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.
Join The Tripawds Community
Learn how to help three legged dogs and cats in the forums below. Browse and search as a guest or register for free and get full member benefits:
Instant post approval.
Private messages to members.
Subscribe to favorite topics.
Live Chat and much more!
Register
Log In
Members
Add Topic
Offline
kristadustin said
Hi I'm new to the tripawds community.
Welcome! your future forum posts will not require moderation. Consider starting a new topic to share your story and get more feedback from others or consider downloading Tripawds e-books for fast answers to the most common care and recovery questions. Search these forums above or search all blogs for more three legged Saint Bernard stories.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Gosh, just saw your post.....sorry I'm late!
Sending you healng energy for a quick recovery! Tonka is one handsome dude!,
You hang in there! Yo are dong the best thing for him, okay!
Huge hugs to you both!
Sally and Happy Hannah
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!
Ok, brought Tonka home yesterday afternoon. He went in and out of sleep and crying yesterday. However, last night and so far this morning, it has been no-stop wimpering. Oh I feel like a walking zombie. Between not sleeping in anticipation of the surgery and last night, I'm exhausted! No rest for the weary as I have 4 children as well! I'm ready for this part to be over.
He's on Tramadol, Carprofen, Gabapentin , Cephalexin and a pain patch. His opposite shoulder really bows out when he tries to walk. Even though he is trim for a Saint, now that he's on only the front right leg, I think he'll need to lose a little more weight, at least 10 pounds.
hang in there. .. This is a hard part that's for sure. . Tonka is so lucky to have a family that cares so much about him. It will get better.!
Thinking of you guys..
Lori and Angel Chuck
That patch is like morphine. You will likely see a vast improvement once Tonka is off the meds. Try to take things one day at a time, and please keep us posted.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Boy oh boy, we can all relate!
My Hapy Hannah didn't have the patch but, if I recall, she had all the other drugs. Anyway, she whimpered and cried and would not lay down (she did occasionally sit) for the first nineteen hours straight!! And it wasn't much better for several days. I tell you that not to alarm you, but to let you know it's in tne realm of "normal" for the recovery of some dogs. And on top of that, he still has a lot of hospital meds in him plus the morphine so that can make him a little whacky too!
Is Tonka eating yet? Drinking? Pooping? Peeing? Sou ds like he is mobile so that's good. Ask your vet about his shoulder sticking out just to make sure he hasn't "relocated" anything that shouldn't be. I'm sure it's probavly just the way he's trying to adapt.
I KNOW this part is sooooooo hard! AND four kids on top of that! Hang in there mom! It does get better!! This is "short-term pain" for "long term gain"!
We're here for you, okay? Let us ow how we can help! We're right by yor side! See us? You do!!??? Now that's scarey!!
Hugs a d sending you some zzzzzzzzz's
Sally and Happy Hannah
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!
Benny you are so funny! I could use that right now! Thank you. Yes, he is eating. haven't seen him poop yet, and saw him pee when we got home yesterday, and then wet his bed last night. Not sure what happened last night since I am sleeping downstairs with him. He NEVER has accidents so maybe I just didn't wake up to differentiate his "gotta go" cry from all the rest of the crying. He never gets up in the middle of the night to go outside, so this has just messed up his schedule a bit I would guess.
I do feel like he is a little loopy. He's normally such a quiet, mellow little(big) man. I just want him to reeeellllaxxxx and reeeessst......zzzzzzz....
Aww I'm sorry about the bed wetting. Lots of out-of-the-ordinary things happen during recovery. Thankfully they are temporary and recovery won't last forever. Hang in there, you'll be through it soon!
He's on some great medication. Talk to your vet about increasing/decreasing to find the right balance. It's frustrating that too much or too little pain meds can give off the same symptoms, but you and your vet should be able to find a good dose that will work.
As for weight loss, yup, you're on the right path there. Tripawds should always be thinner than their 4-legged counterparts to ensure they can get around without joint stress. If you start gradually reducing his food intake right now, that should slowly get him into weight loss mode before the painkillers wear off and he catches on that you're putting him on a diet! The Tripawds Nutrition Blog has lots of diet tips, be sure to check it out: http://nutritio.....ipawds.com
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Here is Tonka going home.
Resting with my daughter.
His heavy panting has slowed down, but he is still wimpering.
That's good that he's eating and drinking and peeng.....stay tuned for the St. Bernard first poop! Oughta' be a good one!
Yeah, as Jerry said, the meds can make 'em loopy and cause the peeingin bed. He's probavly so medicated he may not jave even realized he peed. He probavly blamed it on you!
The first part of recoery is so hard and exhausting. The lackof sleep can realy, really get to you. But I promise...it gets better! Stay connected to us, okay? This is the roighest part. The hospital meds should be out of his system in another "dayish" and you might see him settling in a little more then.
When you can, maybe you could post some pictures of Tonka and his sibling. I know they have to be adoravle. You are a very kind soul for adopting these two together. Very lucky pps!
Okay, I'm sendingover a truck load of shee for yu to count tonight. Ne of them may even have a little glass of wine hidden under is wool. Look for that one.....stop counting...grab the wine...guzzle...........sweet dreams!
Looki g frward to your next update! You're doing great!
Sally and Happy Hannah
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 Tonka! You sure are looking pretty good. Nice harness!
I hope you're feeling better today.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Tonka's biopsy came back today, it's Chondrosarcoma. I would say last night was his first good night's sleep since the surgery. He was also up and moving around a little more today, and a little more himself. He was constantly rolling over and asking for belly rubs, so I know he's feeling better!
Now off to research Chondrosarcoma and make an appointment with the oncologist!
I'm glad things are looking better! Here's a link to chondrosarcoma.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
1 Guest(s)
