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
Hi all, I appreciate you being here. This is so difficult. Our 8-year old greyhound, Summer, (her birthday was this past Saturday) started limping 2-1/2 weeks ago, and was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in her front right leg 2 weeks ago today. Diagnosis was done by x-ray and needle punch bone biopsies. I have been researching this site and it has been very helpful. We are heartbroken and scared. We had a consult with a very good oncologist and Summer is in amputation surgery today, as I write this. We are waiting to hear from the surgeon (hopefully soon, as the waiting is horrible). My head is spinning as we did not have a whole lot of time to prepare ourselves. We saw the oncologist last Friday, surgery scheduled for today. Yikes! Good for Summer, nervewracking for us.
Summer was started on Gabapentin and Rimadyl when we first saw the vet, so she has been on that for 2 weeks now. The vet also gave us an RX for Tylenol w/codeine, which we haven’t had to use yet, but probably will postop. We bought a ramp for the car, have put carpeted runners throughout the house where there are tile/wood floors (bedroom and living room are carpeted), and have an adjustable dog sling to help her walk when needed. The ramp only arrived yesterday, but we did manage to practice with Summer, first flat on the floor, then in the car, and she handled it like a champ. We’ll see what happens with 3 legs, instead of 4.
I did purchase your online books and am in the processing of doing a whole lot of reading very quickly. I feel overwhelmed. Summer will be spending the night at the vet and most likely coming home sometime tomorrow. My husband and I went back and forth a zillion times (in the short time we had) to make the decision as to whether or not amputation was the way to go. But after much research, discussions with both the oncologist and the surgeon, and looking into our hearts, we decided that Summer deserves this chance. She is absolutely the sweetest, most loving, smartest greyhound there is. I know some greyhound owners don’t agree with our decision, though most understand our need to do what we can, but that’s okay. We are only concerned with what is best for Summer and understand others have to make their own choices.
Is there anything I’m forgetting for her discharge tomorrow? Thank you in advance, both for this site, and for all your concern and caring. This is going to be a new journey and I wish it were a better one.
Robin
Robin & Summer
Hi Robin, welcome. Anyone who's ever been in your shoes totally gets what this is like, we all get it, and you are not alone. I'm sorry you had to find us but glad you did.
It does sound like you have everything you need for Summer. A great vet, and especially one who is proactive about pain management , is sooo important. You've got that covered! Carpet runners are also important, and her doing the ramp is incredible! Many dogs won't. So yay for her ability to adapt! Do you have any stairs in your home?
Greys are pretty mellow so chances are she is going to be pretty easy during recovery. As long as pain is controlled she will, so you want to stay ahead of the pain and don't wait until she shows pain signals . Most times pain med timing needs adjusting in the first week (usually giving it a bit earlier), and sometimes another med needs adding into the mix, like Amantadine. See how it goes but don't be afraid to call your vet with question if she is appearing to be painful.
She is going to surprise you so much when recovery is over, just wait. Greyhounds as you know are no strangers to osteosarcoma, sadly, but our Grey members here have been so incredible! They bounce back, they go on to enjoy life, and they show us what it means to make the most of each day.
Just take things one step at a time. I know you feel overwhelmed but you can do this! I have the Tripawds Chat open this morning for a little while if you want to talk and you can always call the Tripawds Helpline too.
@Robin_2
I am so sorry to hear about your furry friend. I can't speak to the cancer side of things, as our doggo Bitsy had a freak accident but I do know that she has recovered amazingly and shows us every day that she's still our happy girl!
Keeping you all in our thoughts and prayers.
Thank you for your response. Summer came through surgery okay and is reportedly resting comfortably now. She did have some moments of whining earlier, but they feel that was her coming out of the anesthesia. She is getting Fentanyl tonight.
We do have some (carpeted) stairs, but will be keeping Summer downstairs for a while once she comes home. We also have one step up into the house, so we’ll see how that goes.
It’s been a long day, so going to ‘try’ to get some sleep tonight. Will post again tomorrow with an update.
Robin & Summer
Good morning. Picking Summer up later this afternoon. She had some pain during the night, according to the staff, but the doctor said that is significantly improved this morning. She was up walking a little bit to go outside to potty this morning. Not real interested in eating just yet.
Also I’m not sure I’m posting in the right place, so feel free to move this where it should be for continued updates and questions. Thanks so much!
