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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Hi all, so Rajah is back home after amputaion of his back right leg. He is laying n his bed next to me, and as happy and relieved I am to have him home it is definitely a lot tougher than I thought. I knew it was going to be hard but....whew! Speaking of relief....he has already gone pee a few times, but it looks hard to do. He has to pee girl style. I know he has to get used to all this as do I, but it is tough to watch my baby.
He's going ok moving around, but he def gets tired very quick. Are there any good vitamins or powders or such to help strenghthen the good rear legs bone and muscle?
Also was wondering if there are any Tripawd'ers in New Mexico?
Thanks all!
-Ana and Rajah
Welcome home Rajah! Ana, do not get discouraged in the next two weeks- he will have good and bad days. My best advice is to get some sleep when Rajah sleeps and we will all be here to celebrate that 1st poop....which may not happen for a while so don't panic. 🙂
Spirit Samson was Spirit Tripawd Daisys four legged "brother" and ruled as the self proclaimed head of the Monkeybutt Federations East Coast Division. Lady Chunky Monkey stayed from Oct 2011 and left for the bridge in Apr 2012. Miss Perdy is left and has some big pawprints to fill.
Do you have what it takes to be a Monkeybutt? Find out more at the Monkeybutt Federation
Ana, glad to hear he's doing well! Yes, getting use to all of the changes is ruff, but remember it's worse for humans than for the dog. Hang in there, the recovery won't last forever.
You should check out our CARE video series. While supplements can help keep his system healthy, what Tripawds need most are core-strengthening exercises to keep them strong and ensure good balance. To read up on supplements, our Nutrition Blog has lots of information.
However before you jump into any, do check with your vet and preferably a canine rehab veterinarian, like Dr. Hady of the Santa Fe Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Center. If you're anywhere near Santa Fe or ABQ, this is the clinic to go to. We love Dr. Hady!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Welcome Ana and Rajah. What a sweet face! Yes, it is tough -- and you can pretty much expect that this first couple of weeks will be hell! But once you're through that, Rajah will amaze you with how quickly he adapts to being a Tripawd. There's a whole forum dedicated to all things nutrition -- should be able to link to it from the Tripawds home page.
We usually tell the new pawrents to read the information on Jerry's Required Reading list. And if you have any specific questions, definitely post them here.
How did Rajah get to be a Tripawd. We'd love to hear more of his story. And pictures!!! We love pictures!
Micki and Rio
 |
~ ~ Rio ~ ~ |
Welcome Ana and Rajah!! For my Dog it just took time for her muscles to adapt to using them in different ways. My Dog Valentina is a front left amp and she did have a really hard time squatting at first. After the first few days she seemed to grow more tired and she was very lazy and slept alot. But the way I look at it is, you know if you haven't worked out for a while and then you work out really hard for a couple of days and then your muscles become super sore and tired because you are using muscles that you haven't used in a while. Well since Tripawds have to use totally different muscles in a whole new way it takes time for them to build up their strength and endurance. This usually starts to happen after the first couple of weeks because the first 2 weeks they are not only recovering from the major surgery but they also have to recoop their muscles from being used in different ways. The meds can make them feel tired and weak also. But after the first two weeks they start to get the hang of balancing and everything and their muscles will start to build up in the areas that they need to to balance their newly remodeled body. Valentina has big muscles bulging out on the side opposite the amp side that weren't there before. I also remember her muscles trembling as she tried to balance herself. Especially while laying down. They are used to having their other leg to balance with and without it they kind of topple over. Valentina now has a really big muscle right behind her right leg. I know it is probably somewhat different for back leg amps but they still have to learn the balancing just in different ways. I have heard that glucosamine and chondroitin are good supplements for Dogs bones but def check with your vet first. Hope Rajah's healing goes smoothly and super speedy!! You will be so happy that you found this site!! I know I was. It has been a real blessing!! 
Glad to hear Rajah is home and already peeing! Try to rest while he rests. It's easy to get a little sleep deprived that first week home and then everything seems worse. There will probably be some ups and downs this first week or two. Once he's off all the meds and has his stitches out, he should be a lot more like his old self.
It will take a while for him to build his stamina back up. Keep us updated on his progress! We'll be ready and waiting to do the happy hoppy first poop dance with you! (Don't worry if it doesn't happen right away - it can take a few days, even up to 5 or 6!)
All the best,
Jackie, 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!
Thanks all for the help! You guys are so right about the sleep thing! I am now couch surfing at my house 🙂 thank goodness I have a comfy couch! Rajah did pretty well all in all. I think I woke up everytime he moved! Still no poopy, but at least he's peeing....it's a start. Even if he does pee on his front paw.
So Rajah was diagnosed with osteosarcoma 2 weeks ago in his back right leg. Went back and forth with what to do as far as treatment...I finally decided and have to believe that amputation is the best option. It's hard to see him like this now, but I just have to be patient. And having this group really helps!
We went back and forth on our decision to amputate too, and it was the best decision we could have made. The first few weeks are tough but once you get through that it will be easier. They do so well as tripawds, you will be amazed! Get some rest- rest when he rests, you're going to need it.
Diagnosed with OSA: 5/2/2011 Ampuversary: 5/11/2011 OSA returned in hip: 8/26/2011
Chili Dawg crossed the Rainbow Bridge on 8/30/2011 & is now pain free. He was my heart dog, and I miss him every day.
Well, you certainly have the right attitude to make it through the next couple weeks. Good for you!
