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 all,
My little poodle, Angel, got hit by a car on Thursday May 14. She snuck out between the gate and I heard her scream and a car stopped and I just knew something horrible had happened. I dragged her out from beneath the car and we drove to the ER right away. One of her back paws was only hanging by skin, so they took her foot off. A huge peice of skin (probably 20% of her body) was torn off on her side. It was still attached at the bottom so they took 90 staples to put it back on. Her 'good leg' has hip/pelvis fractures. She has been at the specialists' hospital all week. About 1/4 of the skin flap has died so they removed it Wed May 20th. She is covered with bandages, but they are hopefull that's all the skin that will die. She gets to come home tomorrow Sat May 23 until Monday the 25th. (I can't wait!!) Then they'll replace her bandages. On Tues they plan on putting a plate on her broken hip and amputating the rest of her other leg (that's missing the foot).
I worry about how she'll do coming home this weekend and after her surgeries. She is doing really well and eating a lot and is so happy to see us everyday-I've been visiting her for about an hour and a half everyday; and I bring her chicken! They are going to send her home after the surgeries with a doggie wheelchair until she can put weight on her hip. I have read through the forums (which are soooo helpful!). But does anyone have any experience like this, where they lose function of 2 legs? (Although it's temporary.) I'm going shopping tonight for crate, bed, wee wee pads, chicken and rice, and tshirts (she's cold without her fur!) etc. Can anyone give me pointers about wheelchairs and just life in general to make her happy and comfortable. I'm scared she'll get depressed not being able to walk at all for weeks.
Thank you so much!
Hi,
Welcome to Tripawds! You've definetly come to the right place. Sorry to hear about Angels accident, but she has a great pawrent!
As I don't have experience with the amputation part of it (We adopted Chuy as a Tripawd). We are going thru recovery with Chuy right now from FHO surgery. He is missing his left frt. leg and had the surgery on his left rear leg. FHO is where they remove the head of the femur bone where it goes into the hip socket. We are not using a wheelchair with Chuy, but we are using a belly sling to help him get in and out of doors.
Once Angel is healed enough, water therapy is a good choice. We will be starting that with Chuy next week when he gets his stitches out. Right now we are doing leg pulls and pushes and bends and stretches for therapy. Got to keep the muscles from atrophying! Keep her as comfortable as you can, make sure she gets her meds as directed, don't worry if she doesn't poop for the first few days. (It took Chuy 5 days before he pooped). Make sure if you have any questions to call your vet and come here to the chat if you can. She make take a while before she show interest in her toys, but you can try to get her to play tug or give her something to cuddle with or chew on.
Some dogs are more resilient than others. You 'll be surprised at how quickly she'll come back.
Chuy, showing everyone that Tripawds do everything 3 times better than regular dogs!
Wow. Chuy could put weight on his leg after surgery? Why did he have to have that surgery? He's so cute. I'll have to load a picture of Angel. What do they at water therapy, walk through the water so they don't have so much weight on them probably. Angel started pooping yesterday. It's so hard she only gets a little out at a time. I got some pumpkin for when she comes home. I can't believe how happy she is in spite of everything. It has made me not complain about any aches or pains I get. I'll let you know how her day goes tomorrow. I'm so excited I can't wait to get her home. 10am tomorrow!
I'll be thinking about Chuy in his recovery.
Chuy had to have the surgery due to a fracture in the head of the femur and the fact that he has Legg-Calves Perthes disease. Part of the recovery is to do the regular PT until the stitches come out, they would like him to put some weight on the leg, but he refuses. 🙁 Hopefully the swim therapy will do the trick.
Water therapy is just having him swim, he has to kick with his leg, which works to build the muscle. The muscle, ligaments and tendons will help keep the leg bone in place while scar tissue builds where the femur head was removed.
We will keep Angel in our prayers. Let us know how she is doing.
Chuy, showing everyone that Tripawds do everything 3 times better than regular dogs!
Oh poor Angel, we are so sorry! But what a survivor. Thank dog she made it through. We hope her first day back at home is going well.
Chuy's advice is spot on. We would add, try not to worry about her getting depressed. Dogs handle things like this so differently than humans, the don't feel sorry for themselves, they don't look back, they just keep living life as best they can, without regret. So while she may have some bad days, along with the good, for the most part, Angel is just going to keep on keepin' on. You'll be amazed at her adaptability, we promise.
