Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Denali is getting her way around with a bunny hop type of hop, but not like a tripawd hop. When she gets up she does not center her leg like she did on Day 1, rather she keeps it outward. Her surgery was left rear leg on Thursday, so it's only been a few days after surgery. Is this normal? Am I expecting too much of her? I saw her walking correctly - so I know she has it in her and I'm guessing/hoping she's just sore.
~~~~ Denali ~~~~
June 9, 2010 OSA suspected
June 17, 2010, July 14, 2010 Clear X-rays – no mets
July 1, 2010 Amputation
July 9, 2010 OSA Confirmed
November 23, 2010 Cancer took you from me - Never forgotten, Always Loved - Forever
Supporting the Fighters, Admiring the Survivors, Honoring the Taken, And never, ever giving up Hope
i don't know, but i'm thinking you are over-analyzing this. ampawtation is major surgery, with all the drugs, and changing center of gravity, and pain...she'll probably have numerous 'gaits' until she gets her sea legs. remember the first two weeks are 'monster weeks' for both of you guys, so, i'd suggest you give her some time to find her 'normal'...she'll surprise you with how well she adapts, once all the drugs, etc are out of the way.
charon & gayle
Life is good, so very, very good!!! Gayle enjoyed each and every moment of each and every wonderful day (naps included). She left this world December 12, 2011 – off on a new adventure.
Love Never Ends
Gerry's back leg is not centered most of the time and he's gets aroun like a normal tripawd, based on my experience. Though I'm not sure what the "bunny hop" looks like. If you haven't already, I'd ask your vet's opinion on if there's anything wrong with how she's moving.
Gerry has been a tripawd since 12/16/2009.
He was a shelter dog with a mysterious past and an irrepairable knee injury.
Videos and pics of Gerry's pawesomeness can be found at: http://gerry.tripawds.com
I left Ruthie to figure out what worked best for her. Unless Denali is falling down and injuring herself...I'd let her figure it out for herself. Also using new muscles in the other 3 legs may be stressed and sore.
hstanek said:
Her surgery was left rear leg on Thursday...
And today is only Sunday! 
Denali needs time to adjust, and she's probably still disoriented from the pain meds. Let her rest and figure things out on her own. If you help her too much, she'll become dependent upon your assistance. As much as it may hurt to see new tripawds take a tumble, keep in mind that it hurts us much less than in hurts them.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I'm only helping her get outside and back in. After she's behind the fence (and the stone patch) I let her go on her own. When she's in the house she's also on her own. It's just getting her in and out that I'm helping her.
Thanks for the support everybody!! You just see some of these videos and the dogs are hopping around like they were born that way and Denali's not there yet. . . (yet is the keyword)
~~~~ Denali ~~~~
June 9, 2010 OSA suspected
June 17, 2010, July 14, 2010 Clear X-rays – no mets
July 1, 2010 Amputation
July 9, 2010 OSA Confirmed
November 23, 2010 Cancer took you from me - Never forgotten, Always Loved - Forever
Supporting the Fighters, Admiring the Survivors, Honoring the Taken, And never, ever giving up Hope
I know its hard but you need to be patient. Denali will figure out her gait.
She needs time to re-train her muscles and gain strength and balance. Sounds like she is getting around OK on her own already, and that is a good thing. Actually if you think about it- it is AMAZING that three days after losing a limb she can do anything on her own! Tripawds are amazing with what they adapt to in a short amount of time.
Sounds like she is recovering normally to me.
How is she doing otherwise? Eating, drinking, resting OK?
Karen and the pug girls
krun15 said:
How is she doing otherwise? Eating, drinking, resting OK?
Karen and the pug girls
She's sleeping good - breathing heavy today (the a/c has been running constant, so she might just be warm). She's been drinking pretty well, when she gets water, she drinks more than usual, but then again she's not drinking as often as normal - so it evens out. She didn't eat breakfast even with 'extras' added in her food - but I ordered pizza and loaded fries for dinner and she was super happy to receive a few fries and pizza crust (I just wanted her to get something in her belly). I then offered her some food -- kibble mixed with some wet stuff. She ate the wet stuff and some of the crunchies.
