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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I'm new to tripawds since right after I got the call on Tuesday as the surgery for dislocated hip wasn't enough and the vet asked permission to remove. It was a shock to say the least and 5 minutes after the call, I googled everything I could find about what to expect ... and found this site... it has been such a huge help, so today I registered to be able to chat and read the forums about the recovery period.
Angel is an almost 14-yr old poodle-mix. She is as sweet and has always been every bit the angel. Today is Day Number 4. How long should the gabapentin be given? Vet gave a one-week supply; think it should be longer... yes? She has enough tramadol, antibiotic, and carprofen/Rimadyl for awhile and seems to be comfortable, and has been resting in her ortho. bed today and now and then rolling on her back in her bed today and seems overall pretty happy.
Part of our floor isn't carpeted and is vinyl tile which is slippery. Should I get runners for that part?
I have taken a few days off from work this week to be with Angel and help her, but I worry about next week.... is anyone able to do all of recovery with your dog while working full-time ? Any advice or suggestions?
Hi Nikki and Angel, welcome. Hope you don't mind I moved your post here, it's a good place to share experiences of senior dogs on three legs. My apologies for the brief welcome here, but it was nice talking to you in the Tripawds Chat earlier! I have to run in a minute but first:
Today is Day Number 4. How long should the gabapentin be given? Vet gave a one-week supply; think it should be longer… yes?
Generally most dogs and cats are on pain medication for about 10 days. Odds are he needs a longer prescription. All animals are different in how they cope with the pain but you want to stay ahead of it and keep it from spiraling out of control. I would talk to your vet if Angel is showing any pain indicators like pacing, whining, anxiousness, restlessness.
Part of our floor isn’t carpeted and is vinyl tile which is slippery. Should I get runners for that part?
Yes. Slippery floors are a Tripawd's worst enemy.
is anyone able to do all of recovery with your dog while working full-time ? Any advice or suggestions?
Do you have anyone nearby who can come and check on Angel while you're at work? Odds are he will sleep all day but it would be good to have someone stop by to make sure he's not doing anything he shouldn't.
I hope this helps. Be sure to check out Jerry's Required Reading List and the Tripawds e-books library for more help, and stay tuned for feedback from the community too. I'll be back here soon, sorry for the quick reply.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Awww Angel really does sound like a real Angel. Your love for her domes shining through.
I know it was quite a shock to go from surgery on her hip to a complete amputation. Guess it was just too damaged to be repaired. As you can see from Jerry's post and chat talk, you are definitely in the right place for support an information.
As Jerry indicated, maybe go ahead and ask the Bet for another week or so supply of Gaba. Some dogs need the meds going on three weeks, some far less. It's just good to have on hand.
And yeah, ditto Jerry on having someone check in on Angel while at work if possible.
You'll see from Jerry's "reading" links, rest, rest, short potty breaks and more resr. She is a...er..."mature" gal and needs her rest to help her heal.
I love that ahe already did a little relaxing roll on her back. That does seem like a good indicator that her pain is being managed.
Eating, drinking okay? Pooping may take several days because of rhe meds. Let us know when "that" happens. We love to celebrate 
Let us know as questions arise. Recovery is no picnic fot a couple of weeks. Every dog recovers at their own pace. Give her lots of massages up and down her spine and neck and shoulder areas. It helps keep her muscles relaxed and tension free.
Pictures! We would love pictures! You can try this link for adding images
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!
Hello and welcome again, I was in chat with you yesterday for a few minutes.
You are right- 5 days is not enough pain meds. This is a major surgery and recovery goes much smoother when pain is managed from the start and throughout.
And yes, put some traction
down on those slippery floors! My Pug Maggie, and now my Pug-Mutt Elly, both rear amps, actually could hop on tile without issues as long as they went slow. Mag was 7.5 years old and a lazy Pug so speed wasn't an issue for her 
. Elly has learned not to run on the tile (I live with my elderly father and I can't put as many rugs down as I would like, they are trip hazards for him). I did want to mention that when my Quad-Pug Tani got to be 14 she had issues slipping on any hard surface so it's probably better to give Angel lots of traction
.
I'm sorry again that you had to make the amputation decision so suddenly. Many of us had at least a few days to decide and digest the information.
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Yesterday:
Thank you all for your replies. I will try my best tomorrow to add pictures of Angel. She had a really good day and seemed "normal". She started the day hopping from her ortho bed on the floor to the bedroom door, at which time I carried her outside and into the grassy area (more of weed/grass) and she had a lot of strength hopping several feet to pee and then to and on the patio. I picked her up at the inside patio as it had been a trek and carried her on into the carpeted living room and onto her bed (pulled from the bedroom).
Once inside, fed the 2 cats Pasha and Caesar, medicine for the one cat, cleaned litter boxes.... and then onto the 2 dogs Angel and Gracie. Angel had a (capsule) which split open during the "stick down the throat" process, so had to throw that one out and luckily got the 2nd one down,, yay! No problem with other meds.
Today:
Repeat of yesterday morning, except she peed AND POOPED (again!) She definitely is walking/hopping better... so pleased with her recovery and the support of everyone here! 
I will try later today to get pictures of "our girl" 
on here.
Patty (me) and Angel
Oh wow that is a GREAT pupdate! Sounds like things are falling into place. Normal is good! So she's handling the floors OK? And no more pain signals ?
I hope today is even better. Let us know if you'd like help sharing photos. Can't wait to see them!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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