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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Great news guys my Ash was able to take her few steps and did fine according to my father who is doggy sitting for me. Oh my goodness there is light at the end of the tunnel after all!!!! It has been tremendously hard to see her going from a happy, energetic, loving and an extremely spoiled to not allowing you to touch her or pet her. Hearing her cry was so painful and not knowing how to help her. But I think she is feeling a lot better and is ready for all her regular routines to resume. We also have a Pit Zeus 7 yrs old who is her partner in crime "big and scary looking in the outside" but a baby all the way knows that his sister is sick he won't bark he won't eat and mopes around and wants to be in the mix to hear everything we say about Ashley lol. They grew up together and I'm super scared he might get to close to her and hurt her" not intentional. I don't know when will the right time to allow him to get real close to her?
I am super happy to see Ashley is making progress. I think it is harder for the pawrent when they come home so soon after surgery. We didn't pick Trouble up until day 3 and she was already able to get up and about on her own. We did just a few days of 'helping' with a sling and then she didn't need assistance.
I'm not much help on when to allow the sibling dog to interact. Trouble was 6 months into her journey when we added Duke to our pack. I am thinking I would wait until the stitches are removed and Ashley is moving about well on her own - maybe even past the two week recovery period mark to be on the safe side.
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
That is great progress. Keep it up Ashley. I know i still worry. Sassy is almost 5 months post amputation & when she wants to go she just goes weather or not she has her other leg under her or not LOL
Keep up the good work Ashley
Michelle & Sassy
Sassy is a proud member of the Winter Warriors. Live long, & strong Winter Warriors.
sassysugarbear.tripawds.com
07/26/2006 - Sassy earned her wings 08/20/2013
05/04/2006 - Bosch, Sassy's pal, earned his wings 03/29/19 fought cancer for 4 months.
"You aren't doing it TO her, you are doing it FOR her. Give her a chance at life."
That's terrific progress, congratulations 
How rough does Ashley and Zeus like to play together? If they are rough and tumble you might want to wait until the stitches are out, then take things slowly. Too much activity can cause a setback. In general most packmates will give the healing dog enough room to recuperate without causing any problems. I would watch them carefully if keeping them apart is difficult. If it hasn't been a problem, I would think that waiting till the stitches are out is probably the best idea.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Great news! I will just let you know how Sambuca was with the other dogs. The first couple of days, he was hesitant to let them near him and they were actually the same way. They wanted to be together and with us, but gave Sam his distance. Plus, Sambuca was coming off of the drugs from the surgery and didn't want to do much of anything and was pretty pitiful. A few more days and everyone was getting back to normal. We let the dogs, one at a time, come in with Sambuca, sniff, kiss and lay down with him. Keep in mind, Sam doesn't wrestle around and is pretty lazy to begin with. So we weren't worried about stitches coming out or anything. I know we are only 3 weeks past amputation, but I'm learning pretty quickly, the sooner we let them get back to their normal routine, the happier everyone seems to be. Maybe Ashley just needs a little bit more healing time and a little bit of her buddy to comfort her.
Great news!
When Shooter came home our other three wanted to sniff at him and check him out, but didn't really shove or push. He is the alpha in the house so if he gave warning they moved away. We did have to watch going in and out the door for awhile as everyone gets in a hurry, but overall they just gave him his space.
Spirit Shooter was a Miniature Australian Shepherd who was diagnosed with a MCT and had a LF amp 1/28/13 at 13-1/2 years old.
Shooter crossed the Bridge on 8/28/13, his 7 month ampuversary and two weeks from his 14th birthday.
Yay Ashley! Standing ovation for standing!! You'll still have some ups and downs so don't be surprised. I know you'll feel such relief every time you see that "Ashly Attitude" come back! It's still there, just hiding out resting up for all the new found energy that is just around the corner
Ash may not feel like being too "sociable" til he starts feeling a little better and not so vulnerable..
So happy for the victory. Naive her some applause for us, Sally and Happy Hannah
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!
I'm so relieved that she's gotten up! Yay Ash! 
