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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Hi,
I found this forum by accident yesterday when looking for info on tripod dogs. And I am glad I did.
Marley is an almost two year old chocolate lab and he was hit by two cars on Friday morning. The second was when he was trying to get back across the road after being hit by the first. The second car saw the accident and didn’t stop which is how they hit him as well.
He has a severely broken back leg and sadly due to finances we are unable to afford the surgery to put the pins and plates etc in to fix it so our other option was to amputate. His surgery is tomorrow (Monday). We have been working this weekend to try to make our house mor tripod friendly with carpet in the stairs, mats in the paces he usually goes and will work on the backyard once the rain stops and it dries up.
we are getting him a snuffle may to help keep him mentally stimulated while he recovers and I have a friend who is a trainer that is willing to come help us with working with him.
My husband is worried about quality of life after the surgery and I just wonder about the challenges of losing a back leg versus front.
I’ve read a few of your stories and I am hopeful that his recovery goes well and he that he will adapt well to his new body.
Hello and welcome, your future posts will not have to wait for approval.
I'm sorry to hear about Marley's accident- that must have been so scary!
It is actually a bit easier to lose a back leg for a dog as they tend to carry 60% of their weight on their front legs. Losing a leg so young you have to be vigilant about keeping him fit and strong and on the light side. Seeing a rehab vet after surgery would be a great idea to get him on the right track for recovery and for a long life on three. We even have a program here that might pay for your first visit!
My little Tripawd was hit by a car when she was 7 months old and lost her right rear leg as a result. Elly has pretty much only known life on 3 legs, she is almost 6 years old now. We do lots of food puzzles and games which help with balance and strength. We also compete in the sport of Nose Work which I highly recommend. I started NW because Elly had fear and confidence issues which the sport has helped immensely, and it's a great way to challenge her mind and tire her out without too much stress on her body.
I have to run right now as I'm between paint coats on my front porch- but I'll share a video I made showing just some of the food puzzles and games we play and a video showing how well she gets around. Hopefully they will help your husband feel more comfortable about Marley's life quality going forward.
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
Thank you for posting about Elly
Marley is losing the same leg and your videos just made me so much more hopeful.
I have been looking at the great puzzles and my friend is going to look for hers to lend me as well. I don’t know if we have any rehab vets it out area but I will definitely look into it. I just want our boy to be happy and healthy.
I’m hoping that our other dog will give him some incentive to be up and about too.
Online
Just so awful what happened to Marley...and hit twice with the second jerk not stopping...awful!
But here you are and uour Marley is alive and will be thriving on three before you know it!!
FWIW, we have seen a lot of amputations here that started out with people try to save a mangled leg with surgeries, long recoveries, more surgeries, more long recoveries, only to have them all fail and amputation being the end result anyway. Amputation is one surgery (yes, major), one recovery of a solid two weeks-ish and then onto brighter days for Marley!
Karen and her Elly gave you so e great insight and lots of reassurance!
Check out our e-books Three Legs and A Spare, etc.
Just let us know as questions arise. The first two weeks is about short leashed potty breaks, back in for more rest, and good pain management .
Is Marley spending the night at an overnight staffed clinic?
Update as you can.
Extra hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
PS...A rear legger does have a bit harder time going up stairs (with just o e push off leg) as opposed to down.
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!
Thank you.
we just dropped him off for surgery, we’ll hear this afternoon. We got some tail wags from him this morning so that was a welcome siight for me.
He’s not staying overnight unless there are complications. We’ll toss some yoga mats down to give him a good path to his kennel this afternoon. We’ve already put in a stair runner, a new mat under his food bowl, mat by the back door for when he needs out and his kennel is right beside that door like it always is.
I think our challenge tonight will be that he always sleeps with us upstairs so keeping in his kennel will be interesting.
I’ve doing a lot of research and will be doing more today but I am grateful for this site.
Marley and famiy, I just read your story and it just broke my heart! 
I'm so sorry all of you are going through this. But oh my gosh what a fighter your boy is! And he is so lucky to have such thoughtful parents like you. We are glad you found us as well, and are sending lots of love today for a speedy recovery.
Your vets may already mention that because he was in a car accident, he may take a bit longer to recover, which is totally normal. I'll x2 the recommendation for canine rehab therapy, it will really help speed things along. A lot of folks don't think there's a therapist near them, and that is usually not the case. If you'd like to PM me your city and state I can help locate one for you (I'm usually successful!). Also, I know your bills are piling up, which is why the Tripawds Foundation can pay for your first rehab visit with Marley. The link has more info.
Keep us posted on how everything is going OK? We are here for you.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Okay, we'll wait for your ipdate.
pain management is crucial, especially bringing him home the same day!
He should be heavily drugged from all the hospital meds and, hopefully, will be mostly out of it. However, shaking off the anesthesia the next 24 hrs is not always pleasant to watch. He probably won't be mobile at all, so wouldn't think he would even think about trying to get in the bed. Then again, every recovery is different!
