Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi there my name is brooke my 7 year old french mastiff is chunk. Hes the sweetest boy so full of life and energy until Thursday October 25 2018. The day of amputation. He had osteo in his left front leg . We debated for about 2 to 3 weeks on what to do for him . Hes on 300mg gabapentin 100mg of rimadyl 2 times a day every 12 hours for pain. Hes also on CBD oil and tumeric chews. And blue moon herbs Essiac tea. I know the gabapentin can make our babies very tired. We are on day 3 post op. Chunk has a very hard time getting up on his own he needs a lot of help. (143lbs of muscle) he can't figure out his weight or balance quite yet. His right front paw is very sore and developing a callous on the outside of his toe due to his foot in a awkward pos9when we do get him up to try to pee. We had to take him the animal hospital (metzgers) Saturday oct 27th bc chunk wasn't peeing on his own. He was eating and drinking fine but couldn't pee . So we took him in they had to cath him to get the urine out. Once the cath was in he peed around the cath and then just peed out the cath. We got him up and outside the vet followed and he peed there great. The ride home was fine got him in the house fine. He slept all afternoon. After supper tried to take him out and he wouldn't go. He pooped but wouldn't pee. So we brought him in and went to sleep I stay downstairs with him on the couch every night since we brought him home he has a big bed he lays on. In the night he peed himself and on the early morning he did again I got him up this morning to go out and still nothing . I got him in the house and cleaned him up washed his bedding. Noticed that he just dribbles urine where he lays . He now has pee pads under him. A few times now he shows no interest to get up at all to go outside. We have 3 steps leading in and out of our house so he has to go down them to get to the yard . I dont know if hes afraid of the the steps or thinks hes going back to the vet but he just won't pee outside. He dont seem to be in any pain at all . Can anyone please give me some insite.? I have a big sling for him but he slides out of it a lot and it also hurts our backs esp my husband who has rods in his back so it's very difficult I ordered a front and back end harness to better help us help him . Should be here monday . Can anyone relate? Will this get better? Did I do the right thing for my sweet boy ?
brookeknable17 said
He dont seem to be in any pain at all...
Can anyone relate? Will this get better? Did I do the right thing for my sweet boy ?
Welcome and best wishes for Chunk! Don't miss the many pain management posts in the Tripawds News blog . There are various signs of pain in dogs and cats that often get overlooked.
And yes, everyone here can relate. It does get better, and you are doing what you believe is best, so that is the right thing.
While you wait for comments from others, use the Advanced Search above to refine your forum search results with specific phrases, and you're sure to find lots of helpful feedback. You can also search all blogs here . Or, consider downloading the Tripawds e-books for fast answers to common concerns and feel free to call the toll-free Tripawds Helpline anytime!
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Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I'm in love💕 Chunks avatar is so cute! Love that sweet smoochable mug!
You absolutely did the right thing for your Chunk! It's just hard to realize it this early out of surgery...MAJOR surgery!
Yes, this is VERY, VERY EARLY in recovery from MAJOR SURGERY for a big dog trying to adjust to three while on pain meds!! The fact that he's mobile at all, even though you have to help him , is such a good sign that he will be able to adjust to three legs soon.
The fact that he's already pooping and peeing, eating and drinking, huge victories!!! And yes, even peeing in bed for short term happens. He's just now shaking off his strong hospital meds and starting to come out of the left over anesthesia/meds fog.
Many dogs just will not poop or pee if there owner is by their side using a sling. Once he gets steadier on his feet, maybe once you help him outside you can drop the sling, step away, and see of he'll pee his own then.
Right now, just like all of us, you are in the "What have I done TO my dog?" In a other week or two (okay, it took me three weeks), you'll be saying, "I'm so glad I did this FOR my dog!"
Hang in there and, when you can, hope you'll post some more pictures of precious!!
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!
Yes we can all relate. Those doubts and worries have gone through all of our heads during our dogs and cat's recoveries. Day 3 post op is killer both for humans and dogs. Chunk might be having trouble peeing due to the pain meds but he needs those pain meds very much right now. He's doing well. Eating and drinking and pooping. You'll see a little more improvement each day. You're doing great! Hang in there!
