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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My name is William Harley Sheffield my furson's name is cash he is a 9 month old pit mix he is so loving and is my best friend he was struck by a car and has undergone several procedures and now he has had his leg amputated he gets to come home tomorrow I have never dealt with anything like this is there anyone that can give me some pointers thank you and it would be much appreciated
Hi William and Cash, welcome. Your future posts won't need to wait for approval so post away.
We are sorry for the accident but glad he survived! What other injuries did he have? I ask because sometimes when a dog loses a leg because of a car accident, recovery can be a bit slower because their body is healing from other injuries too. Just something to keep in mind.
When it comes to recovery, dogs and cats handle it soooo much better than we do! The best thing you can do for Cash is to make sure he has good pain management . Let us know what kind of pain medication he came home with (the kind, dosage, and frequency given). The better the pain control the easier recovery. Sometimes meds need to be adjusted to find the right dose that works. If Cash shows any pain signals like anxiety, restlessness, or panting, it could be an indicator that his medications need some fine-tuning.
I encourage you to check out our Tripawds What to Expect articles, and Jerry's Required Reading List to get a good idea of what recovery might be like. As a puppy, I think your biggest challenge is going to be keeping Cash chill enough to relax and recover. Puppies can be a handful during amputation recovery! But if you focus on interactive brain games and things that work his mind but not his body, it will be easier on you and him too.
Also, don't forget that traction is super important for a Tripawd. You want to make sure you have as many no-slip surfaces in your house as possible. Cash might think he can do them just fine, but having to balance on slippery floors as a Tripawd is like constantly ice skating, and can lead to injuries.
Let us know how his homecoming goes!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hello and welcome to you and Cash.
Sorry to hear about the accident- that must have been scary!
Did Cash lose a front or back leg?
My current Tripawd is a little Pug mix named Elly, she lost a back leg when she was 7 months old after being hit by a car. I adopted her when she was 10 months old and fully healed, she is now getting close to 7 years old and so has been on three for over 6 years.
While I didn't go through recovery with Elly I did with my first Tripawd Maggie. Jerry has given you lots of great information and links above, I don't have anything to add to that unless you have some specific questions.
Elly can do pretty much anything a dog her size and age can do. I am mindful that she will be on three for most all of her life so I do limit some activities that are hard on her joints. We don't go on long walks, and I try to limit walk time on concrete. I have stairs or stools near all the furniture on which she is allowed (although I do that for all my small dogs). I keep her on the lean side and she is very fit and strong. We play lots of food games and puzzles which work her brain and her body. We also do trick and obedience training and balance and core strength exercises. We also discovered the sport of Nose Work which is great for Tripawds.
While life as a Tripawd does have some differences it doesn't mean that Cash can't have a rich, full life! And to top it off Tripawds tend to be stars wherever they go!
Let us know how he is doing when you get him home.
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Cash had minor injuries other than his front right leg his ligaments were torn and had major nerve damage the vet put his leg back in place several times but the ligaments and tendons were so messed up that it just would pop back out of place the nerve that runs down his leg was severely damaged so that is why he had to have the amputation
Just catching up on your BFF Cash. You've already gotten great input from Karen and Jerry.
Once Cash has recovered from the surgery, you will be amazed at how well he does with that vum leg gone! Amputation is often the answer when surgeries and painful recoveries fail to save the leg. One surgery, one recovery and he will get to be a Hapoy puppy again!!
Sray confident and upbeat when you go pick him up. Stay connected and we can help you navigate thru recovery. It's no picni for a week or two, but it doesn't last furever!
Let us know what pain meds he's coming home with, the doses, the frequency. Usually they are given Gabapentin, Rimadyl and an antibiotic. The first day or so he''ll still have some good strong hospital meds in him, but may have a bit of a crash after the meds are out of his system.
Drinking and peeing are I'm. He may not poop for a few days and may not want to eat roo much at first.
Stay connected and let us know how things are going.
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!
Sounds like he was mostly dealing with leg injuries. Now that the leg is gone, you can probably expect a pretty typical amputation recovery.
I hope his homecoming goes smoothly! Keep us posted and let us know if you have any questions.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I just want to say thank you all for all of your support my furson is home with me he is doing good except for some swelling from the bandage that was a little to tight the vet removed it he has 28 staples he has his t-shirt on he ate good also has been peeing like crazy also he has been pooping normal also
WELCOME HOME CASH!!!
And eating, pooping and peeing already?? Great news!!
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!
Wow he is doing great it sounds like! That's so terrific!
Glad they caught the bandage issue. Hope things continue to go well! If he slows down a little don't be too surprised, sometimes it takes a few days for the brain and body to connect and some dogs do have a little "crash" of sorts. Make sure he gets plenty of rest!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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