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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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liberty
1
28 July 2010 - 11:54 am
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Liberty came home from the hospital last night! She had surgery on Sunday to remove her right hind leg after a nasty infection from a centipede (we think). On June 30th she was bitten by some kind of insect in Hawaii, many visits to the vet later we had to make the decision to amputate or let the necrosis continue to spread. 

She is doing a lot better than I thought she would. She is eating and moving around, the problem is actually getting her to be still and relax. Her brother Bandit (also a Shiba Inu, about 6 months younger than her) doesn't make it any easier! He has missed her a lot since she has been gone and wants to play.

She did alright last night, she's in a dog pen to restrict her movement and my husband and I slept downstairs with her on the air mattress. She hates wearing the cone and while she cant get her mouth to her sutures she can scratch them with the cone. We're keeping a close eye on her to make sure she doesn't do any damage. I'm home from work today with her and she seems to be doing well. She hasn't gone to the bathroom since we've been home but did go at the vet before we picked her up last night. 

I've taken her for a few walks since we've been home and she doesn't seem to be very interested in sniffing like she used to be, I'm not sure if its because she cant get her nose to the ground because of the cone or not. She still seems to enjoy the walk very much, I was surprised at how quick she gets around. She was always a fast little thing but I had thought the amputation would slow her down, not speed her up.

All in all, she seems to be recovering nicely. I'll keep everyone posted on her progress!

-Stephanie (Liberty's Mom)

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Las Vegas, Nevada
Member Since:
14 August 2009
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2
28 July 2010 - 2:35 pm
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Welcome Liberty and Stephanie!

 

Oh, how awful about the centipede bite!  Those things scared the bajeebies out of me as a kid growing up in Oklahoma!  I didn't know they were that dangerous but I guess they are!  Thank goodness we dont have them here in Vegas!

 

Bright side....at least it's not cancer!  smiley

 

It's great to hear she is doing very well!  It may get a little ruff during the recovery but it seems the non-cancerous amputations go better. If you haven't had a chance to read some interesting and insightful tips, take a look at the    Jerry's Required Reading List

 

Best of luck and do keep us updated!

Comet's mom

Her Retired AvatarComet - 1999 to 2011

She departed us unexpectedly  January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.

She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.

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On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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3
28 July 2010 - 3:13 pm
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Welcome home Liberty! be sure to tell mom to bookmark that reading list Comet linked to. It includes loads of helpful information and recovery advice from the past couple years of Jerry's blog.

We also have some very informative video interviews with vets describing the adjusted gait of tripawds and providing lots of stretching and exercise tips. You will need to learn how to keep up with Liberty noe that it is easier for her to hop along at a quick pace than throw her weight forward slowly. But make sure she doesn't overdue it yet! It's far too early for multiple/long walks each day. Confinement is key to safe recovery, and you'll find some good interactive toys for keeping dogs from getting bored in the Tripawds Gear blog .

Thanks for joining and best wishes for a quick, complete recovery.

PS: Consider adding a link to your signature by editing your forum profile so members know where to find more updates about Liberty.

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

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RuthieGirl
4
28 July 2010 - 3:56 pm
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You can't beat home!  Way to go Liberty!  Good luck on your recovery...keep us posted.

Spirit Ruthie's Mom

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Arizona
Member Since:
28 September 2009
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5
28 July 2010 - 6:50 pm
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 Liberty so glad you are home, I hope for a speedy recovery for you. Keep us updated on your progress!

 

 Jo Ann & Tasha

Tasha 8 years old, First cancer diagnosis 6/26/09, Last cancer diagnosis 9/26/09, Amputation 10/01/09, Loving our girl moment by moment.

Tasha lost her battle and became my Angel on May 4 2011. Forever in my heart….

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Hickory, NC
Member Since:
25 July 2010
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6
29 July 2010 - 1:03 am
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Great news! Glad she is home and doing well...there is no place like home!