There are things you can do to make life a little easier for her. Try some of these suggestions, here and here (thankfully you can ignore the parts about dealing with bone cancer). Also, here is a post we we wrote about Sheba the Quad Dog and Trouble the Tripawd in Jerry's blog. Their mom, Deborah, made a video about caring for handicapped pets which may help.
Good luck. You are an awesome pawrent for being there for Angel, we send our best and look forward to hearing about how she is doing. Hang in there.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thank you all!
It's Monday. I misunderstood the surgeon and got to keep Angel for another day! She came home Saturday and we'll bring her back tomorrow (Tues) for the final amputation, hip surgery and possibly something with the areas on her torso where the skin flap died. She is doing really well. She sleeps a lot and I've napped with her every day. She is trying to walk on her stump and it has opened up and I can see bone. The docs just left it since they're amputating higher up tomorrow. We have a cool thing where I bring her outside and hold up her rear end and she pee pees! I gave her some pumpkin on Satuday and today it all came out! We spent half the day trying to keep her clean and keep up with the towel washing.
This morning I watched the docs change her dressing (where she doesn't have skin). It looks really good-already forming a nice granulation layer if they need to graft in the future.
Her grandma and grandpa came to visit today. We sat outside with her for about an hour. Poor thing, when the other dogs go barking at something she whines and barks and tries to get up! The other dogs are doing good with her (we have 5 others). Our pitbull PupPup let Angel clean her face (Angel always cleans her every night.) They're not sure about her and kind of sniff her and stay back a ways.
I'm going to try to upload some pictures now.
Thank you so much!
So glad to hear things are going well. You obviously have an ability to handle tough situations like this, Angel is lucky to have a great nurse like you for a pawrent!
Good luck this week. Keep us posted OK?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I think I'm the lucky one to have Angel. She is so strong and brave. Our song is 'You're the Inspiration' by Chicago. I was volunteering at the Humane Society in Houston to get my dog fix (without getting a dog). Then I saw this little poodle. Eneryone told me not to touch her bc she had mange. She had been there 6 months after being rescued from a puppy mill. They had let her sit there with mange, eye, ear and skin infections and heartworms. She was missing about 1/2 her fur and had hot spots everywhere. It was love at first sight. She just crawled in my lap and was so happy, even after all she had been through. I had to have her. She has loved me through everything. She was even the flower dog at our wedding last summer! I love all the dogs that have come and gone (or stayed!) but my Angel is ..my Angel. Please keep her in your prayers tomorrow.
She looks like she is doing well. Many good thoughts for you and Angel as she faces her surgery tomorrow.
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
What a beautiful story. You are a real hero for coming to her rescue.
We'll definitely keep you in our prayers. Good luck! Write if you need anything.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi,
Angel is just going in to surgery now so we won't get to visit her today. They aren't going to amputate today in case they need skin from that leg for grafts. I really wanted it to be done today bc she keeps trying to walk on her nub. But they're going to wait a week or more to amputate. So they're fixing her pelvis and trying to close some of the wounds on her torso. I'm so nervous. I hate all the waiting. And this is the 1st time we can't go see her after work. Sighhhh
Keeping Angel and you in our thoughts today. We're sure she will do fine and remember, you'll get to see her tomorrow. She will be in a better state of mind then too. With the anesthesia (sp?) she probably won't really know what's going on today anyway. Let her rest today and bring her a special treat tomorrow, like lots of Loving from you!
Chuy, showing everyone that Tripawds do everything 3 times better than regular dogs!
The waiting is indeed the hardest part. Bless you for taking such good care of Angel. Hang in there. Best wishes for complete recovery.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Oh my gosh! We may get to take Angel home today! And if not today then tomorrow! The doc said she's already stood on the leg that just had pelvic/hip surgery yesterday. She's eating 'like a champ' and doing really good! I'm so excited! We'll see the doc today when we go to visit (or pick up!) and find out more. She'll still have to come in every few days for bandage changing and debridement of her open wounds. Then it'll be the amputation. The doc said she's going to be a tough one to keep still! My little girl is so brave and wonderful! I'm going to be smiling all day!
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