Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat

Debva, We are 9 days post amputation (F-11 yo, Retriever cross, right leg, soft tissue nerve sheath sarcoma tumor). 

Our girl is healing really well, and we managed pain well. Here are two things I did over what the vet said and they worked like a charm:

1. I gave her natural liquid drops of Valerian (Sprouts, etc.) at times she looked agitated and anxious (panting, standing in a way that showed anxiety). She was on: Simplicef, Metacam, Tramadol and Gapapentin.  That is a lot of meds, and can cause anxiety. The Valerian eases the anxiety. She would always fall asleep like a puppy when we gave the Valerian to her. (She is about 85 lbs, so I gave her a half a dropper full with plain yogurt) 

Note: I did ask our vet if that was OK to give Valerian and they said as long as it didn’t increase her anxiety, which it didn’t. 

2.  BE CAREFUL ABOUT THIS next one: I was instructed to clean her wound with water, and pat it dry. I added a light bit of Tea Tree Oil to the water that I dipped my cloth in.  How I did this is that I took a Q-tip and just touched the very tip in the tea tree oil, and swished it in the bowl of water I used to set my cloth with. Then I patted it dry. It has never gotten red, or oozed, and the vet is really pleased with how it is healing. She wears a t-shirt.  Tea Tree Oil is a natural antibiotic but can be toxic to dogs, so you need the wee-est bit in the water, just so you can barely smell it. More is not better with dogs. 

I hope this helps somebody. We thought it was great.