Malachi

Pitt Bull/Rhodesian Ridgeback

dx – osteosarcoma – 7/8/10       oncologist confirmed – 7/19/2010       life begins as a tripawd – 7/27/10

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Wesley Chapel, FL
Member Since:
13 September 2009
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7
29 July 2010 - 5:27 am
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Heal quickly Liberty and stay away from those nasty bugs from now on... oh-my

Angel Jake's Mom

Jake, 10yr old golden retriever (fractured his front right leg on 9/1, bone biopsy revealed osteosarcoma on 9/10, amputation on 9/17) and his family Marguerite, Jacques and Wolfie, 5yr old german shepherd and the newest addition to the family, Nala, a 7mth old Bengal mix kittie. Jake lost his battle on 11/9/2009, almost 8 weeks after his surgery. We will never forget our sweet golden angel… http://jakesjou.....ipawds.com ….. CANCER SUCKS!

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Golden Girls
8
29 July 2010 - 9:06 am
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Welcome home, Liberty! Sounds like it was a very nasty infection. We hope you heal quickly, and that you'll be your old playful self again soon.

 

Paws up, and tails wagging!

 

Cathy/Jane/Spirit Skyler/Chloe rasberry

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Member Since:
14 June 2010
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9
29 July 2010 - 9:06 am
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Hooray!  We're on day 10 and Ajax has gone in and out of his super-sniffer mode.  Basically, I think sometimes he's tired, and sometimes he's a little sore ... I think Liberty will be back to her normal self soon, I wouldn't worry too much about it.  People on this site said there would be "ups and downs" and that has been true (our "downs" have been minor - more like "dips" - but I definitely notice what they were talking about)

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On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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10
29 July 2010 - 10:25 am
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Hey Stephanie, welcome to Tripawds. Well, Liberty gets the prize for having the most original Tripawd story. We've never had a dog lose a leg to a centipede before. Wow.

Sounds like she's doing great, just reacting to the post-surgery medications. Give her some time, she'll be sniffing around in no time! Keep us posted.

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

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Rainbow Bridge
Member Since:
18 May 2009
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11
29 July 2010 - 10:42 am
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Welcome, Liberty!  It's nice to see another Shiba around!  I have Max, a three legged Shiba mix, and Edward, a Shiba Inu with a short leg.  Don't think the missing leg is going to slow your little escape artist (if she's anything like mine) down!  Do you guys live in Hawaii or were you just visiting?  Anyway, best luck to you and your pups!

Angel Max ***
2000-2014 ***
I miss my boy so much

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western Washington
Member Since:
7 June 2010
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12
29 July 2010 - 8:58 pm
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Yea Liberty!

Ugh, I remember all too well, the centipedes in Hawaii.

I'm from Oahu and yikes I remember how big they can get….too vividly.

Thank goodness she's on the road to recovery now.

Liberty, you stay away from the centipedes, flying ants, roaches, black widows, oh gawd, cane spiders !!!!YIKES etc……….

 

             no beef with da bugs, Liberty!

                   All pow,

                              Denise

Kona turned 9yrs on April 16, 2010.
Kona was diagnosed Memorial Weekend 2010 with osteosarcoma.
Right rear leg amputated on June 4th. First chemo June 18th 2010
Second chemo July 9th, 2010      Third and final (yea !!!) chemo July 30th, 2010
ONE TOUGH GIRL this Australian Cattledog !

***Kona's journey/fight ended late in the evening of December 22, 2010***

                               We Love you so much Kona….always   

  Bella 9yrs, albino lab/aussie shep/pit?(abandoned in mts as a puppy) deaf & blind (from birth) in one eye limited vision in other.(laid back, ok lazy 73 lbs)

Cotton, 5yrs, albino hound/terrier of somesort/???(abandoned in mts as a puppy) deaf & blind in one eye(from birth), excellent vision in seeing eye. (ball addict…destroyer of Kong balls…yes,etc), high energy 55lbs knots of muscle)

Kona Kai's pup brother and sister as well as her buddy and playmate cat, Shaymous 12yrs (like Seamus), miss her terribly.

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