Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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On Sunday I drove 5 hours to adopt a dog named Barley. I was suspicious about the story of how he lost his leg, because his foster mom sent rapid fire emails with strange, run on sentences, sometimes not answering questions, sometimes ending the emails mid sentence, no sign off.
She said she thought he had his foot stuck in a chain and chewed it off but was picked up by local SPCA authorities so she didn't really know. I contacted SPCAs in the three surrounding counties and no animal control officer had ever logged a dog with a missing paw in this time frame. One investigator said he would definitely remember because he is particularly fond of Mastiffs.
Foster mom said he does great on steps, gets around great, she gives him cattle heartworm medicine because it's cheaper. (?)
What I found: First, after the long drive, the foster mom suddenly didnt want to meet. She said she had plans to go to the lake because I hadn't confirmed. [I told her on Wed I was coming on Sat].
She finally agreed. The dog hobbled in, definitely straining. COVERED in ticks. Emaciated. Flea infested. Matted in some kind of feces. Been sleeping in a barn. [She said she gave him a bath -- NO WAY]. She said she couldn't find his Rabies documents OR his amputation surgical papers. What? How do you have a dog up for a adoption and not have his RABIES tag ready?
I had second thoughts about this dog. I would not have driven 5 hours to adopt a dog in this condition. But how could I turn around and send him home with this person? Who do you call to rescue a dog from a rescue?
I ponied up the money, and dealt with the smell and worried if he would survive the way home.
Pulled at least 25 ticks off.
He can't or won't leave the kitchen floor, except when I assist him down the stairs to pee. He has not pooped yet. He would not accept kibble, so I made a pot of chicken and rice. He took about a cup and half of that, but could not stand up for it. However, after eating, his tail wagged.
I am 110 pounds. He is probably 80. [We're talking an adult male Mastiff]. Supporting him up and down stairs is breaking my back. I don't know if he will live, but I'm not ready to give up on him yet. Not after the tail wag.
Please adivse: I need help on getting him to stand, move, poop, get up and down stairs. How much should he be allowed to sleep?
I need advice on the best drool wipes, as it looks like strings of angel hair pasta hanging off his mouth,
AND when he eats and drinks his dewlaps fall into the water and food. I mean the folds of skin up to his throat just gather and fall into the bowl. I have to dry him clean each time, which is fine...but what is best? Baby wipes? The Mastiff handbook says you need to keep the folds clean or they get acne and yeast infections.
I need advice on how much time to give him to be successful at stairs before I consider moving to a first floor apt.
Please help. Thank you.
P.S. He is 3-4 years old and his amputation was in December. 
You have saved his life, poor boy. I am so glad you did not give up on him; you worked so hard to get him, and thank God you did. You need to report that foster parent to animal welfare; she cannot be allowed to take in another dog. I'm guessing his inability to navigate the stairs has nothing to do with his amputation. The poor thing is half starved (literally) and I bet he just plain doesn't have the energy to do the stairs. We have stairs and our healthy, fit amputee could do them from day one (not that we encouraged it). Once he puts on weight and gets his strength back; he'll be able to do the stairs no problem.
If you haven't already, make sure he goes in to the vet ASAP-- among other things, I'm betting he's heartworm positive (I think you are in the South). The vet can also advise you on what and how much to feed him.
I'd let him sleep all he wants, but I'm not a vet.
No idea on the drooling; I am a golden girl, but the mastiff folks will chime in.
Please continue to keep us updated.
Scout: January 31, 2002 to November 7, 2011
Scout's diagnosis was "poorly differentiated sarcoma"; amputation 1/11/2011. Scout enjoyed 9 fantastic years on 4 legs and 9 glorious months on 3 legs. If love alone could have saved you…
Thank you Scout. I am really hoping you are right. I just lifted him in the tub [front end first then back end] for his third bath because his smell is so awful I wondered if he might have an infection somewhere. He either is too weak to put up a fight about the bath or doesn't mind them. Maybe it even feels good to be massaged in lukewarm water.
I don't know how to post pics because I'm not on a pic hosting site where I can direct a link.
