Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Our Callie is a 7.5 year old yellow lab/border collie mix who just had her left rear leg amputated due to a soft tissue sarcoma in a bad place for tumour removal, right above the knee. It was a 2x4 to the head moment when an oncologist first told us the best course was amputation, but a surgeon and our vet agreed. She is our sixth dog since the early 1990s, two shelter dogs and four that just showed up, common when you live in a rural area. So we are experienced in end of life, all were euthanized at 10-12 except one who went at 5. One also had a STS that was removed and then required additional surgery but still only lasted a few months. Still regret putting him through the second surgery
We are now post op day 8, her surgery was a week ago yesterday, and things have gone reasonably well, which hides a lot of sleep loss and stress. A few details for those wanting another example of how things can go, good and bad. We now live in a town of 100k but without a vet hospital; we consulted with an oncologist and surgeon about an hour away but finally decided to go with a trusted local vet with experience in the procedure but no facilities for keeping her over night so we brought her home the same day. She was alert and could stand a bit when we picked her up.
The first night was not fun. They said there would be blood but we didn’t realize how much we would have to stay on top of it. But by PostOp Day 1 she was drinking and ate a bit. Even peed late that night. She steadily improved Day 2 and 3; we were able to get her out a few times walking around. However, by Day 4 she stopped peeing regularly and no dumps. At one point she went over 30 hours without urinating. Finally Day 6 she dumped in the morning but no pee, and at 5 did both and again later that night. Fairly regurlar now. But those days were stressful. She’s mostly off pain meds now and doing good; still some mood and appetite changes. Stitches come out in six days.
I wish I had found this site before hand, though my brain probably couldn’t have focused on much in the days before surgery. I am looking for info on the expected things: funiture (can she get on the couch again etc), floors (we have mostly hardwood but some area rugs, more now), two stairs to transit to go out in the yard, physical conditioning, nutrition, etc. I’ve bought the e books but haven’t had time to poke around the site much.
So any tips, pointers to resources etc. would be appreciated. I would also like to know if there is a way through the site to meet other tripawd parents in our area.
Hi Mike, welcome to you and Callie! Your future posts won't need to wait for approval so please post away.
I'm sorry you had to join our club, and so glad things are going really well. Bringing home a dog the same day of surgery is not easy at all, but you guys made it through. Great job! 
I am looking for info on the expected things: funiture (can she get on the couch again etc), floors (we have mostly hardwood but some area rugs, more now), two stairs to transit to go out in the yard, physical conditioning, nutrition, etc. I’ve bought the e books but haven’t had time to poke around the site much.
Happy to help there!
When it comes to furniture, we always recommend pet steps to get up and down. Being part Border Collie I have a feeling that Callie won't need long to get trained to use them. Keep in mind that as a rear leg amputee she will have a harder time going up stairs than going up, since dogs carry all their propulsion power in the rear and she just lost half of hers.
But fear not, she can get that strength back! It sounds like you are in a relatively rural area, so it's likely you don't have a rehab therapist nearby. But if you can get her out to one for at least a one visit, you'll learn a lot about the types of activities and exercises that are helpful as well as harmful for her at this point. And Tripawds Foundation can even pay for your first visit so you've got nothing to lose! Alternatively you can check out our Rear Leg Amputee Tripawd Rehab Program course that is super helpful when an on-site or telemedicine visit isn't possible. If you'd like the option for a telemedicine consult with a rehab therapist, let me know and I'll post some links.
Good job on getting rugs for your hardwood floors. Traction is your girl's best friend now, and into her later years. Slippery floors are a Tripawds worst enemy so the more you can lay down no-slip surfaces the better. And this is for life, not just for recovery. It's the same kind of home safety changes you would do for a senior dog, you're just doing it earlier.
As for nutrition, this blog post about supplements can help you decide which ones to consider, but we always recommend sharing the information with your vet before starting any supplements or making changes.