Robin
Robin & Summer
Yay for Summer coming home today! She will likely be pretty wonky and unlike how you've seen her before, so don't be too surprised or saddened. It gets better!
One step into your house should be OK. The carpeted stairs should be alright after she heals, but yep, good idea to keep them gated off until then. After that, you can guide her carefully when using them to see how she does (front leg Tripawds have a harder time going down stairs than going up).
You can feel free to keep posting here or start a new Topic in Treatment and Recovery if you have specific questions about this part of the journey. Either way, keep us posted and let us know how things are going!
Summer is home! 
Went to pick her up at the vet hospital not really knowing what to expect. We were in the waiting room and suddenly here comes the vet tech with Summer hopping along on her leash. Whoa! Didn’t quite expect her to look so good. She went right up the ramp with minimal assistance other than us guiding her with her leash (didn’t even have to use the sling we had) and into the back of our SUV. It was like she said, “I practiced this last night, I got this”. 
Coming down the ramp, she was just a bit more apprehensive (as you said she might be going down), so we used to sling to support her. Still, she did so good. Even walked a very short ways to the grass to urinate. She hadn’t done that at the vet hospital. She did urinate for them prior to discharge, but not when they brought her outside, she did it in her bed there. So we were ecstatic that she went right away on her home turf. I feel like each little step is a milestone.
She ate a small amount of food after we got her settled, and now she’s sleeping because I’m sure she’s exhausted. A small bandage on her incision, which they said to leave off once it falls off (probably in a day or two). She goes back for a recheck and to have her stitches removed in 10-14 days. Then we begin chemotherapy.
I know we have a ways to go, and not every day will be a great one, but this little athletic girl is a rock star. Just sayin’.
I’ll quote Jimmy Buffett here (I miss him): Breathe in, breathe out, move on. 
Robin
Robin & Summer
@mischief Thank you so much. It’s a scary time, but as long as she’s home and doing okay, right? Will update tomorrow.
Robin
Robin & Summer
Fantastic news!! Grinning ear to ear over here!
Summer has already shown she can be mobile, she has peed, and she has even eaten some! Huge milestones indeed!
What meds did she come home with, the dose and frequency? Once her strong hospital meds wear off, she may experience a bit of a crash and what looks like a backwards slide. May not, but if it happens just know that it's normal.
Hopefully you'll have a quiet night. However, if she starts being a little restless and acting weird, that's most likely just shaking off all the anesthesia, etc.
Thanks for the update.....it's a good one!!!
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!
Thank you, Sally. Everyone here has been so supportive. Though we hate for anyone to go through this, it helps to know we’re not alone.
Summer did have a small episode of panting and trying to pace earlier this evening, but I gave her a Tylenol w/codeine and that helped her settle. She’s sleeping comfortably now. It did freak me a little momentarily, only because it came on so suddenly, but I’m better now too. 
Summer’s Rx’s are:
- Tylenol w/codeine 30/300, one every 8-12 hours.
- Carprofen 100 mg, 1/2 tab every 12 hrs.
- Gabapentin 100 mg, 2 capsules every 12 hours.
- Augmentin 500 mg, 1 tab every 12 hrs.
- Aminocaproic Acid 500 mg , 2 capsules every 8 hrs. (This is given because greyhounds- and other sighthounds, can be prone to delayed postop bleeding).
Surgeon also gave us an Rx for Tramadol if needed for agitation.
I am trying to stay ahead of the pain by giving her the pain meds a tad earlier than scheduled.
Bonus: Summer actually squatted and attempted to poop during her last outing tonight. It was too dark to see if she actually did anything; I will check the spot in the morning. But at least she has the logistics down. 😉
Sleep well.
Robin & Summer
Awww yay for Summer (relief for you guys, I'm sure). She'll continue to show you that she has the will and strength to live life to the fullest!
It is scary to watch some of the changes; Bitsy had heavy breathing with panting and some restlessness but it didn't last too long.
I hope you all sleep well tonight.
xx
Thank you, Shannon! (And that med list above should have listed Trazodone, NOT Tramadol). I guess I’m tired. Ya think?
Summer had a greater episode of agitation this afternoon, which I posted about earlier in a different thread on the Treatment and Recovery forum. This one was bad and I spoke to the surgeon, who helped me tweak her pain meds and add the Trazodone. She seems much more comfortable now, thank goodness. I love the photo of your Bitsy!
Robin & Summer
1 Guest(s)
