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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I'll keep you all posted.... But the runway carpets are all laid down... And now we wait. Came up with a very reasonable solution to the fact that I hate carpets at all lol I got 8 foot carpet pads for 15 dollars each, until we sort out what our long-term needs will be.
Lots of love and appreciation in advance to this amazing bunch of people.
Vic
Just got the call that we get to pick her up in two hours. I'm eager to get my arms around her.
Hugs,
Vic
Wooooweeeee! That's very cool she's gotten through surgery. 
So I didn't realize you are bringing her home the same day. I'll be honest: doing so may not be the easiest thing, but if her pain is well managed she will do fine. You may be sleep deprived, that first night is so hard usually, but you can do this!
Good move getting the rugs. Tripawd parents homes won't ever win any home decorating contests but the functionality for the Tripawd is all that matters!
I'm in the Tripawds Chat right now if you want to talk.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Online
Alrighty, surgery is done!!
Yes, bringing home the same day can be a bit of a challenge for the first 24 - 48 hours. As Jerry said, pain management is crucial, plus you'll be watching her shake off the anesthesia.But being home is better than leaving her unattended mif your Vet isn't fully staffed 24/7.
Stay connected and let us know how things are going, okay?
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!
We are coping... They didn't give us a choice about keeping her there. So believe me when I tell you... This is as weird for her as us.
She's trying to walk on her stump, so it's like managing a drunken toddler who is trying to take off every five seconds or so. I think her pain management is darn near perfect, with no dysphoria... Not yet anyway. They did ultrasound guided nerve blocks... And I know that the vet trimmed her nerves so nothing would go down to the stump.
But man.... I can tell this is going to be a long night. She's supposed to get gabapentin before bed, so I'm hoping it'll knock her out. She also is on Trazadone to help keep her quiet, but that's not kicking in just yet I think lol
Basically I'm having to stand over here to keep her in one spot. She gets upset if one of us leaves the room. And she's pissed she only got half a dinner lol
God help us. Lol
Hugs,
Vic
Right now, our goal is to catch her every time she tries to get up, and steer her if we can... Most times she's going backwards, since she can't figure out how to move forward.
Ordered a new body harness for her, as the one I have isn't holding up her butt enough lol I got a 'help um up'.... It was recommended by a friend.
Also got incontinent pads ordered as she's not having any fun figuring out how to tell us what she needs. Lol
We did get her out to pee once... Which was the most awkward thing ever.... Lol but it was successful lol now we just have to figure out pooping. 
Yep, sounds like a ,long night....or two....or three! Sounds like the Surgeon did a good job for bloc the pain, initially anyway.
So she has eaten and peed....that great! And for now, where she wants to pee is just fine! Pooping may take a few days. Drinking is important.
It sounds like mobi0l isn't going to be a problem. She may be a bit wobbly right now though.
Okay, paws crossed you at least get a little sleep tonight..or maybe to orrow night.or at least hopefully a nap by Wednesday!😉
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!
Aww Vic I'm so sorry you are having to help her during the roughest night. Things do get better! Yep she sounds pretty dopey and stoned out of her gourd, which is good. Stay on schedule with the meds and if it seems like they are wearing off too early let your vet know so that you can adjust the dosage and frequency.
And don't worry, 
happens eventually! It may take a few days but it will.
Hang in there!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
She's finally sleeping!!!!!! Listening to her snore is the best musical concert ever 🤣
YAY! Here's to snoring!
She looks pretty good, nice and relaxed. We're keeping our paws crossed that things go great today. Keep us posted!
I'm in the Tripawds Chat for a bit if you want to talk.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I'm sad I missed chatting with you!! I'd enjoy that a lot. She's snoring again, after getting her morning pain meds... And I've been able to do things around the house.
Eric is working in the livingroom so he can catch her if she moves, but right now.... She seems good.
Only new pain med being introduced today is an anti-inflammatory called Rimadyl. She apparently had it by injection yesterday.
BTW.... I also realized I'm not in the right part of the forum with this thread, so feel free to move it if you like. ❤️
Whoa.... I got to see about 20 photos taken at every stage of the surgery today. And Dr. Collins showed me photos of the current state of the wound. Apparently she had never done an amputation that low, so she made a photographic log of the whole surgery start to finish.
I asked to see them... I wanted to understand it. It was both difficult and deeply encouraging to see what a spectacular job she did on the surgery. She told me she'd give me all of the photos and her x-rays if I wanted. I said, yes please. I wonder if anyone would find that useful as a teaching tool in my blog. I've got things to post... And I'll be working on it this evening, but wow it was a revelation to see the process.
Let me know if you think that would traumatize people, or make them feel more educated adout it.
As we speak, I have her on the lawn, soaking up sunshine on her new outside bed... And she's super happy about it. 😂
Love to the group,
Vic, Eric, Tsuki
Hey Vic!
I'll be in the Tripawds Chat tomorrow after about 12 noon your time, hop on over. And feel free to start a new topic in Treatment and Recovery when you're ready. Thanks for noticing she's graduated from this one 😉
Tsuki sounds comfortable and restful, just the way we all hope recovery will go. YAY! How wonderful she's recuperating in the sunshine.
As for the photos of her surgery, please do feel free to share in her blog. Nothing about surgery or life on 3 is off-limits or traumatizing in this community, we are all here for education. When Admin and I talk to folks about how prosthetics must be considered before surgery happens, Tsuki's story will be invaluable to show people the process. So yes, by all means, do share and thank you for even thinking of it and asking.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Tsuki is just beautiful. Had to chuckle as her eyes looked pretty doped up. Such a sweetie.
Fascinating about the way the Surgeon logged the process. How long do they wait to start trying to fit the prosthetic? Curious if she will try and use her "stump" at first, or hold it up like a true tripawd.
So she does have Gabapentin, right? Yeah, Rimadyl is mostly for inflammation and not much good for major surgery pain.
Tha ks for the pictures. We are all in love with that beautiful girl.
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!
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