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,
My name is Kelly and my recent rescue'd Blue Heeler Maddie Mae is scheduled for amputation surgery tomorrow.
Her's is not due to cancer, but an old break from being hit by a car and never taken to the vet.
She also had heartworms and has just recently completed her treatment for that.
I must admit I am nervous about the whole thing. I kind of know what to expect from seeing things other people have written, but I
can't help myself but worry a little.
My Vet said I should be able to pick her up the following day, as long as everything goes well. I guess I am wondering how much pain is she going to be in, and what should I expect overall? Will she be bandaged? What will I need to do for her?
I purchased a Ruffwear Web Master harness so that I can help her around while she's recovering.
Any advice or warnings as to what to expect would be greatly appreciated. I would like to be as prepared to help her as possible.
Thank you so much.
Kelly
I am now seeing this should probably have been on another forum topic. Moderator, please move if you agree.
Thank you
Hi Kelly and Maddie,
Welcome to Tripawds. This is a fine place for your first (and second!) post. Once you get Maddie home from surgery you might start a new topic under the Treatment and Recovery forum- what ever works for you.
Sorry you had to join us here- but as you will see you have found a wonderful community who can provide information and support.
Have you read through Jerry's Required Reading list yet? It is a compilation of good information on what to expect with amputation and recovery.
Which leg is Maddie losing? If it is a front leg you should check with your vet about using the Ruff Wear harness while the sutures or staples are still in- the straps might rub on the incision. If she will lose a rear leg you should be OK.
For many of us the first couple of weeks were full of ups and downs- lots of meds, learning new balance, etc. Sometimes the pup comes home from the hospital kind of hopped up on pain killers, and happy to be home and are energetic and acting like themselves, then they crash a little. Some sail right through- but be prepared.
It might help to look through some post amp pictures on this site so you know what you will be seeing.
Most of all you need to be a strong and positive pack leader for Maddie- they really cue off of our emotions. You need to show her that everything will be fine.
Good luck with the surgery tomorrow.
Karen and the pugapalooza
p.s.- your future posts will not have to wait for moderation- only the very first one (two in this case!) from a new member have to wait.
I forgot to say that you are awesome for adopting what some might consider a special needs dog. We know that dogs are born with three legs and a spare!
Karen
Hey Kelly, thank you for joining us here. Paws up for adopting Maddie Mae! What a pawesome human you are!
Karen's advice is spot on. And yes, the harness is great but we advise waiting until stitches are out to use it. We suggest using a canvas grocery bag with long handles as a sling, just cut the sides open.
You sound pretty calm, that's great! Just remember that a strong pack leader makes for a strong, good recovery. Here are some good videos you can watch from our favorite rehab therapists at California Animal Rehabilitation.
Sorry we missed you in the chat earlier. If you stop by, be sure to bark and say Hi so we know you are there.
We can't wait to hear more about Maddie. Paws crossed for a good recovery!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hey Kelly and Maddie, welcome to tripawds. You'll find that this is a great place for information and support. My dog Coach recently had his beck left leg removed because he kept bending the plate that was placed on a broken femur. I kept Coach at the vet for a week after the surgery because he had a history of getting into trouble and hurting himself. When we finally brought him home I took a picture of the surgical site. This allowed me to keep a better eye on it. I had a reference pic (what the site should look like). Make sure you check the site at least twice a day, and give your pup lots of love. Don't let your pup over do it and play too hard at first, she can wear out her other leg pretty quickly. She will need to gain strenght.
This is going to be harder on you than your pup. I know I cried when I fist saw my Coachy without his leg. We are hear for you and your pup.
Thanks so much for the responses.
It is Maddie's rear left leg. They plan on taking everything from the hip down so as not to have a stump causing problems later.
She is a pretty sturdy girl and came through her HW treatment with flying colors. So I expect her to do well. My only concern at the moment is her incision healing well. When she was spayed 2 days after getting her, she obviously is one of the rare dogs who have reactions to the internal sutures. It took a good month before it healed completely.
I made sure the vet is aware of this problem, and hopefully what he uses will be different.
She is already used to being on 3 legs more than 4. She barely uses it now. It will probably be more of a shock for me, at least initially.
Thanks for the links, I will watch the video's tonight, and will check out the recommended reading too.
I am still trying to figure my way around this site. I am starting a blog for her called Maddie Mae's Korner, but I haven't gotten anything done with it yet.
