Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Our 2 1/2 year old labradoodle Bo just had his front limb amputated today due to osteosarcoma. I’m sure the answers are in previous posts, but I am curious to hear what are your top recommendations of what we need to know and/or do in preparation for him coming home?
Thank you!
Hi and welcome! Your future posts won't need approval so post away!
Oh my phone now but I will be back tomorrow morning. For now I would say the top thing to know is that a good and pawsitive attitude makes all the difference during recovery!
More tomorrow...check out our What to Expect articles for some tips while you wait for others to chime in!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Awww..Labradoodles are so cute. And a tripawd Labradoodle is beyond adorable!
Sorry you find yourself here though. You are in the right place for support and a lot of information and tips.
The link Jerry gave you has lots of information. Also Loving Life On Three Legs is helpful.
As Jerry said, Ypyou'll want to have a strong and confident energy around Bo. When younp pick him up, don't even bother to look at his incision or draw attention to it. Jist five him a great big hug and tell him he's going home and he is a very good boy!
Hopefully your Vet will jave him on a food pain management plan. The first couple of days he'll have strong hosp meds in him. When they wear off though is when you may have to tweak his pain meds to ensure he's comfortable. It is MAJOR surgery! Watch for pain signals .
The first two weeks, rest, rest, rest, short leashed potty breaks and more rest. No jumping, no running etc.
If you have hardwoods you'll want nonslip scatter rugs for traction . Raised food bowls are good to prevent strain.
Peeing and drinking are important, but he may not feel like eating much and he may not poop for a few days.
Bo will recover at his own pace. He may have a few face plants, but he'll get his sea legs and become more and more stable with his new gait.
You may need a towel sling at first. Then again, some dogs just freeze up if you try to help them. Just follow Bo's lead.
STAY CONNECTED! We are here to help you navigate through recovery and onto celebrating all his many victories! When you have a chance to catch your breath give us an update. Try and get some resr yourself, okay?
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!
Update on Bo: he is 4 days post op and is doing very well!! I feel we made the right decision for sure! The day he came home he was wagging his tail again!!! He got his bandages off today and our vet was pleased with the healing. He has not been showing pain signals , which I am happy about. We had a brief episode with vomiting on the 2nd day he was home, which we suspect was the antibiotic. That was solved with some anti-vomiting meds. Our next venture is learning about chemo 😊
Wooohooo! This is the kind of recovery everypawdy wants, sounds like everything is well managed! Yay!
When is your oncology visit?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
YAAAAAY FOR BO!!!! So glad things are going well. And getting those tail wags makes it all worth it!! Tell Mr Bo he still needs to take things slowly even though he is feeling quite perky.
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!
Only one more week to the big milestone of getting stitches out? It's almost here!
Most new Tripawds are on pain meds from 10-14 days, some a little longer, some maybe a day or two less. All animals are different but in general they're receiving pain management for no less than 7 days.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Yep, ditto Jerry re pain meds. My Happy Hannah got off them around the two week mark, maybe a bit before. In her case though, I had to add a lower dose back for about another week (so a total of three weeks, but at a reduced amount at the third week).
I think tripawd Griffin was off his pain meds after the first week.
So there ya' have it.....every dog is different...no right or wrong....no rush to get off pain meds....no rush to add back in......whatever works for your Bo!!👍
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!
Happy to report that Bo is off all pain meds and had staples removed today. He got an excellent report from the vet!!! He did however give us a scare as he developed a cough 2 nights ago. We feared the cancer had metastasized in his lungs. Chest X-rays are clear and is being treated for kennel cough (which he likely picked up when hospitalized for his amputation, even though he’s vaccinated against it).
Oh Bo! Don't scare us like that again ya hear? I hope you are feeling better and that nasty bug is out of your system.
Glad to know you are hopping along and ready to live life to the fullest again! Congrats!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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