Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hello.
Hope everyone and their Tripawds are well.
My Bella (BooBoo) is 8YO in two weeks, and she’s 3 days post op (08/09/20). Bells came home yesterday, 2 days post op and she was doing really well, getting up for food, toilet breaks etc. And resting in a quiet room with me.
Last night was difficult she began to wake up go to move and whine and freeze. She has done this a few times today. (Vet said not Phantom limb pain, just simply she’s woken up from a deep sleep and forgot her limb isn’t there).
So today; she’s hardly moved and went outside for a toilet break at 8am, and 8pm. Not wanting to budge in between these times. When I try and encourage her to stand she shakes all over her body. So I comfort her and we go out when she’s ready to go.
She’s supported by a sling, and the wound appears clean. She’s on Metacam, GabaP (200mg x 3) & Ceracare (200mg x 2).
She’s just really having a bad day today, with not wanting to move at all, and refusing to stand. Is this normal?
Bells will not Go to her water bowl, and will pant incessantly. Might be pain, might be thirsty. I move the water Howell to her and she drinks.
We didn’t have much time to prepare for this big change. She fractured her eke I suddenly, and it got infected at the implant site. Three corrective surgeries later, and the bone completely shattered and front left arm needed to be amputated as nothing more Vets could do. This was noticed during surgery, and same surgery her limb was removed. So it happened very quickly and I don’t think I have had time to adjust either. I am trying to keep positive, and show her what a brave and good girl she is doing for each progress - but now we have simply stopped moving forward it seems!
Any help or advice would be hugely appreciated. This is so very new to me, with a big change out of no where 3 days ago!!!
thank you & stay well fellow Tripawd friends x
Bella - 8YO Springer Spaniel
Two Hip Replacements (2012, 2015)
One Hip Replacement Removal (2019)
One Front Left Amputation (09/09/20)
Hi Flossy and Bella, welcome to the club nopawdy wants to join! I'm sorry you had to but glad you decided to chime in. Your future posts won't need approval so post away.
At three days out, her behavior is not unusual at all but there are things you can do to make recovery easier. We tend to see that dogs who are shaking and anxious are in need of some pain management adjustments. You can work with your vet to figure out if she needs more or less medication. Unfortunately, it can be hard to tell which during this early in the process.
First, what exactly is Ceracare? I'm in the states and not familiar with that prescription. Is it an antibiotic? A non-steroidal anti-inflammatory?
If she is only on Gabapentin for pain relief, she may be in need of an additional medication that works on different pain pathways. Gabapentin is for nerve pain and other medications can help when used in conjunction with it. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories are most vet's first choice, and usually a 3rd pain medication can help.
Right now, don't force her to do too much other than going potty on her usual schedule. She probably won't poop for now, but as long as she is urinating and drinking water to stay hydrated, her recovery sounds pretty typical. These are the hardest days of recovery but as long as you work with your vet to let them know what's going on with her, things do get better!
Stay tuned for more feedback from the community. I'll check back later.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
WOW! You and your sweet Bella have really been through a ot trying t save that leg. Unfortunately we often see amputation as the end result when surgeries for fractures just don't work for a variety of reasons.
Ditto everything Jerry said, it sounds like a pain management plan needs to be tweaked. How much does yiour sweet BooBoo weigh!? It maybe that the Gabapentin and/or Tramad needs to be added. These two work together in ways that compliment each other by working in differen ways.
Also, by day three all the hospital meds are now out of their system. This is when we often see a "crash" Simi to what you're experiencing. So for now, continue to bring her the water bowl and do your best to help her go out to potty. Some dogs do freeze up whenever you try to use a sling to help support them.
You can try massaging her a lot up and down the spine a d around her neck and sh area before trying to get her up and after bringing her in from potty.
Stay conn and update when uou can. Ypu and Bella will get through this. Rec doesn last furever, it just seems like it! Keep our eye on the goal. This is one surgery and, once rec is complete, no ore pain, no more surgeries, no more confinement!
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!
We have gone through pretty much the same in the first two-three days. Zeus would pant non-stop, shake, drool, it was just so painful to watch him like that. During those first days we had to bring food and water to him too, potty breaks took a looong time to get to, we supported him with a sling but even with that he would stop often and just pant and shake and would barely move. After the third day being home he turned the corner and was feeling and acting so much better. I've called the hospital many, many, times in those first few days and it helped discuss my concerns with them directly and get ideas on what we can do to help him through it. Best to be in contact with your vet in case the medication needs to be adjusted - they will guide you as well as reassure you.
