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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Murphy, our beautiful, calm, smart, wonderful 2 year old 140 lb. Newfoundland and Anatolian Sheppard is having his left front leg amputated tomorrow morning. I feel like I have been punched in the stomach, my heart is broken. My entire family is so upset that this is happening.. I started reading some of the stories on your website and now am hopeful for a happy start to a new and different life for. Murphy and his loving family. I feel like I am flapping in the wind here.....I don't have enough information on amputation to help him....help
susan43 said
I don't have enough information on amputation to help him....
Well, you came to the right place! Start here for a quick overview of how to get the most benefit from all the resources the Tripawds community has to offer.
Be sure to bookmark Jerry's Required Reading List for many more helpful links or consider downloading the Tripawds e-books for fast answers to common concerns.
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Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi Susan and Murphy!
We are here right by your side! You are not alone, okay? We understand like no others can. You have a lot of great links from our Admin Guy to help you feel more confident about the upcoming recovery period and overall care for a tripawd.
Yep...punched in the stomach...stuck in a nightmare...kicked in the gut...can't sleep...can't eat...racked with fear...doubting everything....worried sick...nauseous...did I leave out anything? WE UNDERSTAND!!
Why specifically is your big boy having his leg amputated?
If it's that piece of crap disease, just know right off the bat statistics don't mean much around here and timeframes even mean less!!
Cannot wait to see loctures of your sweet boy! My Happy Hannah, a Bull Mastiff (125 lbs) admisted astoundingly quickly to three legs! You are in good company right now, we have several dogs on this journey right now ranging from 140 lbs up to 170lbs. I can assure you they are all up an mobile. Now, let me add this very quickly...bigger dogs generally take a longer time to recover AND can take a longer time working out their mobility issues! Not always, but generally!
A lot of things are at play the first two weeks. The dogs are on pain meds, they are woozy, their appetite may be off a bit, some just lay around, some (like my Happy Hannah) whined and cried the first three days, was restless and barely slept. Some dogs need help with a sling when first tryi g to get up for a few days. EVERY DOG IS DIFFERENT! EVERY RECOVERY IS DIFFERENT! STAY CONNECTED TO US...we've got a whole lot of firsthand experience!
It is very important to keep their pain meds consistent so the pain doesn't get a head start. The vet will most likely give you Tramadol, Gabapentin, Rimadyl and an antibiotic. He will slend at least one night in the hospital. Some large dogs stay longer.
It's important to have a bed that's not too squishy and soft during recovery. They need the firmness to be able to get up easier and to help support their joints. Check out The Big Barker Bed here. It's made especially for big dogs.
I KNOW it's hard to be patient. The recovery will feel like it lasts forever. It doesn't! It rook me about three weeks before I could say I did this FOR my Happy Hannah and not TO her!!
Let us know any questions, concerns, etc. We are here ro help. We also have a toll free TRIPAWDS HELPLINE.
Take some deep breaths and stock yiur cupboard with lots of CHOCOLATE! It will help!
Sending lots of love and 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!
Hi Susan!
Welcome .. I remember being in your place - facing an amputation after a broken leg. But definitely download the books if you can. They are very helpful and feel free to ask us any questions you might have.
And tell us more about Murphy. How did he break is leg? What does your vet say? We aren't vets (most of us) but definitely have seen a lot around here. And we have a helpline so feel free to call that and if you don't reach someone, someone WILL call you back!
Hang in there!!!
Hugs!
alison with spirit shelby in her heart
Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.
October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014
Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife
Welcome Susan and Murphy. We know what a punch this is! We'll all be here willing to help you through this journey. One thing that helped me before the amp was going in and reading the posts in the treatment and recovery page. It helped me to understand the different things to expect in the recovery process so if we experienced them I already knew that some of what we were experiencing was pretty normal and I could stay calm about it. Dogs are such amazing beings and I still become amazed at how well and fast they adapt to their new "normal". Of course I still had a lot of question as we moved along and this group of wonderful people here were right here to pick me up with their support and help me every step of the way. Just as we will do for you and Murphy. Please keep us posted and sending you tons of healing thoughts for tomorrow. Hugs!
Linda, Ollie,Riley & Spirit Mighty Max
I think this must be Murphy's amp day so I know it is really stressful. You're going to be on pins and needles today, so try to channel all that energy into getting the house ready if you haven't already. Have an area set up (a crate, a room etc) where he can recover. Be sure to have non-slip walking surfaces anywhere Murphy needs to go. Provide raised food and water bowls. Figure out a plan where someone can be available for him all the time, at least for the first few days. Have a long hard talk w/ the vet/surgeon about pain management and be sure you have access to whatever he might need. You don't want to be cut off on a weekend w/o having pain meds available. Ask lots of questions when you go pick him up. It helps if more than one of you is listening to the answers since I know I was stressed enough that I didn't hear things.
Most of all, be prepared for a rough couple of days. It doesn't always happen, but if Murphy is like most big guys (and gals), it will take him a bit longer to recover and get up and about post-amp. It doesn't mean it was the wrong decision and it doesn't mean it will stay like that. It will get better, a little at a time. The first couple of weeks are the worst, but after that Murphy will probably surprise you at how well he adapts. It is sometimes hard to imagine that in those first couple of days, but try to believe that it will happen because it will!
And do please come back and let us know more about Murphy. I love Anatolians so I imagine he's quite the looker. It is sad that he's losing a leg so young, but he's doesn't care much about that. He only wants to be w/ his family and love them and be loved. He doesn't need four legs for that.
Denise, Bill and Angel Ellie.
Active 10+ Pyr mix suddenly came up lame with ACL tear in left rear leg. Scheduled for a TPLO but final pre-op x-rays indicated a small suspicious area, possibly OSA, which could have caused the ACL tear. Surgeon opened the knee for TPLO but found soft bone. Biopsy came back positive for OSA. Became a Tripawd 9/18/14. Carbo6 with Cerenia and Fluids. Pain free and living in the moment. Crossed the Bridge on 7/12/15 after probable spread of cancer to her cervical spine. A whole lifetime of memories squeezed into 10 months. Here's her story: Eloise
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