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.
Join The Tripawds Community
Learn how to help three legged dogs and cats in the forums below. Browse and search as a guest or register for free and get full member benefits:
Instant post approval.
Private messages to members.
Subscribe to favorite topics.
Live Chat and much more!
Register
Log In
Members
Add Topic
Offline
I adopted a mini Schnauzer from a shelter about 7 weeks ago (I live in Cuenca, Ecuador.) Gandalf already had a partial leg amputation which should have been a full amputation. It was due to a car accident, not cancer. I consulted with a surgeon and next week Gandalf will have the rest of his front left leg removed because the bone is exposed and he has bleeding on the bottom of the stump. I feel so bad for him going through this again! I am worried about him. How did you all cope with the surgery? I have already ordered a harness for him but I am very worried. We have no yard and he goes to the park to do his "business." Please share with me your experiences.
I think you'll be surprised at how well Gandalf will handle the second surgery. I've even heard that they get better balance from a full amputation as opposed to a partial amputation. I know it's all new to you and the days after surgery are hard whether or not he's had this done before and this is your first time so you will worry no matter what. Are there any small patches of grass near your home? My pekepoo Henry had a left leg amputation almost a month ago. I live in a condo and he didn't like to potty in our small yard (still doesn't) and prefers to walk to the end of our complex to a field. The first few days he did stay close to home. It was a slow go but we ended up walking where he wanted to go. Can you carry him to the park? Sorry you're both having to go thru this. Prayers and hugs to you both. Please keep us posted how he's doing. I've gotten lots of great feedback since I started posting here. Everyone is so nice and very helpful. Post any concerns you have pre and post-op!! 
Hi Gandalf and family welcome to our community 
I was told for my dog who is a huge Great Dane and lost her front leg, that it would be much better to loose the entire leg than half the leg.
Balance is apparently much easier if they don't have to negotiate the stump ... and we are sooooooo happy Gandalf doesn't have cancer so once the leg is gone he can recover fully.
Also, smaller dogs adapt so much better than big breeds!
Have a look at some of her videos hopping around under Eurydice hope that will reassure you.
Todo va a ir bien !!!!!
As for the surgery the first couple of weeks are generally not easy but it all improves once the stitches come out.
If you have slippery floors please get some mats or carpet plus rubber underlay so he has a safe path to hop around.
Until stitches came out Eurydice wore a t-shirt to protect the wound and a harness over it.
As he is so small, going to the park is not a problem as you can gently carry him in your harms until he is strong enough to hop all the way there to do his business. But honestly I expect him to be ready to be independent before you can say woof woof.
Sending you a big hug and cuddles to your mini schnauzer
Eurydice 77kg/170lb Great Dane limping end of April 2016, amputation (right front leg/osteosarcoma) 4 May 2016 6 courses of carboplatin followed by metronomic therapy, lung mets found 30 Nov 2016. 3 courses of doxorubicin, PET scan 26 Jan 2017 showed more mets so stopped chemo. Holistic route April 2017. Lung X-ray 5 May 2017 showed several tennis ball size mets, started cortisone and diuretics. Miss Cow earned her XXL silver wings 12 June 2017, 13 months and 1 week after amputation and 6 1/2 months after lung mets, she was the goofiest dawg ever and is now happily flying from cloud to cloud woof woofing away :-)
How far away is the park? You can probably carry him there and back, but maybe some puppy pee pads just in case. He may be able to hop all the way there and back right away, but its better to try to keep them a little quiet at first. My (big) guy got the hang of hopping pretty quickly, but he only had to hop a few steps to the back lawn. Now we go for walks, which are shorter than they used to be but still good!
He probably has furry feet - you definitely will want something on your floors if they are hardwood, tile, etc. I got yoga mats - they were cheap and they work great. It really helped him with his confidence to not be worried about slipping. You may also want to get him some little t-shirts - Clyde hated the cone of shame and the t-shirts helped protect his incision site (I would take off his cone when with him - it stayed on when I was out of the house and at night at least for the first week). Plus, he looked super cut in his shirts!
I'm sorry Gandalf (I LOVE that name by the way) had a hard start to his life, but bless you for adopting a less than perfect puppy. He will flourish with three legs, and is lucky to have found you!
I agree with the others. Everything I have heard suggests that unless you are going to try a prosthetic, the stump gets in the way and is prone to injury. Recovery is a long two weeks and managing pain meds with your vet is key. But, he has already been getting around on 3 legs, so he should adapt fairly easily once he gets through the recovery part.
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
Just catching up. You've gotten some great advice.
I'm so sorry your precious Gandolph has to go thru this again. It is MAJOR surgery and it can be a vb bitit of a rough recovery for about two weeks.
Sounds like this really is a painful leg and at risk for infection. Is this an Orthopedic Surgeon who will be doing the amputation? Guess if he could delay the surgery a bit he would.
Just a thought...I wonder if the Shelter is willing (or able) to help with the cost. Gandolph is mighty lucky to have such a caring and loving home, that's for sure!
Here in the States most pups are sent home with Tramadol and Gabapentin (for surgery pain and nerve pain), Rimadyl (an anti inflammatory) and an antibiotic. Generally, not always, they are on some form of pain meds avout two weeks, possibly a little more...or less. Every dog is different. Every recovery is different.
Most dogs spend one night and are watched over during the night.
Sometimes they appear to feel better thr first two or three days and then crash. The hospital meds are out of their system by then and getting the pain meds balanced becomes the priority.
Yes, it is scary and surgery daynis stressful...for us humans...not for Gandolph! He'll be zonked out on heavy duty pain meds and seeing pink elephants! I found eating lots of CHOCOLATE and ice cream helped calm my nerves...just sayin'!
STAY CONNECTED! We understand like no others can! We also have experienced the ups and downs of recovery so we can offer lots of support and first hand knowledge.
YOU ARE NOT ALONE, OKAY? We are all right here with you and Gandolph. Once he completes recovery you will be amazed at how well he gets along without that painful leg.
(((((((((((((((((((((((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!
1 Guest(s)