If Bella only came home yesterday then it is possibly her first day/night without the "good" medication they are on at the hospital. I've learned that once those meds start wearing off they get through this adjustment period to the oral meds we give them at home.
Hang in there. Bella will be her old self in no time! Sending you lots of love and positive energy - these are the toughest days for sure but it does get better. I've had a hard time believing it myself but it did get better
Thank you for the welcome, and thank you all for taking the time to respond. It is really appreciated. In less than 1 month, we’ve gone from a bouncy Springer to a very poorly dog so it’s knocked both Bells & I.
We all did try and fight this infection, but it just seemed to get worse. But hey, we are where we are, and need to remain positive.
I spelt the medicine name slightly wrong, it’s Cephacare which is an antibiotic. So she’s only on gabapentin for pain relief, at a dose of 200mg 3 times a day. Is this low?? she was on 300mg 3 times a day pre-amputation but it made her very very wobbly and she was knuckling in bad paw so we lowered it to 600mg (300mg 2 times a day) and she seemed to be more aware of her footing.
Bells seemed to sleep better last night, and was always asleep when i woke up. (I moved my mattress downstairs into a medium size room and kitted it out with non slip rugs and all her memory foam dog beds.) I don’t think she likes being confined to a single room. So we let her lay on her bed on the patio and she watched her smaller pals lay next to her too. She then watched from inside the house as we had the ramps measured up, and she sat with me as we watched tele in the lounge. She was very settled, and on her bed. It seemed to really brighten her up allowing her to be around people. Although, vets advice was to let her rest in the small room, it seemed this wasn’t helping her recovery as she just wallowed (it appeared anyway) rather than resting comfortably knowing she had me there and it was just like a normal evening. This perked her up, and she isn’t panting as much, but still happy to rest.
She has also decided she would rather drink from her old water bowl in the kitchen on the floor (for her smaller pals) rather than the raised bowls In her small room.
She still is needing encouragement to get up, and is needing a good 5-10 mins of massage and verbal positive reassurance before she even tries to stand.
It seems from your advice and posts that this is all normal - she had her op on Tuesday late afternoon / evening, and came home on Thursday midday. It really is small progress, but progress nonetheless and this is a huge change for her so taking it day by day.
Unfortunately, Boo has fissures in her right elbow (much like she did on her left before the full fracture a month ago) and the vet is recommending preventative surgery as soon as possible once she’s shown good progress, to prevent it turning into a full fracture, and a possible repeat of left leg (amputated leg). So, I am extremely anxious regarding this second surgery so close to the amputation surgery. Has anyone had similar circumstances to that? I don’t know how comfortable Bells will be trying to get up and walk after that operation. But I’m hoping it will make her leg stronger and more weight bearing.
I am thinking that her lack of wanting to stand may also be a possible discomfort to the fissures in her remaining elbow? I see lots of bouncing around tripawds at day 5, and I fear my girl is not anywhere near that stage but each dog on their merit.
I’m remaining extremely positive for her, and have tried not to cry around her, (unsuccessfully once when she was crying after waking up a long snooze And went to get up and forgot her leg wasn’t there) But so far, she sees only positivity, smiles and encouragement with a ton of kisses, cuddles & massages!
Bells was 25kg pre op, 23kg post op. So she’s a medium Springer spaniel. (But still needing to shift a few lbs, but these extra lbs were put on in the past month of not walking due to fractured elbow and GabaP increases her appetite two fold!)
thank you for the responses, advice and reassurance. It’s really nice to be able to talk to people who have gone through similar experiences and be able to be reassured!
stay well.
Nicola & BellaBoo xxx
Bella - 8YO Springer Spaniel
Two Hip Replacements (2012, 2015)
One Hip Replacement Removal (2019)
One Front Left Amputation (09/09/20)
You have a lot of victories going on here to celebrate! And in large part because you are so tuned into your Bella! Give yourself a pat kn the pack for handling all this unexpected stress so well!!
You are spot on about letting her have some sense of "normalcy" and "routine". Recognizing she needs to be with her pack just like always (with some limitations of course) is important to healing.
You can maybe ask your Vet about adding an anti-inflammatory into the mix. It's possible it coud help with any inflammation from the surgery, ut also if there is inflammation in the other leg due to fissures. It jas some slight pain management as well.
And we all say every recovery is different and to try not to compare one recovery to the other. Bella IS making progress at her own pace and in her own way. Resting well is very important. Showing desire to do some of her regular routines and want to be with her pack, all good signs. Love that she doesn't want to drink out of the water bowl in rhat dreaded small room, but wants to drink the way she always has😎
So can you elaborate a bit more on the status of her "other" leg? Were these fissures in that leg discovered before the amp? Any clue on the cause of both legs developing these fissures in the same area at the same time?
