Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi Everyone my name is Naan, my mom calls me Naany Poo. I lost my left forelimb to synovial cell sarcoma last Tuesday. The day after surgery I was a rockstar doggie, eating, drinking and even walking on 3 legs like it was easy. I became slightly anemic after surgery and my whole body was one big bruise, even though we were ice packing the area. These last few days have been really hard on my mom and I. I don't want to eat, even human food, my mom gives me water with a syringe. I went to the vet Sunday because my mom was really worried about me. We took chest rads, ran blood work , and gave me fluids. We have decided to start tapering off my pain pills and I just finished my antibiotics. I am having phantom pain , but I stated getting laser therapy treatments for that and I don't have them as often, plus my bruising is going away too!
The reason I am writing to tell you this is because I wanted to help put more owners at ease. My mom worries alot! The Tripawds website saved her from totally falling apart. This weekend she sat by my crate and just read story after story about other dogs and their owners. Their stories really helped her to understand just how up and down the recovery period can be. So my mom says thank you a million times over.
As for me, I will keep you posted. I still don't have much of an appetite, but I am drinking more water and actually wagging my tail a little bit. I think I'll be much happier when these annoying staples come out and I can stop wearing these silly tee shirts. I am only on a really low dose of Tramdol right now. I have Gabapetin if I need it, I had some pre surgery and we really think it helped me. Right now I am in my comfy crate ( by choice) taking a snooze and dreaming of the day I will be able to run, play ball and swim again. It has been too long since I could do those things, that's why we did the surgery so I could play again.
Thanks for reading,
Naany Poo
If you don't own a dog, at least one, there is not necessarily anything wrong with you, but there may be something wrong with your life.
- Roger Caras
Naany Poo!
I bet your mom didn't tell you that you get to ride the Tripawd Train now, did she? What's the Tripawd Train, you ask? Well, it goes like this....
TOOT TOOT TOOT and WOOT!
First stop on the Tripawd Train starts with a crummy first stop at Surgeryland. Not a great stop because it is a 2 week icky stop. But after that, it's a great journey! Next stop: Tripawdville. And it's a great place! You get to get extra treats, kisses and hugs! You get so much attention! You get to celebrate milestones with red party hats! And you get to be mean to the monkeydogs! (Monkeydogs -and even monkeycats- are the 4 legged dogs that live with tripawds. They think they are abused since Tripawds get all of the attention. They cry foul and make life hard for tripawds. And they are big cry babies when Tripawds get attention. Waaa, waaa, waaa.
Tripawdville is where your best journey in life starts! It is super duper fantastic!
So there you have it!
Hurry up and get out of Surgeryland and get to Tripawdville!
TOOT TOOT TOOT and WOOT!
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.
naan, welcome!! you have such a neat name, like the bread??? (sorry we love bread here in ET). glad you are finally turning the corner, we were kinda dispondent on the tramadol too, it's a wacky drug.
we haven't heard of laser therapy for phantom pain , but we do laser therapy to boost my immunity and on specific accupuncture points to help protect certain areas of my body that may be susceptible to new cancers.
but anyway, nice to read about you, we are especially liking that you enjoy naps - we definitely promote the use of the medicinal nap as a healing tool!!! paws crossed you continue to feel better every day, your appetite returns and you get back to the fun parts of life!
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
Thank you both for your feedback. Yes we can't wait to get out of post surgeryland and on to some fun..... Naps can cure many things, it is a favorite pastime of mine although lately I don't sleep well, because of worrying:(
Thank you again, what a fantastic support group for anyone who has to go through this:)
Oh yes and her name at first was Nala but morphed into Naan, for our love of the flat bread too!
Good Night and happy dreams to your fur kids too!
Lisa
If you don't own a dog, at least one, there is not necessarily anything wrong with you, but there may be something wrong with your life.
- Roger Caras
We loved cold laser for healing those nerve endings ( we started it the day after surgery) ....works great to resolve ecchymosis too!
I hope you're up and playing again soon!
Cynthia
Naan, welcome to the family. I must say you type quite well already!!!!! Gus had trouble with phantom pain
, we used gabapentin also, it started about day 5 and lasted about 4 weeks, but by that time when he had a spell it was pretty mild. Tell your mom she may want to take advantage of a chance to sleep, usually by the end of that second week she might be walking around like a zombie, but maybe you are being good to her and she gets enough already. Gus wasn't eating very well for a spell also, so we started giving him canned food, something he wasn't getting before, and we got the stuff with gravy, and that seemed to help alot. Recovery for these guys can put you through the mill, watch her for anything that might look suspicious but for the most part time will take care of most of her acting differrent, along with getting off the drugs. Sounds like your having a normal recovery so far, good luck, don't be afraid to ask any questions, experience gives the best answers, Paws up, Spirit Gus and Dan.............Oh yea, and as far as worrying about those stinkin' monkeyidiots, have no fear, the A.M.B.F. ( Anti Monkey-Butt Force ) watches over all tripawds, you automatically get coverage immediately after surgery, no 60 day grace period here. But don't worry, most of the time they're biting their own tails and chasing each other, it's called internal disorganization
My buddy Gus had a left front amputation on April 7, 2010 and lived a great life until July 26,2010
Welcome and thanks for sharing your story Nanny! Sorry you had a rough start, but we're happy to hear you're back on the road to recovery. Make sure mom bookmarks Jerry's Required Reading List if she hasn't already for many of the best recovery tips and car advice. And, don't miss the tips for managing phantom limb pain in dogs available in the Tripawds Downloads blog .
