting availability for surgery, so I'll be able to update soon. One piece we're wondering about is assistance with going to the bathroom, especially given the hind leg...wondering if we need to order a sling for pooping. Also, we researched some wheels for our little dude:
https://www.han.....abilities/
Wondering if these actually inhibit movement or if it's helpful- I'm assuming we'll be waiting a bit before using that. However, when facing this difficult decision, our one absolute was that we're doing everything we can to ensure Rex comes on a walk with the family again, his favorite thing.
Yes, you absolutely are doing everything possible for rex! And there is comfort and reassurance in knowing that! As far as assisting with the pooping and peeing, for now just use a towel sling and see if that works. Actually, a lot of dogs freeze up when you try to help them with a harness. It may be that you use the harness to help him outside. And then let it go to see if he can hop on his own to do the business. There may, or may not, be a need for Wheels, so I would hold off on that for now too. And if you do need a harness, usually it's best to wait for the incision to heal and stitches to be out. All right, we are cheering for you and Rex!
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!
Hey Jonathan, you are so welcome.
Some dogs need help with bathroom time, some don't want help at all. They do figure it out on their own eventually. This article about helping your dog urinate has some good pointers if Rex doesn't want to go when he comes home from surgery (which is not uncommon at all).
As Sally mentioned, hold off on wheels for now. Not all dogs need wheelchairs and putting a Tripawd in one that hasn't been fit and measured by a canine rehab therapist can do more harm than good. It's a big reason why Tripawds Foundation can pay for your first rehab visit with Rex. A therapist can guide you on helping him get stronger, and then suggest when or if he needs wheels.
Until the day a therapist says he needs a set of wheels, we think a dog stroller is the best way to help your pup get out and about with the family! Rex can ride a little, walk a little, sniff a little, etc. Every Tripawd pack should have one!
Brownie was a front leg amp. I remember the first time he hiked his leg he fell flat on his face. But he did fogure it out and I believe Rex will too. Sometimes Brownie would lean on the fence for support.
My Beautiful Beloved Brownie was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma on February 26, 2019. With all odds against him he lived an additional one year and eight days with amputation, love, and prayer. I was honored to be his mom, and I have never been so proud! He will live forever in my Heart!
04/01/2007 - 03/05/2020
"March Saint"
Thanks for sharing that story Nancy!
Same kinda thing happened with us. I remember our Jerry fell too, and I cried like a baby. He had a few more spills during recovery and I kept crying each time, and then Admin Guy said "Look! Is HE crying? NO! So don't cry!" And as much as I hated to say that my hubby was right, he was! Jerry took those falls way better than I ever did. So I followed his lead, and things got way, way better.
Hi and welcome,
Sorry to hear about the OSA in your boy. When I joined this site years ago a small dog diagnosed with OSA was really rare- unfortunately now it seems to happen to small pups almost as often and bigger dogs.
My first rear amp Tripawd was a little Pug named Maggie as mentioned my brownie's mom above. Mag lost her leg when she was 7.5 years old and hopped happily through life for almost 4 years beating a poor prognosis of 6 to 9 months. Mag never needed help with the bathroom although if Rex is a determined leg lifter he might take a little time to adapt- but I have not seen a dog here not figure it out. Maggie's journey introduced me to the world of dog strollers . Way back then the options were very limited but there are many choices now. Mag loved her chariot- she could always come with us and hop around when she wanted and ride when she got tired.
After Maggie I ended up using the stroller for another Pug as she aged and her arthritis limited her walking as well as for my Pug boy when he was recovering from his knee surgeries. Which reminds me- when Obie Pug boy had the surgery on his left knee I had to support him when he peed- he would ONLY pee lifting his right leg. When he was in the hospital he peed on himself a couple times because he couldn't lift his right leg. I used the RuffWear Webmaster harness for him- with the leash I could support his weight while he lifted his right leg and keep him off his left leg until he could start weight bearing. Since Rex is will be a rear amp you can use a harness right away without interfering with sutures.
And now I have another small Tripawd named Elly- she is a PugMutt, she is about 25% Chi as well as 4 more breeds. Elly turns 8 later this month and has been with me since she was 10 months old. She was hit by a car when she was 7 months old and lost her rear leg as a result. I try to walk 2.5 to 3 miles a day which is too far for Elly so she now rides sometimes and hops the rest of the time.
Keep us posted on a surgery schedule.
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls and Boy
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
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