Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi Everyone.. thank you for your messages. Your right - this is exhausting. (Plus battling off I think a flu bug ??) so had no time to really go online. Zaria is a handful these days - with walking every 2 hours with the sling and taking her to vet and back. Today we are having storms, and black ice, and the ramp fell while she was on it.... causing me to slip on the ice, her to fall from the truck.. uuuugh... BUT the good news is................... she is a bit stronger. It is amazing. She is not walking on her own or anything dramatic like that.. but she did however scoot to the door and on another occsaion scooted to her water dish. Rest of the time she is immobile unless we have her in her sling. I'm going to find pleasure in those few scoots and consider her "on the mend". Doctor drained again yesterday as the amputation is filling back up with the fluid and not being absorbed. Another vet looked at it and recommended we leave it for another 4 weeks and see if nature takes it's course. As of today she is first day off the pain meds. Sleeping soundly ........ but I have to wake her as we need to walk again ..........
Thanks everyone for your support
Melanie & Zaria
Melanie - sending you virtual hugs ((((( ))))))
I hope YOU are ok from the slip on the ice ! Stupid black ice ... stupid snow and storms ! It is SO time for spring.
Zaria sleeping soundly ... scooting around ... I would take pleasure in those little things, too.
Hang in there ! I am very much looking forward to reading your post, in the not too distant future, that says Zaria is starting to hop on her own - and you all getting some sleep. It will come.
Be sure to take care of yourself, too.
Sophie (1998 – 2010)
"Going Dog" def: living every day in the moment
"It came to me that every time I lose a dog they take a piece of my heart with them. And every new dog who comes into my life gifts me with a piece of their heart. If I live long enough, all the components of my heart will be dog, and I will become as generous and loving as they are."
–Unknown
Little scoots are good - you have to start somewhere. She's a slow bloomer, but she will get there. Sorry you're battling the bug, hope you are feeling better really soon.
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.
Fantastic news about the baby steps/scoots. As long as she looks like she's not in pain and able to comfortably rest this sounds like progress for sure.
Take good care of yourself too. Sounds like some couch-snuggling time is in order.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
We are doing the happy dance for your little scoots. Hope you are feeling better.
Daisy earned her wings on Oct 22, 2011 at 14 years old
She is now the official greeter at the rainbow bridge
Everyone is guaranteed a welcome sniff and Dalmatian smile
daisy2010 said:
We are doing the happy dance ...
Us Too! 
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thanks everyone .. I feel so nice after reading your all words........
Zaria had a good day. She got up 2 x on her own .. no scooting, but at least is up and trying to at least sit up and let us know when she needs to go outside or tired of just staring at the same 4 walls.
Poor girl, but she is being cuddled all day and all night. Even going to the vets (rehab) this morning was easier.. she knew she had to go and didn't put up to much resistance getting into and out of the truck.
Thanks everyone - I really appreciate your words.
TTY Tomorrow and hope again we have news that she has taken a step. (or a hop) 🙂
Melanie
Every little bit is progress!
Hang in there Melanie, you are doing a great job, soon you will be rewarded with a hop 
.
Karen and the pugapalooza
Progress is a good thing indeed, even baby steps. Thanks for the update.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi Everyone..
Jeeesh .. this is hard
1 step (yah right... ) forward, 12 back ?
She's not walking, not scooting, not hopping, nothing .. nothing .. nothing. the other leg is bent to the side, no pressure on it at all.
Vet is working the rehab, between the team of the vet, the handlers, and all of my family she walks every 2 - 3 hours. The past 2 days have shown a significant decrease in mobility and muscle strength.
I'm soooooooooooooooooooooo angry at myself for allowing this second operation on the other leg to happen so quick... I just can't believe what has happened here. I feel like she is in a nightmare that we all can't escape from.
We "walk" - 2 of us, with the sling and the leash and 2 holding her up to the end of a 10 foot driveway.. she stares down the street at the park she knows is there, and then lays down....
