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 everyone, I just joined the site what an amazing community. My dog beans got hit by a car on February 20th while staying with some pet sitters while I was traveling. It was a pretty horrible 24 hours after that trying to get back to the USA to be with her. Between the anger at the dog sitters who took no responsibility nor ever apologized, the amassing veterinarian bills (I live in the Bay Area, CA so everything is beyond $$$), and knowing my dog had gone through something traumatic I was overwhelmed and had no idea what to expect.
After an overnight stay at the emergency clinic near our home and a transfer to a specialist for a neurological examination they diagnosed her with brachial plexus avulsion and due to the severity of it there was little chance her leg function would ever return. I broke down before boarding my plane right in the middle of the airport, I must have looked nuts, but I didn't care I was heartbroken my otherwise healthy 5 year old toy aussie's life was changed forever.
When I got home she hobbled over to me on her new 3 legs, I dropped to the floor to greet her (and her sister, Snax) - I was so grateful she was still alive. Over the next week we went to our family vet of over a decade and he suggested amputation. My heart dropped. Amputation? I knew it was the best option and I trust anything our vet says so I went home and started a GoFundMe, within 48 hours we had made our goal and then some! I booked her amputation date.
While all this was occurring I was trying to contact the pet sitters in hopes of getting support for the $3500 I had already paid for the prior veterinarian visits, they never replied in fact one of their mom's started harassing me on Beans and Snax's instagram (BeansNSnax). I couldn't believe it - I honestly still can't! If I was responsible for changing a dogs life forever I'd try to offer some money, support in other ways, to run the GFM, or something anything I cant imagine ignoring the pet parents and adding insult to injury.
But I am lucky in that I am surrounded by amazing community not only was the GFM a success, my neighbors hand made beans a sling to hold her leg up and have helped with walking my other dog, friends have stopped by to have snax play with their dog in the backyard or bring me food to make sure I have home cooked meals, I live on my own and navigating all of this and caring for a soon to be tripod alone had moments that were overwhelming. Through all of this I hope beans can feel how loved she is by so many people beyond myself.
The surgery was yesterday, March 9th. I was so nervous to leave I napped in my car and walked around the neighborhood with my other dog for the full 10 hour stay (they did not keep her overnight).
First night was better than I anticipated, while there were a few moments she would yelp, cry, and kick after a few calls with the local emergency vet they adjusted her dosage and that seemed to help a lot, we slept a total of 9 hours on night one! with a 2 hour medicine/yelping episode where she would only calm down if I held her and lay her on my chest, Beans is not typically a cuddly dog and so it seems significant that anytime shes in pain she now wants me to hold her.
She has been eating everything I offer her and has peed once exactly 24 hours post op, however she does not want to drink so I have been giving her water with a syringe a few times a day.
She also won't stand at all and seems to almost fall over when I try to take her on potty breaks. She doesn't use her back legs (her front left leg was amputated)
I think I figured since she had already been getting around on 3 legs the 2.5 weeks prior (her paralyzed leg was in a sling) that she would be able to walk a little bit post op and I see stories of other dogs walking around the next day, is her reaction normal or should I be more concerned? Could it be all the medication?
She's also super gassy - and she is not typically a gassy dog!- is this normal?
also if folks have any tips for the first few days post-op please share we are all ears and want Beans to be as comfortable as possible!
Hi BeansnSnax, welcome! I love your names! We have lots of folks from the Bay Area, you're in good company. And yes, vet care costs are out of this world there!
I'm so sorry this happened to you. What an awful thing to deal with while you're away. I would have lost my mind with worry. But you handled it like a champ and Beans is so proud of you.
So since it's been about 48 hours since surgery, her behavior is pretty typical. This is a major procedure and it's not easy to get around, especially with pain meds kicking in. You want her to be pain free of course so this is a trade off.
What pain medications did they give her? Dosage and timing, and what does she weigh?
Gassy is normal. She may not 
for a few days either. That's normal. Surgery and pain meds do that.
Keep her hydrated too. Use care with the syringe, you don't want her to aspirate from water. Entice her to drink by spiking her water with no salt broth, or even the water from a can of tuna fish. Gatorade works too. Try to get her to drink on her own.
Let us know how things are going. We are here for you!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi Jerry, Thanks for your response and the tip of adding things to her water so she will drink on her own! I hadn't thought of that at all. I will try it tomorrow. She weighs 15 lbs and is currently taking 1/4 tab of 50mg of tramadol every 6-8 hours (2 quarters if her pain is really bad), 2ml of gabapentin every 8 hours, clavacillin antibiotic every 12 hours, and carprofen every 24 hours
Geez, so sorry you and Beans had to go through this scarhumanity, And then to be treated so badly and dismissively from that wo called pet sitree added an extra layer of stress. They and focus on the fact that you certainly have a wonderfully supportive community to help restore your faith in humanoty, Obvi6 they care deeply about you and Beans.
Coming home the day of surgery can be quite hard on so many levels. You are seeing them trying to shake off the anesthesia as well as powerful hospital meds. You made it through though and that deserves extra applause 👏👏👏
Some dogs "walk" hop the next day after surgery, ome don't. Many dogs take several days to get their sea legs. Then they often need assistance with a sling to help them keep steady. Try not to compare your dog's mobility to others at this point, Every dog's recovery is different and they all eecovery st their own pace, Bean just had MAJOR surgery and is on good pain meds (hopefully). She is going to be wobbly and woozy at first as she tries to stand.
Right now, it's rest, rest, restaurant and short point breaks. Try and wait u til she shows some sort of sign that she needs to go potty, rather just randomly trying to get her up. With the urgency to pee, she may be more inclined to try and stand.
Yes, drinking is important. I actually ended up swirling a spoon of ice cream in my Happy Ahnnah's water to entice her to drink. Whatecer ot takes.
Also five her lots of gentle massages arou d her neck and spi e area. Ahe's probably got some tight muscles from the "accident" as well as while trying to adapt to three.
If you jave hardwood floors out down nonslip scatter rugs for traction .
Stay strong and confident arou d her. She'll pick up on your energy.
Stay connected and let us know how we can help, okay? Rec doesn't last furever!!
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!
Hello and welcome.
My current Tripawd is a little Pug mix who was hit by a car when she was 7 months old and lost a rear leg as a result. I adopted Elly when she was 10 months old, she is now 7 years old. She can do pretty much anything a dog her size and age can do, she is just under 15 pounds.
While I didn't go through recovery with Elly I did with my first Tripawd Maggie. She was a Pug who lost a back leg to cancer. While most pups are back to themselves in a couple weeks Maggie took her time to accept her new normal. She could hop on her own the day after surgery but chose to stay mostly in her bed for about 6 weeks. In hindsight it made sense- Mag was a sensitive dog who hated any changes to her routines. Once she got going she hopped happily through life for almost 4 years. Each dog recovers on their own schedule.
If Beans still seems to be in pain talk with your vet. Tramadol is not considered very effective for some dogs anymore (although it worked for Maggie's amp recovery and for my Pug boy's two knee surgeries). And the gabapentin might be causing a sedating effect- but that usually gets better after a few doses. Try and give the meds on an alternating schedule so there is good coverage. Again, any med changes should be discussed with your vet.
I'm in Livermore- so pretty close to you (depending on traffic!)
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls
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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