Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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My Leiah had surgery Thursday Aug 18. Left forelimb amputation. She's doing great. I was stressing about the stairs, I live in a second floor condo. As I was attempting to build a ramp DIY style, she wandering down the stairs all by herself and hasn't looked back, this was day 3. She's pretty remarkable. Doing better than I ever could imagine. Her resilience carries me, truth be told. She's eating, pooping, trying to jump on the couch & bed. Hope to start giving less pain meds soon. One day at a time my friends.
Sounds like she is doing great! Be a bit careful, however. Right now, she still has hospital meds in her system. Some dogs experience a bit of a crash around day 5 or so, when those wear off. So, don't necessarily do anything differently (although I wouldn't waste any more time on the ramp), but be aware that she may start to have more pain signals , feel more tired or otherwise not do quite so well in the next day or so. You will probably give pain meds until the staples come out (about day 10). Most dogs really perk up then. We gave Tramadol, although at reduced dosages through week 3, and some dogs continued for even longer. And try to prevent her from doing too much. I would keep her off the sofa for now, and limit the stairs to when she goes outside for potty. Sleep is still best right now in terms of healing. Do you have a harness? They can be really helpful with stairs (although sounds like she has already got those down pat). We love the Ruffwear Webmaster Plus harness. Sounds like you and she are doing great!
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
Hi Leiah and family 
Great to hear your girl is adapting so well but I agree with Otis mom so be careful and don't let her overdue it.
Also, expect a bit of a crash soon, that normally happens around days 3-5 (but not always) it all gets better after stitches are out.
Keep us updated on her progress and send some pictures.
Sending you a big hug and cuddles to your cutie
Eurydice 77kg/170lb Great Dane limping end of April 2016, amputation (right front leg/osteosarcoma) 4 May 2016 6 courses of carboplatin followed by metronomic therapy, lung mets found 30 Nov 2016. 3 courses of doxorubicin, PET scan 26 Jan 2017 showed more mets so stopped chemo. Holistic route April 2017. Lung X-ray 5 May 2017 showed several tennis ball size mets, started cortisone and diuretics. Miss Cow earned her XXL silver wings 12 June 2017, 13 months and 1 week after amputation and 6 1/2 months after lung mets, she was the goofiest dawg ever and is now happily flying from cloud to cloud woof woofing away :-)
Yes I noticed today she was more somber ... thx for mentioning this. The harness for forelimbs won't work until her wound heals. The strap goes right over her stitches. But looking forward to using it when it won't hurt her. Yes and the stairs are blocked. Only for potty, and although she wants to go on furniture, she's not allowed. Thx everyone!
I am so happy to hear she is off to a good start! And even if she seems more somber, recovery is rarely a straight line, so don't lose heart. Truly, it sounds like she is doing remarkably well.
Lisa, Minneapolis
On October 27, 2016, nearly 6 months after amputation, and 18 months since his cancer likely started, we lost Pofi to a recurrence of Soft Tissue Sarcoma in his spine quite suddenly. His canine sister also succumbed to cancer on March 1, 2019 - we lavished her with our love in the interim, but life was never quite the same without her only real canine friend. Cliff kitty had to leave us, too, suddenly, in August 2019. Lucia kitty grieved all these losses, but helped us welcome two new Lurchers into our home and our lives, Shae and Barley.
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