I hope tomorrow is better.
We are going to take her on a road trip this weekend to a new place to walk.. maybe a park or a trail.. something to "motivate" her to get up and on that leg..
I'm running out of ideas.
(But not energy for her)
Thanks everyone for allowing the opportunity to vent.
Melanie and Zaria
Melanie,
We have you in our thoughts. I cant remember..are you still working just with your vet or a licensed Physical Therapist?
Please take a look at my Phy Therapists home website and view Lenas story....http://www.thera-vet.com/ if you want some inspiration.
Do you have a canine rehab center close by? Did your vet mention using a water treadmill, pulse infared laser, shockwave therapy or massage?
The water treadmill worked wonders for Daisy- the water takes the weight of of their legs and lets the muscles work without straining them.
A new walk location also worked well for us. We have a playground about a half mile from us and Daisy would always be more active there than just around the house. The only problem was when winter set in we couldnt go to the park because they did not plow the park road.
Keep us posted.
Daisy earned her wings on Oct 22, 2011 at 14 years old
She is now the official greeter at the rainbow bridge
Everyone is guaranteed a welcome sniff and Dalmatian smile
It truly breaks my heart that you are struggling, and trying so hard, and feeling defeated. You made the best decision you could make at the time based on the information you had. You could not possibly have anticipated this outcome, so don't beat yourself up.
Is it possible that it will just take time to see the effects of the therapy? Working that leg may just wear her out for the rest of the day. Trouble is having issues with the back leg on her amputation side, and if she overextends herself in her activities, she suffers the rest of the day not being able to get around.
I think about Zaria often and send good thoughts your way, and believe me, I'm not the only one. There are lots of truly caring people here who not only celebrate the good times, but are right here for the not so good as well. I so wish there were something I could say or do to help you feel better.
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.
You are - for sure - having a very difficult and frustrating time - I'm so sorry.
'Hugapitbull' above has quoted one of my standby sayings ... "you made the best decision you could make with the information you had available at the time" ... and I add ... and you did it out of love for your dog. Therefore - it was the best decision for you and your dog at that time. You cannot go back - and you cannot blame yourself for an outcome that was not what you anticipated. With every surgery there are risks - and we all go into the surgery with the full expectation that the benefits will outweigh the risks. You are a person who obviously loves your dog with all your heart - and you wanted to do everything you could do to help her. How can that have been a bad decision? Please don't beat yourself up. It won't help anything. There is no blame to be placed here. There is only healing.
Does Zaria have any dog friends that she likes to play with? Has she been able to get together with them? Maybe a road trip with a friend might lift her spirits.
The water treadmill Daisy's mom mentioned is a great idea - a friend of mine did that with her Tripawd and it significantly improved her situation.
What about acupuncture? (Fortis did acupuncture and chiropractor treatments - maybe that would be something to look into?) Check into Fortis' blog here on Tripawds - sorry I don't know how to put up a link.
Massage?
We are all thinking of you, Melanie - and of Zaria - and your family. Come On Zaria !! You can do this !!
Sophie (1998 – 2010)
"Going Dog" def: living every day in the moment
"It came to me that every time I lose a dog they take a piece of my heart with them. And every new dog who comes into my life gifts me with a piece of their heart. If I live long enough, all the components of my heart will be dog, and I will become as generous and loving as they are."
–Unknown
we know you are doing everything you can, but wanted to second the idea of acupuncture. it is amazing how it helps gayle with her 'spinal twist' from hoping (front right leg amp) and helps support immunity, etc. i have a list of acupuncturists - where do you live maybe there's one near you you could try?? sending our best thoughts and 'juju' your way.
charon & gayle
Life is good, so very, very good!!! Gayle enjoyed each and every moment of each and every wonderful day (naps included). She left this world December 12, 2011 – off on a new adventure.
Love Never Ends
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