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Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat

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Absolutely overwhelmed
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Member Since:
14 March 2019
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14 March 2019 - 10:19 pm
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Hello to al in the Tripawds family.

My 10 yo very Large Golden lost his leg to cancer and the Vet told me that  he could have the surgery and would be fine as a 3 legged dog.  I agreed to the surgery, he just had it and I was hoping some good soul out there could give me some hints on what to do next.  By that I mean working through this time where he can’t walk at all.  Some advice, what things worked for you.  Then, how do I retrain him to walk.  The vet gave me nothing.  He’s a big big framed Golden at 106 lbs.  I’m quite overwhelmed.  I have 3 dogs.

Thank you

On The Road


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15 March 2019 - 5:38 am
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Hi and welcome. Your future posts won’t need approval so post away. I’m sorry things are ruff right now. When did your dog come home from surgery? What kind of pain meds is he on?

Have you seen Jerry’s Required Reading List yet? Or our What to Expect series? See

https://tripawd.....to-expect/

I’m on my phone now sorry to be so brief but I’ll be back in a bit with more feedback. Hang in there!

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

Virginia







Member Since:
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15 March 2019 - 10:38 am
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YOU ARE NOT ALONE!!   We will help you through his recovery, which can be scary, that's  for sure!  The good news, recovery  doesn't  last furever! You are in the roughest part right now, plus you are exhausted  mentally and physically.   We jnderstand!!

Okay, deep breaths, really, take some deep breaths!  B R E A T H E.....You have come to the right place for support and information,  ESPECIALLY  about the recovery period!!

Lots of questions for you, and just to repeat  some of Jerry's. What pain  meds is he on?  Dose and consistency?  Did he spend one night jn a 24/7 staffed clinic?  Did they say he stood at all, not walked necessarily,  but stood with help?  Front leg or back?  Drinking and peeing?   May not feel like eating or pooping uet.  Sometimes  they take a bit longer to get their appetite  back and the meds mess with their poop routine.

Sounds like surgery was very recent....maybe within the last several days??? If that's  the case, what you described  is not unusual at all!!    Regardless, it takes larger, more "mature" dogs a bit longer to recover  from this MAJOR surgery and to get their sea legs!  

You can use a towel as a sling to help him stand and to help him take a few steps.  Some dogs just freeze if you try and help them, so don't  be upset if he does that.

Try some gentle massage up and down his spine, his neck and shoulder areas, gentle stretching  of his legs several times a day.    Once he do3s fet a vit mpre movile, he should only do SHORT potty breaks, NO stairs, no jumping , etc, just rest, rest, rest.

We'll wait for your response  so we can better guide you, okay??  What's your sweet Golden's name?

Hang in there and write back as soon as you can.

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!

On The Road


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15 March 2019 - 11:35 am
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Back now, wanted to share the link to Jerry's Required Reading List :

https://tripawd.....ding-list/

Depending on when he came home, most doggies are slow and groggy the first few days. Gradually they get their sparkle back when the round of pain medications is over. As for retraining, it's likely your pup won't need it and will be hopping around on three soon. 

Has he gone to the bathroom yet? Is he eating and drinking water?

The more you can share with us about his situation the better we can help OK? Hope to hear from you soon.

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

Member Since:
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15 March 2019 - 11:45 am
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My Otis was a 106 pound, barrel chested male lab and he did just fine on three.   Our walks weren't very long, and we tended to rest midway through, but he enjoyed life with his sister Tess.   The first two weeks, there was not much activity (and that is normal - do not feel that you need to get exercise at this time).   I moved my mattress on the floor on the first floor and put Otis' bed next to it.   We had beds throughout the first floor - one in each room except the kitchen.   And then one day, he got up and hopped over to the window to look out.   I was so proud of him.  

You will not have to retrain him to walk - dogs do not view themselves as disabled.   They just figure out how to do whatever they want to do.   My Otis could chase squirrels and cats, steal food off of the counters, play and climb the stairs once he recovered from the surgery.  Throughout your home, nonslip runners (or yoga mats) are important on tile and wood floors for traction .   I organized my furniture to avoid trip hazards and removed the frame from my bed to make it lower for him (he slept with me).  Make sure that his food and water bowl are elevated so that he does not get unbalanced while eating.   If he raises his leg to urinate,  you might have to help him with balance at first.   We started up against the house (sorry, gross I know, but it worked) and then graduated to me standing close so that he could lean on my leg for balance.   Very quickly, he learned how to do it without help.  

