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! Just found this site yesterday. So glad for the information. Hard to absorb so much in so little time.
Emma and I go South for the winters. About a month ago her vet there saw "something suspicious" on an x-ray. We've been home a week now, saw a surgeon on Friday who confirmed cancer in her right front leg. He said we could do a biopsy to confirm type of cancer and then later do amputation. I opted out of the biopsy, and she is scheduled for amputation tomorrow morning.
Emma is a shepherd mix and will be 10 years old the end of this month. She was a shelter puppy and was eight weeks old when we found each other. She is about 20 or 30 lbs overweight - has lost about 15 lbs in the last six months. She weighs 75 lbs right now. I will be 70 this year, live alone and have arthritic hands. I am already so worried about how I'll be able to take care of her, starting with how I'll get her out of the car when I bring her back home. I know I can't begin to lift her out by myself. I have a small SUV and plan to buy a collapsible step as soon as possible.
I'm also worried about her being able to manage on three legs because of her weight. Luckily there are no steps at all in the house.
She has three beds but hasn't been using any of them this past week preferring the carpet. Is a hard surface better than foam? What about after surgery?
Sorry if this info is already on the site. I'm reading as much as I can in the short time left.
Thanks,
Jill
Welcome! Sorry to hear about Emma's diagnosis, but we're glad you found us. your future forum posts will not require moderation.
Keeping tripawds fit and trim is indeed important for maximizing quality of life. But if your vet believes she is a good candidate, it should just be a matter of getting some of that weight off. This is a toopic we discuss in depth within our new e-book Loving Life on Three Legs, now available together with our first handbook which addresses many concerns about recovery in the Tripawds Library Package.
Many dogs find a cool hard surface comforting, but a foam bed is better than typical fluffy/lumpy dog beds. You can see all our recommended dog beds in the Tripawds Gear blog .
You may be surprised how well Emma adapts and what little help she actually needs. Be sure to bookmark Jerry's Required Reading List for plenty of other links to more helpful tips.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery. Please keep us posted.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi Jill! Welcome to the club nobody wants to join but are so glad to have found. 
Emma looks like a sweetheart. Keep reading through all the info on these forums you can find. Jerry's Required Reading is most helpful when starting this journey. My Libby just turned 10 and we are 3 months post amp and she's doing incredibly well! You are doing Emma a huge service by getting rid of that nasty, painful cancer.
Good for Emma, losing some weight ahead of time is a great. It's important to keep a tripawd's weight down. There is also a lot of info on here about feeding. I wish I knew how to include the links here but I'm sure someone else will come a long and do that.
If at all possible, please, please have someone go with you to get Emma in and out of the car after surgery. It's a lot to handle by yourself. If no one can go with you I'm sure the vet staff will help load her in but can someone at least meet you at your house to help get her out?
The first week or so after surgery can be rough. Getting the pain under control is a big deal, but hopefully the surgeon will have her on a good balance before going home. If you have slippery floors, rugs are going to be a necessity. She will adapt a lot quicker than you think to her new normal.
Stock up on lots of yummy food to entice her to eat and drink. Hydration is important so you may want to have some chicken broth (low sodium) on hand to flavor her water if she's reluctant to drink. Peeing and pooping after surgery is a celebration in here! 
I know others will come along to offer great advice. Take a deep breath, give Emma some extra hugs and hang in there. You will get through this and we are here to help.
Amy
Liberty (Libby) was diagnosed with OSA on 1-22-13. Right front amputation on 1-31-13. No IV Chemo. Metronomic Therapy started 2-19-13 along with supplements and some home cooking. Lungs clear until 1-06-14. She's still her happy, hoppy, bossy self. Living the dog life to the fullest and a proud Winter Warrior. :) RIP my Libby 4-21-03 to 3-19-14
Hi Jill and Emma! I know your head is spinning right now and all of the "what its" are overwhelming:-
Good form you for doing what needs to be done to extend Emma's quality of life.
I have an overweight lug of a dog who is considered a senior by Bull Mastiff standards......shhhhhh, don't tell her though, she acts like a slim spring chicken.
Speaking of which, compared to some on this site I'm no spring chicken either and it is just myself and y dogs (such bliss):-)
I had to borrow a compact car so Happy Hannah could get in and out of the car. I brought her home the day after surgery by mysef and DO. NOT DO THAT BY YOURSELF IF AT ALL POSSIBLE! I had 120 lb. Dog high as a kite on drugs trying g to sit in my .lap and screaming in y ear the whole time for the over an hour ride home! You WILL be amazed at how relatively well Emma will be able to walk after surgery. You can use a towel as a sling to help her if need be. You may even ask the vet to keep her two. Rights to give you time to prepare a little better. Scatter rugs as opposed to wood floors.......The Big Barker Bed is great for larger amputees and is firm so they don't fall trying to get up..
You may not sleep well the first several nights as Emma is adjusting to pain meds, a new "normal" and the pain of surgery itself. It is NOT easy by yourself with a large dog AND you are definitely strong enough to do this because we are ALL here formyou:-) YOU ARE OT ALONE! We have all been through it and almost everyone is thrilled once you see the sparkle come back.. The pain will be gone, Emma will adjust just fine and you will be on the road to healing. And that means more time to give her love..and receive her love!
Having no steps is a HUGE plus! Having you as her partner on this journey is the best thing for hee!!
We'll probably be of more benefit once you get her home....that's usually when a lot of, "is this normal?" Starts to happen. The answer is usually, "yes"!
