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 again, we’re at 4 weeks post-op now and Starla has been exceeding my expectations at every stage!
And the best news yet, her biopsy results finally came back today and she does NOT have cancer! Hooray!
She started going on slightly longer walks a few days before she hit 2 weeks post-op sutures out mark. She has now worked up to almost 2 mile loops from our house to the beach with a break when we first get to the water, yes we are extremely lucky to live that close. She doesn’t seem to struggle at all in the sand. In fact, I got her a longer retractable leash so she could charge up the sand dunes faster without having to wait for me because I was clearly slowing her down lol
i give her daily massages and now am starting to think about longer term ways to keep her good leg healthy since we’re so thankfully looking at more years of life ahead now that we don’t have to worry about cancer
she does NOT have cancer! Hooray!
CONGRATULATIONS!! What absolutely fantastic news! I'm so incredibly happy for you and Starla! It's so great to hear how well she is adapting and what a great problem to have to worry about the remaining limb for a good looooooongggg time!
Online
YAY! What fantastic news, that is the best biopsy result EVER! 
What an awesome surprise.
Sounds like she is doing really, really well. Lucky girl to get in all those beach adventures. You'll have to share some pics OK?
I know what you mean about pulling you up and over the dunes. Jerry used to do that on Samoa Beach! He was a powerhouse running around on the shoreline. Tripawds just FLY!
I hope she has many many hoppy years and good times ahead!
I’ve yet to figure out how to add Pictures but I’m thinking of starting a blog. Next week will be 2 months post-op for Starla and she continues to do great on 3 legs!
The retractable leash has been great for her, we now use it for most of our walks unless we’re near the roads or on busy trails. She loves to venture out into the field ant the park and then jog back to me, I feel it’s been great for building her strength without letting her run full out which tends to cause her pain still.
I made a positive realization last night. She doesn’t pant anymore, not the way she used to at least. Ever since I adopted her last August she would almost always be panting. Even after she was comfortable with her new home, it wasn’t hot, and she hadn’t been active she would just constantly pant. I came across a website at one point that said panting without obvious signs of stress or exertion could be a pain response. I’ve had dogs all my life and had never known that! Once she recovered from the surgery, I hardly ever see her pant except when on or just after a longer walk/hike. I’m hoping that means she’s no longer in pain like she used to be!
luciebird said
I’ve yet to figure out how to add Pictures but I’m thinking of starting a blog...
When you start a blog you can upload photos to your media library and share them there or follow these simple instructions for adding photos to forum posts .
A little late to the celebration, but YAAAAAY. FOR STARLA!!! Cancer free, pain free.....wonderful news!! And HAPPY TWO MONTH AMPUVERSARY👏👏👏
Love how you ise the retractable leash in sich a way that's good for both of you.
I'll PM you my email address and yoi can send me a couple of pictures that I will be happy to post for you.
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!
Drum roll please!🥁 Introducing the beautiful , and I do mean BEAUTIFUL, STARLA!!! And look at the Happy smile on her face.
I do believe she is posing for the camera to show the world how Happy and tripawd can be. She's looking good....strong and fit👍
Okay, I'll admit, I tried to get a little artsy crafty doing a "collage". Couldn't decide which I like best, so posted both. Besides, can never have enough photos of thos beauty!
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!
Aww great job with the collage! What a happy girl living her best life! Lovely scenery too.
Thanks for posting the photos for me. Love the collages! 
We have discovered one of her greatest challenges so far...she can't scratch her ear! She sits and leans way over like she used to do when she would scratch behind her left ear but obviously she can't do it. I'm happy to scratch her ear for her when she does this but it makes me a bit sad for her when I think about her ear itching while I'm not around.
I've been wondering if it's typical for amputees to stay on pain meds? she's still on the pain meds that she started before her surgery. It does seem like the meds help her so I'm not stressing about it or in a rush to change it up on her, but I've been wondering if I should try to wean her off of them at some point. Just wanting to gather info on what is typical for amputees. I'm going to ask her vet about it, I know he said when she started them that there was no health risk for her staying on them long term.
No worries about the ear scratching. If you aren't there, they will rub their ear/side of their face on a pillow, on their bed, on their rug.....they figure it out. In the meantime (or in addition), yes, do give them good scratches several times a day all over where it's hard for them to reach.
As far as the pain meds, if she seems to be doing well (which she does), you could see if tapering them down makes any difference in her comfort level. Obviously if she starts to show pain signals you can put her back on. Of course, check with the Vet before making any changes. Some dogs do stay on a "low "maintenance ". It really just depends on the individual dog.
Glad you liked my "creative college" attempt! Looking forward to posting more pictures of her pretty self.👍
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!
Oh the ear scratch thing! Yep, it's an issue for rear-leg amputee dogs. But you know what? They figure it out. Of course we can be there for them to scratch that itch, but a dog who's got an itch will find something to rub up against when their human isn't around. In all 12 years we had Wyatt, he never seemed sad or upset about it (at least that we could tell when we saw him try to itch ... and jumped up every time to help him out!).
When it comes to pain meds all dogs are a bit different. You can try cutting back with your vet's guidance, and just seeing what happens. We've been told by quite a few vets that most Tripawds benefit from an indefinite course of non-steroidals, as long as their labs come back OK. Their bodies are under constant stress from the altered gait, which results in inflammation. And the NSAIDs help keep it under control. Our Wyatt was on one most of his life. See what your vet says.
I call it the air scratch. My first rear amp Tri was a little Pug named Maggie. For the first couple months after her amp she would sit, stick out her chin and her little hip would gyrate away! Like you said- it was sad...but funny at the same time. Mag stopped doing the air scratch and never asked for scratches- she would rub her ear or chin on the nearest thing...furniture, her bed, her sister.
My current rear amp Elly does what I call the half moon. While standing she extends her head back toward her hip and the muscles left back there move. She still does it almost 8 years after her amp (car accident) and does ask for scratches. She also rubs her ear with her front paw when she is laying down.
One thing I did notice- her right ear (missing right rear) is routinely dirtier. I clean ears every few weeks unless she is doing a bunch of head shaking. Than means there is some hair stuck in her ear she can't get out on her own.
Elly isn't on pain meds or NASAIDs routinely, but she is on a muscle supplement called Myos. Our rehab vet recommended it last fall after Elly injured her remaining hip. I had a quad Pug who had mobility issues related to a brain injury as well as severe arthritis. She was on NSAIDs and pain meds for the last several years of her life without issue. We did do labs (on a schedule I don't remember) to make sure there were no issues.
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls and Boy
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
It's been quite awhile since I've posted here but wanted to stop in to say it's been 6 months since Starla's amputation and she is doing great!
She's had quite a few adventures this summer: gone camping, tried paddle boarding, hung out at the river, quite a few hikes, and so many walks on the beach. We've stuck to mostly flat trails as I've been worried about how she would handle steeper trails, but today we tried an intermediately steep trail and she did spectacular! This opens up a whole new range of local trails we can explore and I'm so excited. Every step of the way I have been absolutely amazed at how well she is recovering. Enjoy a few pics, the top two are from today!
Love all the pictures! It's great to see Starla is doing well and having lots of fun adventures.
HAPPY SIX MONTH AMPUTATION STARLA!!!
This is what it looks like when a dog is living and loving his life on three!!! So thrilled for Starla....and for his hoomans too!! You have really mastered the art of living in the moment and making every moment count!
The pictures are a perfect depiction of a very Happy dog thriving....absolutely thriving...on three and not missing a bear. The one of her resting in her tent peeking out for the camera is so cute.
You and Starla are an inspiration to us all. She really is a Tripawd RockStar.
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!
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