Best wishes for a complete speedy recovery!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Here's a couple of tricks for (hopefully) getting Naan to drink a little more water. You can get a can of tuna and strain out the tuna water in her regular water. Another trick would be to boil or steam some stinky vegetables (broccoli works well) and add the vegetable water to her regular water. Both of these things kind of "stink up" the water, and may make it a little more desirable to her.
So glad to hear Naan is on the road to recovery! Keep us upated!
Naany Poo, you are such a cutie-pie! Tell your mom she is exactly where my mom was, oh, about 3 or 4 weeks ago. Oh, it's a tough time because you can't tell her what's wrong! But it's nice to see how much she loves you, isn't it?
My mom put tuna fish water in my bowl like Max's mom and boy oh boy, did I like that! I lapped up every drop and wanted more. And she just put in like one spoonful! She also put sardines in my food and I never had anything so good in my whole life!
I promise you will feel better soon. Some days you will be better and some days you won't feel like doing much, not to worry. For me, it was between three and four weeks before I was really back to my old self but I had part of my pelvis removed with my leg so it took a little longer than two weeks. And I still enjoy a lot of medicinal naps.
I think your mom will sleep better now that she is posting on Tripawds because my mom said everyone here is the best!
Tate
http://tate.tripawds.com/
August 16, 2006 to November 28, 2011
TATE ~ Forever in our hearts.
Welcome Naan!!! I LOVE Naan. My Mom loves Indian food but tells me it's too spicy for me, so she'll only share the flat bread!
So hoppy to hear that you have come through surgery well and that you are on the road to recovery!
You'll make it 🙂
And Naan, close your ears for a minute, Naany Poo's Mom, .....don't let her see you worrying so much. She'll read your emotions and she'll get worried too. If you are strong and confident for her, she will be too!
Keeps us updated and we LOVE pictures and video's whenever possible
Take care Naan and Mom.
Maddie Mae's left rear leg: amutated 3-17-2011 ( Injury not cancer)
Follow her adventures......http://kellyr20.....pawds.com/
Thank you for the ideas on making her water more appealing. I will try those today:) I actually took her into the vet yesterday to give her fluids, which is great because she is feeling much better. She actually ate a little last night too. I guess those meds getting out of her system is bringing back her appetite. I also ran some more bloodwork because she became anemic afteer her surgery and we wanted to make sure everything was on the up and up. Thankfully she is reproducing new RBC and her platets are again up to a normal level.
With all of that, my mind is much more at ease. I didn't think this would be a cake walk it just hurts to see them not feeling well.
We get her staples removed next Tuesday.
I will hopefully upload a video and some pics soon.
Thank you all for your replies, Naan & I are so grateful to have this forum to get us through.
So I will be stronger for her and I will stink up her water & food! Check , Check:::)
Take Care Everyone,
Lisa & Naan
If you don't own a dog, at least one, there is not necessarily anything wrong with you, but there may be something wrong with your life.
- Roger Caras
Oh by the way I had to mention that I might be biased, but all of you who have posted back to us so far have some of the cutest dogs I have ever seen!! Do you think that tripawds are extra good looking or what!!
Sooooo Cute!
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If you don't own a dog, at least one, there is not necessarily anything wrong with you, but there may be something wrong with your life.
- Roger Caras
Naan and Lisa,
I'm glad your surgery went well and that you're feeling better! The first 2 weeks sure have their ups and downs! I don't think I felt really good about Sadie's recovery until her staples were removed. That made a really big difference. She was awesome the first day home too and I think maybe she over did it a little. Good luck with everything and be sure to keep us posted!
Lisa
Sadie is my 9yr old Rott/Shepherd mix. Diagnosed with osteosarcoma in her right scapula 1/28/10. Our brave girl had her amputation 2/13/10 and her last chemotherapy on 6/6/10. Unfortunately, a tumor appeared in her back right leg and on 10/7/2010 Sadie's earthly journey came to an end. On 10/24/2010 we adopted Ranger, a handsome Rott/Lab mix tripawd (got hit by a car) I think Sadie sent him to us.
http://ranger.t.....pawds.com/
Whew! Glad to hear you're doing better Naan! Sometimes those trips to the vet can be a good thing. Keep it up so we can pawty and celebrate your membership to the Tripawd Club! Wooo hooo! Tripawds Rule!!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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