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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Hi all,
My name's Emily and my sweet 12 year old boy Elmer ( a shepherd/hound/lab mix -- about 65 pound) just had a forelimb amputation due to soft tissue sarcoma. He's just a few days post surgery, and being a total champ, but so far he is struggling to get off his old bed, which is memory foam. Any tips on beds for forelimb amputees? He seems to prefer being closer to the floor but also to want some padding, so I'd love some advice from any of you with this experience as to good beds for these circumstances). And, while we're not quite ready for it yet, any and all rehab/exercise tips would be most welcome. Elmer was a terrifically active guy most of his life and slowed down with this but I suspect may benefit from some focused activity once the initial healing process has progressed a bit more.
Thank you in advance for any tips 🙂
Emily
Hi Emily and Elmer, welcome! Sorry you had to join our club.
First tell us what kind of pain management does Elmer have right now? Could that be making him woozy and unable to get out of bed? If so that is not uncommon. How firm is his mattress?
Also, as far as rehab exercise go, I'm so glad you asked. Seeing a therapist is so beneficial and the Tripawds foundation can even pay for your first rehab visit ! We always recommend seeing a therapist first before beginning any home exercises.
For now have him just take it easy and relax, rest is necessary for his body to heal.
Thank you, Jerry. We are glad this club exists, even if sorry to be part of it. So thank you for hosting it. He's on pretty good pain management . Carprofen, gaba, amantadine, and some tramadol. He's improving with the mattress, but I think something thinner and firmer would be better (his is like a 4 inch high ortho memory foam, so not too soft). And, thanks so much for the rec re: funding a rehab. that's amazing. Yes, I want him to see a therapist for sure. While we're at it, he's developed a weeping seroma . The vet said it's ok but wow it's scary. Any advice? We are going back for a bandage change and check again first thing tomorrow, so don't worry, he is cared for and they said it's not infected.
Thank you, Emily
jerry said
Hi Emily and Elmer, welcome! Sorry you had to join our club.First tell us what kind of pain management does Elmer have right now? Could that be making him woozy and unable to get out of bed? If so that is not uncommon. How firm is his mattress?
Also, as far as rehab exercise go, I'm so glad you asked. Seeing a therapist is so beneficial and the Tripawds foundation can even pay for your first rehab visit ! We always recommend seeing a therapist first before beginning any home exercises.
For now have him just take it easy and relax, rest is necessary for his body to heal.
Aww you are so welcome.
Yes, we find that firm and low profile is better for Tripawds.
Seromas are really common, it happens to a lot of dogs. As long as it's more watery and not bloody, smelly, or cloudy tinged, he's probably fine. I'm glad you're seeing the vet team tomorrow. Let us know how it goes.
Just catching up on your sweet Emily. Jerry has forgiven great input and support
Mh Hqppy Hannah (a rear legger) had ma seroma ...twice. it started clearing up and came back. Looked like a sagging boob 😱 If I recall, it never leaked. As Jwrry said though, that does happen. I'm sure the Vet will double check the seepage to make sure there was no jnfection, etc.
I dif get the Large Big Barker Bed for my Happy Hannah (125 lbs) Chevk it out in our Gear Sction. It is an investment, but IMO, well worth it .I've had the first one for over ten years and can truly say it has not sagged one bit. Often through the years it's provided rest space for two dogs at once total almost 200 lbs of dog. Anyway, I think Big Barker makes a bed for crates that won't be as thick as some other, but still vrry supportive!
You are an excellent caregiver for your sweet Emily. She's clearly adored♥️
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!
Hi all,
Thanks so much for the kind words, advice and reassurances. Grateful to say there is no infection, and Elmer gets a little better every day. I do find that he is more clingy and nights are hardest for him, but overall, slowly things are improving.
Thanks again,
Emily
Lacey had her front left leg amputated. My wife bought a bed for downstairs and both Lacey and I slept there for 2-3 weeks. She is a go getter and loves chasing the ball but we never did any therapy afterwards in terms of physical therapy. Your situation is different it seems and I am curious what they prescribe for therapy and how it goes. Good luck.
When we go for chemo appointments I see the same few dogs there for water therapy. I am sure I botched that therapy up but I just know they are in a small pool...LOL
This is a nice place but not quite the club I thought I'd be a member..... Life throws us a curve ball now again and I guess we need to learn to hit them along with the fastball..... Ugh....
Hi Emily,
Just wanted to say welcome to you and Elmer.
I can't help with the bed- I've had two small rear amp Tripawds and they both went against the 'best beds for Tripawds
' theory 
. They were/are nesters and prefer fluffy beds.
I'm glad you are seeing improvement! How is he doing now? Seems like he should be around 2 weeks out from surgery?
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls and Boy
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
I want to thank you all for the kind and insightful words. Elmer is just 2 weeks out, and happily hopped to the end of the block we live on tonight, sniffing and wagging. He's getting around better and better, and I found a bed that works for him for now. The tough turn of events is that it is (you an see in another post of mine) a parosteal osteosarcoma, not a soft tissue sarcoma as thought, so our next stop is the oncologist whom he knows too well as he already survived adenocarcinoma and a low grade soft tissue sarcoma before. They think chemo is the right next step, but I want to weigh it as he went through chemo once (adenoncarcinoma) and did great with it, but he's older now.... There's not a lot of info on this type of osteosarcoma as it is apparently rare, so I will listen to the oncologist and then make the call. Thanks to this wonderful community for support and any and all insights. Hope all of you are well!
Emily
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