Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hello. Our dog Emmly is due to have surgery on monday (5/15/2023) to have her right leg amputated, she is having it amputated at mid femur. She fractured her fibula and tibia. What can you tell me....
...to expect...how long will it take her to recover? She is 11 yrs old and roughly about 20 lbs over weight.
What will we have to do to help her out?
Hi Connie and Emily, welcome. Sorry your post took so long to get approved. Now that it is, your future posts won't need approval.
What's the cause of Emily's fracture? Poor pup!
So, the best vets tell us that neither size nor age should exclude a dog from being an amputation candidate as long as they are otherwise healthy. With Emily being overweight, I'll be honest, it won't be easy during recovery and you will doubt your decision to do the amputation. Overweight dogs do have a trickier time recovering, and they may take longer than others to get their balance and stamina back. But they can get there much faster than you think. Dogs can lose weight really quickly, because we are in charge of their food. Plus, they tend to have a decreased appetite during recovery due to pain medications. So that's helpful in a sense.
Here's what I recommend:
Check out our What to Expect articles .
Get traction for your floors if you have any slippery surfaces.
What is your home like? Will she need to use more than 3 steps to get inside our outside to go potty?
A harness like the Ruffwear Flagline is extremely helpful. The handle on top will allow you to assist her getting up and going outside.
Finally, book an appointment with a rehab therapist asap. They can guide you with her weight loss plan to take the pounds off effectively and safely. And Tripawds Foundation can pay for your first rehab visit so you have nothing to lose.
Does your vet have overnight care or will you be bringing her home the same night of surgery?
Sorry, lots of questions! Every situation is a little different but in general dogs can bounce back much better than we imagine. Yours can too!
Emmly jumped off my husbands 4 wheeler, and fractured both her tibia and fibula bones. We have been trying to figure out what is best to do for her...do we have the fractures repaired or amputate her leg. Were really leaning to try and get her leg repaired.
Its just a REALLY hard decision t make. We currently take her in and out the front steps, as there are only 3 steps. We have some non slip rugs down now to help her out. We can always add more. Emmly will be staying at least overnight at the vets office, and they said that they would give us instructions to take care of her.
Her Appetite is semi gone right now. She did this to her leg this past sunday. (5/7/23) she hasnt been eating that much in the way of food, except mostly to take her medications.
Im really hoping that this doctor can repair the fractured bones in her leg, and with help from us humans that she would be ok or at least be able to ambulate better on 4 legs than on 3.
Thank you.
Oh yikes poor girl! What a traumatic event.
Yeah that pain is what's causing her to not want to eat, and the medications I'm sure.
There's nothing wrong with going for the repair if you guys can swing the cost, and the extra costs if amputation is required because the repair didn't take. Unfortunately we have seen that happen here, where the pet parent ended up amputating anyways.
In a situation like this a repair might be the best way to go. Just keep in mind that having a board-certified vet surgeon do it is soooo important, and good rehab is everything.
Whatever route you take, we are here for you so keep us posted!
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So sorry you are having to deal with trying to do what is best for your Emmly.
Jerry has given you some insight on some of the hurdles you may or may not have to deal with if going for the repair surgery(s)
The onlynother thingI would add is that the "usual" recovery time for amputation is avout two - three weeks. Check with your Vet, but guessing the leg repair route would require a longer period of crate confinement?? Anyway just get clear on what is required recovery wise of you go with trying to save the leg.
To be clear and as Jerry said, we absolutely support whatever path forward you take,
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!
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