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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Ditto Linda. It's a bit of CYA too. It's something that most all surgeons will say in some form or another. For this not to have been discussed with you before is what I find "odd", more so than the actual statement itself. You've made it clear here that you are well aware of her "age". Maybe he just felt the need to make that statement as a way of saying he had no "control" over that?? Who knows!
Unfortunately, there are no guarantees with this piece of crap disease. There are "statistics" and "prognosis", but EVERY dog is sifferent. EVERY situation is different!
As hard as it is, try and remember your main purpose for doing her amputation right now is to relieve her pain. Dogs don't count days in a calendar. All they care about is being by your side continuing to get all your loving and spoiling and treats and tummy rubs. Every day on this journey is a bonus day!
Please update when you can. Remember, while youre worrying, Belle is high as a kite and having fun seeing pink elephants!
Love and 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!
Right, he had to make sure that you agree that he is removing the leg & a lymph node (to check to see if it has spread). But has to be clear that you understand there is still a chance that it's already spread, that there are no guarantees. That way if Bell passes sooner than what he said she might, you can't blame him. It's hard, it's cancer and none of us know just how much time we have. We all hope to grab that brass ring and get the extra time. Hopefully you will!
Donna
Donna, Glenn & Murphy
Murphy had his right front leg amputated due to histiocytic sarcoma at 7 years old. He survived 4 years, 2 months & 1 week, only to be taken by hemangiosarcoma at 11 1/2 years 6/12/17
Read about Murphy's Life on Three Legs
Belle made it through surgery successfully. However, they are telling me that she has a a slight fever of 104 and her heart rate is 160, but they say it should be 100. Her blood pressure is fine though. Has anyone else experienced this after amputation?
Guessing that both of those things have happened before as a result of just coming out of surgery. Perhaps others can chime in with more specifics.
She's at a 24'hr clinic, right? She's in good hands and I'm sure they're monitoring her closely and doing fluids or whatever to help get thngs under control. And remeber, while you're anxious and stressed, she's still seeing pink elephants a d nkt worrying about a thing!
All paws crossed for a smooth recovery for your sweet Belle!
((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((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!
Good morning. Our surgeon is supposed to call us by 11am. I'll be sure to keep you all posted. Thanks for caring♡
Hi Linda 
I am so glad to hear the operation went well !
As for her specific circumstances, heart rate, blood pressure, etc I suppose it is nothing serious otherwise they would have told you so.
They seem to keep you informed of everything and that shows she is in good hands which is so, so important for us pawrents.
You've got to remember it is still early days in the recovery ...
As for how long she has, well, nobody can really know. None of us do.
Sometimes (as we see with so many dogs and cats here) statistics are blown out of the window and our furry babies live much, much longer lives than anticipated and sometimes sadly some don't make it to the average mark.
It is crucial that you try and concentrate on giving Belle the best time possible for as long as possible.
She doesn't know the word cancer and is only too happy to be with you.
Be patient and try to be pawsitive and you will see Belle being Belle again!
We are all here to guide you through recovery and keep you and your girl in our thoughts.
Sending you a big hug
Eurydice 77kg/170lb Great Dane limping end of April 2016, amputation (right front leg/osteosarcoma) 4 May 2016 6 courses of carboplatin followed by metronomic therapy, lung mets found 30 Nov 2016. 3 courses of doxorubicin, PET scan 26 Jan 2017 showed more mets so stopped chemo. Holistic route April 2017. Lung X-ray 5 May 2017 showed several tennis ball size mets, started cortisone and diuretics. Miss Cow earned her XXL silver wings 12 June 2017, 13 months and 1 week after amputation and 6 1/2 months after lung mets, she was the goofiest dawg ever and is now happily flying from cloud to cloud woof woofing away :-)
We got to visit Belle yesterday. She was still very weak and was trembling during our visit. They mentioned that her heart rate was back down but her temp keeps changing. It peaked at 105.8 after surgery but decreased to 102, then back up to 103, etc. They are watching her closely. They said that she has been responsive to going outside to urinate and trying to do it on her own which is good. I'm still struggling mentally a bit on whether or not this was the best route to go since she just looked so tired yesterday, but I'm keeping in mind it was only 24 hours after her surgery so it's too early to tell how she will come out of this.
They are keeping her very comfortable and even showed us a photo of what her setup looks like. They have her in a nice, cozy bed area with a cooling mat underneath her, a fan blowing on her, pillows behind her, and a cute tiger stuffed animal. At least I know my girl is in good hands. Thanks for listening♡
Hi, and sorry Belle has had to have an amputation.
Just for perspective, my boy had a tough time with surgery - he needed MRI before it (a nerve sheath tumor - this is standard) and they had to really manipulate that leg and it left him so sore and in great pain. They kept him in that nigh and pushed his surgery to the next day. He spent that night and the following night in the hospital. He looked pretty awful when I first visited him - really weak, really out of it. That was at 18 hours post op. They told me then he might have to stay 2 more nights or even longer. I visited again that night and they had started to back off on the IV drugs, but needed him to eat so they could switch to oral pain meds. So I worked on getting him to eat just a bit that night. Hand feeding - a few pieces of kibble at a time. Some deli turkey I had brought in. And a half of a hot dog they had and they warmed up for him. The next morning they were shocked at his big bounce back. He was upright and mobile and wanting OUT! He came home that night.
