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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Lookin' good there Buster! 
FYI: Here are instructions for adding videos to forum posts.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Yay Buster! You look awesome in your video! You and Holly are like mirror images of each other - Holly is a right rear amp and her gait looks just like yours. 🙂 We're so glad your recovery is going so well!
Hugs,
Holly and Holly's mom
Holly joined the world of tripawds on 12/29/2009. She has a big little sister, Zuzu, who idolizes Holly and tries to make all of her toys into tripawds in Holly's honor. And she's enjoying life one hop at a time!
http://anyemery.....ipawds.com
I'm going to have to call the vet tomorrow. Little guy's being funny all of a sudden. Yesterday, we noticed that he has his tail tucked between his legs consistently. I did a google search and found that dogs usually do this if they are physically hurting, or if they feel threatened by something. It's been almost 48 hours and he's keeping it tucked up under him constantly.
Hubby said he thought his rear-end was just cold. I disagree. I picked him up and was babying him on the couch with me this afternoon, loving on him, and he wiggled away from me and jumped off the couch, which he hasn't done since his surgery (we haven't let him, and this time it was only because I couldn't stop him). As a result, he landed sprawled on the ground. He laid there for a minute like "WTH just happened?" then he got up and slinked away.
It was at that point, that hubby and I thought that maybe he's finally realized that the leg is gone, and maybe he's depressed. Do dogs get depressed like this? Am I overanalyzing this?
At any rate, I'll be calling the vet in the morning to see about bringing him in. He's been happy go lucky and playful, and he still licks and shows affection to us, but this is definitely a sudden change, and we're not sure what from. 🙁
~Buster's Mama (Amanda)~
Others may disagree with me but I don't think dogs get depressed. They don't carry the emotional baggage that we do about amputation and they tend to live in the here and now. Keep in mind that this is just my opinion. Buster could just be adjusting to life on three legs. Having said that, maybe it is because I am a worrier (even though I try not to) I would probably have Buster checked out by your vet. Chances are nothing is wrong but I would worry until the vet said not to! Hard to admit that because I try for the Scarlett O'hare method of thinking about worrisome things tomorrow.
It really has not been that long since the amputation though.
Good luck. I will be looking for an update. Buster is in my prayers.
Debra & Angel 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.
We'd agree that dogs do not get depressed about losing a leg. They will, however, grow dependent upon "babying" – See Dr. Walman's "Tough Love" comments in our recent CARE video interview – so be sure to focus on mending body and allow Buster to heal on his own.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
When I said I was "babying" him on the couch, all I meant was that i was loving up on him. The only real babying we've done is to carry him up and down the stairs and that is simply because they are very very steep, and slippery (hardwood - apt complex will NOT carpet them - we've asked) and he had a hard time getting up and down the stairs even before this. To be fair, we haven't given him much of a chance, but that's because the vet told us to keep him off the stairs. We've made him do everything else, and it's been fine until this weekend. I'm not sure what's going on....
~Buster's Mama (Amanda)~
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