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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Hello all,
Hard to believe that it’s been over two weeks since Abbie’s surgery. I will admit that the first week was quite a roller coaster ride!
Abbie is doing amazing (in my humble opinion). We did our best to keep her sequestered in the front living area but found after much whining she just wanted her routine of going to bed in our room. From that night in she, and we, were able to get some much needed rest.
She is getting around very well outside. A bit too fast for this mom! She’s a bit slower inside which is odd, but we are taking it all one day at a time. We have a down sloped driveway and notice she’s not crazy about going down it. I’m guessing it could be a balance issue for her. We will see how it goes.
Yesterday we put the house back to “normal”. She has free range and I have patchwork quilt floors! She is enjoying being outside on the deck and we are so glad to be seeing her sparkle again.
I so appreciate reading everyone’s journey on the forums and blogs. If we have to be on this journey it’s great to know there’s a place to go for help and inspiration.
Jeni and Abbie
p.s. On a side note I find the photos of the dogs with the stuffed Barney’s amusing. That was both of my daughters favorite toy! 
Awesome Abbie, you're rockin' the life! 
Cheers to the new normal and a life filled with sparkles and fun! You made it through recovery. CONGRATS!!!
Dogs who are missing a front leg will indeed find going down hills and stairs more challenging than going up. And yep, Tripawds do walk super fast to keep their momentum and balance. It's a natural part of their new gait. Your floors inside sound like they're still intimidating to her. It sounds like you do have traction but in segments? I know it's hard to cover everything! We had the same problem. You may want to try Dr. Buzby's Toe Grips to see if she can get some confidence back.
So glad you love the Barney pics! Have you read about the KillBarney Tour?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Good job Abbie!
My little rear amp Tripawd Elly's most comfortable gait is pretty fast- I have to do a brisk walk to keep up and she is only about 15 pounds! We have developed a walking routine where she goes out ahead of me and then finds something to investigate while I catch up. Sometimes though she will just stop and wait for me 
.
I bet as Abbie gets stronger the driveway will become easier for her.
Elly also goes slower in the house unless she is in the two rooms that are carpeted. I have some throw rugs on the vinyl and tile floors but I have to limit the rugs because I live with my elderly father and he tends to trip on them. Elly goes slowly on the bare floors and sticks to the carpet when she can.
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
So glad Abbie is getting her sparkle back. And I know she loves her "normal routines", like letting you share HER bedroom with her again🤣😂
One of our member described that her floors that had traction rugs ,all over them looked like a clown had thrown up all over them😉
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!
Happy Labor Day weekend!
Three weeks post op and Abbie is quite the trooper. You guys weren’t kidding when you said tripawd’s have a fast gait. We are
currently taking several short walks a day. This is challenging because I may have the only dog known to man kind who doesn’t like to go for walks. Prior to her amputation she would go “hide” by the pawrent that wasn’t taking her out. She’s one stubborn girl. Tomorrow we will go for a ride and get a bit of a change of scenery.
Abbie is off of all meds except for carprophen which she takes once a day. Occasionally she pops up and paces. Could this be phantom pain ? What if anything can we be doing for her?
Thanks 
So happy to hear how well sweet Abiie is doing!😊 And yes, to not want to go for a walk....she's definitely one of a kind!
Phantom pain comes out of the blue. The dog usually jumps up and yelps and tries to run away from the "cause" of the pain. It rarely lasts more than a minute and just needs some reass to calm them down.
Of course, check with your Vet if you have any concerns. If it persists and is intense, just check with the Vet about introducing Gabapentin back. Could be as simple as a leg cramp, or, as you said the phantom.
Keep us updated. And tha ks aign for sharing how happy she is....and it still gets better!
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!
Abbie is awesome! What good news to know that she is doing so well and the worst is over.
If she's not a fan of walks, you might want to look into a dog stroller for her. They're such a nice way to get out and have a change of scenery.
As for the odd jumping up and pacing, it could be some kind of phantom pain . I x2 Sally's suggestions and just want to add that when you call your vet, it would help your vet to know more details like, when exactly does it happen, at a certain time of day? And what was her activity prior to the episode? The more notes you can take the easier it will be to resolve.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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