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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Do you have a picture of her neck spot?
As for the Gabapentin..please don't be afraid of using pain medication. That's why it's there. Modern pain management for pets works, and it prevents big problems later on with things like phantom pain . Stick to the dose schedule and don't change a thing without talking to your vet OK? You don't want to suddenly stop using Gabapentin, it could cause problems.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
From the "corner of guessing", I would think it could definitely be a hot spot of sorts considering the moisture that has been gathering around her fur. Add to that the irritation of the cone. Add to that that I'm sure she didn't have anyone blow drying her fur the whole time she was at the Vet!
You can try clipping the fur down so air can get to it and, of course, keep the cone off as much as you can but ONLY with you watching her like a hawk!! She may have been trying to actually reach the sore spot when she was doing all that licking. Poor Stella!
And ask any question you want! We all learn from them!!
Lots of 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!
So the area on her neck is definitely wheeping a bit. Tried cutting the hair as much as possible (veeeerry uncooperative Stella).
finagled a hand towel (folded in half, attached some ribbons on end) to attach aroundher neck prior to cone coming back on tonight.
seems like I have a choice of her licking her wound or having a raw neck 🙁
Bummer! Stella! If you would just leave your stitches alone, you could leave that cone off! But I don't think that's in the cards!
Hope the towel will help keeping it from being rubbed.
That Stella is a feisty gal!!
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!
If it is a hot spot, Ive read that Manuka Honey helps them heal. Something you can run by your Vet.
Have you thought about sending your Vet a picture?
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!
Otis wore the cone of shame for a day, and then I noticed it was literally cutting into his neck. The edges where it connected were a bit sharp. We were able to discard it, but I wonder if Stella has something similar going on?
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
The edges are definitely sharpish. I wish I didn't throw away the other cone I had when Mithras got neutered. It had a soft fabric around the edge (and snapped close). I discarded it when we moved cross state 🙁
i hope the towel will keep her neck safe over night until the soft cone comes. I also ordered the inflatable one. She IS a determined licker and will need something for a while 🙁
i feel so bad for her and I'm a bit mad at the hospital staff for not caring that her neck was damp/wet for prolonged time.
Chance and I are sending big hugs and well wishes to you and Stella! Hope she is recovering ok and happy to be back with her Mama. 
Hi there, just wondering how Stella is doing. How's her neck? Did the collars arrive?
Update when you can, we are 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...
I know I'm jumping in here late to the party! Just wanted to add that Kylie HATED the cone of shame too. Who wouldn't I guess?? She didn't get an infection or sore or anything, but due to her new unsteady tripawd gait & dozey demeanor after surgery & our lack of sleep due to her having no peripheral vision with that cone on & she'd bang the cone against anything imaginable just trying to get around! We felt so bad so we decided to go online and found a great one from Amazon that was similar to a neck pillow you use on airlines! It was like a cushy pillow you literally blew up like a beach ball for the pool, she loved it! You slip their collar into it and that's how it does up. It also had a velcro closure to tighten it as well. Well it was MUCH quieter at night, she could SEE where she was walking now so it helped her get used to her new tripawd gait AND she loves pillows haha! I forget the name of it but it was made by KONG and I think it only cost like $25 (cdn for us) and it shipped in like 2 days! BEST decision ever. Besides the amputation of course 😉
So I realize Stella already has a sore now, but maybe once it starts to heal you could try this cone instead? Worth a shot! Personally I'm keeping it forever (you can even wash it!) & I'm never buying the big plastic elizabethian traditional cone again!
Chris & Kylie xo
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