So what "corrective" surgery is required at this point to"-fix" that leg? Pins, plates, length of recovery, ability to use that leg how soon after the corrective surgery??
Don't mean to ask a lot of questions, but obviously this is out of my realm of knowledge. Possibly others who have deal with something similar can chime in.
It may be that that leg is making her feel like he doesn't want to walk if it is painful to do so. And it's certainly just as likely and just as probable that, at five days out not getting his sea legs yet is not unusual at all!!! Generalkynit takes about two weeks to rec from the MAJOR surgery itself, and about thirty days to adjust to the new gait.
Keep up the massages, etc,but, rather than trying to coax him to get up and go out, wait until he shows some "desire" to get up and go out. Wait until he really feels the urge to pee and gets antsy because he doesn't feel like he can hold it any longer.
Give that sweet Bella Boo a big smooch for us😘
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!
Thank you!
her right elbow was diagnosed with a small fissure at the same time as her left. However, it wasn’t expected that either would break so we were advised to leave them alone and just keep an eye on her. Within a month, her left elbow broke in three places. And now she’s weight bearing so much on the right we have been advised to pop a bolt onto the fissure to stop it from turning from a fissure to a fracture. This creates a lot of nerves in me, I’m making her only leg sore? But if she’s not happy walking anyway, then maybe this is a Sign? And I certainly wouldn’t want her to fracture the right, and face possible complications like her left has. So it comes with many questions, of which I’m trying to speak/find anyone who has been through similar.
Prior to any limping or being aware of any fissures, Bells used to run up the garden and jump onto the decking and run to the side of the our house and talk/bark to and fro her little friend Alfie who lives just behind. I didn’t think anything wrong with allowing her to run to the fence but the continuous impact is a highly likely factor of the fissures, that and elbow problems is common in Springer Spaniels.
Bells is much more alert and happier today, but still no will to stand up. We’re out in the garden having some fresh air, and it’s becoming warmer but she’s refusing to help me get her up so that I can get her back inside to cooler places. She’s in the shade though, and very comfy on her bed.
every day is a small victory, and these are still victories 
!
thank you!
Nics & Bells xxx
Bella - 8YO Springer Spaniel
Two Hip Replacements (2012, 2015)
One Hip Replacement Removal (2019)
One Front Left Amputation (09/09/20)
Your story sounds so similar to our Meg-A-Star, another front leg, London, Tripawd!
Here are the posts made by Meg's mum Clare. Go to the earlier posts to see how their journey began.
I'm going to send a note to Clare so she see's this thread.
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Hi there, Nicola and Bella, and welcome! And thanks Karen for alerting me to this thread. Bella’s story does indeed sound very similar to my Meg’s. Meg is a mutt, but her elbow problem (IOHC) is most common in Springer spaniels.
Meg’s right elbow suffered a spontaneous catastrophic fracture when she was about 3 years old. This was successfully repaired but she developed end stage arthritis within a couple of years and it was our efforts to save the elbow via an elbow replacement etc that ultimately resulted in her losing her leg, after problems with healing which led to an infection in the bone.
her remaining elbow also has dysplasia and IOHC, but it has held up well. She has been a Tripawd now for four and a half years and is about twelve years old. we do what we can in terms of keeping her weight down, core strength, exercise moderation and so on, but I think luck has also played a part. Re putting a pin through Bellas elbow to strengthen the joint, this was not a possibility for Meg at the time the IOHC was diagnosed and it is now too late because of advanced arthritis. but my understanding is that it is a relatively minor procedure with very good success rates. Of course, after everything you’ve been through I totally understand your hesitation. I would get multiple opinions from specialists and be guided by them, and by your knowledge of Bella and your situation, as to what’s best to do.
In Meg’s long and colourful career we have been to pretty much every referral hospital within a couple of hours of London and I’m happy to share our experience if that would be helpful. Whereabouts are you? (We’re in N1) It’s so good to meet another Londoner on here! A tripawd is a tripawd wherever they live, but when it comes to accessing veterinary care, meds, equipment and all the rest, there’s quite a bit of country specific stuff - so for once I may actually have something useful to contribute. I’m also very happy to chat on the phone if you’d like to. Just send me a pm.
Meg, Clare and Angel Pie xxx
PS it gets better, I promise!
Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, 23 November 2023, adopted 12 January 2024.
Also Angel Tripawd Meg (aka The Megastar), who died in April 2023, aged 14, after seven glorious years on three, and Angel Staffies Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...