He is nearly 12, so also an older dog.
Best thoughts for Belle to keep improving!
Lisa, Minneapolis
On October 27, 2016, nearly 6 months after amputation, and 18 months since his cancer likely started, we lost Pofi to a recurrence of Soft Tissue Sarcoma in his spine quite suddenly. His canine sister also succumbed to cancer on March 1, 2019 - we lavished her with our love in the interim, but life was never quite the same without her only real canine friend. Cliff kitty had to leave us, too, suddenly, in August 2019. Lucia kitty grieved all these losses, but helped us welcome two new Lurchers into our home and our lives, Shae and Barley.
OH GOSH!! I AM SOOOOO GLAD YOU UPDATED US!! I've been checking ever since your post that the surgeon was going to call you yesterday. Such a relief to hear from you!! HUGE RELIEF!!
GREAT news that her heart rate is back normal. Can't really figue out the temperature thing. I'm sure they checked it BEFORE surgery and it was normal, right? I'm sure they now have her on an antibiotic so hopefully that will help.
The trembling, the weakness, all "normal" for just 24'hrs out kf sjrgery! Coming out kf the anesthesia can make them quite whacky for a bit. As you see from Pofi's experience, a rough recovery initially can be so ewhst expected, especially with "mature" pups!! Plus, she has a fever in top of that to .ake her feel even less "perky"!
Let's not overlook that we do, I deed, have a few things to celebrate!!!!!!!
SURGERY IS OVER!!!!!!!
BELLE IS PEEING ON HER OWN!!
BELLE IS UP A D MOVING!!!!!
Belle is still pretty drugged so try not to worry too much about how tired she looks, because it's really more drug related.
Guessing you are going to see her tomorrow? Maybe bring her home? Regardless, take her some realky, really yummy food and see if that perks her up a bit.
I think most of us second guess our decision those first several days when the recovery seems a bit rougher than some or has some additional hurdles like fever, etc. During this phase it's hard to remind ourselves that we did this FOR our dogs and not TO them! When she starts feeling better and her sparkle comes back you'll feel so much better!
Hang in there! Update us when you can! We're all cheering for Belle!
Hugs a d love
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!
Belle is home! Overall we feel she is doing well.
A few things to note:
1. She would not eat at the vet where she stayed for 3 days. As soon as we got her in the car, we had a few yummy treats for her (food we wouldn't normally feed her) and she got her appetite back quick:)
2. She walked out confidently with the harness and wagged her tail when she saw us. This made my heart melt.
3. She is on antibiotics as they feared she aspirated a bit after surgery, which we're told is not uncommon.
She relaxed on the car ride home and is resting soundly on her doggie bed. After seeing her sweet face show signs of the old Belle, before the pain, I have no doubt we have done the right thing for my sweet Bellerina.
I'll keep you all posted on her journey. It will be tough, but we are all here for her, fighting to give her the best quality of life we can for our miracle pup. This is her 2nd battle with cancer and hopefully her last. I plan to enjoy her company day by day because in life, there are no guarantees for tomorrow. But right now, we've got a pain free pup and we couldn't be happier.
Thank you for the continued support.
With love and gratitude,
Belle and Brittney
Soooooooo nappy, sooooo tearfully happy to see this update!! 🙂
BELLE IS A ROCK STAR!! A BELLERINA ROCK STAR
To hear how hwe homecoming was so spectacularly joyful has me grinning ear to ear! 🙂
You, and Belle, have a great attitude! Today Belle is home and happy and pain free...and hungry!! Spoiling a tripawd is so much fu !! Spoiling a senior Super Star tripawd is exhilarating beyond words! 🙂
Lots of love!
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!
Hooorrraaay! That is terrific news! As the days go by you'll see more and more of her old self come back. What a joy!
Here's to NO MORE CANCER for sweet Belle!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Has anyone else experienced swelling in a limb after amputation? The other rear leg, opposite the leg we had removed, is swollen. She is already on antibiotics and the vet said to massage it to keep circulation flowing... but I'm concerned. Anyone out there go through this too?
Yes, that is indeed "normal". The fluid that used to go to "the" leg now has nowhere to go, so it accumulates in the other leg, or sometimes in the tummy or butt area. Do exactly as your vet says and it should reabsorb soon.
Of course, I'm no vet so if you jave any additional concerns or conditions change, give your vet a call.
This recovery phase feels scary because everything is so whacky! But it sou ds like Belle is doing really well for a seasoned veteran! She's got her act rogether! Now if we humans could just Be More Dog ! They are such good role models of how to go with the flow!
Try and get some rest....or at least eat lots of chocolate!!
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!
Yep, we've seen it happen here before. All that body fluid from the lost leg has to go somewhere temporarily. I know it's scary but hang in there. Most time this type of swelling takes care of itself so just follow your vet's instructions and keep them in the loop. And us too!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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