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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Hello all,
Been checking this site a lot lately. Got the news that Leviathan had a mast cell tumor about 2 weeks ago. We tried to remove it right away but it turns out that it was too deeply adhered to muscle. Now he is scheduled tomorrow to have his right hind leg amputated. The whole family is freaking out but mostly myself(Rachel) and his papa, Sean.
Leviathan (Levi for short) is a 6 year old Pembroke Welsh Corgi. He and his kitty sister are the center of my world.
I feel all kinds of things but mostly dread. His most recent surgery site hasn't healed properly and I am very worried that his new amp site will get infected and heal painfully too. I want him to be on the mend already!
Any tips on what to expect when I bring him home? He is normally a very active boy who wants to follow me everywhere and I don't want to lose his activity as much as possible. I have already ordered him a ruffwear harness and have a spot in my room with pillows and blankets even though he really likes to sleep on the bed, I know not to let him jump around as much.
Any hints or tips for a newbie to the tripawd world would be appreciated!
Hi Rachel! Welcome to the club you didn't ask to join. I am glad you found your way here. We've all been in this situation and we know how devastating this can be. You sound like you are well prepared already especially if you've been reading your way through here.
If you have a harness already that's great! Maybe you want to think about traction in your home, too. If you have tiles, hardwood or laminate floors you may want to get rugs, yoga mats or whatever will keep Levi from slipping.
Apart from that: medication and pain control will be crucial in the next few days to weeks. I like to make lists with questions to ask my vet so I don't forget to ask half of what worries me. - I have no shame whatsoever nowadays and will pull out the list in front of the vet and read it out loud 😊
Many of this is 'take it as it comes' but remember: we are all here for you and will help with any questions that you have in the next few weeks!! Don't be afraid to ask and even lean on us-we've all been there.
To a speedy recovery!!
tina & Manni
Guardian of Manni the Wonderdog. -Or was it the other way around?
Osteo and amputation in Dec 2015. Second, inoperable, primary osteosarcoma found in June 2017.
The end of our adventures came Dec 10, 2017. 2 years to the day.
Oh, and Levi? That is the cutest face ever!!
Keep us updated and
more pictures! 😊
Guardian of Manni the Wonderdog. -Or was it the other way around?
Osteo and amputation in Dec 2015. Second, inoperable, primary osteosarcoma found in June 2017.
The end of our adventures came Dec 10, 2017. 2 years to the day.
Levi you are just SO adorable! Oh my those ears and that dazzling smile of yours just made our day. I'm sorry you had to find yourself here, but I'll tell you this: when you lose a leg and people meet you, they will SWOON!
Rachel and Sean, I know it's hard not to worry. That recovery he's going through right now is tough because I'm guessing the wound is having a hard time healing. Since there's not a whole lot of flesh on a leg, sometimes it's tough for that incision to heal and close up. But amputation recovery is different since the area is fleshier which allows incisions to close better. I'll bet the healing process will be easier.
Nobody expects an amputation recommendation. But I know for a fact that those Corgi's are tough doggies and Levi will rock the recovery like nobody's business. He's not worried, so try to keep calm OK? You can start by reading Jerry's Required Reading List , and checking out our Tripawds e-books library if you haven't already. My best tips are in there but I know this amazing community will have lots more so stay tuned.
One more tip: consider a consult with a canine rehabilitation therapist. The unique body type of a Corgi will get extra benefits from PT. Even better is that the Tripawds Foundation will pay for your first rehab visit !
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Good advice from Tina and Jerry!!
And YES!!! OOOOMMMMDDD! LEVI HAS THE CUTEST FACE EVER!! 🙂 What an ADORABLE pup!
So, tomorrow has his pain removed! Sure, it is major surgery and recovery is no picnic for a week or so. But once he gets through recovery he will still be following you room to room and he will have ALL his sparkle back big time!!
It's going to be hard to be patient and take things slowly, but slowly is how it needs to be during the recovery. Potty breaks and rest, potty breaks and rest.
You're doing a good job of prep. You may want to keep plenty of yummy foods around for hiding pills.
The Vet will keep Levi overnight. When you pick Levi up, don't bother looking at his incision. He just needs to see your happy face and hear you telling him what a good boy he is!
STAY CONNECTED!! Update us when surgery is over!
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!
Hello and welcome.
I'm sorry you and Levi are dealing with mast cell cancer. My pug Maggie lost her left rear leg to a MCT, you can read her story and about her amp and treatment if you are interested, the links are in my signature below.
My guess is that the wound is not healing because of the damage mast cell does to the tissue surrounding the tumor. One of the nasty things about mast cell cancer. When my quad pug Tani had a tumor aspirated with a needle it took a couple months to heal!
