Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Well I'm now officially "tripawd". The op went well and my family were able to bring me home on Saturday morning. They were all pretty dismayed by my appearence, but tried to hide it. The kids definately coped better than the grown ups. Thanks so much for all of the information here that at least had everyone as well prepared as they could be.
I whined quite a bit and seemed a little perplexed all day Saturday, but have been able to move about independantly. It looks like really hard work!! On Sunday I felt as bright as a button and was hopping about like I'd been at it for years. The only time I whined was when Dad & the kids were in the garden and I wanted to go out play with them.
Today has been a different matter. I have been really down in the dumps. I have had to be persuaded to move, although I'm still eating well (I am a Labrador!!). Mum took me to the vets to be checked out and they say all is as well as can be expected. Could I be depressed? I have some reasons to be I suppose? The only medication I'm on is Rimadyl. Mum's worried that the dysplaysia in my left foreleg has been aggravated by all the hopping.
We've decided not to go down the chemo route as it's not locally available. The vet advised that given the amount of travelling involved, factoring in the logistics of a young family, it wouldn't give me a great quality of life, only possibly more quantity.
I'm not keen on the doggy ramp Mum's bought to get me in and out of her high car. In fact so much so that I even jumped into the car by myself to come home from the vets. Mum nearly fell over with the shock.
We're all taking one day at a time. There have been moments when I know my Mum, who loves me so much, has wondered whether she's done the right thing. Hopefully with lots and lots of love we'll pull through this. I knew the first few days/weeks would be hard - they really are!!
Will be back in touch to update you, hopefully with some good news. Thanks for all your support.
Alfie & Linda
Hi Alfie
I'm glad to hear that your op went well and that you are at home and recovering.
I'm sure it was a very big shock to your humans when you came home. I think that no matter how much the humans try to prepare themselves, it's still hard to see such a big change to their beloved dogs appearance, even if it's for all the right reasons.
I'm sure that its very normal for you to feel a little down right now. Its a big change for you, plus I think that sometimes, the aneasthetic can make dogs a little depressed after a short while (as it can with humans).
If you Mummy wants to chat on the phone, I'm happy to do that - just give me a shout.
Lots of love
Bev (& Darcy)
x
Darcy – tripawd since 16th October 2007.
***Darcy would love to be your friend on Facebook - just search for Darcy Deerhound***
Thanks Bev, i'm about to head off to your website to leave our details.
Linda
OK - will wait for the form to land in my email and will phone 
Darcy – tripawd since 16th October 2007.
***Darcy would love to be your friend on Facebook - just search for Darcy Deerhound***
Hi Alfie,
Great to hear the operation went well. I know you are glad to be home. Ups and downs are to be expected and sometimes the medications can have side effects. Take it easy and things will get better with each passing day.
Hugs
Connie & Radar
Alfie said:
Could I be depressed?
Doubt it ... that's much more a human thing. It's most likely the meds. Rimadyl is pretty heavy duty. We've heard of other dogs on that stuff whining and acting funny.
Just give it time. Lethargy is expected. You just need lots of rest and relaxation for a while. welcome home!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi Alfie my tripawd soulmate! I am very jealous of your energy! I have done nothing buy lie around since I came home Sunday - hardly moved! I did go out to go pee and poop and I hop to my food bowl in the kitchen. Otherwise I'm planted at the foot of the sofa. I wag my tail lots, though, and I was glad my mom slept on the sofa last night.
Every once in a while I yelp, which isn't like me otherwise because I'm not much of a complainer. My mom's figured out from my panting if I need more pain meds. But I get lethargic like maybe you are for a while when they peak. My mom doesn't mind since she had to leave me for a few hours to go to work for a little while today. And more tomorrow. She figures being a little sedated is probably a good thing so I won't try to go upstairs on my own or mess with my stitches.
You are so young and full of life, you are going to recover fabulously Alfie! Like I said, I'm a little jealous!
Good luck on your recovery! Please keep me posted, I'm very interested in how you're doing.
Licks and wags, and hugs to your mom,
from Sandy
Hi All,
Thanks for all you comments and for thinking of me.
Sandy, I think I'm taking the "soul-mate" thing very seriously. Other than a surprising burst of energy on Sunday, my behaviour has been exactly the same as yours. I'm extremely lethargic, not moving at all if I can help it and a few times today I've left out an occasional little yelp. It's good to hear from everyone here that the way we are isn't unexpected, lets hope we both perk up sometime soon.
I'm off to the vet tomorrow for a wound check, Mum can hardly wait for the fun of persuading me into the car, coupled with the usual fun of the school run.....and then there's getting me out again.
Hanging on in there!