Tripawd coach - I like the idea of taking photos about every other day to see her progress. I did that with her spay incision so I could tell how the healing was actually going. Our memories for these things aren't what we think they are? Pictures help 🙂
Thanks again, and I will make sure to update ya'll on everything.
Maggie had a reaction to almost everything- her spay surgery incision got infected, the incision from her first tumor removal got infected. She also had chronic ear infections, and problems with eye infections.
Oddly enough- we never had a problem with her amp incision, she also lost her left rear leg. Ask your vet if there will be a bandage- but I think bandaging a rear amp is difficult. Several members here used boxer shorts to keep the amp site clean- you put the tail out through the fly (does she have a full tail or a nub?, should work either way).
Because Maggie had a pug Buddha belly she couldn't reach her incision so she didn't have to wear a cone. If Maddie does need a cone there are alternatives to the traditional lamp shade that are more comfortable.
Again- good luck with the surgery.
Karen and the pugapalooza
Welcome Kelly and Maddie Mae!
Bless you for rescuing a dog in need! Maddie will love you dearly for it! I just know you are going to have a long and cherished relationship!
I didn't have cancer either. My Comet had a deformed front left leg and shoulder blade from birth. I rescued her as a puppy. We didn't do the amputation because she ended up getting pnemonia and we just figured the leg would be okay as is.
She and I had an incredible journey in life together for the last 12 years! There's nothing like being a mommy to a special needs little girl! So get ready for a wonderful time together!!!!!
Lots of warm thoughts coming your way!
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.
She does not have a tail, just a nub. I have what was a dog diaper holder on thingy (sorry, don't know what it's really called 🙂 I used it for my 15 yr old that just recently passed on. She was wetting when she slept so she wore people's depends with this thing on the outside to hold them on. You do what you have to do for your babies.
Maybe that would work? Of course it might fit to snug over her incision.
I bought her one of the inflatable collars to keep her from chewing or licking. I also plan on keeping her in her kennel for most of the first several days to limit her movement. She likes her kennel and goes in it by herself all the time. It's her space, so she feels comfortable there.
Truth is, Maddie has rescued me as much as I have her. I had just lost my baby girl Kody, who I had since she was 7 weeks old.
So she has saved me from a long drawn out mourning period. I miss her, but I have been very busy caring for Maddie since 1 week after Kody's passing.
It's very good for both of us! 🙂
I hate to see what she is having to go through, but I am happy to be here for her while she does.
I would like to kick the rear end of whoever did this to her and left her on her own and uncared for, but.....I digress.
Thanks for your support and encouragement.
Ask the vet tech for a long piece stockinette, 4" width should be plenty. Resist the temptation to go wider…it stretches. Put it on her remaining back leg & over her operative site up to her waist. Cinch it with a strip cut from the end. Cut a hole for her tail. It works great…also can provide a little compression if you need it, by packing a few dressings underneath. If you"re in the US & PM me now, I will send you some. If you're outside of the US I can do it tomorrow, but don't know when you'll get it.
Cynthia
I found that doggie diapers don't stay on rear leg amps!! Maggie became incontinent toward the end of her journey. Instead of going right to meds I tried diapers- but the dang things wouldn't say on without the other leg. I put them on, cinch them up, and they would just slide off 
. It was actually rather comical- and I needed a laugh at that point.
Dogs seem to find us at just the right times, don't they?
Karen
Yes they do find us at the right time 🙂
Yeah, thinking about it, I guess no tail and missing a leg would kind of allow for maximum slide! LOL
Nothing whatsoever to help hold them up! Sorry to hear about your Maggie 🙁
kellyr2011 said:
I am starting a blog for her called Maddie Mae's Korner...
Thanks again for your Tripawds Supporter blog subscription! We look forward to following Maddie's three-legged adventures. If you need any help getting started, check out the help videos, or post in the tech support forum.
Best wishes for Maddie's quick complete recovery. We'll be sending good thoughts tomorrow.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Kelly and Maddie,
The normal amputation on a rear leg is to leave a short piece of the femur with much of the thigh muscle to cushion it. Codie Rae and Travis Ray both slide around quite a bit on the "stump" that is left from their amputations. Wyatt Ray Dawg has the same set up. Some dawgs are up and going right away, so just see what she can handle. Here is a link to a video of WRD at three weeks post amputation: http://tripawds.....raydawg/22
I saw Wyatt a couple days after his surgery and he was moving around about the same way at that time. Not all dawgs do this well, but in general the rear leg amputees have an easier time than front leg.
Ralph
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