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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Mary try to relax and sleep, I know it is hard, but try if you can. I sure hope they are right and there is no cancer, I can tell you if we had had Coopers amputation done and found there was no cancer, I would just be so relieved at that! You have a new and exciting road ahead of you, and it may be trying , but the bond you and Lucy are going to develop is like none other ! Good luck!
Coopsdad
Coopsdad/ Kenneth Blackburn
http://cooper.t.....ipawds.com
the monkeydogs only THINK they have invaded the tripawd state
Welcome Lucy and Mom Mary!
Sorry you found yourself here but we are happy to welcome Lucy into our little family!
Thank goodness that Lucy is out of surgery and doing well. We know the wait is almost unbearable!
I'm so sorry I don't know what to tell you on the "no tumor". Something was obviously causing a limp and/or pain. And the good news is, she'll be happier once she heals from the amputation! I'm sure they'll figure it out and let us hope the amputation cured her of her problems! Paws crossed for Lucy!
You are now already starting off sleep deprived and trust us when we say this, YOU MUST REST! Sleep deprivation causes the imagination to run wild and it escalates every little problem! You'll be playing nurse for a bit. So rest!!!
Sending tons and tons and tons of healing wishes for Lucy! Feel free to ask questions!
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.
Having the surgery itself over is no doubt a big relief, and "no cancer" is always good. Based on your reading, it sounds like the surgery would have be necessary anyway. Try not to worry - when you see her zooming around in a month or so, I bet she looks better/happier than she did with the pain in her leg, whether it was from cancer or nerve damage. Plus, as anyone here can tell you, tripawds get lots and lots of love and attention from everyone they meet! The uncertaintly would drive me nuts too, but try to focus on the great news - successful surgery, no cancer and pup will come home soon!
Everyone-
Thank you so much for all the support. The hospital says Lucy is doing well, but anxious, it runs in the family... They are taking her off the fentanyl patch but still are giving her some sedation medication to calm her anxieties and also moved to Tramadoyl. She is set to come home tomorrow!!!! We have some work on the floors tonight, finishing laying down some carpet we purchased for our new tripawd.
Sleep would be great. I took some of the Rescue Remedy I brought home for Lucy last night when I woke up again and couldn't go back to sleep. I'm going to try to focus on getting more rest tonight. BIG day tomorrow!!!
I hope we can keep her calm. The hospital said they could give us some of the sedation medicine to use here at home. I'm not sure what is it...
Again, thanks everyone, I'll let you know how it goes.
Regards,
Mary, Lucy's Mom and Chuck, Lucy's dad
Lucy's front right leg was amputated 12/19/11. Thankfully there was no tumor, but her nerves were found to be degenerative. Life as a tripawd is Lucy's new adventure!!
Glad to hear Lucy made it through her surgery with "flying colors." And hopefully the pathology report will give you the answers that you need. Good luck and speedy recovery to Lucy, and here's hoping it will be uneventful for you!
Micki and Rio
 |
~ ~ Rio ~ ~ |
paws crossed for speedy recovery and uneventful healing. get your rest, rest when lucy rests. medicinal naps are golden!!
charon & spirit 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
Good to hear Lucy is doing well- and home will be a great place to be!
I hope her recovery is smooth and uneventful.
Keeping her calm…. such a foreign concept for me. When I brought Maggie home I had to really work at getting her to move around a little. As our friend Susan said Mag was imitating a block of cement 
.
Karen and the pugapalooza
So glad the surgery went well. Regarding the sedative they send home, if it is Acepromazine be careful with it. We had to give it to our Merlin (Zeus' late brother) after TPLO surgery and we HATED what it did to him. Afterward I did some research on it and did not like what I found. Good luck with the recovery!!
Zeus was a Husky mix diagnosed with Osteosarcoma at age 11. A visible lung met and suspicious spot on his liver meant a poor prognosis-six weeks was our vet's best guess. We decided to fight for our boy and his right front leg was amputated on 12/1/11. We did six rounds of chemo, changed his diet and spoiled him completely rotten. We were blessed with 10 great months after diagnosis. Against the odds, the lung met remained a single met and grew very little over those months. A wonderful furbaby with the most gentle spirit, he fought with a strength that we never imagined he possessed. We have no regrets...
http://zeuspod......pawds.com/
Everyone- Lucy is home!!! And it went much better than I expected. We were strong for her and she for us. So groggy and slow but after getting out of the car, out of the garage, into the bedroom and finally on her bed (it was pretty slow but we were sure encouraging with her) she is here and seems happy. She then did some moving around to the living room. We finally got her to eat, and that went way better than anticipated. She had some rimadyl and then outside to potty. Wow! Too much moving so we got her back in the bedroom and on her bed. I will stay in the room with her, this is our usual practice since daddy is typically studying in another part of the house. So far so good. Steady as she goes.
We did talk to the vet this morning (she called on her first day of vacation) and we went over the surgery. It was good to talk with her about Lucy and where to go from here.
We're on our way to recovery!
Mary - Lucy's mom and Chuck - Lucy's dad
Lucy's front right leg was amputated 12/19/11. Thankfully there was no tumor, but her nerves were found to be degenerative. Life as a tripawd is Lucy's new adventure!!
Welcome home Lucy! best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hooray for being home and hooray for the first at-home successful potty attempt!
Keep up the good recovery work, Lucy!
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!
Hey everyone I need some advise, Lucy is restless this afternoon and panting. We've had all meds on-time and the next one of rimadyl is due in 45 minutes. She's had some gas but no poop yet. We've been outside and she continues to pee. Any suggestions?
Lucy's front right leg was amputated 12/19/11. Thankfully there was no tumor, but her nerves were found to be degenerative. Life as a tripawd is Lucy's new adventure!!
Is she on Tramadol? Because a lot of dogs here have experienced panting while on it. (But best to stay on it and just endure the panting - if that's what's causing it.) I know how hard it is cuz they can't just say "hey, i'm in pain here, could you hit me again?" or "no pain, but man am seeing pink squirrels!"
Also the meds can mess with their little GI tracts, so not uncommon to go several days (sometimes up to like 4-6 days!) without pooping. The peeing is good. But you might still be another day or so away from doing the Happy First Poop Dance.
Abby was a little restless too. I know you are supposed to confine them post-op, but Abby did NOT want to be confined. She insisted on being outside (she'd fake me out by acting like she needed to go out and pee - then no amount of coaxing could get her back in). She was really not herself at all for at least the first week to 10 days.
Hopefully it's just the meds making her pant. I'm sure others will chime in too. Hang in there.
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!
Jackie- Yes, tramadol and I found the forum section on post-op and read some similar instances! I just get a little confused. I think that's it and the gas. When outside today she tried to give a full bark from her chest and seconds after the bark came some screaming. I just held her. The vet advised she went close to Lucy's chest wall looking for a tumor on the nerve. I talked to the hospital today and they believed it is pain from the chest and her recovery. Now, lets see how to prevent the barking... no one bark or come around here for the next few weeks. HA! We are attempting to confine her in the bedroom where it is quieter. However she is restless and wants out in the middle of it all.
I'll try and ignore some of it too. She is my main focus right now so it's pretty hard to do. Other than this she is doing great, moving around carefully but very well.
Thanks! Mary, Lucy's mom
Lucy's front right leg was amputated 12/19/11. Thankfully there was no tumor, but her nerves were found to be degenerative. Life as a tripawd is Lucy's new adventure!!
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