The number one thing you can do for her is to keep her slim! Any extra weight is more stress on the joints so keep her body lean and she'll be more mobile, for much longer.
I hope this helps! Ask any questions you'd like, and thank you for purchasing our e-books. I hope you find them helpful!
First of all, thank you for taking in some shelter dogs, as well as provide a good home for those who just show up. Miss Calie is mighty lucky to have you as her hooman.
Alao want to address the "regret" you feel about a second sur for one of uour pups. Wish I had a magic pill to get rid of regret when it comes to things about the dogs we love so dearly. The only thing I can say regarding doing the second surgery is yoh probably would jave regretted it more if you didnt do it. You tried and there are no regrets when you try.
You have gotten excellent feedback from Jerry and it looks like all the bases were covered.
The only thing I would offer is IF you notice any pain signals from Callie you can still continue pain meds (with Vet approval of course). . Stopping at eight days may, or may not, be a little too soon.
I would also like to know if there is a way through the site to meet other tripawd parents in our area.
I may have missed it, but where do you live? Often tripawd parents will have a get together...a meet up. It's just a matter of putting it oit there. Jerry can make posts if you want to have a meet up in uour area.
Here's a link about parties. https://tripawd.....d-parties/
Keep is updated on how your sweet puo is doing, okay?
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!
Thanks for the info. Our rural life is now over. I lived and worked in rural Illinois in the 70s and 80s and Katie and I married in 1992 and moved to southwest Missouri two years later, near Springfield but still lived in the country, then finally moved back to a different area of Illinois for a new job but still rural. On retirement 5 years ago we moved to Pueblo, got tired of Midwest weather and wanted easier access to amenities. First time I've been in a house with city water and sewer since 1983. Unfortunately I don't see any people from Pueblo when searching the forums, just some in Denver and surroundings.
There are some ortho and rehab facilities in Colorado Springs, which is where we saw the oncologist and a surgeon before deciding to go local. Callie isn't the best car dog. She's the type that loves to go but rarely settles down. We've gotten her better for around town but need to crate her for longer trips. But we will look into that and plan to talk to our vet next week when we take her in for suture removal. Maybe she knows someone local who can help.
The vet who did the surgery recommended stopping the pain meds (gabapentin, carpforen, and amantadine) during the elimination crisis. When that resolved, he started back on just carpforen. I've been amazed that she hasn't really seemed to be in much pain even after reducing the meds, just restless at times between doses.
She's moving around ok when she needs to. Mostly we've just stayed in the yard but have ventured farther afield a few times when the weather was better. There are two steps from our porch to yard and back. We used a sling at first but now she's managing going down fairly well with some help to get back up. I'll be installing some anti slip treads when the weather clears; lots of snow the last two days, luckily she likes snow. I luckily thought to put some outdoor carpet we had around over the steps to keep the snow off between outings.
Anyway thanks for your advice, I'm sure there will be more to learn.
Hi,
Sorry to hear about Callie’s diagnosis and subsequent amputation. My 10 year old lab was diagnosed with a soft tissue sarcoma in June 2024 and the only treatment was amputation as well. It turned out to be a grade 2 spindle soft tissue sarcoma. Our recovery was stressful and had some set backs and complications as this forum has helped me realize are pretty normal.
Anyway, I am here to say if Callie keeps her recovery going well as it sounds like she will….i think you have a lot of good times to look forward to that will eclipse this stressful period. My dog just had his 4 month since his amputation surgery. He is absolutely thriving and is exactly how he was before or maybe actually even happier! Just this last week we had a big milestone where he finally went back to sleeping in his bed in the bathroom when I shower. That was the last normal thing he used to do that he finally went back to doing. It makes me happy to see he is completely back to all his old habits and his hair has pretty much all grown back now. Also, he is doing so well that I actually went on vacation and he had to be boarded for 9 days…he did it and was no worse for wear when I picked him up.
I wish the best for you and Callie and hope she keeps moving well through the recovery process and hope you keep updating her progress. Great job to both you and Callie.
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