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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Tomorrow is the big day for Denali to get her left rear leg amputated. She's doing fine with it and I'm sure she'll be a champ through the whole thing and handle everything WAY better than her mommy (aka me).
Any last minute advice on before and after? I've been getting her used to using a ramp (she's a pro at it!). I have started laying down some rugs/runners that are properly backed on the floors. I will block off the stairs so she's stuck on the 1st level for awhile. I'm trying to figure out a list of things I need to do before she comes back (like pick up extra dog food/cat food now and mow the yard now and give Loki (whose nickname is currently Stinky for obvious reasons) now and so forth). I've already asked the vet for something to help keep Loki calm through 4th of July weekend - he starts barking at fireworks and gets Denali all worked up. I just want to make sure I have EVERYTHING covered. Oh ... I need to wash some more "junk" blankets too!!
~~~~ Denali ~~~~
June 9, 2010 OSA suspected
June 17, 2010, July 14, 2010 Clear X-rays – no mets
July 1, 2010 Amputation
July 9, 2010 OSA Confirmed
November 23, 2010 Cancer took you from me - Never forgotten, Always Loved - Forever
Supporting the Fighters, Admiring the Survivors, Honoring the Taken, And never, ever giving up Hope
Sounds like you've got everything covered: rugs, gate, blankets.
Both Catie and her brother Riley have what I call "greeting disorders" and crowd at the doorway whenever someone comes calling. The day after Catie came home from her surgery we had an incident at the door with unexpected, but well-intended visitors. There was the usual jostling and Catie got rammed against the doorframe on her surgical site. Oh my, that was a piteous cry she uttered and I wanted to throw up from worry. Catie never minded sleeping in a crate so my husband and I immediately dashed out and bought the biggest wire crate we could find, set it up in the livingroom area (we have a split level), stuffed a dog bed in it, let people know to call us before coming over, and kept her in the crate whenever visitors were expected AND when we couldn't supervise her. It was a safe resting place for her while she recovered.
It's such a nail-biting worry for mom, for sure. I've been there and was on pins and needles all day waiting for the surgeon's call.
Best of luck tomorrow. Remember to breathe.
Carmen
Catie -
Birthday – November 4 2003
Amputation – January 13 2010
Crossed the Bridge – June 2 2011
That's AWESOME that she's using the ramp! A lot of dogs won't, if they never have before.
One great piece of advice we got is to keep your car seats covered with blankets, just in case there's an accident on the way home.
Be sure to have some reallllly tempting foods on hand, along with some low sodium chicken broth to add to her water, just in case her appetite is lagging.
Keep a grocery bag sling ready (another just in case). That's when you take a canvas grocery bag, cut open the sides and use it as a sling. She may not need it, but if she does it shouldn't be for more than a couple of days.
But the biggest piece of advice we think is key: breathe. Relax. Take care of yourself. And remember, keep things as normal as possible so that Denali knows you believe she will be strong and recuperate quickly. Be strong. You can do it!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Will be thinking of you tomorrow!
Just remember to sleep when you can! Try hard to not get too sleep deprived.
Comet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
Everyone has already addressed what's needed...including breathing!!! 
Just wanted to let you know, I'll be thinking of you and Denali through the process.
We're here for the shoulder you might need!
Tracy, Maggie's Mom
Maggie was amputated for soft tissue sarcoma 10-20-09
Maggie lost her battle with kidney disease on 8-24-13
All the best tomorrow for Denali, you will be in my thoughts and prayers for a successful surgery and a speedy uneventful recovery.
We will all be here for you any time you need us.
Jo Ann & Tasha
Tasha 8 years old, First cancer diagnosis 6/26/09, Last cancer diagnosis 9/26/09, Amputation 10/01/09, Loving our girl moment by moment.
Tasha lost her battle and became my Angel on May 4 2011. Forever in my heart….
Sounds like you've got most everything covered, but I''ll suggest one more thing, based on my personal experience. Our dog, Max, always slept in our bed. My husband eventually built a ramp for the bed, but not until two weeks after the amputation. So, we got an air mattress, and I slept on that with Max on the floor. Max was really glad to have my nearby, laid right up against me the whole time. I noticed you said Denali would be on the first floor, so I would suggest sleeping down there next to him, if that's convenient for you.
Good luck tomorrow, everyone here at Tripawds will be thinking of you and Denali!
Diane
Thanks everybody - we have a Walmart bag ready to be cut (never used). Didn't think of blankets for the car, but usually she has to sit on blankets anyway or else there's fur EVERYWHERE.
I've been making her eat her food by using canned doggy food already (just 1/4 - 1/2 the can - she's not the best doggy food eater, especially in the summer) and I have 2 containers of chicken broth on hand. Boy this forum helps make things so much easier than having to figure out stuff on our own!!!
