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.
Join The Tripawds Community
Learn how to help three legged dogs and cats in the forums below. Browse and search as a guest or register for free and get full member benefits:
Instant post approval.
Private messages to members.
Subscribe to favorite topics.
Live Chat and much more!
Register
Log In
Members
Add Topic
Hey Guys!
What a great support site!
My dog Baxter got a really aggressive cancer on his shoulder that grew from the size of a silver dollar to the size of a fist in 6 weeks. 2 days after it was diagnosed, my excellent vet Dr. Mandel amputated his left leg at the shoulder.
His recovery has been steady. Baxter is an amazingly resilient and positive dog. He started running (out of the blue!) on day 19. I'm very proud of him and amazed by his efforts.
I'm now wondering about what's next? A week ago, he started insisting on longer walks, which was great. He just winds up needing to sit a few times during those walks.
A vet tech suggested it would be a month for full recovery, and we're a week away. It just doesn't seem like a goal he's likely to meet. He hasn't progressed on our walks, he has to stop at the same points to rest.
Am I too impatient?
What are your experiences as to how long it took for full recovery? Are there additional milestones I should watch for (I've always loved seeing him run, but this last time, after his surgery, was just amazing!)?
Thanks!
Offline
Hi Darren and Baxter and welcome to the forum.
I agree, this is such a great place. Baxter may be fully recovered from the surgery but they use their legs differently now and it takes some time to strengthen the muscles used. Radar is also a front leg amputee (osteosarcoma) and we are 4 weeks post op now. He runs and keeps up with the other dogs but in shorter bursts. Then he is content to lay down and watch the other kids play. He is very confident and remains in touch with the whole gang without over exerting himself. Baxter may never be able to take long walks without stopping to rest once and a while. Take your cue from him and let him set his own pace. You will also notice that it is easier for him to run than to walk. Radar gets into lope mode and can really eat up some ground with less effort than it takes for him to do a normal walk.
Look forward to hearing your experiences.
Hugs to you and Baxter
Connie & Radar
Excellent advice there from Borzoid as usual. Impatience is the last thing Baxter needs right now. Just give him time to rebuild his strength. He may suprise you in no time. But overdo it to soon and you'll both be sorry.
Enjoy each day to it's fullest, one at a time, and you'll be Loving Life On Three Legs . He may never be the same, but in many ways better. Thanks for sharing your story for others!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I agree with Jerry, Connie & Radar (borzoid). Now is not the time to be discourged and impatient. I think the correct word is that you are more "worried" than impatient. Each dog is different, and it would be helpfull to know the age and breed(s) of your dog. Just hang in there and if you are truly concerned, I'd talk to your vet. He will have more complete answers than the vet tech. Good luck to you and Baxter!
Love, licks, slurps & Meow!
Vicki, Blazer & kitty Kimber
Just be patient. Titan's recovery seemed very slow when we hit some speed bumps after surgery. Some days he takes bigger strides than other days. It might be up and down for awhile. Titan's amuptation is going to be a month from 9/4. I don't even use the month as a time line. Whenever Titan gets there he gets there. The most important thing to me is he is not in pain and is willing to try for example the dog ramp. He doesn't like me helping him like when he first got his surgery. You should be happy Baxter is trying to get back to long walks etc..Him wanting to do that is great in itself. Don't listen to the "goals" thiose are just averages. Baxter will do it when he can. Be thankful he his a fighter, want to progress and IS progressing. He will get there he sounds like he definately has the willl. He will surprise you when it all come together.
Heidi and Titan
I'm so glad to hear Baxter is doing well! My Smokey (11 1/2 yr old black lab) is now two weeks out of his surgery and he's doing amazingly well. We had one day last week where he seemed super tired and I thought he was in pain...we used the last of the codeine pills at night so he could sleep well and then it was pretty good after that. But every day continues to get better. I have to admit I haven't been overly thrilled with the hospital and the surgeon's team... I never felt that I was getting enough information from them on what to expect, so I wish I had some advice to share from them. I've relied mostly on our regular vet, who is amazing. She checks in regularly and helps ease my worry. I never thought in a million years a procedure this severe could turn out so well!
We did go in today to remove the staples (I'm out of town at my parents house so we went to their vet) but they weren't comfortable taking all of them out. The lower part of the incision wasn't quite ready and even though we stared at it every day, we didn't notice any kind of sign that there was an infection coming, but they think there is one so he's back on antibiotics. And next week once we're back home we'll go see the surgeon to get everything checked out.
But I'm so amazed at how often he wants to already run, he hopped in the car perfectly today, is super hyper and happy. He does get tired pretty quickly, but I've gotten used to that and he was like this a bit before the surgery too.
Best of luck to more success with Baxter's recovery!
1 Guest(s)
