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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He did come home yesterday afternoon. He's eating pretty well I think, when he feels like it. Ate his dinner, which was 33% pills! Again, otherwise seems unfazed. He's on anti-biotics, Tramadol, and Metacam. They gave us this big cushioned sling, to support his back side. But he only makes it 10 feet or so before having to pause. He's only urinated so far outside. He stands on his own, but tires quickly. We have him in the basement and put down some cheap strips of rug. He can go out the garage from there on level ground, but there's not a lot of grass on level ground out front. The steps going out to the yard are steep going up, and the walk around the front back to the yard is too long for him now. We're thinking of ways of maybe making shorter steps out of wood or something, but not sure when he'll be strong enough to get up those even.
Thanks for the update. glad to hear he's home. It's very early in the recovery process and wehope it only gets better from hear. Sounds like everything is going as well as can be expected. Please keep us posted.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
We did not have a cancer issue but we did have to have our pups rear leg amputated due to a spiral break. The orothopedic surgeon could not gaurantee that his leg would heal properly with surgery (would lead to amputation) and he most like would have pain in the leg for the rest of his life if we went that direction. Our personal vet who I have taken my pets to even as a child said that dogs do really well with amputation and his recovery period would be about 3 weeks. We went with our vets opinion and he did the amputation himself. The first week was the hardest but we got him a roughwear harness (advise from other fellow tripawd members) which has a handle on it so we can assist him when he needs assistance. This works great and has really aloud us to walk him around the neighborhood to build his strength up in his remaining hind leg. Dont be alarmed if your dog tires quickly. Chance is 3 weeks out of surgery and we still have some days where he seems more tired than others. That or he is playing us because he knows his dad will pick up all 72lbs of him and carry him upstairs and put him on our bed. Aslo it took our dog 4 days to start going to the bathroom regularly, I know its stressfull when they dont go but give it a few days. This first one also seemed to be a little painful but I think that is caused by the pain medication. (not sure though) Best wishes to you and your dog, I hope recovery goes smoothly for you.
Chances mom.
Been a couple days. He's getting around better each day. Seems like he's taken to galloping, which takes probably a lot more energy. No chance of him using steps, so we're walking him out the garage and up the neighbor's driveway to our yard. He hasn't needed the sling in a few days, and gets mad now if its on him (moves away).
Has been moving his bowels, though several times in the middle of the night! Swelling/redness is starting to go away. Still can't really lay on that side or sit like he used to, because the incision goes around his backside. Has no fur of course, hopefully that starts coming in soon.
One thing is he's very picky with eating. He'll eat fruit, vegetables, chicken, and treats (glucosomine, omega 3, etc.), but won't eat his dried dog food hardly at all. I think it's the result of the drugs, probably affecting his appetite and taste buds. Really not sure how much he's eating, but if it's something he likes, he will eat it.
Now I've thought about one of those ruff wear harnesses, for getting him up stairs, but tripawds gear site is out of big sizes. Is Large the biggest?
Lots of ups and downs those first couple weeks. I started giving Gus some canned food with his regular, that helped a lot. He was a front leg amp, but he didn't lay on that side for over a month, first time he did he rolled right over, was actually kind of funny
My buddy Gus had a left front amputation on April 7, 2010 and lived a great life until July 26,2010
yup Dan is right, lots of ups and downs the first few weeks. And I also added canned food to Coopers food for the first just about month. His eating habits were much like you are describing he would eat what he liked. The canned food mixed in helped a ton, and then after much reading on the forums and elsewhere got him started on a good high quality grain free dry food and he likes that much better even without any canned food. The galloping is pretty normal, as they need the extra momentum. The ruffwear harness is excellent for helping up and down the stairs, and eventually he will probably do the stairs again on his own. The first three weeks I had visions of Cooper living on out landing for the rest of his days, but he navigates the stairs on his own now 3 times a day minimum. keep us posted!
Coopsdad/ Kenneth Blackburn
http://cooper.t.....ipawds.com
the monkeydogs only THINK they have invaded the tripawd state
trek78 said:
One thing is he's very picky with eating. He'll eat fruit, vegetables, chicken, and treats (glucosomine, omega 3, etc.), but won't eat his dried dog food hardly at all. I think it's the result of the drugs, probably affecting his appetite and taste buds. Really not sure how much he's eating, but if it's something he likes, he will eat it.
Now I've thought about one of those ruff wear harnesses, for getting him up stairs, but tripawds gear site is out of big sizes. Is Large the biggest?
Yep, meds do affect appetite. He's gotten a taste of the good stuff, there's no going back now! 😉 As long as he's eating something right now that's an excellent sign.
As for the harnesses, they are coming in next week hopefully. Paws crossed! This hardly ever happens. There is an extra large harness but that's for super duper big dawgs. Be sure to measure him properly to get the best fit. They tend to run large and most dogs in the 79-80 pound range actually wear a Medium, even deep-chested dawgs llike me n' Wyatt Ray. PM us if you have any questions.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
It all sounds like progress to me! I'm so glad to hear it's getting better. It's a major super duper surgery and it'll get better!
Keep up the good work!
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.
Quick question, a few hours ago, Chuck started breathing a lot faster while he was laying down. When he sat up or walked he panted. Could that be a pain symptom? We're supposed to hear from the oncologist tomorrow anyway, so we'll ask him. I say pain because a lot of websites list rapid breathing as a symptom, and he hasn't taken the Tramadol in days (simply can't get him to swallow it). We've given him Gapapentin, but it's not a large qty. I don't think. He falls asleep as normal, and still breathing like that.
Heavy panting is indeed a common pain indicator. It's times like this you really wish they could talk.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thanks, we'll see what the dr. thinks tomorrow. The dog tonight was also twitching and moving the muscle around the incision, too, which he hasn't been doing much. Unfortunately, he just wouldn't take the stronger pain medication, no matter what we tried. He pants sitting up, but when he's laying on his side, his mouth is closed but he's breathing fast. Definitely wasn't doing it earlier in the day. See how he is in the AM.
Measure him around the biggest part of his chest, behind his armpits. This page has a picture of where that is and then the size chart showing what that translates to. There is also a video. http://gear.tri.....r-harness/
Shari
From abandoned puppy to Tripawd Warrior Dude, Dakota became one of the 2011 February Furballs due to STS. Our incredibly sweet friend lived with grace and dignity till he impulsively raced over the Bridge on 12-15-12.
Dakota's thoughtful and erudite blog is at http://shari.tr.....pawds.com/
I used to hide Emily's pills in McDonalds' sandwiches. She was really smart though so she caught on and wouldn't eat it. Then I would hide the pill in a McDouble and take a bite away from the pill. Sometimes two bites then I would throw her the part with the pill and she would gulp it in one bite not knowing it was there. Then her next couple bites had no pill. Dogs are too darn smart! Try hiding the pills. I know McDonalds isn't a good healthy choice but at that point I figured getting the pills into her was top priority.
What did the doctor say about Chuck's breathing?
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.
We brought him Wed. to get the staples out, doctor said he sounded fine. Thinks he has some anxiety from pain and such. He was pleased with his progress overall. I have to come up with a calorie count of everything we feed him, and give it to the dr. and see if it's too much. Going next Wed. for first chemo treatment.
He's really only taking his normal thyroid pills and the gabapentin. He's very sneaky, sometimes he'll spit the pill out 10 minutes later. So he winds up having pain, but he's very stubborn with the pills.
Measured, and all the way around his chest, is 36 inches at the most, so I guess that's a size medium.
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