~~~~ Denali ~~~~
June 9, 2010 OSA suspected
June 17, 2010, July 14, 2010 Clear X-rays – no mets
July 1, 2010 Amputation
July 9, 2010 OSA Confirmed
November 23, 2010 Cancer took you from me - Never forgotten, Always Loved - Forever
Supporting the Fighters, Admiring the Survivors, Honoring the Taken, And never, ever giving up Hope
We got Skyler a soft Elizabethian collar, as we couldn't be with her 24/7. This way we didn't have to worry about her messing with her staples/surgery site.
Hang in there, and wishing you all the best. Our paws are crossed for you!
Oh, I wanted to post this since I don't think anyone has yet...
Rene wrote this great article on how to care for your dog after amputation surgery.
How to Care for your Dog after Ampuatation Surgery. Take a look!
Comet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
Great advice so far...
I think you have already read through Jerry's Required Reading List - the link is at the top of the forum if you have not.
You might also consider raising her food and water bowls. You can try cutting a hole in the bottom of an inverted bucket for dishes, or even put them on a box to see how she does. My rear amp pug was fine with her bowl on the floor, but she was pretty little. There are also many raised feeding bowls available commercially.
The other thing I will offer is don't get discouraged! You sound pretty well prepared, so you know the first couple of weeks can be rough. As you get tired and stressed it is easier for doubt to creep in, you know you are doing the right thing.
Hopefully your 'little girl' will bounce back quickly, but she may take her time adjusting. Be a strong pack leader and let her know that she is doing fine.
And of course we are always here to offer support and answer questions.
Karen and the pug girls
She knows how to get those elizabethan collars off - the vet said I can use boxer-shorts on her if I need to.
Denali already has raised food bowls - so that too has been taken care of!
I have to say, I still have the knots in my stomach - so far from me, no tears yet today (I'm sure it's still to come). I know this is the best for her and she'll be taken care of!
~~~~ Denali ~~~~
June 9, 2010 OSA suspected
June 17, 2010, July 14, 2010 Clear X-rays – no mets
July 1, 2010 Amputation
July 9, 2010 OSA Confirmed
November 23, 2010 Cancer took you from me - Never forgotten, Always Loved - Forever
Supporting the Fighters, Admiring the Survivors, Honoring the Taken, And never, ever giving up Hope
Haley and Denali,
We are still getting settled from this year's version of our "June in Yellowstone" trip, so please forgive any duplication of information. But before I go even further, let me say how sorry we are to hear about Denali's diagnosis. As you can tell, you have found a great site filled with wonderful people who will share their collective experience, provide great advice, and be there for support.
A few things that may help you prepare for Denali’s return from surgery. Stealing from a recent Jerry posting, I would suggest:
What to Expect Part 1: http://tinyurl......tToExpect1
What to Expect Part 2: http://tinyurl......tToExpect2
Also, there are my usual suggestions:
1) Remain as positive as possible around Denali. They will pick up on your feelings and if you are down, it will only make it harder. I often left Cherry, left the house, and then totally lost it before regaining composure and returning with a smile. It will make a difference.
2) Remember to treat the spirit as well as the body. Find something that they love and can still do during recovery. Then exploit that love to give them purpose. For Cherry, it was her trips in the truck/car. It was the first and for a long time, the only place that she would willingly take food when offered. As the time when she thought that she is going for a ride approached, you can see the excitement grow. Jake's mom would probably tell you that for Jake it was the swimming pool. Once Jake saw the pool and was allowed back in, the improvement appears to have been remarkable. View the Fun! Doug and Heidi will tell you that for Molly it continues to be canoe trips. Watch her celebrate her one year anpuversary! Finally there is Calpurnia who loves the life filled with the outdoors and sledding and has survived the amputation for more than two years. View the fun! Help them find a purpose to fight.
3) Consider keeping a journal. I kept a journal and posted much it on-line. It allowed me to go back days/weeks/months and make a good comparison. The detail that you keep in this journal is more than I would ever put into a blog ,which is also a great idea. This very detailed journal really helped to make honest assessments of Cherry's progress during the ups and downs of recovery. Our oncologist actually used these journal postings to keep up to speed on Cherry's condition. I have even refered to this journal within the last few months to make sure that I had my details correct before responding to a post. I have a page of thumbnail photos (with links to larger versions) covering from just after the diagnosis, first days home, chemotherapy treatment, through recent days. View Cherry’s TriPawd photos.
So much for my "standard" set of suggestions. Each respond differently to the surgery and the chemicals. Both Emily and Cherry had such a bad reaction to Tramadol that they had to be taken off, but others have found that only Tramadol really gave the response necessary. Go with your observation and feelings - they rarely lead one a stray.
Sending Pawsitive Thoughts Eastward - You BOTH will be on our minds tomorrow and throughout Denali's TriPawd journey.
Spirit Cherry's Dad
hstanek said:
- the vet said I can use boxer-shorts on her if I need to.
I'd love to see pictures of this, that has got to be good for a laugh!
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
Denali, my Shelby and I wish you the best tomorrow! You're going to do GREAT! Shelby is one day behind you....her right front leg will be amputated on Friday so you two can recover together.
And I suspect your moms will become good friends via this forum and many sleepless nights.
Go get 'em!!
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