My other pit, Kismet, was pretty careful around Kerm at first, but since he's gotten more active, she has too, & she's knocked him down several times inadvertently. He just gets back up & carries on, but I've had to really get after her to control herself around him so that he doesn't get hurt.
Yay, that's great news. Keep updating us!
Topher
Vet Assistant (in school to be a licensed vet technician)
1.5 years Oncology department, moved to rehab & sportsmed December 2024
Tripawd Angel, Cora the Determined <3
Wonderful!!!! YEY!
ACL tear in right hind leg 12/5/12 and scheduled ACL repair surgery 12/21/12. Pre-op xrays revealed osteosarcoma. Amputation 12/28/12. Chemo (carboplatin) started Jan 10, 2013 and ended on April 5, for a total of 5 doses. He handled carbo like a champ! No side effects. We started metronomic therapy at his third chemo and have been also doing some holistic treatments. He's a lively, playful 10 year old huskie-boarder collie and a very proud member of the Winter Warriors! Our love. Our funny little guy!
hugapitbull said
I am super happy to see Ashley is making progress. I think it is harder for the pawrent when they come home so soon after surgery. We didn't pick Trouble up until day 3 and she was already able to get up and about on her own. We did just a few days of 'helping' with a sling and then she didn't need assistance.I'm not much help on when to allow the sibling dog to interact. Trouble was 6 months into her journey when we added Duke to our pack. I am thinking I would wait until the stitches are removed and Ashley is moving about well on her own - maybe even past the two week recovery period mark to be on the safe side.
Yeah I think I will wait until stiches are removed completely just to be safe. Thank you for your feed back =)
Michelle said
That is great progress. Keep it up Ashley. I know i still worry. Sassy is almost 5 months post amputation & when she wants to go she just goes weather or not she has her other leg under her or not LOL
Keep up the good work Ashley
Michelle & Sassy
Yeah I can see Ash being her old self and that worries me lol. Ash has more then 9 lifes i tell you she is a runner and has gotten away a few times that's why I was not going to give up on her. She may not have all 4 but she is still that terrible but adorable Peruvian baby of mine thank you =)
jerry said
That's terrific progress, congratulationsHow rough does Ashley and Zeus like to play together? If they are rough and tumble you might want to wait until the stitches are out, then take things slowly. Too much activity can cause a setback. In general most packmates will give the healing dog enough room to recuperate without causing any problems. I would watch them carefully if keeping them apart is difficult. If it hasn't been a problem, I would think that waiting till the stitches are out is probably the best idea.
Zeus is 7yrs old he is geting old I can say Ashley keeps him on check you can say she rules him lol. Yes I plan to keep them apart just a little more time, well at least until her stiches come out just to be sure there is no set backs. Thanks Jerry
Amy said
Great news! I will just let you know how Sambuca was with the other dogs. The first couple of days, he was hesitant to let them near him and they were actually the same way. They wanted to be together and with us, but gave Sam his distance. Plus, Sambuca was coming off of the drugs from the surgery and didn't want to do much of anything and was pretty pitiful. A few more days and everyone was getting back to normal. We let the dogs, one at a time, come in with Sambuca, sniff, kiss and lay down with him. Keep in mind, Sam doesn't wrestle around and is pretty lazy to begin with. So we weren't worried about stitches coming out or anything. I know we are only 3 weeks past amputation, but I'm learning pretty quickly, the sooner we let them get back to their normal routine, the happier everyone seems to be. Maybe Ashley just needs a little bit more healing time and a little bit of her buddy to comfort her.
Aww I love that name "Sambuca" how origional!! Yeah I can't wait for my pups to be their old selfs again I miss that. Zeus has become such a baby he mopes around with his rubber duck in his mouth but knows not to make noise by chewing on it lol. Thanks
fourminipups said
Great news!When Shooter came home our other three wanted to sniff at him and check him out, but didn't really shove or push. He is the alpha in the house so if he gave warning they moved away. We did have to watch going in and out the door for awhile as everyone gets in a hurry, but overall they just gave him his space.
How old is Schooter and the others? I can see Zeus giving Ash that space he is so loving thanks
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