Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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My poor Coachy was hit by a car and his back left leg was broken. We tried to save the leg by using a plate that was screwed into the bone, but somehow (the vet still does not know how he did it) he managed to bend the plate. We tried to secure the plate by using a splint, which was just awful. It hurt him, he could not walk or anything, and it was going to take him 2 months to heal. Now Coach is a very active dog and keeping him confined for that long would have been just mean to him. Well, with the splint on Coach managed again to bend the plate even further. We had to make the heart dreaking decision to have the leg removed. I cried for over a week because we had to make this decision but it was the best in the long run. If we had placed another plate on, he would more than likely have bent it again and another surgery like this would be putting him at risk for a bone infection which would have killed him. With an amputation, Coach will have a shorter recovery time, he will be able to move around the house with me until he was healed, and less chance of a bone infection. I didn't want my beloved Coachy to suffer any more. I cried again the day of the surgery. But I know now it was the best choice because he is able to get around, play with his sister (not too much until he is healed) and he is not confined to a crate all day. Coachy is a very happy, playful puppy. And if any one is wondering why we named him Coach, well he is a Super Bowl dog. He was born the weekend the saints won the Super Bowl. His letter mates are named after saints players but Coach was the biggest and whinyest so he was named Coach lol. He is my angle dog.
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I hope you don't mind I moved this post. This is a great story and I thought it would get more visibility if it was outside of the seroma topic.
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.
Not a problem at all. Thank you very much for moving my post so more people can see it. I love my Coachy and want to tell everyone about him. 
Thanks for sharing Coach's story. Bending plates is very impressive!
Karen and the pugapalooza
Welcome to the family, geesh, I thought Gus was strong, those plates must have been made in China or that is one strong dog!!! Once Coach heals you will be amazed at how well he does, Good for you that your not dealing with cancer, it'll make life alot better for both of you. Once Gus healed he was doing everything like before, he was a front leg amp but nothing really stopped him, I did make a few accomodations for him like a block so he could drink out of the cow waterer or a couple steps made out of bales so he could climb the mow, but he would jump into a truck bed just like before. no problem.so give yourself a break, it won't take long for you to realize you have giben him a whole new life. Don't be afraid to ask any questions, experience always gives the best answers, Paws up, Spirit Gus and Dan
My buddy Gus had a left front amputation on April 7, 2010 and lived a great life until July 26,2010
Hey Coach
Sorry you had to loose your leg, but I think you'll find you can get around just fine on 3. Kess is a super crazy border collie and despite losing a leg in Oct 2010 to cancer she's back in action at agility and canine disc. We do have to be careful, and she can't go for quite as long as she used to, but Kess is happy healthy and pain free. She's also still pretty new to this tripawd thing and I'm sure her endurance will continue to increase. It takes most people a few minutes to even notice Kess is missing a leg 🙂
Coach will take it all in stride, but since he's young don't let him over do it to early . . . poor Kess had a bit of a setback when she ran to long and hard and fatigued her remaining rear leg.
Thank you all for the welcome. This has been the best place for me to find the information, help and advise that i need. I cant wait to see how well my Coachy does. Yesterday he fell down and whimpered for a few minutes because it hurt. I was like a mother gushing over her child that had fallen. I'm trying not to be too over protective because i know he needs to learn and grow with his 3 legs, but sometimes I just cant help but baby him, especially when he falls down like that.
Good to hear you are satisfied and confident in your decision! It really is a hard thing to do regardless of whether or not you are facing cancer. Good luck to you and Coachy! He will get along just fine!!!
-Chloe's mom
Chloe became a rear amp tripawd on 7-29-10. Another tumor was removed on front leg 2-20-14. Found 3rd tumor on neck 2-2015, but she's still kicking cancer's butt at age 14. Chloe's blog
Saving the leg wasnt sucessful for us either....and our tripawd seems so much happier without that painful not healing femur! I think sometimes by loosing the leg, they get their ife back! Glad to hear coach is doing soooo well!
Welcome Coachy and family! Nice to hear it's going well!
Comet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
I have discovered that it is now my job to scratch everywhere Coachy can no longer reach. Especially behind the left ear lol. 
For several months after her amputation Maggie would do the 'air scratch' thing. It was funny and kind of sad at the same time. She would sit and scratch her right ear and chin with her remaining right back leg, then turn to the other side, stick her chin out and I could see her little stump moving like it was scratching her ear. At some point she stopped doing it, I don't remember when.
And you are right- scratching on the left side became my responsibility!
Karen and the pugapalooza
haha Kess is the same way she LOVES to be scratched on the right side of her face now. Kess has trained me very well to call her over and scratch for her whenever I see her sit and crane her neck around to scratch with her non-existnet leg.
anjl said:
I think sometimes by loosing the leg, they get their ife back!
Wonderfully put! I am glad to hear Coachy is doing so well. Big hugs to him! He must be a super strong boy to bend his plates!
Debra
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.
Coach has gone above and beyond what I had expected. We are starting to let him be more of an outside dog again, though I think he will never truely be a strickly outside dog anymore. He has now become and inside and outside pup. He plays all day with his sister outside and comes in to eat and to cool off, and he and his sister come in for bed time. We are slowly but surely setting up a routine. I love to watch him when I pull up to the house. He runs up and is all excited to see me. I can't believe how fast he can run, he's almost has fast has his sister. (which Marcy is not his biological sister but the two are glued at the hip). Just wanted to give everyone an updated on Coachy
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