During the bath I found something curious - what I first thought was some bright blue magic marker from my seven year old appears to be a tatoo. The ink has spread under the skin, so it is one line and around that it pools away. It definitely does not scrub off.
He does have a vet appt, two actually. One tomorrow because I got a voucher for a free visit when I adopted him from PetSmart's premises...[and YES, I will tell them what the heck kind of 'rescue' they are sponsoring] and he has another appt with an ortho vet on Thursday.
Question: Ivan [I renamed him because yes, I do live in the south and Hurricane Ivan was one of our biggest storms here...and this poor dog looks as though he has been through a storm. He also did not respond AT ALL to Barley, I thought at first he was deaf because he didn't even turn his head to Barley]. Anyhow, Ivan's amputation seems to have the entire shoulder removed. It is simply sheer while his opposite side has the scapula of course and it is so developed it almost looks grotesque. But on the amputation side there is no remainder of shoulder joint at all. Is this typical of front leg amputations? Especially since he had the surgery done for a paw injury?
How awful! Thanks goodness you took him in - he surely would have died there in miserable conditions otherwise. I agree that he probably just doesn't have the energy to do stairs - besides being half the size he should be, if he does have heartworms, that would hurt his stamina...it's also not unlikely that he is anemic from being covered in fleas and ticks, which would make him even more lethargic.
I would also let him sleep as much as he wants unless a vet tells you otherwise. It's going to take a lot of rest to get his strength up and based on the conditions he was living in, he may never have had a peaceful, comfortable sleep in his life.
Definitely get him to the vet ASAP. In terms of food, be really careful...when they have been starved like that, if they eat too much too quickly, their bodies can essentially go into shock and it can be life-threatening (it's good that you've already made it through a couple of days, I would think). Your vet will be able to help you create a plan to increase his weight in a healthy way.
Good luck, and definitely continue to update us!
Yes, it is pretty typical for front amps to have the entire leg and shoulder removed. Leaving part of the leg doesn't really benefit them and actually leaves them prone to injury from bumping it, etc. Also, removing it all is actually easier on the dog b/c they only cut muscle/tissue and not bone which is more painful.
I am sick to my stomach reading about his condition. I volunteered with a rescue in NC for years prior to moving to PA and it appalls me that an organization to help dogs would allow the conditions you described. One suggestion, pictures/video would be very helpful to submit to the proper authorities if you decide to report this lady. It will make them take you much more seriously. Unfortunately, our world contains spiteful people who will make false accusations (neighbors who don't like barking next door, etc.) and visual proof would be very helpful.
Best, best, best of luck to you and Ivan.
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/
Thank you EVERYONE for the information and support. It gives me some hope.
As for his condition, I have a witness...on the way home I stopped at a friend's house and he helped me give the first bath, when the water ran like the colour of mud off of Ivan. I am going to see if I can dig up my old blog and post some photos there.
Thank you again...Best hopes for your tris!
I am just so appalled. What is wrong with people that this could be allowed to happen? Sometimes the cruelty and apathy of fellow humans makes me ashamed to be one.
You are a wonderful person for not turning your back on him and saving him from that horrible place. He clearly needs lots of love, good food and medical attention. We are here for you. I really want to see this poor boy live a happy and healthy life after this. He so deserves it. Please keep us informed and as you know there is a wealth of experience on this site for you to tap into. It also sounds like you need to get some good first hand advice from the vet to develop a good medical and nutrition plan to get Ivan back to full health.
You might want to look into a harness to help you move Ivan about while he is recovering his strength (and you may need it later down the track). Magnum was 35kg (I think that's about 70 pound?) and I wish I had gotten her a harness much earlier. It enabled me to get her in and out of the car without breaking my back. I'd imagine it would also make it much easier to get him up and down the stairs.
Good luck and keep us posted.
Karen and Spirit Magnum
P.S. I'm so angry at the moment. That woman should never be allowed to have another animal in her care ever again.