Just STAY CONNECTED and let us know how things are going, okay? Ale sure you have a contact number for your Vet tonight. It is vetter to jave him home if a Vet is not 24/7 fully staffed.
Update when uou can.
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!
[Image Can Not Be Found]Update on my crazy boy.
He was pretty out of it last night when we brought him home. Whiny but hoping quite well. He had some issues getting comfy in his kennel but I was expecting that.
His incision isn’t as bad as I thought it would be and he isn’t resisting the cone too much. We added some extra padding under his cage mat but I think I am going to look for a better one today.
He drank a couple bowls of water, went out to the bathroom three times before we went to bed. Our daughter slept in the family room with him last night in case he needed anything.
We managed to get his pain meds into him too. He went out again around midnight then was restless so we have him some pepperoni then managed to get the sedative the vet gave us into him as well.
He’s a stubborn little bugger this morning. Trying to go where he always went, headed for the stairs, trying to get up on the couch already so we will be extra vigilant with watching him. He’s currently lying on the hardwood floor in the living room but seems comfy. Not happy with me because I wouldn’t let him jump on the couch.
I’m not sure how to add a picture but I am getting his sad face right now.
I wanted to add we are in Canada, just outside Toronto. I’m going to look into rehab vets today. Thanks for that advice.
Awww Marley! Don't give your people a heart attack OK? Be a good boy and rest!
I'm so glad he's home and seems to be doing pretty well. How are you? Did you get any rest? It's not unusual for the human to be sleep deprived for a few days. If you cave in and let him up on the couch, see if you can get a set of pet stairs to assist him. Even a milkcrate can help with an extra boost.
Being that you are in Ontario, there are some excellent therapists around Toronto. See the Canine Rehab Directory and if you can't find one let me know.
Let us know how things are going!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thank you. I have looked around but our vet feels he doesn't need it and all require a referral. I'll work with my trainer friend and look up some good exercises to do with him.
He's always been allowed on the couch so that's why he's mad at me for not being able to get. Hubby is going to build him some steps so that he can get on our bed when he is ready to go upstairs and we could use them for the couch as well.
We had to get a bigger cone because he managed to find a way to lick his stitches with the cone one. And yes I am a little sleep deprived but I expected that, just glad it's a light week at work.
You are so welcome. A lot of vets are unfamiliar with the benefits of rehab therapy because it's such a 'new' science (less than 20 years old), and what they don't realize is that the therapy is more about educating the pet parent than anything. A dog can certainly bounce back on 3 legs but they have a better quality of life when the human is educated about what to expect and how to help them stay strong. If you really want to get him into rehab, it's your right to get a referral, just ask. Your vet doesn't have to agree, just give the write-up.
Your hubb's smart (and handy) to build those steps! Send a pic when they're done.
Good job getting the larger cone of shame too! Now that he's protected try to get some rest yourself.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
This is such a good update for the first night!! Sometimes it's a bit more challenging, to say the least!
And drinking and peeing..... another victory 👏👏👏
Sloooow and easy for now Mr. Marley! You just had MAJOR surgery fella'!
What pain meds did he come home with? Doses and frequency? Sometimes es they need adjusting after all the hospital drugs wear off.
And hubby gets kudos for building bed steps!
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!
He is taking:
Rimadyl 100 mg once every 24 hours
Tramadol HCI 50 mg every 12 hours
Antibiotics: Clavaseptin every 12 hours
Sedative: Teva Trazodone every 12 hours if needed. We have only been giving it to him at night to help him get a decent nights sleep. The big cone is a pain in his kennel.
He's a little down but to be expected, he's eating in little bits and pepperoni is the key to giving his meds. We noticed last night when we took him for a short walk that he is really spooked by the cars on the road now, just stops and won't move, totally understandable. We live on a busy street but I am trying to take him out when the traffic is lighter.
I'm glad he's eating! That's awesome. And I get spooked by cars too (been hit on my bike!), can't blame him. Poor guy. Hopefully in time his confidence will build up so you can walk without him feeling so nervous.
Thanks for the medications description. I don't want to worry you but because his body has been through so much, please keep an eye on him for pain signals OK? Feeling down is to be expected, but to a point. Now I'm not a vet, and it's good he has the NSAID and Tramadol (which is what our Jerry received in 2006), but the most current post-op medication protocols followed by vets call for sending dogs home with Gabapentin too, which works on different pain pathways. Our pain management articles have lots of info if you have the energy to dive deep into the subject.
Otherwise though, this is good news he's getting around so well!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Awww sweet Marley, you're doing really well all things considered.
Just want to ditto everything Jerry said about pain management . Gabapentin and Tramadol work well together. He may need this combination to help curb the pain. Obviously the sedation of the Trazedone has jno value as far as managing pain.
Just potty break and back in for rest. Get continue giving him any yummy food he will eat 👍
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!
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