Looks like everypawdy is giving you great advice! It's ok to worry! I did but seeing how much better Bud felt without that broken leg that wouldnt heal made the worry less!

The only thing I have to add is that Bud's amp hadnt been planned for so when we got home I had to rearrange furniture and add rugs to make it easier for him. I also had to come up with a sling (sewn towel) to help his mobility.You probably already thought about those things..... but just in case. I had a long night after we traveled home!

 Hope tomorrow goes well for Maddie and that old pain from that leg has vanished for her! Glad she found her forever home!

Kelly,

I am one month down the road ahead of you. Cocoa was a stray I took to the vet with a broken back right leg. It was amputation or euthansia. Thanks to a very generous vet, she is alive today!

I went to see Cocoa at the vet the evening post surgery. I was very, very shocked at what I saw and welled up in tears. But she laid there and thumped her tail at me. I promised her right then and there that I would make sure she'd have the best life ever.

Cocoa came home with two pain meds and never acted like she was hurting. She was also used to the bum leg, so if anything I think she was relieved to have it gone. This site has been a wonderful reference for me. I am so thankful I found it.

I first had just blankets on the floor (I literally met her Monday and brought her home Wednesday). I was lucky enough to find a reasonably priced crate to keep her in while I was away. A friend sent some larger, cushy dog beds, but she seemed to have a hard time with her balance. I ordered a Kuranda bed and she loves it. It keeps her off the ground in a hammock kind of way. I made sure to order a size that fits inside the crate.

I have hardwood floors, so I have old yoga mats all over the house to help with her traction . They really help. She squats to potty well and is getting better laying down (it's either standing or laying down for a time).

We're in the still getting-to-know you phase, but she is an absolute joy (except when she acts like the pre-teen she is). I highly recommend you read everything you can on the site. Again, it's been a huge help to me (matter of fact, I'm off to post a question myself!).

Good luck tomorrow and keep us posted.

Susan

The more names the better. I am South Dakota Watson. But you can call me Dakota or D-Dawg. Although I'm thinking of adding "Ray" in there somewhere since it's what the cool dawgs go by.

Hi Kelly

Sorry to hear about the amputation, but she'll be getting around fine in no time. 

I saw you were planning on using a crate, my dog kess was also a rear leg amputee and between that and a head collkar it was hard for her to get in and out of her crate at first, and since they are narrow, it's hard to help them.  If you have an x-pen or know someone you could borrow one from I highly recommend it.  The top is open and they are larger than a crate.  I had a big one 4'x4' .  I could easily walk in to it with Kess and help her get situated, and if she was restless at night I could stay next to her.  She was on 3 different pain medications and I had to wake up several times a night to administer them, so I ended up on the couch next to the pen.

Kess came home the day after the surgery and needed help walking and squatting to pee the first day and a half or so.  I would just stand on her 1 leg side so she could lean against me.  By the morning of day two she was able to navigate out of the house and down 3 stairs to go potty. 

Here's some video of Kess playing frisbee 4 weeks post-op

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