Magnum: 30th May 2002 to 5th May 2012. Lost her back left leg to osteosarcoma on 5th Sep 2011. Lung mets found on 20th Mar 2012 but it was bone mets in the hip that ended her brave battle. Magnum's motto - "Dream as if you'll live for ever, live as if you'll die today" (James Dean). Loyal, loving, courageous and spirited to the end. My beloved heart dog, see her memoirs from Rainbow Bridge ...... http://princess.....pawds.com/
Agree with Zeus-- they almost always remove the entire leg and shoulder-- even for a damaged paw-- totally normal. The other side becomes one enormous muscle-- Scouts right arm/shoulder area was insanely muscular-- it takes a pounding as they hop about.
Scout: January 31, 2002 to November 7, 2011
Scout's diagnosis was "poorly differentiated sarcoma"; amputation 1/11/2011. Scout enjoyed 9 fantastic years on 4 legs and 9 glorious months on 3 legs. If love alone could have saved you…
http://triumpho......com/?p=13
The next set are graphic photos of his paw injury....I'll leave it up to you to decide if you want to click on them in the blog.
For a temporary sling a re-usable shopping bag slit down the sides works well- the handles are built in. You can line it with a towel or small blanket for cushioning. At least that way you can stand up and help him and take some strain off your back.
I can't even think of the right words for the foster... appalling is the best word I guess. You are wonderful for not turning your back on him. No matter what happens he will learn what a home is supposed to be like.
He might not have pooped yet because he has nothing to poop out. I agree to get vet advice on feeding him, build him up slowly.
Keep us posted on his progress.
Karen and the pugapalooza
OMD. Just read all this and looked at the pics. That poor sweet beautiful boy! Thank you for not leaving him with that hideous person. She would have killed him from her neglect.
Agree w/ the advice from the others re: letting him sleep/lack of energy and lack of poop being caused by his emaciated state. My bro has a very similar looking mastiff - well, similar coat. Leo weighs about 130#s. He's 130 lbs of teddy bear. I hope you can get Ivan back to being a healthy boy! Let us know what the vet says.
As for the drool, my bro keeps a rag tucked in Leo's collar. We all just kinda use it as needed when he cruises by, trailing his big long strings of drool, then tuck it back in. 🙂
Keep us posted and hang in there!! He must be SO happy to be finally receiving some TLC.
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!
This just makes me sick. Thank you for getting him from that hell hole. He would have died.
When you take him to the vet maybe the vet can make a report to the animal welfare? I don't how that works but it's worth a try.
All our paws are crossed that he makes a full recovery!
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.
oh my!!!! that is heartbreaking! Do you know the name of the rescue he was supposed to be with? I am in the metro Atlanta area and looking for a rescue and would like to be on the lookout for them! Definitely forward those pictures to the petsmart where you picked him up, and probably the humanes society there too. I definitely am suspicious if she told you that he was picked up by the ASPCA. I have lived in GA all of my life. I grew up just south of Newnan and my mom worked in Newnan (for Coweta Co schools) for years. I have never heard of ASPCA here, it is always "the humanes society".
I'm so glad that you didn't leave him there. I hope the vet can help you get him to healthy.
My Spencer had a front leg amputation and they did take the scapula. Part of the reason was the size and location of his tumor; but they did also tell me that it would be easier on him.
Jac and Angel Spencer. Spencer was 5.25 years old. He fought a grade 3 fibrosarcoma, started on his shoulder. Left front leg amputated in August 2011. 15 weeks of chemo finished 12/22/11 (mytox and adria). Lung mets found on x-rays 12/28/11. Started carboplatin 1/6/12. Went to Heaven on 2/27/12. I miss him like crazy every day. See his blog here: http://spencer.tripawds.com/
Bloody hell some people need to be shot what a f*&#$% b*&$#. Ok rant over!
What a beautiful boy under all that neglect, you are an angel!!! Kaylas whole leg was taken off too (she shattered her elbow) as it is better and easier for the dog supposedly.
The shopping bag trick is probably the best way to help him get around. Please keep us updated on this brave boy. Good luck with the vet and hopefully they have heaps of awesome advice on how to help Ivan get healthly
Best of luck
Sarah
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