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.


Member Since:
14 March 2019
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15 March 2019 - 12:16 pm
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I hope I’ve answered every question in the following.  I am so angry.

Name =Rheaghan

106 lbs very large framed Golden Retriever Aged 9.

Medication = Previcox 227 mg every 12 hours.

Cephalexin 1000 mgs 2x a day

Stayed the night - not a staffed clinic at night.

They said nothing, gave no real advice, just charged $1500. Oh wait, they said to leave the wound completely open to let the air at it.  Wound was bleeding. I gently washed the wound and put a T-shirt on him.

Front right leg

Has walked today about 30 feet.  He loves my wife and tries to follow her everywhere and is having some success today.

I know he’s in pain.  He is definitely in pain.  I’m calling them after I send this.

Has not peed or pooped. 

I am going to try to get him outside with my son’s help.

I feel like he’s been butchered and left with no guidance

I appreciate all your kindness

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15 March 2019 - 12:26 pm
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My Otis also lost his front leg and was a mature dog, so it sounds like we were in very similar circumstances.  Feel free to cyberstalk my old posts to see how it developed for us (which is what I did with other members' old posts) or my blog (which is mainly pictures).   The Tshirt was a great idea - we all did it. 

Some stray thoughts - 30 feet is a long way right now.   I spent a lot of time binge watching TV in the same room as Otis.  If there is any way your wife could hang out in the same room as Rheaghan that would be great.  Not surprising about the poop - sometimes that takes a couple of days due to the pain meds and surgery, but he should pee soon.   If you can get him outside to a favorite spot that would be great - up against a tree or the house will help him feel secure enough to lift his leg if that is the way he customarily goes.   Unfortunately, the medication protocols have changed since Otis' surgery, so I cannot help you with that, but definitely call the vet re:  pain control.  

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.

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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15 March 2019 - 12:30 pm
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I'm in the Tripawds Chat right now if you want to hop over and talk. Back in a sec with feedback...

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

Member Since:
14 February 2016
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15 March 2019 - 12:36 pm
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I'm going to Chat too if you want to join.

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.

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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15 March 2019 - 12:37 pm
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Okay, sounds like he's just been home a day or so.  And you are spot on about needing more meds!!!

Advocate for Gabapentin Tramadol....you already have rhe antibiotic  and the anti inflammatory,  so that's  good.  Check out this link pain management .   Its hard to believe  that some Bets are not up to date in pain meds fot s major surgery like rhis.  We see it here sometimes and it absolutely infuriates  us!!   So advocate for those meds!  Demand them!!  You have paid big bucks for PROPER care!

Ask the Vet when he peed.  They should have a record.  Make sure he conn yo drink water, even if it  mearns swirl a scoop of ice cream in it to make him drink.

Some Vets wrap the wound, some don't.   Can you tell us more about the bleeding.  Some SLIGHT  leakage is normal sometimes.   But if it's  a lot of blood, he  may need a compression  bandsge, sometimes  they even need a drain.

Glad he is able to be mobile, but, again, just sloooow and easy, lots and lots of bed rest.  Walk only to get to potty for now.

Let us know when you get the pajn meed.  Amd, again, demand them!  How would thst Bet like having  his leg removed and only given an anti inflammatory!!  He'd  be screaming for morphine every hour!!

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!

On The Road


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24 September 2009
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15 March 2019 - 12:42 pm
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Ok, try to stay as optimistic and calm as you can, Rheaghan needs to know you've got this covered. I know you can do it!

It looks like you didn't get nearly enough pain medication for him, that could be a big part of the problem. Unless he received a post-operative pain medication like Noticta? Do you see anything on his discharge papers that specify a 3-day pain medication? Maybe a Fentanyl patch? 

I agree, he's doing too much too soon right now. Your goal is to keep him contained to a very small area of your home. He should be resting and not moving around other than to go potty. I know this is SO hard, but it makes for a better recovery and less chance of a seroma , a fluid build-up?

When exactly did he come home? If he hasn't urinated in 12 hours your vet needs to know. You can also help speed things along. Have you ever had to manually express a dog's bladder? I can point you to instructions if necessary.

OK I see others are going to chime in so I don't want to overwhelm you. Stay strong and you can always call the Tripawds Helpline to talk live OK? 

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

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