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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Just recently I found out my 8 year old boxer had osteosarcoma mass growing in her left forelimb. Deciding to amputate or not was a really emotional and stressful decision but ultimately we wanted to give her the best quality of life for however long that may be. We proceeded to have the procedure and she has been recovering pretty well and her incision is healing nicely after having developed a seroma and that drained for about 4 days. I am not sure how to feel, maybe it’s all too soon and I am trying to be patient but I can’t help but feel that she is depressed. We are giving her constant reassurance and encouragement and even bought some simple puzzle toys to help stimulate her mind but she just doesn’t seem to have much interest in anything. Yes boxers already look like they have a worried look on there face most of the time but she just looks sadder then normal and it makes me feel like I maybe made the wrong choice in amputating her leg. I can’t help but worry I took something away from her and she will just not get back to her youthful self. Any advice or just relatable stories would be greatly appreciated.
Hi Desiree!
Your post has been approved and you will now see that you not only, are not alone.
BTW, what's your girl's name?
I assure you we can all relate to the doubts, concerns, second guessing , etc you are having. Recovery is no picnic at first and we all want our pups back to normal quickly!
You have to remember your sweet girl just had MAJOR surgery, all while adapting to three and, hopefully, while on some good pain meds.
Couple of questions.
How long ago was her surgery?
How much does she weigh?
What pain meds is she on, dose, frequency? Are you seeing any pain signals ?
Is she eating, drinking, peeing and pooping okay?
What is her activity level like? The first two weeks should just be SHORT, leashed potty breaks and back in for rest.
maybe made the wrong choice in amputating her leg. I can’t help but worry I took something away from her
You did take something away.....a bum leg that was painful and you removed the risk of a fracture! You GAVE her a pain free life and a chance at extended quality time for more loving and spoiling and snuggles and treats.👍
Even though it's hard, malke sure your energy is upbeat and confdent. Having a pawsitive uplifting attitude is so important for her to feel from you.
If she has a friend or family member,ber she really
Likes, have them come by for a visit with a CHEESEBURGER!! Have them act all giddy and excited to see her.....you get the point.
We'll look for your response and then maybe we can give more tips.
The biggest tip for right now is to remember that recovery doesn't last forever, it just feels like it! We are here for you and we will help you get through the recovery and on to celebrating as her Sparkle comes back!
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!
Thank you for approving my post and I really appreciate the response. Her name is Siren and she is the absolute best girl 
she just had her surgery on 09/19/24 so she is still freshly post op, she has adjusted pretty well. The next day she was able to urinate no problem with little assistance and was eating and drinking the very next day. I have not had any concerns with her getting back to those routine habits which I’m grateful for. I think it took her 2 days before she actually pooped and since then they have been normal and consistent. I was able to get a probiotic to put on her food from the vet since all the medication she is on. She weighs just about 70lbs.
She hasn’t shown too many signs of pain, the only actual yelp she let out was the night she got home of the surgery. They had her start on apap /codeine 300-30mg 1 tablet every 8 hours for 7 days and also had me giving her Gabapentin 100mg x2 every 12 hours for the first week and then cutting it down to 1 Gabapentin. She has completed the apap and is now only taking the Gabapentin but I have noticed the past couple nights I wake up and she is wide awake heavy panting and I do worry her pain is still pretty extreme. We have a follow up appointment this Friday to get her sutures removed so I may discuss further pain management with them.
Her activity level has been super minimal, we will go out only to use the potty and she does need a little encouragement to want to go outside and she does definitely take her time. I know her recovery is going to take time and this is a huge adjustment to her and I’m so proud with how she is doing even just in such a short amount of time. I am trying to keep a positive attitude around her and she has been getting a lot of visitors from my family and friends so that means lots of love and snuggles. Thanks again for taking the time to respond.
Hello and welcome.
Way back in 2006 I stood exactly where you are now. My Pug Maggie lost a back leg to mast cell cancer, she was 7.5 years old at the time. She could hop on her own the day of surgery, her appetite was fine, no pain issues, no medical issues at all. Maggie spent most of her time in bed for 6 weeks after her surgery, she wouldn't play with me and she wasn't very interested in anything. Mag's amp was before Tripawds was founded so we were all alone, and all of her vets had assured me that dogs adapt just fine to three paws
I was convinced that I had made a terrible mistake, I had the only dog that wasn't going to adapt.
In hindsight her slow recovery made perfect sense. Maggie was stubborn and set in her ways, she hated any change to her routines. For example she pouted for a month after I traded in my 2 seat truck for a small SUV and I wouldn't let her ride in the front seat anymore. She would sit with her back to me and refused to even look out the windows 
.
Around here we usually see pups get their sparkle back in two or three weeks, but all dogs recover and accept their new normal on their own timeline. Assuming there are no medical issues and her pain is properly controlled she may just need some more time. I know it is hard but you need to stay upbeat and positive around her. That is one huge mistake I made- Mag was grumpy so I was grumpy (and tired and stressed). I know she fed off my mood, she was very sensitive that way, so I wasn't helping the situation.
If she is cleared by the vet for more activity try taking her for a drive to her favorite park. She is probably still pretty weak so may not get very far but some new smells and fresh air might perk her up. Also having friends or family visit might help. Maggie always liked my parents so she would perk up a bit when one of them came to visit.
Yes boxers already look like they have a worried look on there face most of the time...
Yeah- Pugs too!
Stay positive for your girl and be patient. If you have any health concerns talk with your vet to make sure she is as comfortable as can be and is healing.
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
You're doing an excellent job of caring for siren! Overall, it sounds like she's doing really, really well! Eating drinking poop and peeing mobile... all spectacular news this early on!
cutting it down to 1 Gabapentin. She has completed the apap and is now only taking the Gabapentin but I have noticed the past couple nights I wake up and she is wide awake heavy panting and I do worry her pain is still pretty extreme.
Of course, not a vet and not giving vet advice but if I read this right, she's on one100 Gaba a day. ? .Or r even if it's 200 Gaba a day, that's really, really, really low.
It does sound like she is showing you pain signals . Rather than wait until friday, I would give the vet a call and see if you could increase the Gaba for her. I think you'll see a big difference in her ability to sleep through the night, as well as her Sparkle to start to return. If she's trying to fight pain while recovering that can definitely mess with her personality.
Try and get some rest yourself,. It's exhausting physically and mentally getting to this point. It will all be worth it, promise!
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!
So took the advice and followed up with her vet and was able to get her pain under control. Just last night alone was such a big difference, she rested comfortably the whole night and woke up today with a bit more pep in her step! She even wanted to play a bit today and that put a huge smile on my face. I’m so happy with how she is progressing and we have officially got a diagnosis that she does have (POSA) so we will be scheduling an evaluation with an oncologist in the area in the next week or so to start some course of treatment. I am eager and hopeful for these next steps and thanks for the support and advice.
So glad her pain is veing properly managed now!! Good job of advocating for better pain management !!!!
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!
Good for you for advocating for your girl!
I'm very glad to read that she is doing better and even wanting to play a little- a rear victory at this point!
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
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