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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I am new here and have been very moved reading! My flat-coated retriever, Cooper, had his right hind leg amputated yesterday and I am a nervous wreck about bringing him home. He is 6 years old and has localized histiocytic sarcoma. We were given the options of radiation or amputation, and thought this was the best option but am really scared now. He is a great dog and so young we knew we had to do something, even though the prognosis isn't good long term. He is really my husband's dog, but like any mom, I do most of the caregiving. I am nervous about the incision as I don't do well with that kind of thing (blood, etc.) Any advice or support is welcomed!
Welcome! Sorry to hear about Cooper, but thanks for joining. Your future posts will not require moderation.
The best advice we can give, is to remain calm. If you are nervous Cooper will be too. What he needs most right now is a calm balanced pack. If you want everything to be normal again, you must act as though everything is normal.
The incision is nothing to worry about, but can be a ghastly sight at first. Prepare yourself by looking at some of the photo's in the Tripawds Procedure Pics photo gallery. Post-op seromas, swelling and bruising are also perfectly normal. And don't freak out if you see a little seepage from the wound. Watch this video with Dr Pam (aka: tazziedog) discussing seromas and other common complications so you know what to look for.
Most rear leggers will come home without a bandage and that is perfectly normal. You can use an old pair of boxer shorts – with Cooper's tail through the flap – to cover the area if necessary, and keep it clean.
Please review Jerry's Required Reading List for lots of links to the best advice and recovery tips. If you have hardwood or slick floors, non-slip runners are a must and you might consider these other traction solutions.
PS: The title of your post scared us! We're sure you'll be hearing from Sooper Cooper soon. 
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hello and welcome 🙂
I know how you feel! When I went to pick up my boy I had to put on the best acting performance of my life. I was terrified! He will take his cues from you, so be brave, calm, and loving. He needs that from you now more than anything else. Practice! It is essential that he knows you are fine with his new situation. If you behave that way, he will feel fine about it too.
There will be lots of information coming your way from others, I just want to say get sleep now, it may be a bumpy ride for a couple of weeks. You can do this! You love Cooper enough to fight the cancer, so you obviously love him enough that when the going gets tough, you will be right by his side. Hang in there and post as much as you need to, there are amazing people here and lots of info to help.
Elizabeth and Sammy
Diagnosed with osteosarcoma in the right front leg 8/23/10,
leg fractured 8/27/10,
leg amputated 8/30/10
http://sammyand.....pawds.com/
I couldn't begin to say how special Sammy is to us. Living and laughing with and loving this wonderful boy is priceless.
Thank you! We are going to Lowes now to get mats for our tiled floors then to pick him up! I have looked at the pictures and had a good cry but now feel like I can see him. the vet says he is up, has gone out to potty and wants to come home! He is not eating but I read here that it is pretty common so I will get some steak and rice for him. I love reading the blogs, they really do offer hope. Coop is our 5th dog and I have had many experiences between them! My first Tibetan Terrier had diabetes and when I was told I had to give 2 insulin injects a day, I thought no way! But I did for 5 years before she passed away from complications! I know I'll get through this too.
welcome, and ''ditto" to what elizabeth said about being brave and setting the tone. the next two weeks can be 'hell weeks' as each dog heals differently. the pain meds can really make them 'wacky', it will be good once cooper is done with the drugs. do you have raised food bowls? you might want to consider a ruffwear harness too - very handy for stairs, getting in and out of vehicles, etc. there are several flat coat parents here on the forum, i'm sure they will be in touch soon. rest when you can, and just try to be as brave as cooper - he has alot to teach you going forward!
charon & gayle
Life is good, so very, very good!!! Gayle enjoyed each and every moment of each and every wonderful day (naps included). She left this world December 12, 2011 – off on a new adventure.
Love Never Ends
Aww Mom, you're going to do just fine, I know it. With that many dogs in your family, you've seen almost everything.
Just keep telling yourself, prognosis-schmognosis. Remember nine out of ten statistics are wrong!
Good luck today. Be strong.