Alfie
Alfie and Linda - I'm so glad to hear Alfie is home now! I'm looking forward to when you hit the month anniversary and you can look back and go wow, who knew? I'm continually amazed by Smokey every day, how each day just continues to get better and better for him, as far as moving around and doing his old habits (he had this habit that after he'd be done going potty, he'd kick all of his legs like he was trying to cover it up - and somehow he's managed to do that as a tripawd too!)
The biggest change I noticed in Smokey was when he was off all the pain meds. Given his age and what he had been through, he's slowed down quite a bit over the last year or so, but once those meds were done and the realization that his painful paw wasn't creating more pain for him, he kept getting better and more energetic.
Smokey also does not like the ramp as I was hoping. My dad had built one for us, but he wouldn't use it... he likes to hope right in on his own. Luckily I don't have an SUV so he can kind of step his way in the car. We have a mazda protege5 and with our backseats, since they all fold down anyway, I'm able to take the bottom cushion and push it forward so he'll be able to use one side of the car for steps and then once he's in, I put the seat all the way down so he has the entire back for himself.
I just remember that first day we picked him up ... I couldn't believe what we had just gone through and I thought I could never go through this again. But every time I look at Smokey's face and see how happy he is, that's all I need to keep reassuring me we did the right thing. And I never thought I would be at this place. But it's such a relief to know he's not limping around anymore on a pad that really hurt him.
Continued best wishes!
I'm afraid I can't add too much to what's already been said by all the fine contributors above. I have learned from all these wonderful people that dogs with amputations heal differently and that some dogs are a little slower than others. I just want to add that we love you Linda & Alfie (and husband) and I hope that soon you will see that you made the right decision. Alfie should heal very quickly since he has his youth on his side. I know it's hard to see him like this now, but I can't wait until he starts bouncing around again so you can see that you truly made the right choice to remove that painful limb. You may even want to ask you Vet if there is another anti-inflammatory that might make Alfie feel better. I believe Jerry said he did very well on Metacam.
Your friends, Blazer, Kitty Kimber & Vicki T
Hey tripawd soulmate how ya doing? Did your wound check go ok? I had my drain out (I updated over here - http://www.trip.....3090#p3090.)
Are you still taking pain meds? I got more active (a little bit) when mine were cut back.
Are you eating ok? Are you happy? Are you hoppy?
Let me know!
Lots o' licks! woof woof!
Hi Sandy & All,
Glad to hear my tripawd soul-mate is doing so well! I've read about your drain coming out and am so glad to hear you're getting more mobile.
As always, cos we're such soul-mates, like you I'm getting so much better. I've been feeling positively lively today and was keen to get out into the garden to say hello to the gardeners in the beautiful autumn weather we're enjoying. It's really nice to see some different friendly faces, as much as I love my family a change is always welcome. Here's to this time next week when we'll hit the two week hurdle. Look at how much progress we've made already!!
My stiches come out next Thursday and as of today, we're cutting the Rimadyl down to half a tablet twice a day. Hoping that like you less meds will give me more energy. Looking forward to ditching the not-very-fetching T-shirt that has been very effective in keeping me from interfering with the wound.
My mum has been troubled about what to do about my previous owners. I was re-homed via an advert in our village shop. My family are not friends with my former family, but they do know people in common, and live only a few miles from us. Once in a while mum bumps into my former mum, who always asks after me. There was no problem with my old family, but pressures of life meant they weren't able to give me the time and exercise I needed, which was why they took the very difficult decision to re-home me. I know that they did that out of love for me. Mum and Dad are debating. They think my former family needs to hear about what's happened from them, rather that through gossip, or heavens forbid , by bumping into us. Mum thinks it would be best to write a letter. Dad is prepared to make a phone call. Would be interested to hear if anyone has any thoughts on how to handle this unusual, but sensitive issue?
Thanks as always for your help and support.
Alfie
I think a phone call would probably be best because you'd be able to answer any questions they might have very quickly. A letter seems a little impersonal, in this case. But, let's see what others have to say. They may disagree with me completely, which is fine. Blazer & Mom
Alfie said:
Hi Sandy & All,
My mum has been troubled about what to do about my previous owners.
They think my former family needs to hear about what’s happened
Would be interested to hear if anyone has any thoughts on how to handle this unusual, but sensitive issue?
Alfie, your pawrents are so kind to be concerned about this. I think that a simple letter, with maybe a photo of you looking fabulous, would be just fine. They obviously love you a lot, and I think they would be glad to know that you are such a fighter.
It's just like open adoptions, when adoptive human parents keep in touch with their adopted child's biological mother. It's good for all parties involved to know how their beloved child is doing.
How fortunate to have two families that care so much about you!
Your pal,
Jerry
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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