Review everything you can and then let us be there for you in anyway we can! I could NEVER have gotten through this without this community! The support is unbelievable!
Happy Hannah is still overweight (I can't count the reduction in weight due to the leg being taken off). and she's more of a senior than she was ten weeks ago!! And she is sooooooo happy and pain free and being loved and spoiled every second of everyday? I am so grateful
Sending you the support of thousands of people who are all here just for you!!
Sally and Happy Hannah
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!
Hi Jill. Sorry to hear that Emma is facing cancer in her leg. It can be a blur of emotions and information overload when you get this diagnosis.
Magnum was a similar weight to Emma and it was challenging to get her in and out of the car. We used a ramp but had already been using it before the surgery due to her arthritis. Having said that, a harness was the best thing we ever bought her, albeit very late in her journey. I was able to handle getting her in and out of the car by myself so much more easily with the harness. I so wish I had bought one early on.
Others here (especially Jerry) will be able to give advice on the best harness for a front amp (but I suspect you have to wait until the wound heals before you can use it).
Rugs are a must to help them from slipping. Magnum had two beds to choose from - a memory foam bed and a simple foam bed (single size, meant for humans). When she wasn't sleeping in our bed (which she could access via a ramp) she preferred the foam bed.
Good luck with the surgery. We will be thinking about you.
Karen and Spirit Magnum
Magnum: 30th May 2002 to 5th May 2012. Lost her back left leg to osteosarcoma on 5th Sep 2011. Lung mets found on 20th Mar 2012 but it was bone mets in the hip that ended her brave battle. Magnum's motto - "Dream as if you'll live for ever, live as if you'll die today" (James Dean). Loyal, loving, courageous and spirited to the end. My beloved heart dog, see her memoirs from Rainbow Bridge ...... http://princess.....pawds.com/
Hi Jill & Emma.
So glad you found this site. Just being able to vent and ask questions and knowing you are not alone helps with the stress of this whole experience. I, too, would recommend someone be there to help you get her out at your house. Shooter is smaller, but still took some work to move around at first.
The best thing we found was using an elevated dish. Especially for front amps.It is just so much easier for them.
Hang in there - the first two weeks can be overwhelming physically, mentally and emotionally. Remember your girl loves you and knows you love her.
Spirit Shooter was a Miniature Australian Shepherd who was diagnosed with a MCT and had a LF amp 1/28/13 at 13-1/2 years old.
Shooter crossed the Bridge on 8/28/13, his 7 month ampuversary and two weeks from his 14th birthday.
Welcome to the group and I'm sorry you are dealing with so much.
The others have already given lots of great advice so I'm just going to send you both some healing and positive thoughts.
Hi everyone!
Thanks so much for the great advice and all the support - I really appreciate it.
I have purchased the ebook library and updated my adobe reader. Now just to get it downloaded and readable.
I dropped Emma off at eight this morning. Just waiting now to hear from the hospital.
Again, thanks for your support and advice!
Jill
Hello!
Welcome to our group! (sorry you have to join us!)
I just wanted to say a quick welcome and let you know you can always feel free to drop by the chat room
, theres usually one or two of us in there
I'm sure Emma's surgery will go PERFECTLY today and she'll do great as a tripawd. Is she coming home tonight or staying at the vet for a night or two? Let us know what questions you have!
xoxo,
Erica & Tripawd Kitty Jill
Jill is a 9-year-old tuxedo kitty. She was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma in June 2012 on her toe in her right hind leg. Her leg was amputated on 12/12/12 and she completed four rounds of chemo (2 of Carbo, 2 of Doxy) in April 2013. "Like" Jill's facebook page: https://www.fac.....tty?ref=hl Proud member of the WINTER WARRIORS!!!! Her blog can be read at http://jillsjou.....ipawds.com. xoxo
Hi Jill, I just hopped onto the Forums and saw your post. Good luck today with Emma! We will be here to answer any questions you have an you can also join us in the chat room too OK? You'll usually find folks in there throughout the day and into the evening.
We'll be thinking of you both. Keep us posted!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Welcome to Tripawds.
I hope you have something to keep you busy today- it's hard to wait for that call from the vet.
You have tons of good advice already- be sure and post any questions you might have, and we are always here for support.
Karen
Emma's surgeon phoned and said she came through surgery fine and was already waking. He said she had a large mass that was going into her shoulder. Her limb will go for biopsy which will take about a week. She will stay at the hospital for two days.
I've spent most of the day reading the info in the downloaded ebooks. What a great font of information and resources! I am so glad I decided to download them.
I plan on giving this website address to the vet hospital staff. I hope they refer future pet owners who are in this same situation. This site is fantastic!
18jellybean said
I've spent most of the day reading the info in the downloaded ebooks. What a great font of information and resources! I am so glad I decided to download them.
Thank you for the feedback! We're glad you find the Tripawds Library helpful.
You can help your vet spread the word about this site with Tripawds Cards and Fliers you can download and print, and/or inspirational Tripawd Heroes books for their lobby.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Yea for done with surgery! She sounds like she is doing well so far. Gets lost of rest over the next couple of nights, you will need it when she gets home.
Karen
So glad all went well. Looking forward to hearing updates as she comes home.
Spirit Shooter was a Miniature Australian Shepherd who was diagnosed with a MCT and had a LF amp 1/28/13 at 13-1/2 years old.
Shooter crossed the Bridge on 8/28/13, his 7 month ampuversary and two weeks from his 14th birthday.
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