We are glad you came here. Please let us know how we can help OK?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
To echo Charon & Gayle, the first 2 weeks are the toughest, but hang in there. The medicines do make them not themselves and once they are off of them, their personalities come back. The first few nights can be tough with trying to get comfy, but you can do it! It's smart that you already got stuff for your tiled floor- that's important for Cooper. I had to do hand feeding with Chili Dawg for the first week to get him to eat, but after that he started eating on his own- and we let him eat things he normally didn't eat- steak, hamburger, etc just to get him to eat. Good luck! You can do it!
Jenna & Chili DAwg
Diagnosed with OSA: 5/2/2011 Ampuversary: 5/11/2011 OSA returned in hip: 8/26/2011
Chili Dawg crossed the Rainbow Bridge on 8/30/2011 & is now pain free. He was my heart dog, and I miss him every day.
Welcome!
I'm sure this is last place on earth you'd like to be and we "get that"! It's a scary time but it's going to be okay. And Cooper is going to do well! Once he has recovered from this surgery, then he'll be back to normal. And he'll be pain free!
Everyone has already given you advice but one thing I'd suggest is, the sooner you can get him off the pain pills, the better. It seems they are so darned loopy from tramadol (pain pill), they can't walk and seem worse than they are. It sometimes seems to hamper the recovery because they can't move. According to one our members here (Isabelle's mom), who is in the health care field - she says moving around some is good for them - just enough to keep the muscles from getting stiff. Humans who get amputations are in rehab very quickly after the surgery. Maybe she'll come by and explain it better.
Wishing you all the best for Cooper! Let's us know when he is home!
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.
Hey - Cooper Pooper head!
OH WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! S O R R Y !!!!!!!!!!!
W R O N G C O O P E R!!!!!!
My monkeymistake!
-Monkeybutt-bunny Vampire Pirate
Well I saw a lot of great advise for you! The one thing I didn't see, and this sounds crazy on some level, but you'll soon understand 🙂 - rest when Cooper rests. Your natural inclination is to watch him sleep. A tired caregiver, isn't what Cooper needs. Exhaustion will keep you from seeing things accurately, and can cause you to overreact.
The first two weeks are stressful for you and for Cooper. Just keep the faith, and you'll get to an easier time soon.
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.
Hello Cooper! Welcome, I am glad to see you have found one of the best places in the world for advice and support. I am sure glad to see another handsome black dog on the site with such a dapper name as Cooper... but I do have to say I was a bit taken aback to log on and see the post .. Cooper had surgery today...... WOW! We are hoping that your Cooper does great and again, welcome to the group!
The other Cooper
Coopsdad/ Kenneth Blackburn
http://cooper.t.....ipawds.com
the monkeydogs only THINK they have invaded the tripawd state
Gosh, I saw "Cooper had surgery today," and I kinda freaked a little. I'm so sorry to hear your Cooper has just joined the club that none of us want to be a member of, but I'm also relieved that it's not our Sooper Cooper!
Good luck with Cooper Two's recovery. It'll be a stressful couple of weeks, but it DOES get better. Hang in there. We're all here for you.
Rio's mom
 |
~ ~ Rio ~ ~ |
Ditto what others have said. Definitely come here with questions. Everybody is very supportive and helpful, especially during those rough first couple of weeks. Don't be surprised if he doesn't seem like himself, especially after a few days in.
All the best,
Jackie, Abby's mom
Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!
Thank you everyone! I am starting a blog today. They have been so helpful, especially Tate's-another FCR! His day by day has given me an insight and hope. Cooper II is home and his first night went well. He is very thirsty and hungry for steak and chicken! His sister is a little in shock "what happened-why is my handsome big brother crying?" but she just lays by his side. Only concern is he hasn't gone the bathroom. He gets out to his spot and lays down. If he hasn't gone by this afternoon I'll call the vet! Thanks for all the support!
It is very frustrating when they dont go to the bathroom, but dont worry , Cooper will find his new way and be back to regular before you know it. And he may have already peed, it took Cooper1 five days before he pooped and I THOUGHT that long to pee, but it turns out that when he got to his spot and laid down, he was relieving himself lying down, I only discovered this because in my impatience I tried to get him back up and he was locked to the ground like a magnet and when I finally got him lifted a bit I could see him going. So dont worry too much ( I know you will cause you love him ) but he will go before you know it.
Coopsdad
Coopsdad/ Kenneth Blackburn
http://cooper.t.....ipawds.com
the monkeydogs only THINK they have invaded the tripawd state
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