Val
Those first few days are tough.we all know what you are going through. Just give it time (easier said than done). You need to be patient, Chunk (love the name!) will get there and it will get better. Sending hugs
Benny55 thank you so much for your kind words hes getting better by the hour now it feels like this morning he peed the bed ALOT !! like Alot alot . But I cleaned him up good and got him in the sling and my husband helps him outside and I lead him he pooped this morning no peeing outside yet but well get there. He did try to stand up on his own this morning hes still really weak yet but he tried which I'm glad hes trying . I cut his food to half in the morning and half at night with some green beans to help him slim down a little bit. He wants so bad to get on the couch and go upstairs to his room ( he has his own room with a queen size bed ) but he just can't yet . He struggles with the 3 steps going outside to poo. But I'm being patient and praying alot I will get more pictures up as soon as I figure it out lol
Day 4 post op . Chunk is doing SO!!!!! much better today . Hes wide awake alert and standing on his own he got up himself today and took 10 to 15 steps to the water dish. And stood there with no help to drink . Still peeing on the pee pads but I'm happy he is more attentive and alert and trying to stand and walk on his own .
Hi Brooke, hang in there. I know your pain. My pittie had the same leg removed 12 days ago. She is 14 years old and was already a slow elderly dog before the amputation. It's been my experience that the meds zonk them so much that it's difficult for them to stand or move. Chunk will get his bearings in time.
Is it possible to move him to an area where he doesn't need to use stairs to go outside? Or, since it's only a few stairs, maybe they can be covered with a quick plywood ramp to make it easier.
My dog will go up stairs but she still won't go down them. I think going down is extremely difficult for forelimb amputees. Not only does that one leg have to support all the weight of the front half of their body but, when going downstairs, it has to do even more. He's going to need help and support until he's ready to walk on his own.
I hope this helps. Sending lots of love and good vibes your way. ❤
YAY for Chunk! That is such great news, we are celebrating for your rock star! 
And yes Beija's dad, it is more difficult and scary for front-leg amputees to go down stairs. That's why Jerry always had his Ruffwear Webmaster harness on throughout the day. We rarely let him go down stairs without assisting him. The handle on that harness is a life saver.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
So happy to hear he is doing better. Every day gets a little easier. My dog was also eager to get on the couch but I turned all my chairs around and blocked off the couch. If you could have seen what my living room looked like😂plus a mattress on the floor for me to sleep in for the first 2 weeks. Now we are back upstairs on the bed. He will get back to his favorite places before you know it.
Try this link for pictures. adding images
There are two BEST PARTS of your post:
#1 Chunk is showing his determination to do things like he always has😎 That is a great indicator that he will be doing all those things before long!! Still baby steps at first though.
#2 Your ability to recognize he IS improving and making progress! It is so important to recognize this and celebrating these things everyday! Recognizing these victories sustain you during recovery and help you cheer Chunk on so he has the confidence he needs to master his tripawdness!
CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH OF YOU😀
Hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too
PS Until Chunk can have his position on HIS couch again, maybe you could put a cushion on the floor next to him as his little "security blanket".😉
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!
today was the 1st day I felt good to leave him . Hes was with my mom all afternoon she took such good care of him as she a dog lover has a English mastiff and lab also . (Chunks meme) he walked around outside for her today by himself she left him do his thing without her standing beside him still not sure if he peed outside on his own. Hes still really leaking urine he needs a bath really bad bc hes smelling of pee wiping him down with soap and water isn't helping anymore. Should I get him checked out if he dont pee on his own outside or is this normal till the drugs from surgery get out of his system ?
YAY FOR CHUNK!!!! Walking around on his own.....YAAAAAY!!
Yeah, I would give the Vet a call to keep him in the loop about the pee. He can advise if you need to come in or just continue to monitor him.
So glad to hear how well he did today! Give your Mom a hug 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!
I'm going to call them in the morning . And I definitely will hug her she's the best taught me so much about fur babies over the years . Thank you all for your support and advise this really keeps my mind at ease
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