Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hello All,
Just a quick update before I got get some sleep. Bailey is doing awesome!
Her surgery went very well. She was in surgery from 11:30 am until 3:30 pm yesterday. Everything went great - no complications. She went home with me last night and she seemed good.
I slept next to her in a sleeping bag last night and she did well...she wouldn't allow me to leave her. She attempted to go for a walk last night - I was shocked and amazed, but I told her no. She finally seemed to sleep better after 1 am this morning.
She woke me up with kisses and her tail wagging at 6 am. She ate really good and took her pills. She refused to drink water. Then she dragged me across the living room to go outside - walking on her 3 legs. I'm still completely amazed. She wouldn't step foot off the porch...she she went potty there which I was okay with. Then she went back to sleep for a few hours.
Once our other dogs were up and ready to go out, she wanted to also and she dragged me outside and down the steps and went to the grass. We then took her to the vet for her recheck, where she attempted to jump out of the car. She then walked herself into the hospital...to the utter amazement of the entire staff. She was then tired so we carried her around after that.
She was a bit dehydrated and her temperature was on the high side of normal (103.5) so she got fluids this morning and I have to bring her back this afternoon for more.
We got her back home and she went potty in the yard - by herself (she doesn't want help...but we are trying). We carried her back in. Then she evaded me and went to lay in her favorite spot behind the kitchen table on an air vent. So, I put water and food and a pet bed there. She seemed happy. She has been wagging her tail and smiling all morning.
I am so relieved...and incredibly exhausted. I only got 3 hours of sleep last night.
So, I am going to bed, while a family member watches her.
Thank you to all for your support and well wishes. They have been so helpful. But, thank you all!
Take Care,
Denise and Bailey
Denise and Bailey,
This is absolutely great news and we could not be happier for your whole family. It need to cation you that there may be small setbacks where Bailey does not feel as much up as right now, but they probably will be temporary. I really does lift all our spirits to hear of ones so deserving returning to such a high “quality of life” level.
Paws crossed and all the pawsitive thoughts possible for continued great times.
Bob & Cherry
Denise & Bailey,
This is wonderful news thank you for sharing! It's amazing how well they do with walking after surgery, and to see the tail wag makes your heart feel so good! Keep the spirits up and and we are thinking of you both during recovery!
Buddy's Parents!
Denise & Bailey,
Great news! I am so glad that all is going well. Isn't amazing how well they can do when we worried so much about it?!
Debra & Emily
Debra & Emily, a five year old doberman mix, who was diagnosed with an osteosaecoma. She had a right rear leg amputation on May 19, 2009. On November 10, 2009 she earned her wings and regained her fourth leg.
The first few days of recovery are really difficult for the humans 🙂 We took our bed out of the bedroom and slept on a pallet I made on the floor so we could be with Trouble in case she needed anything. Looking back, she was doing better at that point than we were! Trouble was much like Bailey, there was nothing she wouldn't try, and she didn't really want any help either.
Hang tight, Bailey, you're a shining star.
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.
Awesome! Bailey is doing everything we hope dogs will do when they recuperate after surgery. She's got real spunk!
Hope you got some well-deserved sleep. We hope Bailey's recovery keeps getting better. Like Cherry said, while there may be setbacks, they'll most likely be temporary, and before you know it, months will have gone by. You'll be amazed at Bailey's courage, we guarantee it!
Keep up the great work, and let us know how things are going OK? Good luck!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hello Everyone,
Thank you all again for your support - it has been greatly appreciated and has definitely gotten Bailey and I through this.
Bailey is still doing great. She went to the vet hospital for a second visit yesterday afternoon to get more fluids and vitamins. She was there about an hour and was wagging her tail the entire time. The vet/my boss said that she is way above schedule and that a one year old dog he amputated a few weeks ago had nothing on Bailey. One of the more amazing things is that her incision site is healing fabulously - no fluid or bruising at all. Bailey walked herself into the vet hospital again yesterday afternoon.
Yesterday evening we took a potty break outside and Bailey laid in the grass for awhile and seemed very happy to be outside. My dad was playing ball with out rottweiler, and rather unexpectedly - Bailey jumped up and intercepted the ball...3 legged and one day after surgery. We couldn't believe it. We stopped the game there, but Bailey had such a truimphant look on her face.
This morning, she seems to be a bit more confused. So, some of the setbacks you guys warned about are kicking in a bit. I think she is having an internal struggle between what she wants to do and what she is able to do. She is definitely not wanting help, but is needing help and I think it is very frustrating for her. She slept in her normal spot last night with the other dogs and did well. She went out to potty at 5 am. At 7 am, I took her out and she couldn't make up her mind what she wanted. So, she got brought in. She is resting more now and is drinking water and eating on her own.
Today is the first day since the surgery that I've gotten a bit more frustrated (privately...definitely not around her)...just because I can feel her confliction with all of this.
I'm sure you guys have gone through similar things and it is just going to take some time. Overall, she is doing amazing!
Thank you again for all the support!!!!
Take Care,
Denise and Bailey
So glad to hear Bailey is doing so well! Jack was a lot like her in the fact that he was totally unphased by the amputation surgery. We even had to take him back to the surgeon for a couple days because he was too active and had some broken capillaries...they kept him in a cage so they could control his activity. We were instructed to carry him up and down stairs, but even once we were given the go-ahead, Jack was confused about the stairs. Like Bailey, he seemed really frustrated. I brought his favorite ball outside and tempted him up the stairs with it, and after that he was fine with going up. Going down the stairs took a bit longer and he would just stand there and look at me like, "ok mom, pick me up...i'm not doing this". One day we were going to take both dogs for a walk and they exited our apartment at the same time. In an effort to not let his little brother win the race to the bottom, Jack took off down the stairs and hasn't looked back since. Bailey will probably need to re-learn some things, but she'll do them on her own time and in her own way. Continued luck to y'all!!
<3 Laura and Jackers
Awesome news Denise! Yeah, reality is probably setting in for Bailey, as the meds wear off, but overall it does sound like she's doing very, very well. Yipee!
Try not to get too frustrated if you see some setbacks. Imagine what you would be like if you lost a leg. That's the way we try to put ourselves in their paws, which we could never, ever begin to fill.
Aren't our dogs just incredible?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Bailey is doing a great job, and so are you! The recovery is an adjustment period - for both of you. She has to learn how to do things on three legs, you have to learn she will work through the little frustrations. Bailey has the 'spirit' that won't allow anything to get in her way, in many ways that is such a blessing. She will always be a fighter - a great thing for this journey.
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.
You go Girls(s)! The two of you sound that you are clearly doing GREAT! As the painkillers wear off, it could be extected that Bailey will start to feel a little more discomfort and less at ease. This might also include slowing down a little for a short period of time. However, you are so very far along the recovery process you should be in the joint celebration mode. With the spirit that Bailey has demonstrated, you should be able to enjoy many more great times together.
Bob & Cherry
I completely understand your frustration. Angel kept trying to walk on her stump (missing a paw before the whole amputation) and she actually broke the skin back open and bone was exposed. She was so bored and tired of sitting around. We had to watch her constantly or crate her. Don't worry (sorry, easier said than done) it will get better.
Ruth and the 6 Pack
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