Thank you Krun15 for popping Clare in touch. It is really appreciated.
Bells has had a better day today, three wee’s and three laps of the garden, with breaks along the way of each lap and each lap done at different times of the day. She fell asleep during her ice therapy, and also snored throughout the massage and the cream for her bruising. However still no sign of potty yet, other than a wee. But, with three laps of the garden and has shown a willingness to get up for the garden, today has been marked as a victory.
She is still eating on her bed, not wanting to go to stand for it, same with water too.
back to the vets on Tuesday for a check up, and assessment of her wound, pain and right leg check up to establish what the next steps are for her.
If she didn’t have fissures in her right elbow, or arthritis I’d feel a lot more comfortable with this process. Obviously within reason.
I am still coming to terms with the quick deterioration of a fun happy bouncy dog less than 4 weeks ago, to being notified on the day during surgery that her bone had broken into so many fragments due to infection taking hold & making that decision quickly for her to avoid two surgeries in two days. No pressure was put on me by the vets and kindly enough, the surgery and aftercare was free. But, nonetheless, I’m still coming to terms with the shock but I have my girl, and we are getting each other through day by day.
thank you once again for the support. I have found this forum exceptional in many different ways, and somewhat reassuring and comforting. It’s made a process of something I was completely lost and alone to start with, bearable and able to understand more. So thank you.
ps Bells is currently snoring away on her new orthopaedic bed which was an early birthday present from mumma (me) which she was meant to get on her 8th birthday on 22nd Sept! Xxxx
Bella - 8YO Springer Spaniel
Two Hip Replacements (2012, 2015)
One Hip Replacement Removal (2019)
One Front Left Amputation (09/09/20)
Yes, thank you Karen for alerting Claire, and Claire, for stopping by to share your experience! It's so helpful.
I would definitely jot down today as being a victory day!
Poop will eventually happen, it always does. Some dogs take longer than others. I'm wondering if you tried adding a tasty topper to her food (steamed squash, pumpkin pulp or even boiled chicken), and then put it in her usual spot, if that will get her motivated to try getting up and out of bed to eat normally again?
Amputation is difficult enough without adding complications in, but you are handling this like a champ Flossy! Little by little you're both getting to that new normal. I'm so glad Bella is enjoying her new comfy bed. She's a lucky dog!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
We finally have a big victory this evening. Wee just before bed, and a poopsie!
Hopefully update you all in a few days with our progress!
Nic & Bells x
Bella - 8YO Springer Spaniel
Two Hip Replacements (2012, 2015)
One Hip Replacement Removal (2019)
One Front Left Amputation (09/09/20)
YAAAAY FOR 💩💩😇 AND especially a. big YAAAY for walking around the garden!! HUGE VICTORY!! HUGE!!
Sooo glad Karen had Clare chi e in on MegAStar! ♥️♥️♥️
And definitely agree about getting a second or third orthopedic opinion if you are in the position to do so financially amd geographically as well.
So, she's showing some mobility today by walking (hopping) around the garden, YAY!!!. Was this on her own or assisted? Either way, still a huge victory!
If the main problem now is the "actual act of getting up as opposed to walking, it may indicate an issue with a back sprain, or even a neck sprain. Anyway, just throwing that out there. Obviously your exquisite care and spa massages" are helping.
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!
Best news ever! Thank you for sharing. Did you ever think you'd be so excited about pee and poo? lol!
That's a great sign that things are on the upswing. Cheers to more of the same! Let us know how the week goes.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hello everybody!!
Well - where do we begin!!
It’s all positive news (I think!!)
We turned a page yesterday, and she is happily getting up on her own, and telling me she wants to go outside. The problem, (if this is a problem), is that she now won’t sit down!!!
She sits for a minute or so, then back up and wants to walk. shes unsettled, and we had a fan on her as it was hot, plus we’ve been out in the garden plenty of times, plus I’ve done a couple of ice therapy and every time she sits I massage her neck, back and hips.
I think it may be coming into boredom, she’s realised she can walk (assisted with a sling, she stands and waits for me to pop the sling on) so I think now she’s wanting to go! Ordered a few games and edible games for her to try. But, otherwise, I’m out of ideas!!
she’s doing realllly well though, and perked up lots. Waiting for the vet to call me back in regards to fitting a bolt in her right elbow maybe next week. It was meant to be tomorrow, but her slow progress made me feel waiting a week was best for her!
thank you for the love and support, as always!
Nics & Bells xx
Bella - 8YO Springer Spaniel
Two Hip Replacements (2012, 2015)
One Hip Replacement Removal (2019)
One Front Left Amputation (09/09/20)
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