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 everybody. Bauer is home and doing great. The pathology from his bowel lesion was clean, so it was probably just a result of the Deramaxx and the propensity for mast cell cancers to cause gastric ulcers.
I am amazed that he and his sister Oakley seem to have adapted the right level of activity and interaction for Bauer's healing. They'll trot around together, but no rough-housing. (I think what I'll miss most after Bauer's amputation is the beautiful long-gaited "trot" that Bauer favors...)
And Bauer is getting plenty of rest.
Thanks everybody. It looks like we'll do the amputation on the week of May 10.
Thanks for the great update! Best wished for Bauer's upcoming surgery.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
So relieved there was no cancer at the lesion site. That's great news. And to have he and his sister be able to play is wonderful. We're sending you good thoughts and speedy recovery for the upcoming amputation.
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.
Best of luck with this. Sounds like you had a pretty bad scare with Bauer. Rest him for now - he'll need it for what's coming. And no matter what, know that you're being incredibly good parents to him. There are far too many people who would have just shrugged their shoulders and said, "Time for a new dog" before putting him down. What you're doing isn't easy, but it's right. Keep posting - we're all here for you.
Okay, here's Bauer's great update. He had his amputation on Wednesday. Surgeon said it took longer (3 hours) but everything went well. She took a lymph node up by his shoulder as well. Everything has been sent to the lab.
Bauer had recovered nicely from his bowel surgery. His appetite never really went away, and he seemed to put back on a couple pounds, which he needed to do. After his bowel surgery, he was having some reflux that went away when they removed his Fentanyl patch. The surgeon wasn't sure whether it was the Fentanyl or simply because it was bowel surgery. Apparently this morning at the vet he was regurgitating and they removed his patch. I hope this proves to be all it is. He's eating, so he'll be plenty capable of taking oral pain meds.
I visited him today and he was in good spirits and remarkably mobile. Bauer is still young (5.5 years) and still has great flexibility. He's very long–measured from his shoulders to hips he's simply a long thin dog. Because his back is still supple, he seemed to have a pretty easy, long gait using only his right front leg.
I'm leaning on the vets to keep him a couple extra days where they can tend to him more consistently than my schedule allows, but he should be home later this weekend. He's got a nice corner of the kitchen set up with rugs and his own back door and a huge dog bed.
Thanks to everybody for their well wishes.
EDIT: Here's a Bauer blog post with photo: http://bauer.tr.....blog-post/
Yea for good surgeries! On to recovery fun. Poor Bauer, I feel badly for him having to recover from two major surgeries. Hope he has a really non-eventful recovery.
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.
I'm glad he came through his two surgeries so well.
You probably have checked out all the advice available in the forums- the first two weeks can be up and down as he heals from the surgery, gets used to his new balance and the muscles get used to the new gait. Soon he will be amazing you with how well he adjusts.
You're off to a good start!
Karen and the pug girls
Wow...Bauer you are a trooper and my goodness it sounds like you are going to be doing just fine!! Magic too spent a little longer at the vet than most due to my physical inabilities, so the night before he comes home, get a really good night's sleep! Two surgeries, good grief, one is bad enough but TWO!!
Best of luck, looking forward to good reports all around!
You are a real trooper Bauer! You poor thing, you've been through so much! But you are young and I think you'll do great. Keep the good spirits coming!
Big Furry Hugs!
Comet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
Bauer,
I'm so sorry that you've had to go through 2 surgeries in such a short time!! My Jake's surgery was also 3 hours... but he did just fine and got to come home that very evening... I hope that Bauer heals quicly (though the first 2 weeks are usually the worse for the patient AND the pawrents!)...
Angel Jake's Mom
Jake, 10yr old golden retriever (fractured his front right leg on 9/1, bone biopsy revealed osteosarcoma on 9/10, amputation on 9/17) and his family Marguerite, Jacques and Wolfie, 5yr old german shepherd and the newest addition to the family, Nala, a 7mth old Bengal mix kittie. Jake lost his battle on 11/9/2009, almost 8 weeks after his surgery. We will never forget our sweet golden angel… http://jakesjou.....ipawds.com ….. CANCER SUCKS!
Yeah Bauer, you're lookin' good!
Lots of folks leave their tripawds at the vet's office for a few extra days. It's very reassuring to silly humans you know.
Good luck with the recovery. Jakes Mom is right; the first two weeks are the WORST. But hang in there, we know you'll get over it. Keep us posted OK?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Bauer is going great 6 days since his amputation. He's stiff and shaky still, but getting around okay.
Here's his first YouTube video.
Lookin' good Bauer! Keep on jammin' ... and waggin' that tail! 
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Bauer looked wonderful ... yay! 
Amputation on 11/10/09, due to Histiocytic Sarcoma in left elbow. Angel Harley earned his wings on 06/24/10.
Bauer looks great!!! What a great video!! So glad to see that he is recovering well and getting around ok and his tail is wagging like it is...alll great signs for a full recovery! My other Golden often licks Mackenzie's ears too like yours did in the video. So adorable! Yea Bauer you did it!!
Kami (Mackenzie's Mom)
P.S. Would that be the Grateful Dead by any chance? Whatever it was, sure sounded good!
My sweet golden Mackenzie. She became my angel on Dec 29, 2010 at the age of 8 1/2 although she was always my angel from the time we brought her home. She was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in Sept 2009 and officially became a tripawd (front leg) on Nov 5, 2009. She will be forever in my heart and now she's running free with all of our other tripawd heroes. I love you Mackenzie!
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