~~~~ Denali ~~~~
June 9, 2010 OSA suspected
June 17, 2010, July 14, 2010 Clear X-rays – no mets
July 1, 2010 Amputation
July 9, 2010 OSA Confirmed
November 23, 2010 Cancer took you from me - Never forgotten, Always Loved - Forever
Supporting the Fighters, Admiring the Survivors, Honoring the Taken, And never, ever giving up Hope
You definitely have to give her some time... She just went through a big surgery... is on pain meds and is probably kind of loopy... her remaining 3 legs have extra stress on them... so many things going on at once. My Jake had his front leg amputated... so it's probably a very different kind of 'hopping'... but he was pretty slow the first week or two... All I can say is that it just takes time and you gotta be patient...
Sending you and Denali a big fat hug!!!
Angel Jake and Wolfie'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!
It sounds like Denali is doing pretty well considering this major surgery. The fact that she's eating and drinking is a very good sign for recovery. During the 2 weeks of Mackenzie's recovery - it was so tough - every day a new challenge. But looking back I also think that I had an expectation that this surgery would immediately get her back on her feet. Not the case at all. It really did take a solid 2 weeks before she showed real signs of progress. (But by the 10th or 11th day or so, when I finally took her off the meds, that was when she made a complete turnaround.) I'm sure this will be the same for Denali - soon enough you'll start to see some very positive changes and then you'll be truly amazed by how well your girl is doing.
Wish you and Denali the best and hope her recovery continues to go well.
Kami (Mackenzie's Mom)
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!
Keep holding out for that magic "day 15" I know every dog is different but I remember that Etta just wasn't herself until day 15…. Also, as her wound heals her other muscles are getting sore & tight. Just the same way we get sore starting a new exercise regimen. I was fortunate enough to be able to take Etta to rehab at C.A.R.E. where we learned all kinds of stretching exercises and massage. It really helped her quite a bit! Hang in there….
Our angel "Etta" amputation on 4-15-10 lost her front limb. initially dx'd with neurofibrosarcoma. However, after surgery they discovered histiocytic sarcoma a very aggressive cancer. After two full rounds of chemo our special angel lost her battle on 6-21-10. the sweetest and most gentle soul. Our lives are forever blessed for having known her...
Don't worry! I think everyone has said it best here already! It may be painful now with everything healing unlike the first day when she'd had a lot of pain meds. With my experience with people, they do great the 1st day after surgery because they are pumped up and then the pain sets in and they crash a little.
And don't feel bad, Comet doesn't hop like most of the tripawds here either! And she's been doing it for almost 12 years! I first thought, "oh, my baby is more crippled than I thought!" when I saw others. But I have to realize she does it her own way and she's a professional hopper!
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.
Here's the hopping video:
~~~~ Denali ~~~~
June 9, 2010 OSA suspected
June 17, 2010, July 14, 2010 Clear X-rays – no mets
July 1, 2010 Amputation
July 9, 2010 OSA Confirmed
November 23, 2010 Cancer took you from me - Never forgotten, Always Loved - Forever
Supporting the Fighters, Admiring the Survivors, Honoring the Taken, And never, ever giving up Hope
It just looks to me like she needs to build up more strength in her back leg.
What a beautiful girl!
Cemil and mom Mary, Mujde and Radzi….appreciating and enjoying Today
I have to agree with Mary. It does look like she needs to develop strenth in her remaining back leg. She is still removering from major surgery so I wouldn't worry about it at this point. Good luck with the next two weeks! They can be hard!
Debra & Angel Emily
Debra & Emily, a five year old doberman mix, who was diagnosed with an osteosaecoma. She had a right rear leg amputation on May 19, 2009. On November 10, 2009 she earned her wings and regained her fourth leg.
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