Jan & Tate
http://tate.tripawds.com/
August 16, 2006 to November 28, 2011
TATE ~ Forever in our hearts.
He pooped!! Never thought I would be so excited! Had to hold him up a bit, just looks so painful on the back leg. Yikes. But very happy for him. Nothing like a good #2
Wow... poop already, Rajah is a star!!!
My pug Maggie was a left rear amp. She didn't poop until about day 6, yikes! Conventional wisdom says it was the pain meds holding things up, but I think it was partly something else. Ever since I first met her at 10 weeks old she would spin before pooping. Nose down on the ground, doing a tight spin to the right. One of the hardest thing after her amp was watching her try and spin and fall down. But guess what? She kept trying and finally figured it out!! Since she still had her right back leg she could pivot on it and spin to the right- and she figured it out about day 6.
Maggie took awhile to build strength and stamina. She eventually was walking a mile on her own again (remember, short pug legs!) but is was at least 6 months after her surgery.
I hope Rajah's recovery is smooth.
Karen and the pugapalooza
Hi, Levi and I are at week 4 Post Amp. He did "good" for the first 3 1/2 weeks but all of a sudden the past few days he is doing "great". Chewing Bones, Greeting us at the door, Chasing a Tennis Ball, Stealing socks out of the dirty clothes...all things he has had no interest in while he had the tumor (Osteosarcoma too) and during the first 3 1/2 weeks of recovery. My point is, Hang in there!! I am so thrilled with Levi right now! But I was still pretty unsure about things even a week ago. Also, He had no side effects from his Chemo. I think the worst is behind us. We wish you the best! 
Erica and Levi
Levi was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma 7-7-11
Ampuversary 10-14-11
Lung Mets Discovered 1-4-12. Chemo seemed to not be working so we switched to Artemisinin and other supplements. In May, Levi developed a sinus infection and started having seizures. The cancer had moved to his brain. We let him go 6-26-12.
haha congrats on the big numer 2. I had to stand on Kess's amp side so she could lean on me to potty for the first few excursions. Seems like she got the hang of where to put the remaining back leg for balance after a few days. Gotta remember Rajah is all whacked out on pain meds to, not the easiest thing to balance on three legs and stay upright when your high as a kite. I think girl dogs have the advantage here.
I got tired of the couch and my husband dragged a mattress into the living room for me the first couple of weeks. After that Kess could handle the stairs and get around well.
Kess was a right rear amp, 7, and she's a crazy athletic border collie. She didn't need chemo after her amp, and we were lucky that her recovery went great. We did have a minor setback at around 5 weeks or so, when Kess ran so much she fatigued her back leg to the point that she couldn't get up the next day. I felt horrible, but it seems like lots of dogs do it, so keep an eye out for it and don't freak out if it happens. Kess just celebrated her one year ampuversary, and I tried to put together a video with footage from each month of her recovery
Congratulations Ana and Rajah! Sounds like things are going well for you during your first couple of post-amp days. Especially the first poop already . . Yee-Haw!
When we knew that Sylvia's left rear leg would be amputated, I had the advantage of knowing someone (my agility instructor) who had gone through the amputation thing with one of his dogs. (I wasn't familiar with this website at that time.) He told me that he and his wife had moved a mattress onto the floor in their living room and that he slept there with his dog for quite some time during recovery. So while Sylvie was in the hospital recovering the day after surgery, we designated our dining room as the "recovery room", hauled a futon mattress downstairs and into a corner of the room. We moved the table and chairs out and the buffet to one side so that the space would be as open as possible. My husband and I alternated sleeping with the dog through the weeks. This was definitely good for me, as I'm a horrible worrier and being right there was what I needed!
We put a "baby gate " across the doorway, so our other 2 dogs wouldn't disturb the patient. We probably overdid the "isolation" time (about 3 weeks, if I recall correctly). But that was mainly because Sylvia had always been sort of wild and bossy with the other dogs and we didn't want them to take advantage of her new situation.
Getting her to eat, and figuring out how to get her to take her meds was the biggest obstacle we encountered, thank goodness. Some dogs do really well at getting back into the swing of things, post-amp. We took a long time to feel comfortable with Sylvie's ability to get around, then sort of let her overdo. OOPS! She experienced pain in her back as she adjusted to a new way of walking, and we did therapy with her, she took gabapentin, and we switched to Hill's Prescription JD food. That seemed to do the trick. Like pug Maggie, it was 6 or 7 months before our girl was up for a walk beyond a couple of blocks.
Will Rajah be doing chemotherapy? It sounds like he's gonna be a real trooper. Like Levi, Sylvie had no side effects (other than hair loss) from her intravenous chemotherapy. What a blessing!
We'll be sending good thoughts your way for Rajah - He looks like he'll do great!!
- Karen and Angel Sylvia
Sweet Silly Sylvie, the Old English Sheepdog
Diagnosed with osteosarcoma 11/04/2010 at almost 7 years of age * Left hind leg amputated 11/09/2010 * Chemo on 12/10, 12/17, 01/10, 01/31
Sweet Sylvie's earthly journey ended on Nov. 3, 2011, one day short of a year since her diagnosis and 6 days short of her one-year ampuversary. Her family celebrates her life as a sheepdog – ever the puppy, ever silly, ever sweet – and are grateful for our 7 years together.
Hooray for the first poop! We are doing the happy hoppy poop dance! I remember Abby's first poop well! Good times, good times...
Looking forward to hearing more good updates about Rajah!
Jackie, 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!
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