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 would have thought the same thing about the meds. I don’t blame you for thinking the same way.
I’d say that behavior is normal as well. The meds and chemo is making her tired plus you’re still on the immediate recovery phase from a major surgery. She’s still adjusting. It took Kota a while to want to get up on the couch again. Sometimes I feel like he didn’t want to just because it’s more difficult to get down. He still doesn’t want to get up on the chair anymore much because it’s difficult to hop up on and he hasn’t mastered it yet, so there’s a reluctance there. Kota still lays down pretty much everywhere because he doesn’t like standing for long. Or he’s lazy. But probably a mixture of both.
Some of it may be her tying to figure out how to make small adjustments while sitting/laying down. She will master that in time. It’ll get better in about a week or so, so just hang in there. It all gets better in time and you’ll see a significant increase when her pain is totally gone and you’re weening off the meds. Hoping she’s feeling better today!
Geez....sepsis! Yikes!! Sooooo glad she is home and feeling better!!
Agree with Jerry....whatever she'll eat right now os the eight approach. Also ditto about a "soft" bed or soft couch cushions. The firmer the better as a front one legger may tend for her leg to "slide" down if too squishy. As Jerry said, she is still expending a lot of energy adjusting. As her core muscles strengthen ot will be easier for her to get in a sitting position.
Hope thos tips help. And again, so glad she is home!!!
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!
As always, than you for all of your responses.
Yes, i really tried to get Ophelia is use her bed that she normally sleeps in during this recovery phase. It’s a Big Barker Bed so very firm. It’s a Pavlovian thing i believe. The Big Barker Bed is where she slept UPSTAIRS by my bed. Downstairs she has always been up on the couch in another dog bed (way too small for her lol) next to me.
I moved her dog her downstairs the day before the amputation on preparation for her recovery. But she insists on getting on the couch like normal.
Anyway, i think that the board under the cushions is a good idea. I will try that.
She is feeling better, but still fighting that infection i think. She gave me a scare in the middle of the night because she was panting super hard but was refusing water. I took her temperature and it was 102.7. So slightly above normal range but not in the worrisome 103+ range. I’ve been taking her temp every couple of hours or so just to be safe. This morning it was down to 101.7 so perfectly normal. I’m sure that the antibiotics are working.
thanks again everyone!
Phew, glad her temperature is getting back to normal. Hopefully it's onward and upward from here on.
I always say it's such a good sign when a dog in "recovery" refuses to be separated from "their" couch. Thus Ophelia and her couch...and her bed.....yeah, all good signs.
I am such a HIUGE fan of The Big Barker Bed . I got my first one for Happy Hannah ten years ago. It has not sagged or lost it's firmness one bit. I slept on it next to her(halfway on anyway) and it is so comfy. Still have it and have a second one now too. I do add a pillow or two as one of my dogs likes to "make a nest)
One more quick story. A member here cut off the legs to her sofa so her tripawd Bulldog could still get up on the sofa😎
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!
I’m embarrassed to say that i now have four of the Big Barkers. I had only one that she always used and it was next to my bed. The only problem with it is that it was slightly too small. I had ordered the size below the largest that they have.
When i began to prepare for her amputation, i got one for the car, a giant one for my main floor, and one for my ex-wife’s house. And she won’t use any of them right now. 🤦🏻♂️
Thats a great story. I would totally do that for Ophelia but she doesn’t have any issues getting up on the couch. Some getting off because she hasn’t figured out how to manage it with just one front leg.
Hahaha....with four Big Barker Beds you should get a complimentary one for free!
I mentioned I had two. I forgot about the smaller one I have next to my bed. My frontlegger Frankie uses it to climb up on the bed. When he jumps off, I have him use that as a "landing pad" to cushion the strees on his front leg. Maybe that typef arrangement could help Ophelia get down safely. I would prefer that he let me help him down, but he does not like me to help in in anyway. Yes, he has me trained to do things his way😉👍
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!
Ophelia has me trained as well. I have to keep my house at 62 degrees at all time otherwise it’s too hot for her. Lol. That’s not a new thing either.
That is potentially a good idea to use the bed as a landing spot. So far she hasn’t needed it though. She rarely gets on the bed … even prior to amputation.
Today was a good day. Ophelia was feeling MUCH better. I’ll let the following videos speak for themselves. You will have to excuse the baby talk. 🙂
Oops.....says video is privste 😥
I'll check back. Can't wait to see that sweet girl
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!
I had the wrong settings on it. I just changed it to public. Please confirm that they can be seen.
YES AND YAY!!!! Michael this made my morning. No apologies necessary for the baby talk, we ALL do it, guaranteed!
She looks very, very strong and happy. What fun seeing her getting up on the couch (no problemo!), and moving around to enjoy the beautiful day. I'm guessing she won't need that rear end harness very much longer.
These videos are priceless, and so helpful for others to see. Thanks for taking time to upload them so others can be equally inspired.
Hope you have a lovely day together!
Thank you. Yes, it is very encouraging. She is doing really well. Still falls occasionally, but she is learning. She also tires really quickly but I’m hoping that her stamina improves over time.
I do hope that the videos can help someone through their ordeal. I know that seeing videos of large dogs doing this really helped me.
LOOOOOOVING. OPHELIA!!!♥️. Best videos evvvvver!!!
That big dog bark is priceless. She definitely vocalized the "woof, woof" perfectly! I'm sure any Squirrels within earshot ran up the nearest tee.
The way she so effortlessly stepped up on the couch is uet another advantage of being a big dog.
You have such a wonderful pawsitive energy. I love the way you praise her and encourage her, And from the way she looks at your so adoringly, she clearly likes listening to you compliment her and tell her what a good girl she is.😎
Thank you so mich for posting these. Yes, they . provide a lot pf inspawration for new members with big dogs.....and they provide a lot of warm fuzzies and smiles just seeing sweet Ophelia be her beautiful 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!
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