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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Well our Piper is now a Tripawd. The vet called us at 2:30 today and said he was still sleeping but the surgery went well and he was doing fine. I called again at 4:30 to check on him and he was awake and still doing well 🙂
My daughter is missing him tonight. It was pretty quiet when we came home...although we have another baby to greet us (a 2 year old dachshund named Molly). It's still not the same without our crazy Piper. Molly seems to know something is wrong. She hasn't eaten since Piper ate last (yesterday at 3:00 in preparation for surgery). I just filled her food and water bowls and tried coaxing her to eat but she's not having it 🙁 And to think when they're both together she acts so annoyed by Piper 😉
Hubby has seemed indifferent about everything until this evening when he said he wished he could see Piper (he tries to act big but I know better) 😉
I'm mostly worried about Piper's pain level tonight and if he's resting comfortably. I dont want him to be in pain 🙁 Hopefully the vet has dosed him up well.
We'll pick him up on Thursday evening. I'm a little nervous about seeing him post surgery....I know the incision site will be ugly and I'm hoping my daughter doesn't get upset either....she's so tender hearted.
Thank you to everyone for your thoughts and good wishes today...they mean alot to me. Not everyone understands the love for a dog that we have. It helps to have people that share those same feelings. I've found myself here alot more often over the past several days than I thought I would. It really helps having the support of others that know where you're at.
I'll call again tomorrow to check on my little boy and will update soon.
Hooray for successful surgery!
It's always hard when they are away from home - the house is so quiet - but he's probably in the best spot for him right now. And they'll have him much more doped up than you'd be able to do on your own at home, so I'm sure he's probably just snoozing. Try not too worry too much. Just rest up and be ready for him to be home Thur.
When he comes hopping out to greet you on Thur, you'll be so amazed and impressed and just plain happy to see him, that you won't mind that ugly ol' incision. Also, it's possible that he'll have a bandage over the incision - some dogs here come home with one, others don't. Abby didn't have a bandage, but we mostly kept a tshirt on her to keep the incision clean.
Keep us posted! Hope his recovery goes well!
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!
Having a smooth and uneventful surgery is one successful battle down the hatch toward recovery! And it is good Piper will be at the vet for the next few nights since they can monitor his condition and apply instant treatment if need be. Chloe had a low grade fever the first night and she was under 24hr surveillance. She stayed two nights and was bunny hopping to me when a technician brought her out to be taken home. I am sure piper will greet you with similar furvor (even if he hops funny!
As for the amputation site, Chloe had about 40 staples and was cleanshaven. I think the baldness was more 'weird' than the staples. Like a bad haircut. I was expecting worse looking amp site, but it wasn't as bad as I had anticipated. And then after a few days you get used to it.
Good luck! Hope Piper does well during recovery!
-Chloes mom
Chloe became a rear amp tripawd on 7-29-10. Another tumor was removed on front leg 2-20-14. Found 3rd tumor on neck 2-2015, but she's still kicking cancer's butt at age 14. Chloe's blog
HI Piper's Mommy,
I know that fear about worrying that when you see your pup for the first time after surgery of how it will look.
I will tell you that we had the same fears when we went to go pick up our Kona (she had her right rear leg amputated/osteo).
Anyway, we were shocked, BUT in a very good way! I remember we were just rambling that she looked SO GOOD !!!
Even the incision area! And she looked oh so much better! That osteosarcoma pain was gone with her leg.
It was incredible.
Even though your daughter/husband and you will be affected by the limb being 'gone', that will be overshadowed that Piper WILL indeed look better.
Hang in there and YEA Piper!
Kona turned 9yrs on April 16, 2010.
Kona was diagnosed Memorial Weekend 2010 with osteosarcoma.
Right rear leg amputated on June 4th. First chemo June 18th 2010
Second chemo July 9th, 2010 Third and final (yea !!!) chemo July 30th, 2010
ONE TOUGH GIRL this Australian Cattledog !
***Kona's journey/fight ended late in the evening of December 22, 2010***
We Love you so much Kona….always
Bella 9yrs, albino lab/aussie shep/pit?(abandoned in mts as a puppy) deaf & blind (from birth) in one eye limited vision in other.(laid back, ok lazy 73 lbs)
Cotton, 5yrs, albino hound/terrier of somesort/???(abandoned in mts as a puppy) deaf & blind in one eye(from birth), excellent vision in seeing eye. (ball addict…destroyer of Kong balls…yes,etc), high energy 55lbs knots of muscle)
Kona Kai's pup brother and sister as well as her buddy and playmate cat, Shaymous 12yrs (like Seamus), miss her terribly.
So glad he is doing well and welcome to the tripawd world!!! Lupe was only in the hospital for one night and when I went to go visit her the day after surgery I was amazed when she came hopping in the room. I was so thrilled to see her and that the horrible leg was gone that the incision was really not an issue. Look into his eyes, be happy and upbeat and he will be so happy to see you.
Let us know how he is making out!!!
-Kori & Lupe
Diagnosed with possible synovial cell sarcoma of right front elbow 5/31/12. Amputation surgery performed 6/7/12. Final diagnosis of histiocytic cell sarcoma 6/11/12. Her soul and spirit were strong, her body was not...my little girl earned her wings 6/14/12. "If there are labradoodles and goldendoodles, why can't I be a cockadoodle?"-Angel Lupe (June 28, 1997-June14, 2012) http://lupepod......pawds.com/
I'm glad to hear the surgery went well. I know you miss having him home but he is in good hands at the vet- and they should be pretty good at pain management too!
Maggie's little sis Tani was at a loss when Mag was in the hospital. Tani had never been the only dog in the house in her 6 years. She was mopey and really out of sorts.
You can look at some post op pictures. You can see some HERE, scroll down to Surgery and Treatment pics. It might help you prepare.
As Kori said- look into his eyes, he is still your Piper!!
Karen and the pugapalooza
So glad Piper's surgery went well! That's a BIG step in this process and whew... it's over!
You will be SO glad to see your little pup that the shock of seeing him with only 3 legs will not even get to you.
You will all be SO glad to just have him back in your lives.
Please keep posting, this group will give you encouragement and help along the way... I know we've received tons of support and help in just the past 2 weeks!
Signed......"Mom" of a new tripawd
Read about our Hunter at http://superdog.....pawds.com/
7/27/2003 ~ 7/24/2013
Our Super Dog Hunter crossed over the Rainbow Bridge on a beautiful summer day in July, just 3 days shy of his 10th Birthday. He gave us everything since he was 8 weeks old. Hunter was a 14 month warrior of OS. We LOVE and MISS him every day.
P.S. - you can start up a Piper blog too!
It allows you to put on updates and photos, and then we can follow your journey.
Read about our Hunter at http://superdog.....pawds.com/
7/27/2003 ~ 7/24/2013
Our Super Dog Hunter crossed over the Rainbow Bridge on a beautiful summer day in July, just 3 days shy of his 10th Birthday. He gave us everything since he was 8 weeks old. Hunter was a 14 month warrior of OS. We LOVE and MISS him every day.
So glad to hear Piper made it through the surgery, wishing you guys a speedy recovery!
Anne and Tango
Glad to hear the surgery went well. It really is strange to come home and not have one of your kiddos to greet you, but Piper will be home very soon! Good luck with recovery!
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/
Thanks guys! I appreciate all the suggestions 🙂 We did start a blog (which I'm going to update after speaking with the vet this morning) It's http://scrappin.....pawds.com/
This is terrifice news!
I'm so glad Piper is doing well! WOOHOO! Way to go Piper! And so happy hubbie is showing his softer side 
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.
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