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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They're adorable! Nala looks like such a little sweetie. And I'm a sucker for a beagle! Enzo has Monkeydog written all over him! (Has anyone warned you about monkeydogs yet? They are tripawd siblings who act up to get attention away from tripawds!)
Jackie, Angel Abby & MBBunny Rita's mom
Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!
Awww too cute!
Nala is just such a sweetie and Enzo is too!
I'm so sorry that she's having a hard time right now. Hang in there, remember that the first week or two can be tough. The pain medication can really make dogs a little crazy and not themselves. If you are at all concerned that her behavior is more than just the medication reaction, please call your vet immediately and let them know what's going on with her behavior.
Questions to help you judge whether or not she is experiencing "normal" recovery are: Is she eating? Drinking water? Going to the bathroom? Don't expect her to do a lot of any of these things, but even just a little of each is a good sign that she's doing OK.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Sorry Nala is having a hard time. Zeus was very very lethargic for several days after surgery, but we did not experience any constant yelping or screaming. As for taking the meds, I swear by extra chunky peanut butter. They can't tell the difference between the pill and the peanuts and it does a fabulous job of coating the pill and keeping it from dissolving in their mouth and tasting it.
Lisa
Zeus was a Husky mix diagnosed with Osteosarcoma at age 11. A visible lung met and suspicious spot on his liver meant a poor prognosis-six weeks was our vet's best guess. We decided to fight for our boy and his right front leg was amputated on 12/1/11. We did six rounds of chemo, changed his diet and spoiled him completely rotten. We were blessed with 10 great months after diagnosis. Against the odds, the lung met remained a single met and grew very little over those months. A wonderful furbaby with the most gentle spirit, he fought with a strength that we never imagined he possessed. We have no regrets...
http://zeuspod......pawds.com/
Sorry Nala is having some down time. Be sure you call the vet if you get worried. If you are worried you can't be strong for her.
That being said- Maggie barely moved for 3 or 4 weeks- much longer than most I read about here. I had to coax her to do anything for those first few weeks, even after she was off the meds and the stitches were out. Each pup heals and deals with the changes on their own timeline.
As far as pills- Mag was one of those dogs that was quite suspicious once she found pills in food. If she found a pill in a piece of chicken she wouldn't take chicken (from me) for weeks. I had good luck with a piece of cheddar cheese melted for a few seconds in the microwave, just enough to get it soft. Then I used just enough cheese to coat the pill so it wasn't big enough to chew- just swallow. And when heated it became a little greasy so it slipped right down. That worked for us for all the months she was doing chemo and getting pills everyday. Of course she eventually chewed one and it was all over! Then I had to result to pill stuffing, and the greasy cheese helped it go down.
Tramadol is tough to get down. Quad pug Tani who has taken pills twice a day for most of her life without problems will not take tramadol without a fight. I've had to result to pill stuffing with her when she needs tram- with the greasy cheese.
Karen and the pugapalooza
We were eventually able to give her the medication but she was still in pain so we brought her back to the vet who is going to keep her for the night. They will give her a different kind of pain medication.
She has also been constipated since the operation on thrusday, and we are now monday, so they will keep a eye on her for that two.
We felt we were not able to help her, like we were regressing, so it feels a little bit better now that we know professionnals will be able to help her. Hope she gets well soon.
I will try some of the tricks you all gave me for giving medication when she comes back.
Thank you all for the encouragement
Melina
Melina, it's always a good idea to run things by your vet if you don't feel comfortable with how things are going. That's what you pay them for. Amputation is a big deal, and the money we pay isn't just for the surgery. It's also for follow-up.
Being constipated is a very frequent side effect of surgery and pain medication. Our dogs get all turned around because we don't feed them surgery day and then they often don't eat at all or very little for a few days. Some people here have had their dogs go 4 or 5 days before pooping. It's one reason we joke about celebrating when they finally go. Sometimes it isn't really a joke because it's a big deal.
Let us know how Nala is doing. I know it feels overwhelming right now. Most of us here have gone through very similar feelings, so you know when we say "I know just how you feel," we probably do. That's why this is a true support system. So please keep us updated.
Shari
From abandoned puppy to Tripawd Warrior Dude, Dakota became one of the 2011 February Furballs due to STS. Our incredibly sweet friend lived with grace and dignity till he impulsively raced over the Bridge on 12-15-12.
Dakota's thoughtful and erudite blog is at http://shari.tr.....pawds.com/
What a cutie!!!
I hope the vet stay will help the recovery and she'll be seeming better when you get her. It's all a bit overwhelming!
Comet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
Hi evryone,
I juste had news from the vet this morning.
Nala is doing good, they apparently gave her her meds without any problem!! I wish it was easy for me!
And she is no longuer constipated, yay!! After 5 days!
The vet will give her a bit of confidence back by showing her how to walk, so when we get her back she should feel a little better. Plus they will show me in detail how to help her move around with a towel underneath her belly.
Staying positive!
That sounds good and all very normal! Sounds like she's right where she outta be at this point. You'll see - she'll start improving really soon. Once she's all healed up you'll be so amazed by her!
Thanks for letting us know that we should all commence doing the happy hoppy poop dance!
Hang in there.
Jackie, Angel Abby's mom
Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!
Maggie didn't poop until day 5 or 6, normal after being on pain meds.
And she was really suspicious of me and pills- she would often take meds hidden in food from my Dad that I couldn't get her to take.
As far as a sling- you can also try a re-usable shopping bag slit down the sides- it has built in handles! You can use a towel for cushioning if needed.
Don't get discouraged! This is a big surgery and recovery. Our pups have to deal with lots of meds, some pain, annoying incision, and learn new balance and a new way to walk. It is amazing how fast they get the hang of things and on with life. For many the turning point is when the stitches come out and the meds are gone- around 2 weeks or so.
Karen and the pugapalooza
Oh that's great news, I'm so glad you took her back and hope that your worries are alleviated just a little.
Yes, try a shopping bag instead of the towel. A towel doesn't handles like a shopping bag does. This method is a lot easier. But you probably won't need to use it for more than a couple of days, sounds like she's doing great.
How did the doc unconstipate her? Did they give her anything or did it just occur naturally?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Oh that's great news, I'm so glad you took her back and hope that your worries are alleviated just a little.
Yes, try a shopping bag instead of the towel. A towel doesn't handles like a shopping bag does. This method is a lot easier. But you probably won't need to use it for more than a couple of days, sounds like she's doing great.
How did the doc unconstipate her? Did they give her anything or did it just occur naturally?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I went to visit her this afternoon and she seemed a lot better. She moved from her position without showing any signs of pain. But she is so cuddly since she has been operated, she wants to be on top of me all the time, she even pulls herself on my lap to get closer. Such a sweetheart.
About her constipation, she apparently did her thing on her own. But the vet told me he was helping her stand with a towel because number two takes a little longuer time so needs more endurance.
I also talked with the vet tech and asked her a lot of questions. She told me she also had a hard time giving her medication, so its not only me
They both told me to avoid that she falls and hurts herself, I should restrain her movements. Did any of you do this or did you let them move on their own.
My mom is going to keep her while we are at work, but I asked the vet tech if she could be alone for small periods of time in case my mom needs to leave the house. I was wondering if any of you left their dogs alone for small or long periods of time and where did you leave them? In a cage, in a room? Or how long did you wait until you felt confortable leaving them alone?
Thank you in advance
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