I know amputation sounds extreme, was he limping at all? Tri-Pug Maggie never limped with her tumor, in fact it never really bothered her. Mag was quite a drama queen so I would have known if she was in pain! But if I had not proceeded with the amp the tumor in her knee would have ruptured and caused a wound that would not heal.
You will need to keep Levi quite for a couple of weeks after the surgery, but once he is healed up he should be able to do most of what he does now. My current Tripawd is a little rear amp pug mix named Elly who lost her rear leg to a car accident. She does pretty much everything a dog her size can do. I do have steps up to the furniture she is allowed on, and we work on her core strength daily.
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
Checking in on Levi, did he have his surgery?
Please update when you can.
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
Hi Levi, Rachel and Sean,
Just catching up, and OMD what a GOOOOORGEOUS pup! Just adorable. What an expression.
Jerry said:
Since there's not a whole lot of flesh on a leg, sometimes it's tough for that incision to heal and close up. But amputation recovery is different since the area is fleshier which allows incisions to close better. I'll bet the healing process will be easier.
I couldn't agree with this more. My Meg had terrible healing problems after surgery on her leg. We could not get the site to heal despite repeated surgical attempts – skin grafts, skin flaps etc. She healed from her amputation with no problems at all.
Do let us know how you are doing when you can.
Meg, Clare and Elsie Pie xxx
Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, November 2023, adopted January 2024.
Also Angel Tripawd Meg (aka The Megastar), who died in April 2023, aged 14, after seven glorious years on three, and Angel Staffies Elsie Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...
Thank you all for the help! Wow I hadn't even realized there was a tripawd foundation! That is so great to hear. His site already looks better than his previous surgery! He is up and walking around like a champ. He was walking to use the potty only 3 hours post surgery I was so impressed with the video my vet tech friend sent me !
Sooooo relieved to hear how well Levi is doing 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 YAAAAAAAAAY FOR LEVI DA' CHAMP 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
Keep these great updates 🙂 🙂
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!
That's great to hear!! Go Levy!! 👍🏼
Let us know how you get on when he gets home !
tina & Manni
Guardian of Manni the Wonderdog. -Or was it the other way around?
Osteo and amputation in Dec 2015. Second, inoperable, primary osteosarcoma found in June 2017.
The end of our adventures came Dec 10, 2017. 2 years to the day.
Levi is home and doing well! I've been keeping him calm on carpeted floor as best as I can. He has done amazingly at going outside to do his business.
Now I am just scared of letting him use the stairs too soon in the two story house.
Good to hear you are doing well!!
We kind of took the stair issue as it came because I didn't really have any advice at the the time (wasn't on here then). We let Manni walk up the stairs when he felt ready but carried him down. But then we are frontees so I guess that may be different for hind leg amps. We slept downstairs with him for about a week and a half so he wouldn't do stairs but then once he got the hang of it it worked well.
I wouldn't start too soon but if you feel that Levi is up for it you can always assist with a harness.
Guardian of Manni the Wonderdog. -Or was it the other way around?
Osteo and amputation in Dec 2015. Second, inoperable, primary osteosarcoma found in June 2017.
The end of our adventures came Dec 10, 2017. 2 years to the day.
So pleased to hear that GORGEOUS Levi is doing so well. This is just the best news.
I fixed a stair gate at the top and bottom of the stairs to make sure that Meg couldn't use them when I wasn't there to supervise. I also fitted pieces of carpet on the treads, as they were wood, which was far too slippery. Meg is also a front amp, so for her, going down was more challenging. Rear amps generally have more difficulty (at first) going up.
In any case, I would say, just from my own experience, that right now is too early to tackle the stairs. The less Levi does physically at the moment, the smoother his recovery is likely to be. It's not just a question of the incision healing but all the muscular and skeletal adjustments his body needs to make to adapt to his new gait. Right now he just needs to rest. One thing I found very useful with Meg (who was also pretty lively and mobile...) was giving her food puzzles and games (Nina Ottosson makes particularly good ones), which worked her brain and really tired her out. Stuffed kings are also good, and as Levi is a rear amp, you won't even have to sit holding it for hours till she works out how to hold it with just one front leg. If Levi really is active, you could also try just going for a drive to give him a change of scene.
Good luck with it all, and do keep us updated. We are all thinking of you.
Meg, Clare and Elsie Pie xxx
Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, November 2023, adopted January 2024.
Also Angel Tripawd Meg (aka The Megastar), who died in April 2023, aged 14, after seven glorious years on three, and Angel Staffies Elsie Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...
Good to hear he is doing well!
I would wait on the stairs if you can until the sutures are out. Maggie was doing one or two small stairs right away to get outside and she did fine with that. I lived in a single story house at the time so there was no need try more stairs until she was completely healed.
My current rear amp Elly flies up and down the stairs and she is only about 15 pounds.
Karen
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
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